FAQs about Best Places to Stay in Phuket

Welcome to my Frequently Asked Questions about the best places to stay in Phuket, you can see more about where to stay in Phuket in this guide Best Areas to Stay in Phuket.

Where Is The Best Area To Stay In Phuket?

I guess it all comes down to personal taste, but I think that Surin Beach is my favorite Phuket destination. It has a quiet and uncluttered beach and good infrastructure without feeling overdeveloped.

It is a little way out of the tourist center of the island but you can get to the busier beaches and shopping centers easily and fairly quickly by taxi. You can find good accommodation from mid-range up to luxury, and there are some lovely little private beaches in the area that are great fun to explore.

Where To Stay In Phuket For Couples/Honeymoon?

Couples and honeymooners are typically looking for somewhere a bit special to be together. Nai Thon Beach has attractive and exclusive hotels that are a bit off the beaten track but still lively enough to provide many restaurants, bars, and entertainment options.

Nai Thong has a beautiful uncrowded beach that is perfect for those “him and her” holiday snaps that are sure to make friends and family green with envy.

A stay here or at nearby Surin Beach is a great couples choice. If you’re looking for somewhere busier but still tasteful, then maybe try Kata Beach.

Where To Stay In Phuket For Family/With Toddler/Baby?

Kamala Beach is the area that has the best family-friendly resorts and facilities in Phuket. There are larger resorts here with creches and daycare facilities so that mom and dad can have the occasional well-deserved moment of peace. 

The beach is pretty and comparatively safe for kids. There are also plenty of child-friendly things to do, like play areas, kids’ pools, and shows. Good alternatives to Kamala for young families are Kata and Karon Beaches to the South and  Bang Tao Beach to the North.

Where Should I Stay In Phuket For The First Time?

A first time visitor to Phuket who is looking for a lovely beach, a lively area, and a central location should choose Karon Beach as a great example of what the island has to offer.
Sure, Karon Beach has a lot of tourist development, but there are some great places to stay, a lot to do, and a beautiful beach. What more could you ask for? 

Well, you could ask for mad parties, in which case the choice would be Patong. Or if you wanted culture and history, then head straight for Phuket Town.

Where To Stay In Phuket For Singles/Solo?

Phuket Town has the best budget and mid-range backpacker and traveler style accommodation, and it’s a great place to stay if you want to meet fellow travelers. It is also a busy and relatively safe location for solo travelers to stay. 

Solo travelers looking for the beer-bar and hedonistic side of Phuket nightlife will, of course, head straight to Patong, where they are unlikely to be alone for long.

Where To Stay In Phuket For Young Adults?

Kata and nearby Karon Beach are great choices of destination for families traveling with young adults. There are some good hotels with lots of things to do, and the villages have plenty of markets, a temple and other points of interest to discover.

The sandy beaches have attention-grabbing activities such as parascending, snorkeling, and sometimes surfing. There are shops and markets nearby, and you aren’t too far away from the cinema in Patong. 

If you want a place that has a lot going on for young adults, then this central location is a great choice.

Where To Stay In Phuket With a Group of Friends?

Choosing the best location to stay in Phuket with a group of friends depends on what you and your friends want from your visit. If you are all party monsters, then choose Patong. If you want to all stay together, then maybe book a dorm in Phuket Town and explore the culture. 

Perhaps the most balanced option is to choose Kata Beach or Karon Beach. These places have great beaches and plenty going on. They are close to Phuket Town and the other central beaches, so they have plenty to offer everyone.

Where To Stay In Phuket On A Budget?

Phuket Town is the best place for budget and independent travelers to stay. There are plenty of guesthouses and dorms, and you will find everywhere is well equipped for the needs of budget travelers. 

Phuket Town is also a thriving town meaning that good cheap food, markets, and the like are on your doorstep. It is also a fascinating place, full of character and history.

If you are a beach-lover and want to stay by the beach on the West Coast, then there are some good budget hotels and guesthouses at most of the beaches. But you’ll find that most restaurants, bars, and other activities set prices for a tourist budget. 

