Take a walk on the beach, search for shells, engage in water activities, scour the cliffs, explore the depths with snorkeling or scuba diving adventures, sail around the island, or watch the sunset on the horizon. Whatever you choose, you'll be enchanted by the beauty of this jewel in the sea.
Best Time to Visit Phuket, Thailand
Phuket's tropical climate makes the city an inviting vacation destination year round but there are high and low seasons that have both pros and cons.
The high season in Phuket runs from November through March. November and December are part of Phuket's rainy season, although rain is less frequent, traffic is heavy and prices for accommodations are still high. During January and February, the weather is near perfect with moderate temperatures in the mid-60s and minimal rainfall. Visitors will have plenty of sunshine for beach excursions, and the water is calm creating ideal conditions for diving, snorkeling, and boating.
January is the busiest month and visitors can expect the highest rates for accommodations, higher prices when shopping, and crowded streets and beaches. February continues with pleasant temperatures but crowds and congestion is still to be expected. While prices are still high, there is a possibility of discounts later in the month.
March maintains comfortable temperatures and minimal rainfall. Traffic remains busy. During March, hotels begin offering special discounts.
If hot weather is your preference, April ends the high season and the moderate temperatures. Expect hotter days and an increased chance of rain. Water conditions are less stable for activities. April is also the month the Songkran Water Festival is celebrated increasing crowded conditions. Hotel rates are usually lower during April.
Below is a chart of the current pricing seasonality of hotels and motels in Phuket, Thailand:
Phuket by Star Rating
Below are 3 charts demonstrating mean price trends by star rating class in Phuket, Thailand. You can use these line graphs to determine the cheapest seasons to stay in Phuket for your upcoming travels.
Luxury Hotels in Phuket, Thailand
4 Star Average Prices: £62.88
Expect total comfort and complete guest satisfaction when staying at The Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa. Each guest room, suite, and villa is designed to offer features that insure a positive experience. Beautifully detailed modern rooms present an inviting atmosphere with comfortable furnishings, floor-to-ceiling windows, and extraordinary sea views from the balcony. Additional amenities include LCD TV, rainforest shower, soaking tub, iPod docking station, and a private plunge pool in select villas. Guests have access to a secluded beach, fitness studio, outdoor pools, and the Heavenly Spa by Westin. Dining is a pleasing experience with the choice of six casual restaurants serving delectable cuisine.
The Naka Phuket is luxury personified when you stay in a one, two, or three-bedroom glass villa or one or two-bedroom suite. Choose a suite and become immersed in total relaxation in a refreshing bathtub located on the private terrace overlooking the sea. Villas are spacious and designed to offer the maximum in comfort with all the conveniences of home at your fingertips. A sampling of the amenities includes a private pool, minibar, living room, dining room, and complimentary internet access. Guests can unwind in solitude at the roof top spa, swim in an Olympic-sized pool, and tantalize the taste buds at one of the resorts three restaurants.
Affordable Hotels in Phuket, Thailand
3 Star Average Prices: £49.12
Kanita Resort and Camping brings nature to its guests in more ways than one. Choose a traditional standard or superior, deluxe apartment, or stay in a tent under the stars. Each room is light and airy and features contemporary furnishings with a tropical flair. Room amenities include a refrigerator, in-room safe, mini bar, satellite TV, and complimentary Wi-Fi. Tents are located under a thatched roof and include plush blankets and a fan. Guests have access to the sparkling pool, poolside bar, room service, and a smoking area. The hotel provides complimentary bicycles for exploring the area and shuttle service to the beach.
A stay at Novotel Phuket Kamala Beach provides everything a traveler could want in a tropical paradise vacation destination. Situated along the scenic shoreline, guests wake up each morning to stunning views of the pristine beach and the Andaman Sea. The restaurant and roof top bar take care of pleasing the palate, and the refreshing pool, spa and fitness center, and play area for kids take care of entertainment. Hotel amenities also include shuttle service and complimentary Wi-Fi. The resort is conveniently located approximately 30 minutes from Phuket International Airport and offers guests the option of late departures on Sundays.
