Aberdeen to Phuket Flights

  About Aberdeen

Aberdeen is a port city located on the coast of the exquisite North Sea. The city is famed for its offshore petroleum industry. Interestingly, the city houses many international populations, including the Italians and Japanese. The city also connects the beautiful rivers, Dee and Don.

Best time to visit Aberdeen

Aberdeen's weather is extremely erratic and inconsistent. The weather continues to show varied sides without any warning. It might be rainy in the morning but turn sunny within the next minute. You simply can't determine what is going to happen next in terms of weather in Aberdeen. Hence, figuring out an ideal season or month to visit the city is quite pointless. However, you can follow the season that would best work for you. The spring season is from March through May with the temperatures ranging from 5 degree Celsius to 10 degree Celsius. You can imagine how cold the winters are if the spring temperatures do not go beyond 10 degree Celsius. While it doesn't seem like the best time to visit as the temperatures are still very less, it might be good if you wish to soak in all the brisk cold breeze. It is advised that you do carry proper parkas and other clothing as it would come in handy. Also, no matter what season, you should ensure to keep an umbrella with you as it can rain at any random time. It can get cloudy and terrible to deal with as the rains tend to affect the touristy plans.

Summer, on the other hand, is the best time to visit out of all the seasons. Aberdeen's summers are cold, irrespective. However, it is pleasant and would certainly be the fun winter vacation that you have been opting for. The temperatures during summers in Aberdeen range between 15 degree Celsius and 20 degree Celsius. June through August sees some warmth in the air. As it is on the coast, the breezy North Sea brings cold air in the city. The summer is actually quite pleasant with clear skies and lovely vibe. Even though it is cold, you would still feel happy as the air of Aberdeen is fresh and invigorating. The hotel prices during this season does see a slight spike. You might want to make your hotel bookings in Aberdeen in advance to ensure that you do get good deals. Winter is definitely not the best time to visit as the temperature does drop below negative. December through February is not the best time for you to venture to Aberdeen. Not to mention how it also rains out of the blue during the winters. It can get supremely cold and not favourable for tourist activities. You wouldn't be able to check out any of the famous attractions, and you cannot even take a stroll down the beaches. Hence, it would be best to avoid winters in Aberdeen. Do make a note of the fact that the hotel prices are lower than usual, making the accommodation extremely cheap. But, thanks to the bad weather, it doesn't work in your favour.

Places to visit in Aberdeen

The best way to get around Aberdeen would be to first visit the Aberdeen Maritime Museum. The museum is located close to the harbour and has quite the exemplary architecture. The Maritime Museum is a perfect way to start learning about the city's history and its relationship with the popular North Sea. As an art patron, you would be happy to witness some of the fabulous art exhibitions that the Aberdeen Art Gallery. The huge gallery has a melange of traditional and modern Scottish art. You will also find some artwork by international artists. These include works of Ivor Abrahams, Bruce McLean, Ken Currie, to name a few. Another major tourist attraction in Aberdeen is Craigievar Castle. The structure with its pink walls and authentic Scottish architecture is too beautiful. Another pristine castle that would definitely work perfectly in your postcards (if you plan to make any) would be the Balmoral Castle.

Things to do in Aberdeen

To enjoy the lovely Aberdeen sun amid a gorgeous environment, you should visit Duthie Park. The place was built back in 1881 by Lady Elizabeth Duthie. She dedicated the park to her uncle and brother. The spectacular 44 acres of the park is nestled close to the banks of the Dee River. The place also has a greenhouse which was once demolished but was built back. If you do get tired of all the tourist activities, you can visit Codona's Amusement Park. The place has many fun rides and activities that you would enjoy. You should also visit the Gordon Highlanders Museum. The place does have an interesting collection of artefacts and exhibitions that would give you a peek at their history. The museum also houses a lovely tea room that you would enjoy.

Food and restaurants in Aberdeen

Aberdeen's food is eccentric but heavily influenced by Italian cuisines and seafood. You will be able to find the best of Italian trattoria in Aberdeen, at Rustico. The neat little cafe is run by an Italian-family where they offer exquisite seafood such as king prawns tossed on linguine, pork ragu with rigatoni and some Sicilian-style lamb meatloaf. The whole spread is beautiful and flavourful. Another Italian restaurant in the city is Carmine's. The food establishment is very low key and quaint, which works well on the pockets. They also have an authentic Japanese restaurant in the city where you can find some of the famous dishes from the cuisine. Yatai Izakaya is your place, which is affordable as it falls within a perfect budget. They also have sake, so you don't have to travel all the way to Japan for the same. The Conservatory Restaurant located in the Marcliffe Hotel and Spa is a place you simply cannot miss. Although it is pricey as it is situated in the premise of a five-star hotel. But this would be quite the indulgence that you should opt for in Aberdeen.

