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)
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
Phuket at a glance
- Phuket is in Thailand.
- The nearest airport to Phuket is Phuket International (HKT).
- Getting in from the airport takes 45–60 min to the west-coast beaches.
- The best way in is Airport minibus, Grab, or a hotel transfer (metered taxis are scarce).
- A day in Phuket costs roughly $35–70 per person on a budget, $90–200 mid-range and $400+ at the luxury end.
- Sherry suggests 5–7 nights in Phuket.
- September is usually the cheapest month to visit Phuket, December is the busiest, and November offers the best value.
Common questions
- Which beach should I stay on in Phuket?
- Patong for nightlife, Kata/Karon for families, Bang Tao/Surin for upscale calm, Kamala for quiet. Old Town is inland for culture and food.
- Do I need a car in Phuket?
- Not really — most use Grab, hotel shuttles and longtail/speedboats. A scooter helps for beach-hopping if you ride confidently.
- How many days for Phuket?
- 4–6 nights: a couple of beach days, an island day trip, the Old Town and the Big Buddha.
- When is the best time to visit?
- November–March is dry season. May–October is greener and cheaper but wetter with bigger surf.
- Is Phuket good for families?
- Yes — calm west-coast beaches, resorts with kids’ clubs, elephant sanctuaries and easy day trips.
Where to stay in Phuket
Looking for hotels in Phuket? It helps to decide on an area first — our guide to where to stay in Phuket sets out which neighbourhoods suit which kind of trip.
Around Pool the options include 2BR Villa in Kathu l Pool Parking Villa, Ocean view Villa with Infinity Pool & King-bed, Private Luxurious Oasis W/Private Pool & Stunning View and *Luxury 4BR Villa with Pool & Golf Views V145.
Around Golf the options include Tinidee Golf Resort Phuket, Tinidee Golf Resort Phuket, Kinnaree Villa Loch Palm Golf by Chattha and Kinnaree Loch Palm Golf Villa by CHATTHA.
Around Loch the options include Svea's Loch Palm Lake View Villa and 普吉岛棕榈湾别墅酒店(Loch Palm Villa Phuket).
Elsewhere in the city you will also find Ananda Place Phuket, Villa Dooriya – 2 Beds, Tinidee Hotel At Phuket, Golfside 5BRVilla with Private Pool V192, Ramada Plaza By Wyndham Chao Fah, Red Mountain Villa, Beautiful Courtyard Villa With Private Pool And Gardens, Luxury4BRVillaPrivatePoolGolf Views v145, Hilltop Wellness Resort, The Royal Residence, Royal Residence Hotel, The Sky Dream, Loftpical Resort and The Bukit.