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Great holiday experience.
Other than Emirates I also flew with Star and they must be the worst airline flying. I never wish to use them again.
Only bad point was the Emerald hotel didn't have an adult pool. It was geared up for young children which spoilt it a bit.
Everything working like clockwork
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Very fuss and stress free. Had a courtesy call a week before to ensure I had all the information I required.
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Niall was superb from initial enquiries through to the actual holiday, even dealing with potential issues which were sorted straight away. App is also very good and as a package DialAFlight was 5*!
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We had the best time! The Zeavola Resort was divine! We will definitely be asking you about future holidays
It was well organised thanks to Harvey
Howard and team were fantastic as usual
Sebastian once again was a complete star. So impressed with your professionalism. Look forward to booking our next trip very soon!
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Everything went very smoothly. Thank you very much for organising the holiday and making it so easy. We really appreciate the excellent customer service - nothing was too much trouble and the two weeks were problem free.
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The first two hotels were excellent but the third hotel was not the standard we usually get from DialAFlight. However, all flights and transfers were perfect. Qatar Airways lost one of our staircases for 36 hours but this was not the fault of DialAFlight.
Very well planned trip. Everything was perfect
Steven was absolutely fantastic - cannot fault in any way - he really delivered a quite hard and specific holiday package. Will highly recommend him to anyone looking and also Sarah Woods for all the help and contact info.
We have been booking holidays with you for years. You have always provided an excellent service. It is reassuring to know that you are there for us should we have any problems while we are away..
Fantastic holiday in Thailand arranged by Manni. Everything ran smoothly. Hotels were in the best possible locations for access to everything we needed. Would definitely recommend and use again.
Love Philippa.
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I will always use DialAFlight - never had a problem
Excellent service as ever. I have been using DialAFlight for 9 years for long haul destinations. Adam could not be more helpful. What I most love is their flexibility and honesty - they will help you get the trip you want for the budget you have.
Phuket may not be perfect. But parts of it are approaching that state of bliss. And it's fairly easy to avoid the parts that aren't.
For example, the busy beachside strip of Patong can be rather a test of patience for those of us who might have grown a little weary of sunset-to-sunrise shenanigans.
But that's not the whole story. After all, Phuket is quite a big island, stretching 30 miles north to south and 13 miles across (joined to the mainland by the Sarasin Bridge) and it offers plenty of options for holidaymakers looking for almost-guaranteed sunshine.
It has come a long way since the days when it boasted just a few beach front bungalows for barefoot backpackers in the Seventies. Back then, it was a grim 17-hour bus ride to get there from Bangkok.
The construction of one international airport later, and there are more than 750 licensed places to stay, with 47,000 rooms available. And in the next few years another 35 hotels are expected to be built.
Mick Jagger, Beyonce, Kate Moss and Rihanna are among the celebrities who have all checked in at Phuket at one time or another.
On my most recent visit I stayed at the five-star Dream Phuket, a newish hotel on Layan Beach, a lovely, tranquil stretch of sand on the island's west coast. It is only 20 minutes from Phuket International Airport, but definitely away from any hustle and bustle.
It has giant beds in large rooms, partly open-plan bathrooms, an enticing swimming pool, international cuisine, a roof-top bar with infinity pool - from which there is a breathtaking panoramic view of the surrounding lush hills - and a great spa offering the full range of treatments including deep tissue massages, aloe wraps and spice scrubs.
At the signature restaurant Trilogy, there's a 'theatre' kitchen where you can watch the chefs sauté and flambé to their hearts' content.
The hotel is not directly on the beach, but it has a separate beach club, with sun loungers and private cabanas, just two minutes away by shuttle bus.
It is at the beach club that the young and fabulous from Russia, Singapore, Australia and Britain pose on their stools at the swim-up bar and use their phones to snap, study and share their selfies. All day long.
That is good news for the rest of us, as it means there's no wait for the cheap massages on the beach. They're seriously good; I couldn't resist having two in one day. During one of them, a vast man having a massage next to me snored loudly despite the fierce kneading.
Less than half a mile from our hotel is the Project Artisan, Laguna. A labour of love from a gentle Croatian couple with a deep affection for all things Thai, it's a restaurant and deli, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The hotel also offers foot massages and mani-pedis, while there are plans for a cookery school and art club.
A boat trip is a must. Some prefer to barter for a place on speedboats, which take a well-worn route to celebrity-touched islands such as Phi Phi Le, where Leonardo DiCaprio's film The Beach was shot.
I opted for a trip on a larger boat which motored to the less well-known Phang Nga Bay. If you want to be more active you can kayak, swim off the back of the boat - or watch long-tailed boats take visitors to the islands of Khao Phing Kan and (The Man With The Golden Gun was filmed here) before returning as the sun sets.
The boat crew speak fluent English and Chinese and, at the end of my trip, the captain said: 'If we have done anything wrong, we hope you forgive us.' There's absolutely nothing to forgive.
The next time I return to Phuket (and I will be returning) I hope to explore more of the island and perhaps fit in a safari experience – yes they offer safaris in Thailand! There are some great luxury safari companies which come highly recommended and offer authentic and respectful encounters with native wild elephants and other spectacular wildlife. After all, there’s more to Thailand than stunning beaches and spas- but it’s a good place to start.
First published in the Daily Mail - March 2018
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