And with that, I was off to The Vijitt Resort. Thai music coming through the radio and a friendly, welcoming driver I was immediately feeling in holiday mode. In under an hour, I had arrived at the resort to be greeted by the welcoming Cream. The open-air reception area is impressive, with a very relaxing vibe to it.

Cream helpfully explained the next step in my journey, Villa Quarantine involving staying in the villa until results of the PCR test taken on arrival became available. The villas are impeccable and do more than justice to their surroundings. With beautiful wooden finishes and floor-to-ceiling glass with views across Chalong Bay, it was not difficult to remain in my room for the 10 hrs it took to receive my results.

​My newfound isolation gave me a chance to relax in my new surroundings. The inviting green curry from the room service menu was delightful, just what I needed before a good night’s rest.

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Those who have had the privilege to travel during these strange times will be well aware of how unique the experience can be and what I found beyond the gates of the resort was nothing different.

The streets were quiet, the restaurants and bars frequented by locals only. My thoughts were with the communities reliant on tourism and the devastating impact the pandemic has had on them.

For me, it was a humbling experience to see Phuket in a way that very few have been able to – living simply like a local.

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My first stop was Nai Harn beach. In an idyllic setting, the only thing bluer than the sky was the ocean itself.  I was one of the only people on the beach and, it felt like I had the island to myself!  After a refreshing dip, I was back on the scooter and off to see more of what my surroundings had in store. 

As I wound my way along the coast, I came across the Karon Viewpoint with its spectacular vista stretching out beyond Patong. It was impossible to continue my journey without spending some time admiring the view.

After an authentic seafood lunch in Patong, it was now late afternoon and time to head back.

The breathtaking infinity pool readily awaited my arrival. Sitting in the pool and looking out at the spectacular islands of Phuket, I was attentively looked after by Vivi and Jam. Their friendly nature made the Mojitos taste even better! That evening it was time to sample more of what the Vijitt chef had to offer.

The pad Thai did not disappoint and capped off what had been a fantastic first day.

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My partner Kirsten arrived the following day and, I looked forward to exploring the islands with her.

Her villa quarantine lasted even less than mine, around 7 hrs, which meant we were able to share a lovely dinner in a villa situated on the hilltop. 

Over the next few days, we excitedly drove all over the southern part of Phuket, taking in the sights, meeting amazing people, and enjoying the culinary delights Thailand has to offer.

We ventured on our scooters up to the Big Buddha viewpoint.

It was incredible to walk through such a sacred place with only a handful of people surrounding us. On top of the mountain, a heavy downpour added to the excitement. 

We did not let the rain dampen our adventures. We were lucky enough to be able to purchase a pair of bright orange plastic raincoats for our scooter ride home and had a beautiful stop on the way down for coffee at the Million Chili Café. We did see numerous elephant trekking spots along this road and, Tiger Park Phuket was open for interactive animal experiences.  

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Dining at the hotel was superb, the Savoury restaurant was open for all meals and provided an alfresco poolside service. The menu was a good mix of authentic Thai cuisine as well as some western dishes.

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​Some evenings we also enjoyed a small street at the end of Rawai Beach, less than a 5 min ride from the resort, where we found six or seven quaint restaurants and cafes.

The food was so incredible we were reluctant to leave at the end of the night. We particularly enjoyed the fried shrimp in Tamarind sauce at Pratuang Restaurant and the duck and tamarind sauce at Naat Restaurant.

You honestly couldn’t go wrong picking anything on these menus. 

No trip to Phuket would be complete without exploring Patong, Phuket's most popular resort.

We ambled along Bangla Road in the daytime as it was yet to open due to the local government's Covid restrictions. The locals were all hard at work, fixing signs and refreshing their venues in anticipation of being able to open shortly.

On the way back, we stumbled across a restaurant with the most impressive views across the three bays of Phuket, known as Sabai Corner. A great place to enjoy an early evening drink admiring the breathtaking views.

 During our stay, we were impressed with the range of activities The Vijitt Resort offered. From workouts at the gym to kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding.

The resort's Thai cooking classes satisfy guests' thirst for an authentic experience. The villa experiences, roses on arrival, flower bubble baths, and floating breakfasts at the pool villas are a must. 

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Having stayed in three villa categories at The Vijitt Resort, they are all charming. The Deluxe Seaview Villas set on the hilltop, welcomed Kirsten for her first night while awaiting her test results. These villas had beautiful panoramic views enjoyed from the bed and an oversized bathtub with bamboo windows opening to views of the bay through the surrounding greenery.

Our Deluxe Beachfront Villa enjoyed the perfect location close to the beach, pool, and restaurant.

The Beachfront Pool Villa with its private pool is the ultimate romantic hideaway.

Spread across a large estate with golf carts on hand for tired legs. Undoubtedly it is the staff at The Vijitt Resort that are the shining stars,

always happy to assist, always smiling.

 You can book the same deal we did at a simply incredible airline and travel agent special rate. 

We also got 30% discount on food and beverage in a selection of restaurants locally in the resort.

+ Late check-out till 5 pm and 10% Discount on the resort's laundry service.
Read more and click below to book it!