Every time I’m planning a trip to Phuket I imagine awesome white sand beaches, gorgeous sunsets, and strikingly beautiful palm trees. Yes, usually people go there to spend time relaxing on the beach and unwind in bars and shops. But aside from Patong, shopping, and nightlife, Phuket has a number of cultural highlights. Head to Phuket Town to discover Chinese and Hindu shrines, find Buddhist temples and a Mosque. Check out Phuket travel tips – Unique travel experiences and tips in Phuket.

With a long history as a waypoint and a port, Phuket has seen a lot of people passing through it over the centuries. The island is a melting pot of nationalities including Thais, Chinese, Malays, and Indians. Plus, recently an influx of Western expatriates who have taken advantage of affordable properties to settle there and Phuket City nightlife to have some fun. Phuket caters something for everyone from cultural explorers, families, to honeymooners, and solo backpackers.

Phuket is also famous for its beaches. With over 30 beaches making up Phuket coastline, you can find the busiest ones along the West Coast. However, some of them have become victims of overtourism and have lost some of their charms. Patong Beach is the largest and busiest of the beach towns, but in my opinion, it has become overdeveloped. It is now full of fast food restaurants and expensive shopping malls. The central bar area has become quite notorious as a red light district. If you visit Patong at night take only what you are prepared to spend and be wary of pickpockets.

Phuket Travel Tips-Unique Travel Experiences And Tips In Phuket

 
Phuket Island nestles in the Andaman Sea off the south-east coast of Thailand. It is connected to the Thai mainland by a 500-meter bridge in the island’s north. It is part of Phuket Province, the most prosperous of all the Thai provinces and derives its income largely from tourism. Those looking for quieter, more charming beach areas should look for them away from the West Coast. Or do careful research on the options still available near Karon and Kata beaches. Many very luxurious holiday developments and branches of the famous hotel chains can be found on Phuket Island. Tourists visit Phuket from all over the world, and it is busy throughout the year.

How to Get to Phuket

Although relatively small, Phuket is a popular travel destination so there are many ways to get to the island. Most overseas visitors will arrive at Phuket International Airport (IATA: HKT) in the north of the island, which is about 45 minutes by taxi to many popular areas. Metered taxis are readily available but you do have to pay an additional 100 baht airport surcharge. Alternatively, you can catch an air-conditioned shuttle bus from the airport to Patong Beach, stopping at several of the coastal resorts on the way.

Bangkok to Phuket

While some 10-day Thailand itineraries include Bangkok, Phuket, and Phi Phi Island, you should know how to get from Bangkok to Phuket cheaply and as fast as possible. There are actually three options at the moment: by plane, express bus, train with a change to a bus.

Low-cost carriers Velvet Sky and Thai AirAsia offer the cheapest flights from Bangkok to Phuket. You can find fares for only around $32, excluding meals, baggage allowance, and other fees. The cost of the ticket for the plane starts from $40, the flight duration is 1.5 hours.

Another option is to take a train from Bangkok to Surat Thani and then hop on a bus to Phuket. Yup, there are no direct trains from Bangkok to Phuket, so it usually takes a longer time to get to Phuket. The bus part from Surat Thani to Phuket takes 5 hours and the ticket including both forms of transport costs from $35. I haven’t done this trip yet because it takes too much time.

Traveling by bus from Bangkok to Phuket is the cheapest way to travel. The express bus usually departs from Sai Tai Mai Bus Terminal and it takes 12 to 14 hours to get to the island. If you’re planning to do Phuket on a budget, the bus ride will set you back around $22. Check private companies like Phuket Travel, Phuket Central, and Bus Express to book your bus ticket online.

Phuket Airport to Patong, Kata, or Karon Beach

If you’re in a hotel or resort in Patong, Karon or Kata Beach, you can reach these Phuket destinations by bus, minivan, or taxi.

If you decide to travel to any of the resorts in Patong, Kata, or Karon by bus, then exit the airport and turn left. Look for the cream-colored buses with the blue strip. These run directly to Patong, Kata, and Karon. Airport buses start operating at 7:30 AM. On my recent trip to Phuket, I got the ticket to Kata beach for ฿200. If you need to get to Patong Beach the fare is ฿150.

You can also leave the airport with a minivan. It will take you straight to your hotel but you can expect the road trip last a little longer because drivers doing their best to cram up to 15 people into them at once! They will then drop off each passenger at their hotels. You can find the counters at the ground floor of the Arrival Terminal. I always opted for buses because minivans are known to take passengers to tour agencies to convince them to purchase unnecessary goods or services.

Getting Around Phuket

As I have already mentioned, there are no trains on Phuket Island. However, there are some aircon regular bus services.

Many locals use songthaews which are small converted pick-up trucks with bench seats. These shuttles run regular routes, stopping to pick up and drop off passengers at convenient points. There is a bell to signal the driver on the ceiling. They are quite cheap but can get uncomfortably crowded, with some passengers having to stand on rear platforms. During my recent trip to Phuket, I noticed that some locals bring bicycles with them to carry in songthaews. So take advantage of a good opportunity!

