I don’t really like arriving new places late at night because I feel very disoriented and don’t know where I am!  So when I woke up the next morning (at 6:30, I cant help myself). It was off to explore while Josh and S slept in.

We are spending the first four nights of our trip in the town of Kata, Phuket.  It is a beach town about 10km south of the infamous Patong beach area of Phuket.  I found this description of Kata online: “The pleasant bay of Kata, just a few minutes south of Karon Beach, entices and charms many visitors with its white sands and clear waters. Very popular with families, Kata is an all round favourite due to its spectacular palm-lined beach, great restaurants, lively but not raucous nightlife and varied accommodation options – all close to the beach”.    They are pretty much the reasons I picked it.  Gorgeous beach, everything accessible but more low key than somewhere like Patong.  So far I am not disappointed!

I also spent quite awhile choosing our hotel. Since it was our first proper holiday with S, I had different needs than ever before so had to choose a bit differently.  We are also a bit unlucky in that we have gone away just after high season prices set in (which are often more than double the week before!) so things are not as cheap as we thought that might have been beforehand.

We are staying at the Kata Palm Resort, which so far seems like an excellent choice. it is mid range, price wise and sits a block from the beach. It has lots of facilities which should make things easier with S: 2 pools, 2 kids wading pools, small playground, kids play room, baby sitting, 4 restaurants, room service among other things.  The room is nice but fairly standard. We could get a cot for free and we have a balcony (something I decided was essential since S has a big long middle of the day nap and goes to bed early so it’s somewhere we can hang).  The first thing I did on my walk was check out the hotel and it all looked just like I imagined from their website.  They were also awesome at the hotel and gave us an easily accessible room like I requested. I don’t want to climb lots of stairs while pregnant with a 16kg baby!!

I then walked around outside the hotel and to the beach.  Like I had hoped from my research, we are just surrounded by restaurants, shops and everything else we could need (like super cheap laundry).  Everything was pretty much shut up because it was early, but the night before, when we arrived, it had all been alive with lots of market stalls. I noticed one right outside the hotel that had everything for 50 baht. May have to go back tonight!  The hotel is back far enough from the road that it is super quiet.  very happy!!

I went back to the hotel and the others got up, and we had our buffet breakfast. It was the standard fare for this part of the world. usually, this wouldn’t excite me at all but it did work really well with S. There was no waiting, she got good variety and healthy food, so at least I know she is getting on well rounded meal a day!

After breakfast, Josh took S for a walk around the resort while I unpacked. We then went to the beach. It is beautiful.  We put a sand bucket, spade and accessories on the way to the beach and S just loved it all! a bit too much though really as she wanted to crawl around in the water and we hadn’t dressed her for it as it was just about her nap time, so we hadn’t expected her to get so into it.  we will be back though!

Kata Beach

Nap time was a bit boring. We sat on the balcony for awhile, went on facebook, watched some downloaded tv and then had naps ourselves.  it is a bit frustrating to be somewhere new and not be out taking advantage of it, but at least we will be well rested!  it is probably the plus of travelling while pregnant with a kid this age, at least it is forcing me to take it easy.

Nap time stretched out for quite awhile, so we ended up waking her up as we were starving! it was off to a local restaurant for lunch where the three of us pigged down Thai. I had to order a second main!!

Watching Josh and S in one of
the four pools from our balcony

Playing in the pool

The rest of the afternoon was spent entertaining S at the hotel with time in the pools and kid’s room before an early dinner.

Practical Information
Kata Palm Resort, http://www.katapalmresort.com/, about 3300 baht for a superior room with buffer breakfast.

Skin foot?!

Not sure why we brought toys
with us – S much prefers playing
with the stuff around us