Phuket

Choosing a beach

The island's west coast faces the Andaman Sea and holds almost all the beaches. They are not interchangeable.

• Patong — the busiest, loudest and most convenient. Nightlife, restaurants, shopping, and crowds to match.
• Kata and Karon — south of Patong, calmer, good for families, still well served.
• Kamala and Surin — quieter, more upmarket, better for couples.
• Nai Harn and the south — the prettiest corner of the island and the least built-up.
• Phuket Old Town, on the east side — Sino-Portuguese shophouses, cafés and a completely different mood from the beaches.

Day trips worth taking

Most people spend at least two days off the island. The boat trips are the reason Phuket is a base rather than a destination.

• Phi Phi Islands — the famous ones, and genuinely beautiful. Early departures avoid the worst of the crowd.
• Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island — limestone karsts rising straight out of the water; usually combined with sea kayaking.
• Koh Yao Noi and Koh Yao Yai — the quiet alternative in the same bay.
• Similan Islands — seasonal, further north, and the best snorkelling and diving of the group.

When to go

November to February is the dry, comfortable season and the busiest. March and April are hot but still workable. May to October is the southwest monsoon: expect heavy showers, rougher crossings and some reduced boat schedules.

The trade-off is real. The low season is quieter and cheaper, but a washed-out boat trip is a wasted day, and the boats that do run are the ones that matter most here.

Getting around

Phuket International Airport (HKT) is in the north of the island, and the transfer to the southern beaches is a long one — well over an hour to Kata or Nai Harn in traffic.

There is no useful public transport between beaches. Songthaews run fixed routes cheaply but slowly; taxis and ride-hailing are the practical option, and a pre-booked transfer is the calmest way to arrive.

Scooter rental is common and is also where a large share of visitor injuries happen. The roads are hilly, the traffic is fast and the driving is on the left.