• Weather: Absolute perfection. Clear skies, warm days, cool evenings. Valentine's outdoor dining approved. ✨
• Roads: Phuket Town will be mayhem this weekend for CNY. Park early or embrace the chaos. Patong busy as usual. 🛵
• Season check: Peak high season in full swing. Book restaurants ahead for Valentine's or prepare for disappointment. 💕
• This weekend: Valentine's dinners, Chinese New Year festivals, beach clubs, live music, and enough happening that FOMO is real. Keep scrolling. 👇

Kamala is no longer just a beach. It is fast becoming a retail and lifestyle corridor.

ONE MONT AZURE is positioning itself at the center of that shift. A 4,000 sqm mixed-use development in Kamala's luxury belt, the project blends boutique retail, signature dining, and rooftop wellness into a single coastal address.

The fundamentals are compelling. Within a 2.5 hour drive sits a 1.1 million resident catchment across Phuket, Phang Nga, and Krabi, supported by over 12 million annual tourist arrivals. This is not speculative foot traffic. It is established flow.

Programmatically, the scheme includes four flagship retail and café spaces, three signature restaurants, flexible wellness units, and a rooftop destination with sunset-facing dining and event space. In short, it is curated for both yield and brand positioning.

As Kamala evolves into Phuket's western luxury artery, mixed-use formats like this signal where lifestyle capital is concentrating next.

If you have a little human in your house who performs full musical numbers before breakfast, this one is for you.

Abstract Kids Drama is Phuket's creative stage for children who love to act, sing, build characters, and maybe steal a spotlight or two. Founded with a clear mission to build confidence through performance, the program blends drama training with real production experience, helping kids find their voice both on and off stage.

Through workshops, term classes, and their growing Abstract TV platform, students are not just rehearsing lines. They are learning storytelling, teamwork, and the kind of self-belief that follows them into school halls and future boardrooms.

The heart behind it all is a team passionate about creating a safe, expressive space where imagination runs wild but structure keeps it sharp.

In a season where everyone is chasing high performance, this is one place where creativity takes centre stage.

Look, we get it. Valentine's Day snuck up on you like a rogue wave at Kata Beach. One minute you're living your best island life, the next minute it's February 13th and you haven't made a single plan. Deep breath. You're not doomed.

Phuket's got your back with genuinely thoughtful options that don't require months of planning or selling a kidney. We've put together a full guide to last-minute Valentine's Day magic — from romantic experiences to local touches that show you actually care (even if you're pulling this together at the last second).

Here's what's inside:

• Same-day romantic experiences: Sunset cruises, beach picnics, couples spa treatments still accepting bookings
• The handwritten touch: Why a thoughtful note beats expensive flowers (and where to find gorgeous local cards)
• Restaurant backup plans: Amazing spots that don't require reservations made in December
• Local market magic: Flowers, crafts, and gifts that feel personal without being cheesy
• Free romantic spots: Viewpoints, beaches, and hidden gems perfect for sunset
• The "breakfast in bed" hack that works even if you can't cook

Whether you're celebrating with someone special, planning something for yourself, or just want to avoid the "I totally forgot" conversation, this guide's got you covered.

Thoughtfulness > expense. Always. And Phuket makes it easy to nail both. 💕✨

Thailand’s cabinet has approved a major visa revamp to boost tourism and long-stay travel. Updates include 60-day visa-free entry for 93 countries, expanded Visa on Arrival, a new Destination Thailand Visa for remote workers, and work rights for foreign students. Non-immigrant categories will also be streamlined this year.