As in other parts of Thailand, metered taxi drivers do not necessarily turn on their meters. I have become wise to this and always check that the driver will operate his meter before getting into the taxi.

You won’t find the iconic three-wheelers in Phuket. Instead, an upgraded mini truck version often painted bright red, blue or yellow will get you anywhere on the island. They are fun but you will generally pay around ฿200 to get anywhere between Patong and Kata. Traveling long distance with a four-wheeler will make your ride much more expensive.

If you want to keep the costs down, rent a scooter. You will be spoilt for choice as there is a large variety of rental options. I’ve seen everything from goofy scooters, comfortable cruisers, to dirt bikes. And what’s great is that they offer cheap (฿200-400 per day), adventurous and fun way to get around Phuket. Although I would recommend a helmet, some basic riding skills, and travel insurance just so that you don’t end up paying more than you expected.

Language and Currency

As a popular travel destination that hosts tourists from around the world, English has become widely spoken in Phuket Island. In some shops and restaurants, Russian is also spoken. If you learn a few greetings and pleasantries in Thai, you will get lots of smiles. I found it pleasant to return the ‘wai’ – the common Thai greeting where the palms are pressed together with a gentle bow.

The currency of Phuket is the Thai Baht and you will find plenty of exchange booths almost everywhere in Phuket and at the airport. While exchange rates at the airport are bad, I recommend withdrawing from one of the many ATMs inside the terminal. If you don’t have a MasterCard/Visa card, just exchange enough to cover your immediate expenses. Exchange booths run by the major Thai banks operate in all the tourist areas, and rates are clearly displayed. You will need your passport to exchange cash. Although some restaurants and hotels accept credit cards, smaller eateries prefer cash.

Phuket Weather. When to Visit Phuket

Phuket is hot and humid throughout the year with temperatures on average in the low-thirties Celsius.

The best time to go to Phuket for beach weather is from December to March. This is when Phuket gets the least amount of rain and sees a lot of sunny days (as well as tourists). If you’re fighting for space, November is the boundary between seasons and is a good time to enjoy pleasant weather with smaller crowds. Early November marks the end of the rainy season, yet falls just before the peak season, with flights and accommodation still at their lowest rates, making it another good time for visiting Phuket.

April and May are the hottest months in Phuket just before monsoon hits the island. Right after Songkran (Thai New Year) in late-April, the crowds begin to thin out while the weather is still great and the hotels drop prices.

On the contrary, if shopping in Phuket Town is your thing, consider visiting during the monsoon season from mid-June through mid-August. You’ll likely get a better price and enjoy even greater discounts during the Amazing Thailand Grand Sale. Be sure to check markets away from the tourist resorts, where there are typically much better deals. You can expect discounts that range from 10 to 80 percent.

Shopping in Phuket

I have noticed that goods in Phuket are a little more expensive than in Bangkok. However, there are many street markets and a great number of vendors selling their goods at discounted prices all year round. But oftentimes, to get the best price you have to haggle. Sarongs, printed T-shirts, inlaid jewelry boxes, embroidered pictures, and wooden carvings are readily available and can come for a better price.

Like in Bangkok, Phuket has a number of night markets that offer yummy food, drinks, and shopping. Besides all the stalls along the roadside, there are Ocean Plaza and Jungceylon in Patong. If you don’t want to get closer to Patong because of its bad reputation, there are also many stalls at Patak Road in Karon and Taina Road near Kata beach.

Travel Resources

If you find yourself in Phuket Town during the weekend be sure to visit Naka market at Chao Fa West road. It’s open Saturday and Sunday from 16:00 (4:00 PM) till 21:00 (9:00 PM). I remember my first visit to this market. I wasn’t planning on buying anything but ended up with a pile of cheap fake T-shirts. Yes, you won’t find aircon vendors here, but you can find pretty much anything here, with some good cheap bargains. Aside from shopping it’s a great place to sample traditional Thai food, mingle with locals and watch people living their daily lives.

If you want a more Westernized shopping experience, visit the Central Festival Mall on the outskirts of Phuket Town. Very similar to the European Malls (as well as to Jungceylon) it has a number of restaurants, electronics stores, and high-end shops. I found it to be a decent place where you can escape the heat, and unwind from the day’s hectic sightseeing. While you can’t actually haggle with the shop owners here, you can still negotiate a price while buying from the stalls. I did this a number of times but you really have to hunt for it.

Top Things to Do in Phuket

Take a One Day Trip in Phuket

Most people visit Phuket Island for the beaches and water sports and there is an abundance of both. Some of the smaller offshore islands, such as Phi Phi and Similan Islands, have the clearest water for snorkeling and scuba diving.

Oftentimes, the easiest way to arrange a day trip from Phuket is to speak to your hotel first. They always have some options to offer. At the same time, avoid going with random companies selling unprofessional trips to unsuspecting tourists. Tours from reputable companies would cost anything between 1500 THB to 2200 THB depending on the season and how far is your hotel from the main pier.