At the food establishment, you will find some lovely seafood menu. While you're there, do not miss their Shetland scallops, Perehead monkfish, North Sea shellfish bisque and cod. The place also brings about an interesting spin to beef and other meat-based dishes. You might want to keep enough money in your pockets to visit this place. Although relatively new, the Bonobo cafe has already managed to find fame in the neighbourhood for its exquisite vegan food. The place serves only vegan food, so if you do not wish to have any of the seafood or meat cuisine, you can visit this place. Their vegan take on Scottish breakfast, which includes scrambled tofu, seitan sausages, veggie haggis and tattie scones is delicious. Not to mention how they have a coconut milk latte as opposed to the usual regular-milk latte. Coffee connoisseurs on the trip should visit Foodstory as the place makes lovely brewed coffee merged with healthy desserts and baked goods. Plus, the place also offers yoga and drawing classes. It would be quite an experience, if anything. Their take on the local cuisine is also quite good and would go down well with your sensibilities.

How to reach Aberdeen

Flights to Aberdeen are aplenty, but they do not particularly fly from India. There are no direct flights to Aberdeen, and you will have to opt for a flight with layovers or even change flights at London's Heathrow Airport. Airlines such as Virgin Atlantic, KLM Royal Dutch, British Airways, Air France, have immaculate flight connectivity to Aberdeen. This makes the travelling far easier. Most of the flights flying to Aberdeen have layovers that cannot be ignored. However, from Indian cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Kolkata, you will be able to get flights flying to Aberdeen without much concern. The most popular route to Aberdeen often chosen is from London and Amsterdam. Since British Airways and KLM Royal Dutch have direct flights to Aberdeen, these international routes are favoured over the others. Many even choose to visit Edinburgh and take a flight to Aberdeen from here. However, to opt for the said international route, you will have to book a ticket to Edinburgh directly and drive up to Aberdeen.

The flight duration to reach Aberdeen from India ranges from 11 hours to 13 hours. It doesn't take much time to reach the Scottish coastal city as the flight connectivity is good and layovers are minimum. You will have to ensure to travel with a transit visa. As the airlines flying to Aberdeen traverse through European cities too, it is necessary to carry a transit visa. You can get hold of the visa at the embassy. The easier and viable option to get the transit visa is by applying for it online. The embassy sites are very quick to respond to the applications online so you wouldn't have to worry about anything. The flight tickets to Aberdeen are decently priced. It could range from INR 30,000 to INR 40,000. The season doesn't really play a massive role in the change of the flight ticket cost to Aberdeen. However, it would be recommended to make prior bookings to Aberdeen as that way, you will be able to avail some online flight deals.

  About Phuket

Phuket, in Thailand, is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world and a very affordable one at that, too. The white sands at the beaches, the picturesque cliffs and the aquamarine waters in Thailand will make you want to extend your stay. Travellers get a lot of options to choose from for their itinerary. If you want to spend your vacation relaxing, you can book a hotel in Phuket that is next to the beach and has spa treatment facilities. If you want to go on adventures, the city has a ton of water sport activities that you must definitely try. Phuket is also a very happening party place and the perfect place for you, in case you are or want to be a party animal. Not only are there luxury resorts in the city but you will also find a lot of hostels since Phuket has a lot of young tourists and backpackers every year.

Best Time to Visit Phuket

Phuket is most visited during winter and early summer. Any time between November to April is considered as the peak season and sees a lot of tourists. December and January are popular months to plan a trip to Phuket since this is when tourists get to attend the most parties in the town. The weather remains cold from November to February, making it a perfect time to hit the beach, try out all the water activities and go sightseeing. The frequency of flights to Phuket is quite high during this season since the demand is high.

March and April are summer months in Phuket. If you are okay with the heat during the day, you can plan your trip to Phuket during these months. However, stepping out in the middle of the day might be a bad idea. The scorching heat will only make you head back to your hotel room or dive into the pool. But it is a great time to plan a vacation if you are only in for sunbathing or not indulge in any adventure activities. Flight tickets to Phuket from India during this time will be slightly cheaper than it is from November to January. In fact, you can even book a hotel in Phuket at a cheaper rate during this time.

Monsoon hits Phuket from May to October, and it is not the best time to visit the city. You won't enjoy your visit to the beach, and a lot of water activities will also remain shut during this time. It is not exactly a popular time for tourists to go to Phuket. The heavy rains and the powerful waves will only keep you deprived of all the water fun you can have otherwise. But since it is off-season, you might even get lucky with flight deals to Phuket.

