Have you set your sights on Thailand? Here are the best places to stay on the island of Phuket!
Phuket – pronounced « poukète » – is a southern province of Thailand. – is a southern province of Thailand, consisting mainly of the island of Ko Phuket, linked to the mainland by the Sarasin Bridge. It is Thailand’s largest island in the Andaman Sea, located to the west of the Malay Peninsula. Populated by 525,018 inhabitants (2010), 21% of its population is also made up of expatriates, with 115,881 foreign residents, spread over 536 km². It’s easy to find accommodation in Phuket (resorts, bungalows, youth hostels, hotels), but apart from the city itself, it’s also important to choose the right season, as accommodation prices can double from November to January during the dry season, and drop again from May to September during the wet season.
The province is world-famous for its mass tourism, its paradisiacal beaches of fine white sand fringed with coconut palms, its turquoise waters and its dreamy tropical climate with an average temperature of 28°c all year round. It’s these attributes that make it one of Thailand’s most popular tourist destinations, which can make it feel like an « amusement park » or a « tourist factory » far removed from authentic Thailand. If these negatives don’t outweigh the majestic scenery in your eyes, here’s a far from exhaustive mini-guide to help you choose where to sleep in Phuket.
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Mai Khao
Photo credit: Flickr – Dennis Wong
Close to the airport, Mai Khao is the first village you pass through on your way to the island. Unfortunately, it’s dangerous to swim here all year round, but the advantage is that it’s less touristy than the south-western beaches. It’s a good place to stay in Phuket if you’re a couple or a family, and if you don’t like beaches where you can party until dawn, because the environment here is rather family-oriented, a bit neglected by tourists.
Find a hotel in Mai Khao
Find an Airbnb in Mai Khao
Bang Tao
Photo credit: Flickr – Mountain/ \Ash
This is a six-kilometre-long beach just a few minutes from the town of Cherng Talay. The northern part of the beach is still relatively untouched by mass tourism: you may well have the beach to yourself in the off-peak season! However, there’s not much else to do than lounge by the water, go to the bar and eat at the restaurant: pure idleness! Numerous luxury hotels adjoin the beach, offering traditional tourist services (swimming pools, restaurants, massages). Choose this area if you’re looking for peace and quiet.
Find a hotel in Bang Tao
Find an Airbnb in Bang Tao
Kamala and Karon
Photo credit: Flickr – CCFoodTravel.com
Located north of the tumultuous and sulphurous Patong, Kamala beach is a three-kilometre strip lined with sugar palms, coconut palms and pine trees. It’s one of Phuket’s most remarkable spots, with its grandiose bay and still-active fishing village: a piece of authenticity in the temple of tourism. If you choose this beach for your accommodation in Phuket, there are plenty of restaurants on the edge of the beach, and plenty of bars on the main street. Finding accommodation in Kamala is a good compromise between hustle and bustle and relaxation.
Find a hotel in Kamala
Find an Airbnb in Kamala
Even further north, Karon beach has all the advantages of Kamala beach.
Find a hotel in Karon
Find an Airbnb in Karon
Patong
Photo credit: Flickr – l_Maxime
A seaside resort on the west coast of Phuket Island, Patong is the best place to stay in Phuket if you’re young, a night owl and in good health. It’s also Phuket’s most touristic town. In fact, the nightlife is unbridled and the town teems with tourists all year round, especially during the dry season (November to March). The advantage is that the population clusters around the seaside, and you can climb the mountains to find yourself in the middle of nature, green and calm.
Find a hotel in Patong
Find an Airbnb in Patong
Map of hotels and accommodation – Phuket,th