Perfect Paradise: Phuket — intelligenttravel.nationalgeographic.com

This December marks the tenth anniversary of the devastating tsunami that struck Southeast Asia. But Phuket, Thailand’s largest island, refuses to be defined by the tragedy. On a recent visit there, I discovered what makes this beach retreat so special and why, a decade after enduring one of the biggest natural disasters in world history, it’s stronger than ever.  Phuket has long been a holiday destination of choice for travelers based in Asia, Australia, and even Europe thanks to a bevy of direct flights that touch down in the Andaman Sea. But for North and South Americans, the island remains a bit off the radar, added either as a tropical afterthought to a culture-heavy Asia itinerary or ignored entirely. Why travel 20 hours just to sit by a pool?

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