Recently we shared a post on how to decide Island Hopping Tour in Phuket and got a feedback that it's too long. So instead of long post and all the details, in this post we are trying to share basic tips which would be helpful for you to decide best tour for you at best price. Phuket itself is an island but much bigger and you don't feel like you are on an island. Some of the other islands around Phuket are very beautiful and colorful. This place brings those movie scene live in front of you. This post shares some of the interesting options to explore some of the islands around Phuket.
Tips when you plan for Island Hopping around Phuket and Phi Phi -
1. Talk to multiple tour offering shops around your hotel and negotiate at around 50% of what is offered at the best. This exercise will lead you to a nominal number where you would get a reasonable deal. When you have similar deals from different vendors, make sure you compare the tour companies coffered and location of the shop w.r.t. your hotel.
2. Opt the close-by shop and tour company as per online reviews. Reason being that in unknown place you want to chose a place where you can reach confidently in case of unexpected situations. Phuket is big so it's not really recommended to get a deal from a dealer at long distance fro your hotel/resort.
3. When commuting on the speedboat, sit inside and avoid the front for a less bumpy ride. Since it's a long day island hopping tour, the sun would make you uncomfortable if you are the front or end of the boat, where you get exposed most to the sun.
4. There are pretty good Island Hopping day tours for 1000 Bahts, if you only want an experience and don't have specific choices like - want to do diving where professionals do or want to go to less explored islands etc.
5. Don't carry lot of stuff with you when you are doing this tour. Usually boat-seats get wet and there is not enough space to keep your bags and even if you keep them, they get wet. Especially avoid big bags, because they don't even go under the seats.
6. If you are interested in Snorkeling and Diving, make sure you buy appropriate gears from night markets. If you forget, this stuff will be very expensive at the port from where your boat would start.
7. Carry a waterproof phone cover to click good photographs confidently. There are covers with 5 layers of zip-locks which protect you phone even when you are in ocean and doing snorkeling.
8. If you plan to do Snorkeling, make sure snorketing equipment is part of your tour. (Usually that's the case, but confirming is must as they may make good amount of money if you think about it later when you are about to board the boat.)
9. Be aware that many equipments related to Snorking are given by boat company and that's part of the package. Make sure that you keep track because they want them back. Since there are many hops on the way, just ensure you carry them or hand-over to boat staff, because in our boat the staff was ok keeping them on boat when people were going out on beach. A few were misplaced and then they sort of harassed that person, which are very unprofessional. So keep a track of stuff you get from them.
10. Rawai beach at Phuket’s far south has the cheapest options of renting a speedboat or longtail boat, if you are not planning to take boat tour wherein others share the boat with you.
11. Usually these boats have ice-box so if you wish to carry your beers, that should be ok.
12. There are lot of opportunities to go in water, so dress up appropriately and ensure that you have your Swin-suits. You would regret if you don't prepare well for that.
13. Suntan lotion is a must and I am sure that sounds obvious.
14. Don't take a chance if you see a possibility of sea-sickness and take medicine before boarding the boat.
If you liked this post and found it helpful, I would request you to follow these things when traveling -
1. Manage your waste well and don’t litter Use dustbins.
2. Tell us if you went to a place and found it hard to locate a dustbin.
3. Avoid bottle waters in hills. Usually you get clean water in hills and water bottles create lot of mess in our ecosystem.
4. Say big no to plastic and avoid those unhealthy snacks packed in plastic bags. Rather buy fruits.
5. Don't play loud blaring music in forests of jungle camps. You are a guest in that ecosystem and disturbing the locals (humans and animals) is not polite
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