Anyone planning a trip to Southeast Asia confronts an embarrassment of riches.

This magical part of the world has enough beaches, sunset spots, temples and fiery food to fill several lifetimes of travel. Yet since we only have one, tough choices lie in store. Enter a pair of seasoned writers to make the case for their pick of two of the region’s most beloved hubs, Phuket and Bali.

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Favor fabulous Phuket

Isabella Noble is a Barcelona-based travel journalist and the author of Lonely Planet’s Pocket Phuket guide. She has been spending time on this beautiful, often-misunderstood Thai island for almost a decade. 

For anyone who loves Phuket – as I do – it’s a magical island that instantly defies its stereotypes without making any fuss.

Thailand bursts with dreamy, laid-back, palm-filled islands washed by gentle turquoise waves, yes – but Phuket combines all that tropical-paradise allure with the lively buzz, creative vibe and thrilling food scene of a dynamic urban hub. 

When crowds gather to watch the nightly sunset at Laem Phromthep, there’s an almost mystical vibe © Wuttisit Somtui / Shutterstock

Let’s start with those fabulous flour-soft, salt-white beaches. My favorites are in the north of the island, including sparkling Hat Surin, five mile (8km)-long Ao Bang Thao and wilder Hat Layan. Phuket’s three northwesternmost strands are a treat too: Hat Nai Yang, Hat Mai Khao and Hat Nai Thon all sit within the protected Sirinat National Park and have a blissfully relaxed, nature-first feel….

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