Good news! Ninoy Aquino Day (August 21) this year falls on a Monday, which means the Philippines is in for a long weekend once again. Even better news, for the Davaoeños, because August 18 was declared a non-working holiday in celebration of the 32nd Kadayawan sa Davao. This means Davao City has a 4-day weekend!

Most of you have probably already planned your trips for this long holiday, but if you still haven’t, allow me to suggest a destination. You’ve read the title, so how do you feel about spending your weekend in Phuket? I’ve shown you events so you’d keep working on your fitness, now it’s time to show off that toned bod!

 

Day 1: The Palms Resort

After quite a long flight (around 6-7 hours), you’d want to spend some time to relax. The resort’s suite is so spacious with a dining area and a living area separate from the bedrooms. You can have a quiet sleep while your friends have fun outside.

After relaxing, you may want to eat. Of course you can order room service and have it set up in your dining table, but if you plan to save food money, you’ll appreciate the suite’s full kitchen. You can buy cheaper food from nearby restaurants and heat it or buy fresh seafood from the market and cook it inside your room!

You can spend the night reading at the balcony with a view of the pool. Or if you’re on the ground floor, you can go for a swim, since your balcony has direct access to the pool. No more cold walks from the pool back to your room.

This is a relatively small hotel, which is great if you’re planning to spend some quiet time after day tours. Although there’s a nearby beach, the property is not by the shore. You’d probably want to spend your days island hopping anyway, so it’s okay.

 

Day 2: Andaman Sea – Phang Nga Bay

When in Phuket, you must at least spend a day exploring beaches.

When we were there, we took a speed boat tour around Andaman Sea, which included a canoe ride to the inner lagoons. We were so excited that my dad jumped off the boat instead of waiting for the canoes, and my sister and I followed. We went to the James Bond Island and met with a friendly jellyfish. At the end of the tour, we were given time to relax by the beach, where I took a photo with a lemur.

 

Day 3: Phuket Town

Although Phuket is primarily known for its beaches, you should still take some time to wander around the town. You can visit Wat Chalong for a taste of their temple architecture, Promthep Cape for an overlooking view, and Baan Teelanka for a little bit of fun.

We’ve been to numerous temples in Thailand and what’s different in Wat Chalong is that instead of a solemn silence, you’ll hear endless firecrackers from a brick structure. We were told this is to scare away bad and evil elements, but since tourists (who don’t even practice the same religion) also try the firecracker thing, resulting to a cloud of heavy smoke in the area.

 

 

Promthep Cape is more sightseeing, with a view from a park above a hill overlooking the sea. If you’re not yet tired of climbing uphill, you can walk to where the waves hit the land, or you can just enter the lighthouse museum (it’s free) and learn about a little maritime history in Phuket.

 

To end your day with a bit of fun, drop by Baan Teelanka. In their compound, you can be creative at The Upside Down House, play detective at the Escape Room, and test your sense of orientation at the Garden Maze.

 

Day 4

is for packing your suitcase to prepare to come back home, and for resting as you prepare for another workweek ahead.

There are a few who are fortunate to be paid to travel, but for the rest of us, until the next long weekend.