Hotels in Phuket

Introduction

Phuket is an island in the south of Thailand, with Phuket City as its capital city. It’s connected to the mainland by the Sarasin bridge. It is the largest island in Thailand with approximately 543 km² of land. Phuket is an international destination for all types of travelers, whether you’re traveling alone, as a couple, with friends, as a family, or for a business trip.There is a wide variety of international cuisines on most parts of the island, from top tier restaurants to street stalls. Seafood is a favorite cuisine of the island and is often caught fresh that day.

The best time to visit Phuket is in the cool season, from November until about February. During this time, you can expect hotels to be higher in price, and there will be a lot more people on the island, so you may have to plan more in advance than usual.

 

History

Phuket has a long history of being a destination frequented by travelers. Due to its geographical location, it’s been a favorite of explorers, traders and travelers from all over the world, all wanting their piece of the ivory, pearls, timber, animal goods and gems that Phuket has access to. In the 17th century, Phuket was colonized by the Dutch, French, and British. The French were the longest standing colonists until they were ousted in 1688 as a result of a Siamese revolution.

2004 was a tragic year for Phuket as it was one of the islands affected by the tsunami. Due to its position as a tourist destination, many of the more popular sites were fixed quickly, but there is still plenty of evidence on the island of more devastating times.

Today, Phuket remains an international vacation destination. It has an international airport, cuisines for every type of diet, accommodations to suite all needs and budgets, and of course offers all visitors a taste of Thai hospitality.

 

Surrounding Environment

The best strategy for visiting Phuket and finding the perfect accommodations for your stay is to pick the beach that has the right amenities, then find a hotel or guesthouse from there.  Below is a rundown of the beaches.

• Patong Beach is bustling with nightlife, backpackers, young couples, and is generally commercialized for the Western traveler. Chain stores such as Starbucks and McDonalds are a common sight in this part of town. People fill the streets at all and every hour of the day. The beach itself is clean but crowded.
• Laem Sing Beach  a few km north of Patong is a much quieter beach. Casual snorkeling and relaxing are the main draw here.
• Kamala Beach  more crowded and happening than Laem Sing but nowhere the crowds of Patong, Kamala is filled with midlevel accommodations and plenty of bars and restaurants that don’t usually have you needed to wear earplugs.  Kamala is near a fishing village where you can get some of Phuket’s freshest seafood.
• Surin Beach  similar to Kamala, Surin beach is relaxed but has everything you need. The beach is small, clean, and convenient. Surin is often recommended for families, and it doesn’t hurt that the sunset from this beach is spectacular.  There’s not much to explore nearby beyond some basic shops and restaurants, so if you want to wander the streets and check out the sites, this  beach may be too mellow for you.
• Karon Beach  a vast beach popular with all kinds of visitors, but much less crowded and industrialized than Patong. One of the largest beaches on Phuket, it has all the beach amenities one would need. The southern tip of the beach is usually busy with loud water sports, but since the beach is so large, this is easily avoidable by walking an additional few minutes down the beach. There are a lot of options for accommodations in Karon Beach area.
• Kata Beach  divided up by locals as Kata Yai and Kata Noi (Yai means big, noi means little), this underdeveloped area skips the fussy high rise hotels and delivers on more relaxed times. There’s no built up boardwalk here, and the wide availability of Thai vendors selling som tam, pad Thai, roti and grilled chicken (gai yang) gives this part of the beach a more authentic and local feel.

 

Hotels

There is a large range of accommodations for every kind of traveler in Phuket.

Eastin Yama Hotel Phuket

Located in Karon beach, one of the quieter but still developed beaches, this hotel offers most Western luxury amenities such as a pool, WiFi, 24 hour reception, room service, vehicle rentals, babysitting, fitness center, and beach towels. Breakfast buffets come with some rooms and can always be purchased separately.

 

The Tint at Phuket Town

Located in the old historic downtown of Phuket, this is a central location for those who don’t mind being a bit further from the beach. There’s definitely some hustle and bustle in Phuket Town, a plethora of restaurants, bars, cafes, small shops and shopping centers make this a convenient and ideal location for your stay in Phuket.

 

The Charm Resort Phuket

Luxury at its finest in Phuket’s most popular beach area. Less than 1km from Patong beach, you really can have it all with a fitness center, infinity pool, sauna, modern furnishings, spacious rooms, air conditioned rooms and a large TV with cable.

 

Chanalai Garden Resort

Located on Kata Beach, this picturesque hotel is staffed with friendly, helpful, and English speaking people ready to help you make the most of your stay. Near attractions such as Dino Park Mini Golf, elephant activities and less than 1km from Kata Noi Beach, there isn’t much that can beat this charming beach resort.

 

Cape Sienna Hotel & Villas

Located in Kamala beach, this hotel is  equipped with a giant pool for those lap swimmers, and fantastic amenities to relax and sunbathe for those recreational swimmers. This hotel offers breathtaking views of both ocean and mountains. A spa, hot tub, meeting facilities, fitness center, and hot sauna is also available to help you relax and get the most of your stay in Phuket.

 

Transportation

Plane

Due to its status as an international destination, Phuket is easily reachable by flights by way of Phuket International Airport (HKT) which has all kinds of connections from Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and more. HKT is the second largest airport in Thailand, second only to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi (BKK).

 

Transportation to and from Phuket International Airport

Airport Bus Phuket

Airport Bus Phuket serves routes to and from the airport.

At the airport, the bus counter is on the first floor outside the arrival gate.

