SherryStay Destination Guide
Phuket
Thailand's biggest island — pick your beach by personality.
About Phuket
Phuket is really two islands in one. There is the beach island — a string of west-coast bays each with its own character, from the buzzing sands and nightlife of Patong to the quieter, upscale calm of Surin, Kata and Kamala — and there is the older island behind it, easy to miss and worth seeking out. Phuket Old Town is a pastel grid of Sino-Portuguese shophouses left by tin-mining merchants, now a UNESCO-recognised city of gastronomy where Hokkien, Peranakan and Thai-Muslim cooking earns Michelin nods on ordinary street corners. Between the two, the Big Buddha watches from its hill, and longtail boats leave for the limestone islands of the Andaman Sea — Phi Phi, James Bond Island, the seasonal reefs of the Similans. Warm, green and easygoing, Phuket can be a luxury-resort escape, a backpacker’s base or an island-hopping launchpad, often all in the same trip. Come for the beaches; stay for the food and the islands offshore.
Avoid Patong unless you're 22 and partying. Kata or Karon for first-time families; Bang Tao or Surin for adult luxury; Old Phuket Town for culture + cheap eats.
Best For
Where to Stay
Patong
Loud, neon, party beach, ages 20–30
Kata / Karon
Family-friendly, calmer beaches, mid-range hotels
Bang Tao / Surin
Upscale, beach clubs, villa rentals
Old Phuket Town
Inland, Sino-Portuguese architecture, food + cafés, no beach
Money-Saving Tips
- 1Phi Phi group boats are ฿1,200; private speedboat charters from ฿8,000 — split between 6 friends and it's cheaper per person.
- 2Eat at roadside and beach-shack restaurants for ฿80–150 mains. Resort food is 5–10x markup.
- 3Use Grab for fixed-fare island transfers — the "private taxi" lobby will quote 3x.
Getting Around
- 1Phuket airport → Patong/Kata: Grab around ฿800–1,100, 60–90 min depending on traffic. Pre-book; not all drivers serve the airport.
- 2Songthaew (blue truck) on the coast roads is ฿30 per ride between beach towns — slow but cheap.
- 3Scooter rental is ฿250/day but Thailand crashes a huge share of tourist riders. Hire a driver for the day (~฿1,500) instead.
Most Common Mistake
Booking "Phuket" assuming all hotels are beachfront. The island is 50km long — many "Phuket" hotels are inland or in Phuket Town with no walkable beach.
5–7 nights
- • Phi Phi Islands (45 min by speedboat)
- • Krabi (2h by ferry)
- • James Bond Island (1h)
Hotels Sherry Recommends
Useful Local Hotel Phrases
Thai- Helloสวัสดีsa-wat-DEE
- Thank youขอบคุณkop-KOON
- Pleaseกรุณาka-roo-NAA
- Check-inเช็คอินchek-in
- Check-outเช็คเอาท์chek-aut
- Hotelโรงแรมrong-RAEM
- Receptionแผนกต้อนรับpa-naek-ton-rap
- Breakfastอาหารเช้าa-haan-CHAO
- Wi-Fiไวไฟwai-fai
- Taxiแท็กซี่taek-SEE
- Airportสนามบินsa-naam-BIN
- Train stationสถานีรถไฟsa-taa-nee-rot-FAI
- Helpช่วยด้วยCHOO-ay-DOO-ay
- How much?เท่าไหร่tao-RAI
- Where is...?อยู่ที่ไหนyoo-tee-NAI
