u/CloudDrifter20

Hey everyone,

I currently have a Fuji X-T50 with the 15-45mm kit lens and a Viltrox 35mm prime, and I’m looking to upgrade the kit lens to something significantly better.

I’ve narrowed it down to three options:

Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 Art
Fuji XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR II
Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8

The Sigma 17-40 really interests me because of the constant f/1.8, but I’m wondering if the 40mm long end will feel limiting as an everyday/travel zoom, especially since I already have the Viltrox 35mm.

The Fuji 16-55 II seems like the best all-round option because of the 16-55 range, relatively low weight compared to the original, weather sealing, etc., but obviously it’s quite a bit more expensive. Is it genuinely worth saving up for compared with the Sigmas?

Then there’s the Sigma 18-50, which seems like amazing value and would keep the X-T50 setup really compact, but I’m wondering if I’ll eventually wish I had just bought the Fuji.

I mainly shoot travel, street, landscapes, architecture, family/people, sunsets and some video, so I’m looking for something that can stay on the camera most of the time.

For anyone who has used two or more of these on a Fuji body:
Which would you choose for the X-T50 and why?
Is the 16-55 II actually worth the extra money, or is the Sigma 18-50 close enough that I’d be better off saving the difference?

And for anyone using the 17-40 f/1.8, do you find the limited zoom range annoying in real-world use?
Would love to hear from people who have actually used them rather than just comparing specs.

Hey guys, an going tomorrow to the known phi phi island trips with Maya bay and the lagoon, etc

Am going in a catamaran boat with a company called sawanu if anyone know them, my question is I am into photography but am not sure if its safe to take my camera with me? Does the boats get wet or anywhere else?

Hey everyone,

Traveling to Phuket with my wife and two young daughters (ages 4 and 6) in a couple of weeks, staying at a private pool villa for about 10 nights.

I asked the host about insects and lizards inside the villa and they were honest — said lizards will definitely enter inside. I totally get it’s a tropical island and I’m not expecting a sterile environment, but I just want to mentally prepare my family.

A few specific questions:

1.	How common is it to find geckos/lizards actually inside the bedroom?  
2.	Is there any real risk of them falling on you while sleeping?  
3.	Any tips to keep them out of the bedrooms specifically?

4. How did your kids react when they first saw one? 😅

We’re genuinely excited for the trip and not looking to cancel — just want honest first-hand experiences so we can manage expectations with the girls.

Thanks in advance 🙏

Hey everyone,

Planning a trip to Phuket soon and trying to figure out the scooter situation. I’ve done a lot of research and I keep seeing conflicting answers so hoping someone with recent experience can clear this up.

Here’s my situation: I’m based in Dubai and I have a valid UAE driving license — but it’s only for cars. I’ve never had a motorcycle or scooter license. This means I can’t get an International Driving Permit (IDP) that covers bikes, since the IDP only mirrors whatever categories are on your existing license.

So technically I have no legal way to ride a scooter in Thailand, even if I wanted to do it properly.

My questions:
1. How strictly do police in Phuket actually enforce scooter licenses for tourists?
2. Is this a “pay a fine on the spot and move on” situation or is it genuinely risky?
3. Are there checkpoints, and do they specifically target tourists?
4. What happens if you get into an accident without a valid license — does travel insurance become void?

I’m not trying to be reckless — I’m a confident driver and have ridden bikes casually before. But I want to go in with realistic expectations rather than pretending the legal side doesn’t exist.

Anyone been in the same boat recently? What was your experience?

Heading to Phuket for about 10 days during monsoon season. No weather sealing on the X-T50 so a bit cautious. Has anyone shot there or in Southeast Asia in summer with a non-sealed Fuji body? Was it fine or did you run into issues?

Hey everyone! Just finalized our family vacation to Thailand and I’m a bit nervous about one part of the itinerary.

We’re traveling with our two young kids (ages 4&8) and here’s the plan:

• Bangkok – 5 days
• Phuket – 10 days (staying in Rawai)

The Phuket accommodation is already booked and non-refundable so we’re committed regardless, but I’m genuinely curious — is 10 days in Phuket enough to stay busy and do something new every day, or will we run out of things to do?

This is our first time in Thailand so we don’t have a baseline. We’re a family with young kids so beach days, easy day trips, and family-friendly activities are more our speed. I’ve heard there are island hopping tours, elephant sanctuaries, Old Phuket Town, Phi Phi, Krabi day trips, water parks, etc. — but I don’t know how realistic it is to spread that across 10 full days without it feeling repetitive.

Anyone been to Phuket with kids? Did you find enough to fill the days, or did you hit a wall around day 6–7?

Appreciate any tips! 🙏

Hey everyone! Just finalized our family vacation to Thailand and I’m a bit nervous about one part of the itinerary.