The bus will stop at the following points:

• Indigo Pearl Hotel
• Baan Saku
• Pranangsang Temple
• Heroines Monument
• Boat Lagoon
• Erawadee Bypass
• Central / Big / Lotus
• Surakul Stadium
• Phantep Condotown
• Phuket Bus Terminal

Fares start from THB 30.

 

Taxi

Taxi’s counter can be found easily outside the airport building. Fares may vary depending on your destination. Commonly, it will cost around THB 400 to go to Phuket Town, and often times up to THB 800 to get to popular places such as Patong or Kata Beach. You are expected to haggle with the driver.

 

Transportation within Phuket

Tuk tuk

Tuk tuks are a staple of travel in Southeast Asia, and Phuket is no exception. You can easily find them around the city. Haggling is common, and fares are often quoted as per rider, and not total trip. One of the more expensive ways to travel.

 

City bus

Phuket city buses are light blue. It can easily be found around the popular tourist attractions, such as Kamala Beach, Old Phuket Town, and Patong Beach.

 

Motorcycle taxi

Motorcycle taxis could be the right choice if you are in a hurry. The drivers usually wear red or green vests, which makes it easier to identify them. You must agree on a price before you get on the bike. Haggling is common.

 

Taxi

You can easily find taxi around the airport and in the Phuket City area. There are no metered taxis on Phuket, so make sure to agree on a price with your driver prior to takeoff.

 

Motorcycle Rentals

Motorcycle rental fares start from THB 200 per day, depends on the type you’re renting. You’re often asked to give up your passport and/or a cash deposit prior to receiving the vehicle, and good companies will encourage you to inspect the vehicle and take photos of any damage prior to taking off with the motorcycle.

 

Car rentals

Car rental fares start at THB 800 per day, depends on the type of car.

 

Main Areas

Here are the main areas of Phuket:

• Patong Beach
• Karon Beach
• Kata Beach (Yai and Noi)
• Kamala Beach
• Bang Tao Bay
• Rawaii and Nai Harn Beach
• Phuket Town
• Surin Beach

 

Attractions

Old Phuket Town

If you are addicted to history, then you should come to Old Phuket Town. It is a place where you can see the temples, museums, and heritage buildings built during Portuguese colonial era in Phuket.

There is also a famous “Old Phuket Town Festival” that held annually near Chinese New Year. The festival consists various exciting performances, for example, boat rowing race and dance compilation. You can also taste many Thai dishes during the festival.

Opening hours: sunrise to sunset, daily.

Entrance fee: free

Big Buddha

One of the most iconic culture attractions in Phuket, the giant white Big Buddha is 45 meters high and is a major religious monument as well as a tourist attraction. You may borrow appropriate “temple clothes” at the front. Temple clothes include shoulders and knees covered, for both men and women. There’s a museum with information and history of the project at the base of the statue. The 360 view from the top is a fantastic place to take photos.

Opening hours: 8:00 to 7:30pm. Closed on Thai national holidays

Entrance fee: free

Patong Beach

Patong Beach is located in the western part of Phuket Island. The beach has 2 km of white sand coastline that is perfect for sunbathing.

Patong Beach has been so popular since 1980s and became a favorite beach for the Europeans. Today, Patong Beach becomes a major tourist destination offering lots of accommodations, bars and nightclubs.

Opening hours: sunrise to sunset, daily.

Entrance fee: free

 

Activities

Phuket FantaSea  

The top amusement park in Phuket, FantaSea brings Las Vegas style entertainment to Thailand. There’s a Thai show consisting of elephants, dancers and music honoring Thailand’s most legendary stories, as well as the Golden Kinnaree Buffet which is known as one of the largest and most extensive buffets in Asia.

Opening hours: Open everyday except Thursday. 5pm until late

Entrance fee: For buffet and show: 2,200 per adult, 2,000 per child. For show only, 1,800 per adult and child. Children under 4 are not charged.

 

Soi Dog Foundation

In Thailand, you’ll hear the word “soi” a lot, which means a small alleyway, or a street. In most parts of Thailand, there is often a large population of “soi” dogs, and this foundation is aimed at caring for dogs, cats, and other animals that don’t have a home. You can come and learn more about the foundation, sponsor an animal, adopt an animal, or perhaps spend some time with animals if they’re deemed fit for visitors.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 5:00pm. Closed Saturday and Sunday.

Entrance fee: free, although you may choose to make a donation.

 

Phuket Trickeye Museum

A fantastic way to take home some picturesque memories! A museum that lets you take seemingly fantastic and sometimes impossible pictures, this is a must do if you haven’t done it before. It’s better enjoyed with friends and family, but the friendly staff are able to help you take photos if you’re a solo traveler. To help avoid damage to the properties, visitors must take their shoes off before entering the museum.  

Opening hours: 9:00am to 9:00pm daily.

Entrance fee: Adults: 500 THB, Children: 250 THB.

 

Travel tips

• Phuket ATMs - ATMs in Phuket dispense your money first, and then your card. Make sure you wait for your card after getting your cash.
• Credit Cards - most of Phuket operates on a cash system. Some of the Western chains such as Starbucks and McDonalds will accept credit cards, but almost all vendors (including taxis and possibly your hotel) will only accept cash.
• Souvenirs - because Phuket is such an international hotspot, the prices here tend to be higher than they would be in other places you’ll likely visit while in Thailand, such as Chiang Mai and Bangkok. You’re better off getting gifts at a local market. Chiang Mai and Bangkok both have fantastic night markets every night of the week.