The England all-rounder was named the IPL's most valuable player after a revelatory debut season for Rising Pune Supergiant, making good on an eye-catching £1.7million price tag.
But he was unable to help his team-mates in Sunday's final defeat by Mumbai Indians, having joined up with an England training camp in Andalucia.
Former England skipper Kevin Pietersen, commentating at the IPL, decried Stokes' absence in favour of "beers in Spain" but Stokes, who captioned a video of a team gym session using the same three words, stood his ground.
"There was a lot of stuff around saying I should have been able to play but it was agreed from the start...that was as long as I was going to stay regardless of what happened," he said.
"I don't know...it's timing. I still managed to play 14 games in the group stages. It was an amazing experience but I won't be too disappointed that I wasn't out there playing.
"Playing for England is always the main priority in decisions like that, it was made very clear at the start of the tournament. The team and management of Pune were always aware of that, so I can't really add too much."
Stokes saw his stock soar to new levels during his stint with 12 wickets and 316 runs - including a stunning 103 not out against Gujarat Lions.
His MVP gong was merely confirmation of his status as one of the hottest properties on the global circuit and marks him out as the man to watch as England look to win the Champions Trophy on home soil this summer.
"You don't play for awards like that, you go to try and perform," he said. "I'm just glad I came away with a great experience and I feel my game got a lot better having worked with some of the best players in the world and specialist coaches in that form of the game.
"I don't play for awards like that but I was just glad I was able to perform for the team."
Stokes, who missed the curtain-raising internationals against Ireland along with fellow IPL players Chris Woakes and Jos Buttler, is back in England colours on Wednesday for the opening match of Royal London One-Day Series against South Africa.
Three games against the world's number one 50-over side represents a stern test but Stokes is happy to embrace England's status as favourites.
"It's always exciting to play in front of a home crowd and it's a massive series against South Africa," he said.
"They're a very strong side and the Champions Trophy is the eight best in the world. Any team can beat anyone, so we're looking at it as a good run-in to the tournament and some good competitive cricket.
"We're hoping to take some momentum in, being one of the favourites. We've been amazing the last two years and we go into this knowing that teams are maybe fearing us."
