Travel Tips Phuket Thailand – Phuket is a large island in southern Thailand. It’s so big, 49km long, that it doesn’t actually feel like an island at all. Known for its stunning beaches and party-loving tourists, the beautiful hospitality and rich culture of this part of Thailand can be overlooked.
Whether you’re spending a few days or a week in Phuket, here are five ways to spend your Thailand vacation that will leave you feeling refreshed, enriched and enlightened.
Travel Tips Phuket Thailand
There’s no doubt that the beaches in Thailand are just amazing and you can’t write a guide to Phuket without mentioning them. White sand and clear blue water – the beaches of Phuket are just heavenly. Depending on the time of year you visit, swimming at the beaches may or may not be an option. During the wet season, box jellyfish are more common, so keep an eye out. Some of Phuket’s beaches are also known for strong rips, so be safe when swimming.
Girls Trip To Phuket, Thailand Travel Guide
It’s hard not to notice Phuket’s Big Buddha from across the island. The impressive 45 meter high statue and temple is situated on top of is one of the Nakkerd Hills between Chalong and Kata and is one of the island’s most important and revered landmarks.
The view from the top of the hill is also amazing, making it a popular place to watch the sunset.
Take a stroll through Old Phuket Town to discover shrines, temples (Buddhist and Chinese), beautifully preserved ‘shop houses’ and small cafes. Built during Phuket’s tin boom in the 1800s, the town has several excellently preserved grand Chinese-colonial mansions once inhabited by the tin barons over a century ago.
Although you will need to hire a car to get to Phuket Old Town, it is small enough to walk around once you get there. If it’s raining or too hot, the Phuket Trickeye Museum is a fun place to stop in Old Phuket Town with kids.
A Guide To Phuket Where To Visit What To See Where To Eat Where To Stay
Wander through the main road in Karon and you’ll find the stunning Wat Karon. This relatively new temple is a great place to visit any day of the week. We met kind monks who introduced us to one of their chickens, George.
The islands around Phuket are just gorgeous. We took the Two Sea Tour sea kayaking around Phang Nga Bay. You can read more about it here.
Please do not ride elephants, watch an elephant show, or have your photo taken with an animal on the street (such as monkeys). These animals are treated cruelly and participating in these activities allows the companies to continue operating. More info on animal cruelty in Thailand here.
We visited Phuket at the end of the monsoon season (beginning of October) and experienced quite a lot of rain. However, the rain came mostly in the mornings and late afternoon/evening, so there was still enough of the day to try to get out and enjoy.
Thigs To Do In Phuket South Thailand, Krabi, Phi Phi Islands, Koh Hong
The Thai people tend to dress quite conservatively. Tourists can wear shorts and a tank top, but avoid showing too much skin when not in the hotel. If visiting a temple, wear pants or a skirt that covers your knees. Some temples also require the shoulders to be covered.
1AUD is roughly equal to 30THB. A plate of Thai food at a local restaurant will cost around 50-60THB.
Red buses: We caught one and it cost 40 THB for the three of us. It’s basically a small bus with the back wide open. Please hop off and on as they need.
Tuk-tuk: Around 100THB for a short distance. Ask for the cost in advance and wedge the children in the middle, tight.
Best Things To Do In Phuket For Families
Car and Driver Rental: We hired a car and driver to get to Old Phuket Town and Big Buddha. It was quite expensive, at 700 THB an hour, with a minimum of three hours plus the fourth hour free.
In Phuket we were hosted at Novotel Phuket Surin Beach Resort for three nights and Novotel Phuket Karon Beach Resort and Spa for three nights. Both hotels were wonderful, 4 star properties. TERMS OF USE: Some of the information on this website may have changed since this was written. By continuing to read this article, you agree to be bound by our terms of use and disclaimer and verify all information before taking action. Be careful!
When I think of Phuket, I think of three things – its beaches, its limestone karst and its seafood. We experienced all three on our last trip, albeit in varying amounts thanks to the bad weather in August. We had large amounts of seafood but very little of the other two. Not that I minded.
I had been to Koh Samui many years before so with both destinations in southern Thailand, I expected Phuket to be similar. It was for the most part, but the only thing that surprised me was the Russian. And by Russian I mean the language. There was a lot of it. Many signs and advertisements were in Russian. Entire restaurant menus were translated into the Russian language.
Phuket Island Hopping Guide For Beginners — Tips & Itineraries To Discover Phuket’s Must See Islands
I asked our hotel staff why that was and they said Phuket is heavily marketed in Russia, so a large proportion of the island’s tourists at that time of year are Russian. I expected China or countries within Southeast Asia, but never Russia! It just goes to show what an international tourist destination Phuket has become.
No matter what country you come from or what language you speak, I hope this Phuket travel guide can help you plan your first trip to this dream island destination in Thailand.
This travel guide to Phuket is long. For your convenience, I have compiled links to hotels, tours and other services here.
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Phuket Budget Travel Guide (updated 2023)
Due to the current global situation, Phuket travel guidelines can change almost every day. Our friends at Booking.com created a website that lists detailed information about travel restrictions around the world.
Before planning a trip to Phuket, be sure to check Booking.com for information on travel restrictions to Thailand. If you decide to visit Phuket, you may want to seriously consider getting travel insurance with COVID coverage.
You may need a visa and other documents to travel to Thailand depending on your passport. Visit iVisa.com to learn more about the requirements and apply for a visa (if needed).
Do you ever worry about missing out when planning your own trips? If you do, you might want to let a destination expert plan your Phuket trip for you.
The Ultimate Phuket Guide — 27 Fun Things To Do For An Adventure Packed Holiday
ViaHero is a travel planning service that links travelers with local experts to create customized itineraries to various destinations around the world, including Phuket. If you want to try them out, you can get a 5% discount on their services if you checkout via our link.
Phuket refers to both the province and the island in southern Thailand. It is the country’s second smallest province but it is the largest island, home to beautiful white sand beaches along its southern and western coasts and a sprinkling of smaller islands just off the mainland.
Explore the Old Town and you’ll learn that tin mining used to be an important source of income for much of the island’s history. Demand for tin declined in the 20th century, giving rise to other industries such as rubber production and tourism, the latter being the province’s main source of income for the last two or three decades.
Tourists flock to Phuket to enjoy its beaches and many luxury resorts. Phuket is not only the country’s largest island, but it is also its busiest, receiving an estimated ten million visitors annually.
The Ultimate Guide To Phuket Thailand & The Phuket Sandbox — Trusted Travel Girl
Phuket is a tropical island destination so the best time to go depends largely on the weather. Phuket is least rainy from late November to mid-April, making this the perfect time to visit. The sea will also be at its calmest.
NOV-APR: Weather wise, this is the most ideal time to visit Phuket. But it is also the busiest. High season starts at the end of November and lasts until around mid-April, with high season in January and February. If you want to go when the weather is at its best but are against crowds, consider going in December or March. If you like getting into water fights, you might want to go in mid-April for the Songkran festival.
MAY-OCT: This is the monsoon season in Phuket. We were there in August and while we enjoyed a few sunny days, the unpredictability of the weather made it difficult to plan anything. When it rains, it pours, and the wind can be frighteningly strong. I could see the waves crashing from our villa in Karon Bay and there was no way anyone was swimming in that sea.
To help you better understand the monthly weather patterns in Phuket, I’ve created the average temperature and annual rainfall graphs below. Suggested months to visit are highlighted in orange.
Travel Guide: Phuket For Kids, Thailand
There are several ways to get to Phuket depending on where you are, but most travelers will probably do this