For this reason, you might choose to stay in a big, busy beach resort like Patong. There are less busy areas a little out of the center with cheaper hotels, and the huge supply of things to do inevitably means that you will be able to find budget options.

Where To Stay In Phuket For Nightlife/Party?

Patong is the party center of Phuket, and probably of the whole South of Thailand. It is a buzzing, in-your-face, white-knuckle mix of bars, beer bars, and go-go bars, together with plenty of more salubrious and sophisticated beach bars and restaurants. If you’re looking for a party, then just head to Patong.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that Patong is the only place to party in Phuket. The island has millions of visitors every year and you’ll be able to find bars, restaurants, and nightlife at even the most out-of-the-way beaches. It’s just a question of deciding how hard you want to party.

Where Do Celebrities Stay In Phuket?

Celebrities, as a rule, try to shun the limelight when they go on holiday. When on holiday, they want to avoid paparazzi photos and signing autographs. That doesn’t mean that Phuket isn’t popular with celebrities, many of whom visit the island, and some even have homes here. There are some super-exclusive resorts in Surin Beach that cater to celebrities and the well-heeled.

Phuket is now one of Thailand’s main locations for super luxury villas. As you travel around the island, you will see some stunning villas commanding majestic views from the hillsides. Some of these villas are owned by celebrities as holiday homes and second (or third, fourth, etc.) homes. Just don’t go knocking on their doors!

Where To Stay In Phuket Best Beach?

This question is almost impossible to answer, simply because the West Coast of Phuket does not have a bad beach; they are all beautiful long stretches of sand or small, hidden-away sandy coves. These stunning beaches, more than anything else, are the feather in the cap of Phuket tourism.

If forced to pick just one, then I would say that Kata Beach takes some beating. Sure it can get quite busy, but even in peak season, the beach isn’t overrun. Here, the beautiful azure waters of the Andaman Sea lap against the soft, golden, crystal sands. It’s enough to make you get all poetic.

Where To Stay In Phuket In December/for Christmas? 

Christmas is peak season in Phuket. The first thing to suggest is that you choose a place to stay well in advance to be sure of finding somewhere that is right for you. 

Most hotels and resorts will organize something special for Christmas. Often there are buffet dinners and parties. It is a good idea to check first with the place where you are interested in staying to inquire about their special Christmas events and see if they appeal to you.

In terms of which beach to choose, if you want big parties, then try Patong Beach. If you are with family, then a good choice would be Bang Tao Beach, with its large family-friendly resorts.

Where To Stay In Phuket Quiet?

Nai Thon Beach is a great choice of destination if you are looking for a perfect beach that isn’t too busy. Nai Thon has a small but excellent collection of largely mid-range hotels, and a delightful beach. You will find enough bars and restaurants to offer a decent amount of variety. But the beach is quiet and unspoiled, and the small community atmosphere is charming. 

If you want to unwind in a beautiful, comfortable place and get away from the stresses of everyday life, then this is the beach for you. 

Where To Stay In Phuket For 1 Night?

First up, are you really sure that you can only spare one day for lovely Phuket? It is big and beautiful, and there is a lot to see. But sometimes you just don’t have the time. 

The simple solution is to stay somewhere close to where you will depart from the following day. If you are traveling onward on a flight from Phuket International Airport, then Mai Khao Beach is the perfect choice to spend the night. It is right next to the airport, and you’ll find some excellent hotels for all budgets. The beach is very pretty and will give you at least a small taste of Phuket.

If you are leaving by ferry, then you should spend the night in Phuket Town. Most ferries to other islands depart from here and you can easily spend a day exploring the museums, shopping, and architecture of Phuket Town.

Where To Stay In Phuket For 2 Nights?

If you have two nights in Phuket, you should maybe choose to stay somewhere like Surin Beach. This beach is a little out of the busy center to the south, so onward travel to Phuket International Airport or the road bridge is straightforward. 

