Phuket: What to know before you go & Pre-Travel Tips

Phuket is?the largest island in Thailand.?That’s right, it’s an island! Phuket is located in the southwest of Thailand in the Andaman Sea. What many people do not know is that Phuket island is connected to the mainland by a bridge.

Is Phuket the right destination for me?

Phuket cannot be generalised into any one category. In other words: Phuket is so big that there is something for everyone to be found on the island. Therefore, you will find all sorts of people on Phuket: from party-goers to couples or families with children.?

However, if you’re looking for a quiet beach destination for your holiday, then Phuket would not be first on our list of recommendations. There are far better options like?Khao Lak,?Koh Lanta?or?Koh Phangan. However, there are exceptions on Phuket, namely regions or (exclusive) hotels where you don’t notice the?hustle and bustle.

If you go to Phuket, you have to be aware that the island is almost entirely geared towards tourism. That comes with its many disadvantages, no doubt. But there are also advantages. For example,?medical care?on Phuket is excellent. This is often not the case in other corners of Thailand. Thanks to the international airport, Phuket is probably (together with Khao Lak) the fastest accessible beach destination in Thailand.

Phuket is understandably an attractive travel destination for people who consider (tourist)?infrastructure?very important. Alternatively, Khao Lak (which is also located near Phuket Airport), is a great choice too.

Where should I stay on Phuket?

Phuket is much larger than you might think. To put it into perspective, if you travelled from the northern most point to the southern most point, then it would easily take you an hour by scooter – depending on the traffic situation, it can also be significantly longer. Since Phuket is so large and diverse, it is not so easy to find the right area to spend the night.

What we really mean by this is:?Avoid Patong!?Patong is the most popular place on Phuket, but believe us when we say… you really don’t want to stay here. This is the place where party meets sex tourism and it’s always busy no matter the time of day. We even dare to say that Patong is worse than you might imagine it to be. Kata is also not a great place to be and reminds us a little of Patong.

The?south?has the advantage of being quite close to the many sights (e.g. Big Buddha, Phuket Town). There are also some great view points in the south. Cape Panwa is a quiet corner in the southeast, which we can highly recommend.

The beaches in the?north?tend to be quite calm. So if that’s what you are looking for, then you will love the exploring the north (e.g. Bang Tao Beach). In this blog article, we will share with you our top tips and highlights on Phuket island and all our favourite beaches.

In summary: This is what to expect on Phuket

• Phuket is spoilt with lush green, hilly?landscapes?and is home to some really impressive sights such as the Big Buddha.
• The?sandy beaches?on Phuket are beautiful and heavenly, but unfortunately often overcrowded in the high season.
• That brings us to the not so nice side: In some corners you will definitely be confronted with?over-tourism. Phuket is an extremely popular destination for package travellers from Russia and China – especially in Patong and Kata. Crazy, but true: you’ll find a lot of signs in Cyrillic script.
• But don’t worry: there are also enough?places away from the crowds, so you can rest assured that it’s possible to have a great time on Phuket!