Places to Visit in Phuket

Since Phuket is a city that has a lot of beaches, you can spend your holiday visiting each one of them. Patong beach is popular and happening beaches in Phuket. You'll find a lot of shacks, cafes and pubs around the beach where you can chill with a glass of beer. You will also find locals selling beach mats and umbrellas so you can lie on the beach and soak in the sun. You can also rent the beach mats and the umbrella. They will charge around 100-200 Thai Bahts to rent the mats and umbrella. You can also go on an island tour to the Phi Phi islands, James Bond Island, Phang Nga Bay and a couple of more islands. You will find a lot of tour guides who will offer you a combined tour of the islands. Karon View Point is another very popular tourist spot in the city. You get a view of the Kata Noi, Kata Yai and Karon beaches from a height. You will also get to take pictures with tamed eagles here. Not to mention, this makes it a perfect place to take pictures. You can also indulge in beverages and local snacks offered here.

Big Buddha is another very popular tourist destination and the perfect spot to embrace spirituality. Wat Chalong, an old Buddhist temple, is also a popular spot. The Phuket Aquarium and the Tiger Kingdom are also some famous places in the city that you can visit. The city also has museums and a couple of boxing stadiums that you can add to your itinerary.

Things to do in Phuket

Phuket is the perfect place for any vacation. You can spend your weekend sunbathing at the beach or indulging in luxurious spa treatments and going to the fanciest places to dine. You can visit the beaches in the city and try activities like snorkelling, jet skiing, surfing, parasailing and other water activities. You can also plan an adventurous trip and one where you can please the party person in you. Full moon parties are a big deal in Thailand and if you love partying you must definitely be a part of one. You can also check the lunar calendar and the full moon party schedule in Phuket before you plan the trip. Don't fret if you somehow miss attending the Full moon party because the city also throws a half-moon party. If you have chosen to stay at a hostel, make sure you check with the hostel desk about any event that they are planning. A lot of hostels plan pub crawls, which is also something you can experience. Phuket is one of the safest cities in Thailand, but there's no harm in making sure you don't lose any of your belongings.

If you are an animal lover, you can volunteer at the Soi Dog Foundation. Though the shelter is shut on Sundays, it is open on the other days and will be a treat to all animal lovers. Another speciality in the city is the Bangla Night Market. It's a popular place to go shopping but make sure you bargain.

Foods and Restaurant in Phuket

Thai food is quite popular in the city. You can try the local street food, or you can dine at a fancy restaurant. Phuket also has a few Indian restaurants that serve really good Indian food. If you feel like trying out some Thai cuisine, Blue Elephant is a place you must try. You can also head to the Red Duck restaurant at Kata Beach for some great food and good service. The Odysseus Greek Organic Restaurant at Kata beach is where you go to try some delectable Greek food. The ambience and decor only add to a fine dining experience. You can always take a walk on the beach after dinner before you call it a night.

Sam's Steaks and Grill at Patong is another popular restaurant that promises value for money. It's not too expensive, and it is completely worth your time. Head over to Green Tamarind Kitchen for good burgers with toppings that will be a treat for your taste buds. Do make sure you go to the Quip Sky Bar in Phuket Old Town for a fun night. It is the town's first rooftop bar, which makes it a highly recommended place. Wassa Homemade Bar in Patong is another rooftop bar that will serve you the best cocktails and a breathtaking view of the sunset. You can also visit the rooftop bars inside the hotels that you are staying in Phuket.

How to Reach Phuket

Direct flights to Phuket International Airport from India are quite limited. GoAir is one of the only airlines that fly directly to Phuket from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai. Bangalore, Delhi and Bangkok are the popular routes to Phuket via connecting flights. Overall, the flight connectivity to Phuket is excellent, and you will get better flight deals to Phuket after January since November to January is high peak season. Thailand offers visa on arrival to a couple of countries, and if you are one of those who qualify for this, you might have to wait in line after you land before you get out of the airport. But the authorities do try their best to reduce time. Also, if you have forgotten to carry your passport sized pictures by any chance, there is a photo booth right near the Immigration section. You can take a picture and pay for it in Thai Bahts. Not to mention, make sure you look out the window while you land to spot the beach on one side. You will get a ride to your hotel or your hostel at the airport, and it won't be too expensive. Make sure you also get a local temporary sim card that will be available outside the terminal. It will only help you access the internet without having to look around for WiFi. You will get cheap flight tickets to Phuket if you book during the off-season or by the end of the peak season. Getting around the city is not too difficult, either. You can either opt for public transport or go for a tuk-tuk or hire a taxi to get around Phuket city.