From this base will be able to spend some time beside a beautiful beach. Also, you could book a day tour that will take you around some of the island’s highlights and give you a chance to get a real feel for the place, even in a short time.

Where To Stay In Phuket For A Month?

Phuket Town is the best option for a long stay on the island. There are guesthouses and hostels here that offer good rates for longer bookings. Also, you can find apartments and self-catering accommodation in the town. There are plenty of nearby markets and supermarkets, so you can easily cater for yourself.

Another advantage of Phuket Town for a longer stay is that it is in a fairly central location, and it is simple and cheap to travel to the west coast beaches and other parts of Phuket.

Where To Stay In Phuket Near The Ferry?

Rassada Pier is the departure point for ferries to Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta and other destinations that can be reached by ferry from Phuket. This pier is located in Phuket Town, so this is a good place to stay to be close to the ferry. 

Phuket Town has many hotels and hostels that have a lot of experience helping travelers between Phuket and the other islands. The staff at your accommodation will be able to assist you with booking ferries and arranging transfers.

Phuket Town is also a fascinating place in its own right and is full of culture, history, and things to see and do.

Where To Stay In Phuket For Scuba Diving/Snorkeling?

The Andaman Sea is a world-renowned dive location, and you will find some great diving sites close to Phuket. The island has many dive centers, so if you plan on diving, you should choose a resort like Patong, Kata Beach, or Karon to ensure that you have the best choice of dive shops.

Snorkelers can snorkel directly from some of Phuket’s beaches, but it is important to note that there is a lot of boat activity and snorkeling here is quite dangerous. A better option is to book a snorkeling day trip. These trips will take you to great snorkeling spots with much less risk.

How To Decide Where To Stay In Phuket?

To decide where to stay in Phuket, just ask yourself a few simple questions and then decide based on what is most important to you. What do I want to see? If the answer is beaches, then stay on the West Coast. For history and culture, then pick Phuket Town. Who am I traveling with? If you are a party crowd, go to Patong; families will prefer Kata and Karon beaches.

How long will I stay? For short stays, then stay at Phuket Town for ferry departures or Mai Khao Beach for the airport. How busy do I want it? The beaches in the northwest of the island like Surin are quieter than those in the southwest like Patong and Karon. 

Where To Stay In Phuket Kata Or Patong?

Kata Beach is a good place to stay if you want to be central but not too central. There is plenty to do, and the beaches are excellent. It is a good place to stay for families and couples.

Patong is the busiest place in Phuket. It has masses of tourist development and a huge party scene that includes lots of girlie bars etc. If this sounds like your kind of thing, then this is where you should stay. There are cinemas here, and malls, hundreds of shops, bars, restaurants and all the rest. It is convenient, but it certainly isn’t quiet.

Where To Stay In Phuket Close To Everything?

The Southwest beaches of the island are the center of Phuket tourism, and here, you will find shopping malls, cinemas, thousands of hotels, and places to eat, drink and be merry. Patong, Kata and Karon beaches are the most developed and central places on the island. 

If you want to be central for non-tourist infrastructure and activities, then Phuket Town on the east coast is a good place to stay. This is the administrative and commercial heart of everyday, non-tourist life in Phuket, and it is an interesting location in its own right.

Where To Stay In Phuket If Going To Phi Phi Island/ for Island Hopping?

If you are an independent traveler or backpacker island-hopping around Thailand’s Andaman coast, you will leave Phuket from Rassada Pier in Phuket Town. It is a good idea to stay in Phuket Town, where you will find a delightful old town with some beautiful colonial architecture and history. It is also a thriving Thai port town and there are lots of things to see and do. Phuket Town has some great places to stay that are ideal for meeting other travelers.

That’s my  Frequently Asked Questions about the best places to stay in Phuket. See more about Thailand travel here:

• Where to Stay in Chiang Mai, Thailand
• Where to Stay in Koh Phangan Thailand
• Where to Stay in Bangkok Travel Guide
• Best Areas to Stay in Bangkok for First Time Travelers
• Where to Stay in Koh Samui Thailand