We’re traveling with our two young kids (ages 4 &8) and here’s the plan:

• Bangkok – 5 days
• Phuket – 10 days (Staying in Rawai)

The Phuket accommodation is already booked and non-refundable so we’re committed regardless, but I’m genuinely curious — is 10 days in Phuket enough to stay busy and do something new every day, or will we run out of things to do?

This is our first time in Thailand so we don’t have a baseline. We’re a family with young kids so beach days, easy day trips, and family-friendly activities are more our speed. I’ve heard there are island hopping tours, elephant sanctuaries, Old Phuket Town, Phi Phi, Krabi day trips, water parks, etc. — but I don’t know how realistic it is to spread that across 10 full days without it feeling repetitive.

Anyone been to Phuket with kids? Did you find enough to fill the days, or did you hit a wall around day 6–7?

Appreciate any tips! 🙏

Hey everyone, heading to Phuket soon and staying at a private pool villa. House rules say no smoking weed inside OR outside with a huge penalty clause.

My plan is to smoke outside by the pool late at night after the family sleeps. Fully outdoors, no open doors or windows, discreet.

Has anyone dealt with strict villa policies like this? Is the clause something hosts realistically enforce or is it mostly a deterrent? What actually triggers it — is it just indoor use that’s the real concern?

Any experience welcome 🙏

Hey everyone, planning a family trip to Phuket this July (10 nights) and stuck between two very different accommodation options. Would love to hear from people who’ve done either.

Option A — Arinara Beach Resort, Bang Tao
The classic resort experience. Direct beach access, kids’ pool with waterslide, daily housekeeping, restaurants on site, beach bar. Everything in one place, zero logistics. Sounds perfect on paper for a family but I’ve seen some mixed reviews about maintenance and unexpected charges.

Option B — Private pool villa, Rawai/Nai Harn area
3-bedroom villa with a private pool, fully equipped kitchen, quiet residential neighbourhood. Rawai seafood market and Nai Harn Beach are literally 5 minutes away. Big Buddha and Wat Chalong around 20 min. More flexibility, more space, feels more like living in Phuket rather than just staying in a hotel.

Has anyone done a similar trip with young kids and gone the villa route over a resort? Did you regret not having the hotel infrastructure? Or did you love the extra space and freedom?

Also genuinely curious — is Rawai/Nai Harn a good base for getting around Phuket or does it feel like you’re stuck in the south?

Any experience appreciated 🙏

Hey everyone, planning a family trip to Phuket this July (10 nights) and stuck between two very different accommodation options. Would love to hear from people who’ve done either.

Option A — Arinara Beach Resort, Bang Tao
The classic resort experience. Direct beach access, kids’ pool with waterslide, daily housekeeping, restaurants on site, beach bar. Everything in one place, zero logistics. Sounds perfect on paper for a family but I’ve seen some mixed reviews about maintenance and unexpected charges.

Option B — Private pool villa, Rawai/Nai Harn area
3-bedroom villa with a private pool, fully equipped kitchen, quiet residential neighbourhood. Rawai seafood market and Nai Harn Beach are literally 5 minutes away. Big Buddha and Wat Chalong around 20 min. More flexibility, more space, feels more like living in Phuket rather than just staying in a hotel.

Has anyone done a similar trip with young kids and gone the villa route over a resort? Did you regret not having the hotel infrastructure? Or did you love the extra space and freedom?

Also genuinely curious — is Rawai/Nai Harn a good base for getting around Phuket or does it feel like you’re stuck in the south?

Any experience appreciated 🙏

Staying at Arinara Beach Resort in Kamala Beach from July 14–24 with my wife and two daughters. We’ve got a pretty full itinerary — Phi Phi day trip, James Bond Island, Big Buddha, Old Phuket Town, Nai Harn beach, and a few lazy beach days in between.

Found a rental deal at 800 THB/day for a small automatic. Thinking of renting for maybe 5–6 days out of the 10 rather than the full stay, and using Grab for evenings.

A few things I’m unsure about:

1.	UAE license — is it accepted by rental companies in Phuket or do I strictly need an International Driving Permit? I’ve read mixed things online, some say rental companies accept it, others say you’re technically uninsured without an IDP.  
2.	Driving conditions — how is it actually driving in Phuket as someone not used to left-hand traffic? Is it manageable on the main roads or genuinely stressful, especially around busy areas like Patong?  
3.	Worth it vs Grab? For the Kamala Beach area specifically, is having a car a real advantage or is Grab reliable and cheap enough to not bother?

Any real experience appreciated, especially from anyone who’s done Phuket in July or driven there as a non-Asian license holder 🙏

Staying at Arinara Beach Resort in Kamala Beach from July 14–24 with my wife and two daughters. We’ve got a pretty full itinerary — Phi Phi day trip, James Bond Island, Big Buddha, Old Phuket Town, Nai Harn beach, and a few lazy beach days in between.

