If you’re planning a trip to Thailand you’ll probably want to start by seeing Bangkok. Especially if you’re coming straight to the country from the US or Europe it’s much easier and less expensive to arrive in the capital. But after several days of the noise and traffic there you might be more than ready to spend time on a peaceful beach in Phuket’s tropical sun. The town of Patong is a popular choice among travelers.
Looking at the low fare calendar on Skyscanner one way flights on most dates start at $19-20. Getting to a tropical island costs the same as a cocktail in the airport. Expedia shows private hotel rooms on the island starting as low as $10. With prices that low it would be crazy not to spend at least a few days relaxing at a Phuket beach.
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Where to Stay in Phuket
Although it may not look that way on a map, Phuket Island is pretty big. The part of the island that most visitors are going to concern themselves with is the town of Patong and everything south of it.
I decided to stay in the city because I like to walk everywhere. My room in the Hotel Citrus (see the full review) was just a few minutes’ walk to the beach and right in the middle of all the shopping and dining you could ask for. But it’s a mistake to come to Phuket and think you can limit yourself to Patong Beach.
There’s a lot more to see than just the town and you’ll need a way to get around the island. Car rentals start at $25 USD per day at the airport. If you’re staying less than a week this is definitely the way to go for comfort and convenience. You get to start right from the airport and zip around with the air conditioning on all the time, and you’ve got a place to store beach gear when you’re away from the hotel room. Booking a scooter or just relying on Grab are also workable options.
Getting used to the idea that you need transportation daily really opens up your hotel options in Phuket. While there’s nothing wrong with staying in Patong, I think it’s preferable to stay near a smaller, quieter beach and drive into Patong for the nightlife and attractions rather than stay there and use it as a base for exploring. It’s only 30 minutes by car from Patong to Rawai.
Arriving in Phuket
Coming and going from the airport is easily the least enjoyable part of a trip to Phuket. The airport itself is fine. It’s large, clean and modern. Flights from cities throughout Southeast Asia are very affordable.
But the airport is in the northern part of the island while most of the beaches are in the south. So it’s an hour’s drive over mountains each way. It doesn’t sound too bad but that might be the same amount of time you spend on the plane.
Most places in Asia fully embrace the rideshare service Grab. The airport in Bali even has its own Grab lounge for passengers to wait for their rides. But it’s a different story in Phuket. The airport has a strict Grab ban. The drivers won’t try to sneak in to pick up a passenger. If you want to get a grab you have to walk all the way off the airport property with your luggage in tow. The dedicated pickup spot is just a random strip of curb along the highway (view on map). It’s not well-marked or easy to find. If you try to hail a Grab in a different spot there’s going to be a lot of confusion when the driver tries to find you.
It’s a poor experience for passengers that makes renting a car that much more appealing. If you don’t get a car you should probably skip the Grab and just take a taxi. You can even reserve one in advance. Many companies on Viator are showing airport service from $15 so it shouldn’t be too much to forego a Grab.
Staying in Patong
On one hand Patong is too large and too dominated by tourism to feel like the exotic destination it is. It’s a fine beach town with a ton of amenities and western brand names. On the other hand it’s small enough that you can walk all over town and it doesn’t feel like a proper metro city.
The beach is noticeably better than what you’ll find in Pattaya, and the turned-up-to-eleven vibe of beer bars and girls is confined to just one walking street. The chairs that line the beach can be rented in pairs at a rate of 200 baht all day. You can even leave the beach and go have lunch or whatever as long as you leave a few towels and such to hold your place. There are loads of restaurants along the beach road with a full range of Thai food, other Asian specialties and western favorites.
Folks are around the beach to bring you cold water, juices, and beer right to your chairs. It’s actually pretty nice and doesn’t come off as pushy and opportunistic the way it does in Bali’s Kuta Beach. Coconuts, snacks and even massages are available on the beach. There’s a nice shaded promenade running between the beach and the street. Unfortunately it’s ruined entirely by the overwhelming density of motorbikes. Heavy traffic on the beach road at all hours detracts a lot from the overall atmosphere.
Phuket’s Other Beaches
The towns of Karon, Kata, Rawai and Kamala are all their own distinct little beach enclaves. Each one is a little smaller and more laid back than Patong. But they offer plenty in the way of hotels and amenities. There are several other beach areas scattered along the coastline among these towns. These are the sort of beaches you see on Instagram, with white sand and rock islands. It isn’t until you get here that you feel like you’ve really arrived. This is what it is you came to see.
Unless you’re just after 48 hours of hard partying I’d recommend staying in one of these towns. Prices are comparable to Patong. Getting around the island is not difficult. If you rent a car you have the luxury of being able to drive around and explore. You won’t need to rely on internet searches to know where you want to go in advance. With all the beaches, mountains and attractions on Phuket Island it’s hard to overstate how valuable that is. Another way to take the planning out of it is to book a tour before you arrive. There’s a long list of options for tours by land and by sea.
Paradise Beach
I particularly enjoyed Paradise Beach, which is on the peninsula west of Patong just a 10 minute drive from town. It’s a private beach so you do have to pay admission but the price is negligible for the day. I can’t even remember what it was.
Paradise isn’t large but it feels like a private resort in all the right ways. The only people there are ones who went out of their way to get there, despite there being free beaches all over the island. There’s enough shade trees and amenities that you can reasonably stay all day without becoming too hot and fatigued in the sun. Trails line the rocks and cliffs nearby. Visitors who take these small hikes are rewarded with incredible views. Paradise is another place on Phuket that’s highly resistant to Grab. You’re going to need alternate transportation to get there.
How Long Should You Stay in Phuket?
If You’ve only got two nights to spend Phuket is still worth visiting. But if you’re planning ahead you should consider staying for a week or more. Prices are cheap enough that budget is not a concern and there is enough to see and do to fill a week easily.
If you’re traveling long term in the region Phuket is an excellent place to base yourself during a longer stay. It’s sort of a goldilocks island that has everything, but not too much of anything.