One day in Phi Phi island left me wanting more though. A day trip is great but you don’t get to experience everything and most tours won’t take you to Vikings caves and Monkey Island. I’d recommend spending at least 3 nights and take the morning ferry over and afternoon back to get the most out of your trip.

The Big Buddha of Phuket

If you want to get a glimpse of Phuket’s culture, I say go on a trip to the Big Buddha (Phra Phuttha Mingmongkhon Akenakkhiri). It sits serenely on a hilltop near Chalong and can be seen from miles around. The statue is well worth climbing the hill for a close-up look. Take your camera to capture stunning coastline views – especially at sunset.

When I was planning my trip to the Big Buddha, I found that most roadside tour agencies charge too much (around 800 Baht per trip) for their services. Since I was staying near Kata Beach, I found songthaew that runs from Kata to Phuket Town. While the songthaew won’t take you directly to the Big Buddha, it will get you as close as possible so you can hire a tuk-tuk to get up the hill.

After reaching the driveway with a big sign, I found out there were four more miles to go! This is when my haggling skills came in handy. I negotiated the price of 400 Baht with the tuk-tuk driver who had his car broken some 10 minutes later. After 40 minutes of waiting for my driver to repair his car, we finally reached the Big Buddha. To be perfectly honest, I think the stunning views at the Chalong Bay are totally worth the climb!

The Gibbon Rehabilitation Project

Another great place to visit in Phuket, especially for animal lovers, is the Gibbon Rehabilitation Sanctuary in Thalang district. The sanctuary’s aim is to reintroduce captured gibbons into the wild, and it has had some success at this. There are several gibbons on view, in spacious enclosures, who are either waiting for re-introduction, or whose injuries or mental state make rehabilitation impossible. I enjoyed talking to the very knowledgeable volunteer but was disturbed to learn how some of these agile small apes had been exploited and mistreated on the island.

Adjacent to the Sanctuary is the Khao Phra Thaeo National Park and it is a pleasant walk through the virgin rainforest up to the TonSai waterfall.

Food in Phuket

In my view, one of the most enjoyable aspects of eating while in Phuket is to find a quiet beachfront restaurant (of which there are many). You can enjoy an ice-cold Singha or Chang beer as the sun goes down, and follow this up with some freshly cooked dim sum or tom yum goong. The Thais pride themselves on their cooking skills and if you eat the local food, you will rarely be disappointed. My personal favorites are Pad Thai noodles, pomelo salad and mixed vegetables lightly cooked in coconut milk.

Although I think some parts of Phuket Island have been spoiled by over-development, there are still many pleasant parts where you can go for a calm and fulfilling Phuket vacation.

Where to Stay in Phuket

Should you prefer to book your travels directly then there are great options on Agoda for travelers looking for luxury and backpackers on a tight budget. (There are many Airbnb rentals in Phuket for under $40 too!)

If you’re looking for accommodation that caters to singles and those on a backpacking trip, you’ll most likely want to have close and easy access to area attractions as well as nightlife and shops. In that case, take a closer look at Patong, Karon and Phuket Town. It’s no secret that Patong and Karon have the densest concentration of places to stay in Phuket for singles.

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With a large assortment of resorts and hostels to choose from, Phuket has something for everyone and caters to every taste and orientation.

Patong bustling coastal town has everything an avid partygoer might need. From Bangla Road, lovely sandy beaches, hawkers selling drinks to a massive amount of fellow travelers from all over the world.

If you are looking for a hotel in Patong, I can still recommend the Baipho Lifestyle Residence, where I also once spent a few nights. Short distance to the popular bars and restaurants, as well as to the beach. The hotel offers spacious rooms and modern amenities in the main tourist center of Phuket. Check out Agoda for more best places to stay in Phuket to party.

Where to Stay in Phuket For First-Timers

Kata Beach is one of the loveliest places to stay in Phuket. Nestled in the southwest corner of the island, Kata is perfect for travelers looking for a great mix of relaxed beach vibes, thriving party scene, and a variety of outdoor cafés and family-friendly restaurants. Kata is nowhere near as hectic as Patong but it is a really convenient place to stay if you’re after heritage and culture.

I stayed at the Kata Country House during my recent Phuket trip. The modern boutique hotel is nicely decorated, has a small swimming pool for the visitors and an absolute feel-good factor. The friendly staff is happy to help and you can easily hire a day trip with them to explore the area around Thailand’s biggest island.

More than just cool, Kata is also my pick for where to stay in Phuket for couples. Kata is home to a golden sand beach, massage outlets and wellness centers, and a number of quiet guesthouses in Kata Centre, Southern Kata, and Kata Noi.

Top Budget Hotels in Phuket

Alen Guesthouse. Patong.
Pennapa Chalet. Chalong.
La Maison Ya Nui Resort Phuket. Naiharn.
Delish House. Patong.
The Memory at On On Hotel. Phuket Town.

Top Phuket Hostels and Dorms

Backpack Hostel Kohyaoyai. Koh Yao Yai.
Shunli Hostel. Phuket Town.
Goodnight Hostel. Phuket Town.
Hugger Hostel. Phuket Town.
Lupta Hostel Patong Hideaway. Patong.

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