Changes are coming to scooter rentals in Phuket, with authorities tightening regulations around licensing requirements and safety standards. The goal: reduce accidents and ensure tourists actually know how to ride before hitting Phuket's chaotic roads. If you're renting, make sure you've got your international driving permit and actually know which side of the road to use. 🛵

Phuket continues cementing its position as Southeast Asia's superyacht hub. The Australia-Thailand Rendezvous brought industry leaders to discuss expanding marina facilities, customs improvements, and making Thailand even more attractive to luxury yacht owners. Translation: More beautiful boats, better infrastructure, and Phuket leveling up as a premium destination. 🛥️✨

Phuket hosted the Global Sustainable Tourism Council Conference gathered global experts on responsible tourism. Talks focused on balancing growth with environmental protection, something Phuket urgently needs as visitor numbers rise. Encouraging to see sustainability shifting from buzzword to real policy. 🌱

Why Phuket celebrates hard: The island's Sino-Portuguese heritage means Chinese New Year (or Lunar New Year) is massive here. Phuket Town's Old Town becomes the epicenter with street performances, temple ceremonies, and enough street food to feed an army. 🥟

What to expect: Lion dances (loud, colorful, mesmerizing), firecrackers (SO MANY firecrackers), red lanterns everywhere, families offering prayers at Chinese temples, and vendors selling traditional snacks and lucky decorations. The energy is electric. ⚡

Lucky colors for 2026: Brick Red, Emerald Green, and Gold/Beige. Red is always lucky (it's Chinese New Year, after all), but this year fire element colors are extra auspicious. Time to update your wardrobe? 👗

Pro move: Hit Phuket Old Town on Saturday or Sunday for the full experience. Go hungry. Wear comfortable shoes. Prepare for sensory overload in the best possible way. 🎊✨

The essentials nobody tells you:

The first 90 days are disorienting, exciting, and occasionally overwhelming. That's normal. Give yourself permission to figure it out as you go. Three months from now, you'll barely recognize the person who just arrived. 🌴✨

Phuket is preparing to welcome a surge of visitors during the upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations, with a month-long programme of events beginning today aimed at stimulating early-year tourism and generating more than 600 million baht in revenue.

The buzz around Wilson's Cafe continues as they perfect their menu during soft opening. Taking it slow with limited daily orders on Grab and walk-in takeaway only. The approach? Quality over hype. Early reports say the coffee's excellent and the vibe is exactly what Phuket Town needed. Full opening coming soon. ☕️

Morning: Start at Promthep Cape for sunrise. Yes, it's touristy. It's also genuinely stunning and almost empty at 6:30am. Bring coffee, sit on the rocks, watch the island wake up. Instagram-worthy without the Instagram crowds. 🌅

Breakfast: Head to The Cove Phuket in Ao Yon Beach for their beachfront breakfast. Acai bowls, fresh juice, your feet in the sand, waves doing their thing. Relaxed. Beautiful. Exactly the energy Valentine's Day should have. 🥥

Midday: Book a couples' massage at Oasis Spa (any location). Traditional Thai massage in a tropical garden setting. Two hours of pure bliss. This is self-care disguised as romance. 💆‍♀️

Afternoon: Explore Phuket Old Town. Wander the colorful streets, check out local art galleries, grab Thai iced tea from a street vendor. Low-key, photogenic, and you'll probably discover something new even if you've been here forever. 📸

Sunset: Kata Rocks or A Blanket & A Pillow. Cocktails, ocean views, that golden hour magic. Reserve ahead. These spots fill up fast on Valentine's Day. 🍹

Dinner: If you booked ahead: PRU (Trisara) for fine dining or Acqua for Italian with ocean views. If you didn't: Suay Restaurant does amazing Thai fusion and usually has last-minute tables. 🍝

Night cap: End at Baba Nest (Sri Panwa) if you're feeling fancy, or keep it chill with a beach walk at Nai Harn. Sometimes simple is better. 🌙✨

This Week's Question: What's your favorite "hidden gem" romantic spot in Phuket?

The viewpoint nobody knows about? The beach that's always empty? The restaurant with the best sunset view? Hit reply and share. We'll feature the best answers next week (and everyone's Valentine's Day will be better because of you). 💕✨