The low season is a great time to visit Phuket. Accommodation and tours are available at bargain prices. When you are taking a language course at Patong Language School or getting your TEFL certification at TEFLPlus, your weekends will be free to do as you please. If snorkeling in crystal clear water surrounded by a vibrant coral reef or laying in the sun on a beach to yourself sounds like something you’d enjoy, a day trip to Racha Yai island might fit the bill.
Racha Yai island is about 20 minutes south of Phuket by speedboat, and is an ideal place to relax. Compared to Phuket, or even Phi-Phi Island, it is relatively undeveloped aside from a handful of high-end resorts. You can stay in a bamboo bungalow for a few hundred baht per night, or splurge on one of the five star resorts and enjoy your own private beach. Make sure you bring some extra cash, as there aren’t any 7-11s on the island.
While the water currents and waves can be rather strong on Phuket’s west coast in the low season, the water on Racha Yai’s east coast is as flat as glass. It’s a popular place for PADI scuba certification as well.
At Patong Language School you can learn English, study Thai, prepare for the German A-1 examination, get an introduction to Japanese or study ESL teaching on the weekdays, and take a trip to a secluded tropical paradise on the weekend.