Found a rental deal at 800 THB/day for a small automatic. Thinking of renting for maybe 5–6 days out of the 10 rather than the full stay, and using Grab for evenings.

A few things I’m unsure about:

1.	UAE license — is it accepted by rental companies in Phuket or do I strictly need an International Driving Permit? I’ve read mixed things online, some say rental companies accept it, others say you’re technically uninsured without an IDP.  
2.	Driving conditions — how is it actually driving in Phuket as someone not used to left-hand traffic? Is it manageable on the main roads or genuinely stressful, especially around busy areas like Patong?  
3.	Worth it vs Grab? For the Kamala Beach area specifically, is having a car a real advantage or is Grab reliable and cheap enough to not bother?

Any real experience appreciated, especially from anyone who’s done Phuket in July or driven there as a non-Asian license holder 🙏

Hey everyone,

We’re heading to Phuket in July for 10 days with the family (2 adults, 2 kids aged 8 and 4). We’ll be staying in Bang Tao and we’re planning to move around a lot — different beaches, viewpoints, day trips, temples, markets — basically a new area every day.

I’ve been going back and forth on whether to hire a dedicated driver for the duration vs just using Grab and Bolt as needed, and I’d love some real input from people who’ve been there recently.

A few specific questions:

1.	Is there a reliable way to find a trustworthy daily driver in Phuket? Anyone have a contact or know where to look (Facebook groups, hotels, local agencies)?  
2.	What’s a realistic daily rate for a driver + vehicle that can comfortably fit 2 adults and 2 kids with beach bags and a stroller? Half day vs full day?  
3.	Is the driver typically flexible — like can you tell them “wait here for 3 hours while we’re at the beach” or do they charge by the hour regardless?  
4.	For people who’ve done both — is Grab/Bolt actually reliable enough in Phuket, or do you run into surge pricing, driver cancellations, or waiting issues in areas like Bang Tao, Kamala, Kata?  
5.	Any specific areas where Grab is unreliable and you’d strongly recommend having a dedicated driver on standby?

The main appeal of a daily driver for me is the flexibility — being able to say “wait for us” or “let’s add a stop” without having to re-book, especially with young kids and a stroller. But if Grab is genuinely solid across the island and the savings are significant, maybe it’s not worth it.

Would love to hear from anyone who’s done either or both recently. Bonus points if you have an actual driver contact you’d recommend. 🙏

Planning a family trip with Bangkok Jul 9–13 and Phuket Jul 14–24. Aware that July is monsoon season in Phuket and the weather will be unpredictable.

Someone suggested flipping the days — spending more time in Bangkok and less in Phuket since Bangkok activities (temples, markets, food) are more rain-proof. But my thinking is that more days in Phuket actually gives us more buffer to catch good weather windows for beaches and island tours.

Has anyone done Phuket in July? Is 10 days enough to get decent beach/island days despite the rain, or would you genuinely recommend cutting it shorter and spending more time in Bangkok instead?

Traveling with kids so realistic expectations really help. Appreciate any input 🙏

Heading to Thailand in July with the family and would love to hear from people who’ve actually been there during this time — not just the weather averages.

We’re doing Bangkok from July 9–13, then flying to Phuket from July 14–24. I’ve read all the typical “monsoon season, expect rain, 17 rainy days” stuff but I know real life is different from statistics.

A few things I’m genuinely curious about:

For Bangkok (Jul 9–13):

•	Were the rains mostly short afternoon showers or did it rain all day?  
•	Did it affect temple visits / outdoor spots like Chatuchak or the riverside?  
•	Is the heat + humidity combo unbearable, or manageable if you plan well?

For Phuket (Jul 14–24):

•	How rough was the sea really? Could you still swim or do beach days?  
•	Were boat tours / island hopping (Phi Phi, James Bond Island, etc.) still running?  
•	Did you experience any of those “bad luck weeks” with 3–5 days of non-stop rain?  
•	Which beaches held up better in July — Patong, Kata, Karon?

General:

•	Any activities or areas you’d actually recommend avoiding in July vs. leaning into?  
•	Did the rain kill the vibe or was it actually fine once you adjusted?

Traveling with the whole extended family including kids, so trying to set realistic expectations rather than have anyone surprised. Any honest experience — good, bad, or mixed — is super helpful. Thanks in advance! 🙏

I have real results — 33x ROAS, $2.2M revenue for an e-commerce brand, reduced a real estate client’s CPL by 74% in 6 weeks. Managed $500K+ in ad spend across Meta, Google, TikTok, and Snapchat. Also build WordPress and Shopify sites.

Set up Fiverr and Freelancer.com profiles this week with full portfolios and real numbers in my descriptions.

For those who started from zero on these platforms:

•	How did you land your first client?  
•	Did you drastically lower prices at the start?  
•	How long did it realistically take?

Not looking for generic advice. Want to know what actually worked.