If Phuket isn’t on your list, it should be.

Vol. 15 - Dec 2025

Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed.

Join for free today!

There’s something really good about going back to the basics for a few days. Sun on your skin, blue water, and time spent near the sea. This Phuket trip wasn’t just about adventure, it was about switching off for a bit. We wanted to recharge, enjoy the weather, and come home with full batteries.

No packed schedule. Just good days, good energy, and a reminder of why we sometimes love traveling like this.

🗺️ NEW - We’re excited to introduce our ‘Local Secrets Maps’ page!
Our map has grown a lot lately, and we wanted a cleaner way for you to explore every beach, café, waterfall, and hidden corner we share. Now you can browse everything by location or theme, all in one place.

Click the Local Secrets Map in ‘The Thai List Insider’ to try it out.

Enjoy this weeks List!
Ploy & Jochem

A travel story

Not every trip needs to change your life.

Sometimes you just want to come home feeling better than when you left. Batteries recharged, good to go for the new year to come.

That’s why we went to Phuket.

Ploy and I stayed at Cape Sienna Phuket, and honestly if you need a breather from work or just… daily life, this place takes care of you like no other. The hotel is bright and open, with big windows and ocean views everywhere. You wake up with light, not that annoying alarm on your phone.

Breakfast became something we actually looked forward to. Enough choice, super fresh ingredients and great coffee. Some days you don’t need much more than that.

Afternoons were for swimming and doing very little. And at the end of the day, we’d end up in the jacuzzi with a blended smoothie, watching the sun go down. Sometimes that’s all you need.

During our stay we booked a trip with Hype Boat Club, and this was easily the most fun day of the trip.

From the moment we stepped onboard, it felt like the perfect Instagram version of a boat day, but without being fake. Wind in your hair, tropical house tunes playing, people smiling everywhere. A cold fruit cocktail in hand before we even left the dock.

As we sailed out, the vibe settled in. DJ playing all day, not too loud, just right. Crystal clear water everywhere. Islands appearing slowly on the horizon. The kind of day where your phone (almost 😉) stays in your bag because you’re too busy enjoying it.

We stopped to snorkel, climbed back onboard salty and happy, and ate from a generous buffet that actually hit the spot after swimming. Fresh salmon, sushi, pasta, cold cuts and even caviar! Some people danced, some lay in the sun, some did both. It all felt easy.

That mix is hard to get right; fun, relaxed, a bit stylish, but this day really nailed it. Like a daily party that doesn’t require you to dance, just enjoy in your own rhythm.

By the time we headed back, skin warm from the sun, it felt like we’d squeezed a full reset into one afternoon.

Such good music!

Songs for discovering Thailand: from scenic drives to hidden escapes. New vibes added every week .

Click on any of the tracks below to get in the travel mood.

If you liked this week’s edition, here’s how we’d spend one perfect day in Phuket:

• 8:00 am : Wake up with sea views at Cape Sienna Phuket

No alarm. Open the curtains and let the light in. The sea is already doing its thing outside. Take a few minutes before grabbing your phone, mornings like this don’t need much.

• 9:00 am : Long breakfast, no rush

Good breakfast, good coffee, and time to actually enjoy it. Sit a bit longer than usual. This is where the day starts to feel like a holiday.

• 10:30 am : Swim + sun

Head to the pool, jump in, dry off, repeat. Nothing complicated. Sunscreen is not optional!

• 11:45 am : Head to the marina

Easy drive, flip-flops, sunglasses. You’re already in the right mood.

• 12:00 pm : Boat day with Hype Boat Club

Welcome drink in hand, music playing, wind in your hair. Sail out, snorkel in clear water, eat well, lie in the sun. Some dancing, some doing nothing. This is the highlight.

• 5:30 pm : Back to shore, salty and happy

That good kind of tired you only get from sun and sea.

• 6:30 pm : Jacuzzi and a smoothie

Back at the hotel, shower off the salt and settle into the jacuzzi with a blended smoothie. Watch the sky change color while talking about the day you just had.

• 7:45 pm : Dinner at Vanilla Sky Rooftop Bar

Easy choice after a full day, this restaurant and sky bar is located IN Cape Sienna. Go for the view, order something light like a salad or steamed fish with a nice glass of white wine.

• 9:30 pm : Early night 😴

Sun, swimming, and sea air do their job. Sleep comes fast.

• Fresh Seafood (อาหารทะเล) : Grilled fish, prawns, squid. Best eaten near the coast. Look for places where you can see the seafood before it’s cooked. Less sauce, more sea.

• Som Tam (ส้มตำ) : Papaya salad is everywhere in Phuket and perfect in the heat. Light, spicy, refreshing. If you don’t like it too spicy, say “phet nid noi” (a little spicy).

• Coconut Water (Nam má-phráao - น้ำมะพร้าว): Cold coconut water straight from the shell. Easy to find, super refreshing, and great after time in the sun.

• Kamala Beach : Calmer than Patong and easy to enjoy. Good for morning swims, late afternoon walks, and a low-key beach day without the chaos.

• Laem Singh Viewpoint : A short stop with big views over the coast. Best late afternoon when the light softens and the sea turns deep blue.

• Kalim Rim Lay : A relaxed seaside Thai restaurant just north of Patong. Good seafood, open views, and a nice spot for sunset without feeling too dressed up. Go a bit early to catch the light.

• Cafe Del Mar Phuket : Good coffee, beach views, and an easy place to stop during the day. Works for a quiet afternoon drink or a casual sunset moment without committing to a full beach club night.

• Kruvit Floating Raft : A floating seafood restaurant you reach by a short boat ride. Very local, very casual. Order grilled prawns, steamed fish, and anything fresh from the tanks. Go hungry, don’t expect luxury - that’s part of the charm.

• Kalido Restaurant : Right on the edge of the beach, especially nice in the late afternoon. Go for a drink or light food as the sun starts to drop. Relaxed vibe, sea breeze, and a good spot to ease into the evening without committing to a full beach club.

• Delico Decoration Coffee & Dessert: A calm café stop away from the beaches. Good coffee, nice desserts, and air-con when the heat gets a bit much. Ideal mid-day break if you’re exploring Phuket Town.

Every week we drop new pins onto our Local Secrets Maps - special spots you won’t always find in the guidebooks. Street stalls tucked down alleys, rooftop bars only locals know, temples that feel like they belong to you alone.

This map is just for Insiders, and it grows with every edition - a living guide that keeps unlocking Thailand, piece by piece.

👉 Tap the link on your smart phone or computer, and choose “Open in Google Maps” for the full interactive experience! 🌏

We hope you enjoyed this edition of The Thai List. If you did, please share the love 💕 by inviting your friends and family to join our little community.

Each week we uncover local secrets, hidden escapes, and the best food and drinks Thailand has to offer.

Don’t miss out on the journey.

Wishing you save travels,

The Thai List - Your weekly postcard from Thailand 🇹🇭