The largest island in Thailand, Phuket is renowned for its jade-coloured ocean, pristine beaches and an eclectic vibe that is unmatched. Add to this, a rich Phuketian culture and delectable Peranakan cuisine, and you are sorted for a fulfilling vacation. While there are many cheap hotels in Phuket, we recommend going for OYO rooms in Phuket for a memorable experience.
Start your exploration of Phuket with its sandy beaches. Being an island town, you will find plenty of beaches here. The best of them all is Kata beach. Swaying palm trees and laid-back vibe make this beach the perfect spot to chill. Go for snorkelling during the high season or opt for surfing in the low season. If solitude and isolation is more your thing, head to Freedom beach. A 500-metre long strip of white sand and clear blue water with a warm sunshine welcomes you at this slice of heaven. With not a single tourist in sight, you can lounge on a beach chair and go to sleep. Yes, it is that quiet!
Once you have got that perfect suntan, head to the livelier parts of the town. Up next, head to Old Phuket Town. Made up of meandering streets and alleyways, this part of Phuket is not that large but it is certainly historical and exudes a charm of its own. Among many other things, you will find plenty of Sino-Portuguese style shops, boutique stores and colourful shops bustling with tourists. Pick up a souvenir or two for your friends and family back home when you are walking around Old Phuket Town. As you immerse yourself in the old-world charm of this place, you will also find most of the walls filled with artistic murals and wall arts. All the content you need for Insta feed is found here.
If you are visiting the Old Phuket Town on a weekend, make sure you visit the walking street market. It is a scintillating experience with the entire street coming alive. Street-side stalls with different flavours emanating from it will draw you in. Interact with the locals or simply huddle in a small corner shop and enjoy whatever suits your palate.
To make the most of your experience, book budget hotels in Phuket.
OYO hotels in Phuket have room tariff that starts from ฿244 and can go up to ฿953. It depends on the location of the hotel, how far it is from main tourist attractions, and the kind of facilities available in the hotel.
Phuket has a plethora of places to shop at. Visit the Jungceylon Shopping Mall, Central Festival Phuket, Chillva Market and Jim Thompson to shop till you drop! You can also check out the Phuket Weekend market to find some cool jeans, t-shirts, jewellery, sports goods and second-hand items.
Visit the Soi Bangla Road for witnessing some street performances, vibrant lighting, cheap bars, magicians, hip hop dancers and much more! Be sure to check out the bars such as Soi Seadragon, Soi Freedom and Soi Tiger. Then head over to Illuzion for some amazing performances along with a disco. Another classy place to have a good time is the White Room Nightclub. You can experience some amazing performances at the Simon Cabaret and Phuket Fantasea.
If you just want to have some fun and play a little golf, visit the Dino Park Mini Golf course.
You can find small air-conditioned and open-sided buses in Phuket to travel around the Old Town. They are cheap and leave from the main bus terminal. You can also board Songthaew (a passenger vehicle) to get to places. Metered and non-metered taxis are also available all over the city. The other modes of commute include Tuk tuk, motorbike taxis and car/scooter rentals.
The climate of Phuket can be described as tropical. The monsoon season is between the months of May and October, where the highest rainfall is observed in the first part of May and the last part of October. The dry season is between the months of December and March. The overall temperature is high throughout the year and never drops below 30 degrees.
The different amenities that you will find in the hotels of Phuket include satellite TV, AC, CCTV surveillance, fridge, attached bathroom, spotless linen, free Wi-Fi, parking, twin single bed, tea/coffee maker, 24x7 check-in facilities and regular housekeeping.
The best way to reach Phuket is by taking a flight from Bangkok. There are also direct flights from countries such as India, Singapore, Germany and Malaysia.
There are frequent buses from the Southern Bus terminal at Bangkok that will take you to Phuket. You can also get on a train that goes from Bangkok to Singapore and get off at the Phun Phin railway station. From there, Phuket is another 5 hours by bus.
Phuket can be a fun place to spend your time if you know the best things to do. You can visit the giant Buddha, also called Big Buddha, which is located on top of Nakkerd Hills. This is a breathtaking example of Thai architecture that you must not miss. Then you can head over to the different markets of Phuket such as Chillva market, Phuket weekend market, Walking Street and Indy market.
Do not miss the outstanding Phuket Fantasea show on Kamala beach.
Phuket is a place that is surrounded by spectacular beaches that are perfect for a weekend getaway. From Phuket, you can visit picturesque islands such as Phi Phi Islands, which is very famous among the movie directors. You can visit Coral islands, which are studded with beautiful corals. There are other marvellous beaches such as Phang Nga Bay, James Bond Island and Koh Yao Yai.
If you want to immerse yourself in nature, head over to Khao Sok National Park. Along with many limestone formations and waterfalls, you will be able to witness hundreds of birds, plants and animals such as elephants, cats, deer, wild cats and tigers.
The top travel attractions in Phuket are Patong beach, Karon Viewpoint, Nui Beach, Mai Khao Beach, PromThep Cape, Koh Panyee, Phi Phi Island, James Bond Island, Kata Noi Beach, Rang Hill, Old Phuket Town, Wat Chalong, Tiger Kingdom, Nai Harn Beach, Big Buddha and Soi Bangla Road.