2 Star Average Prices: £21.83
Best Discounts in Phuket, Thailand
Burasari Resort is situated on the beautiful sands of Patong Beach. The resort exudes charm and elegance with well-appointed rooms decorated in soft tones highlighted with colorful fabrics and artwork. Each room is a refreshing oasis equipped with a complimentary minibar, coffee maker, satellite TV, and complimentary Wi-Fi. Unwind with a soothing treatment at the spa, or watch the latest game on one of the four flat-screen TVs at the Pool Bar. When dining is on the agenda, the Kantok serves traditional and classic dishes. End the evening with a specialty cocktail at the Misty Bar. If you're planning an event, the resort has a 10.0/10 group friendly rating and group savings of 13.1 percent.
Each day brings sea views and gentle breezes from the private balcony at Amatara Resort and Wellness. Guest comfort is a priority and reflected in the amenities, which include butler service, bathrobe, slippers, and minibar. Rooms also include satellite TV, mp3/CD player, complimentary Wi-Fi, coffee machine, and safe deposit box. Rejuvenate at the spa, play tennis, swim at the pool, go kayaking or paddle boarding, visit the gift shop, and replenish at one of the resort's restaurants and bars. Amatara is an ideal location for weddings, special events, or business meetings, with its spacious board rooms and the beautiful backdrop of the Andaman Sea. The resort has a group rating of 6.1/10 and averages 12.4 percent in savings.
Best Value Options in Phuket, Thailand
The Cape Panwa Hotel blends a tropical atmosphere with luxurious furnishings and accessories in a choice of suites. Relax on the balcony and sunbathe in the comfort of a sunbed. After a day of activities, slip on a plush bathrobe and slippers and enjoy a refreshing drink from the minibar. A wide-screen TV, cable programming, and complimentary Wi-Fi add to an entertaining evening. Take a moment to unwind at the pool, workout in the fitness center, or schedule a beauty treatment at the on-site spa. While you're in the business center, kids will have a great time in the games area. When it's time to dine, five restaurants please the palate along with open air bars.
The Senses Resort offers more than the basics with six available room types that include sea views, suites, deluxe, and family deluxe accommodations featuring light wood accents and flooring, balconies with rattan furniture, and sofas. Each room has a modernistic design with upscale furnishings for complete comfort. Satellite programming, LCD TV, and free Wi-Fi, provide entertainment in the non-smoking rooms. Enjoy a workout at the rooftop fitness center, refresh with a cocktail beside the pool, or schedule a massage at the spa. At the Eat More Restaurant, international cuisine is on the menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The resort is just minutes away from shopping, Chalong Temple, Phuket Town, and several beaches.
Things to Do in Phuket, Thailand
Two festivals take place each year in Phuket. The Annual Phuket Bike Week is all about bikes and takes place during April. The Songkran Water Festival is also celebrated in April over several days. Both are crowd pleasing and draw many people to Pkuket for the festivities.
Buddhist temples are must see attractions when visiting Thailand. One of the most visited and the largest in Thailand is Big Buddha. Others include Wat Phra Nang Sang, Wat Phra Thong, and Wat Chalong.
Water activities are a big part of Phuket's entertainment scene with snorkeling and scuba diving as two popular adventures. For those who prefer to stay above water, bus, boat, helicopter, and speedboat tours are available to visit surrounding islands and view the limestone cliffs.
For golf enthusiasts, Phuket has eight challenging courses to accommodate all skill levels.
Visit the lush richness of the rain forest at Khao Phra Thaeo National Park. Hike to the Ton Sai Waterfall or hire a guide to lead you through the exotic landscape for plant and wildlife observation.
A visit to Old Town Phuket is a blend of modern designer goods with hand-made crafts and curios. Old Town is over a century old and features exquisite Sino-Colonial mansions, as well as temples, shrines, museums, clubs, and cafes.
If exceptional weather, tropical breezes, and miles of fine sand bordering the sea is your description of the perfect vacation destination, Phuket, Thailand has these features, and more. Relaxation, serenity, and an impressive mountainous landscape offer business and leisure guests a memorable stay at one of the most beautiful locations in Thailand.
With accommodations ranging from hotels to resorts and choices from suites to villas, there are reasonably priced and quality places to stay to fit every season and every budget.
Phuket, Thailand in a nutshell
Phuket is known to many as home to one of many beautiful beaches in Thailand. The island has been countless times as backdrops and settings for movies and has been widely featured in travel and living shows and with good reason. Phuket is Thailand's largest island and is home to various attractions from beautiful beaches to popular night spots. Phuket derives its economy from tourism and it has experienced a great market and boom thus far. During the 2004 tsunami, the island's tourism and economy was greatly affected. However, the island has undergone major developments and restorations that have brought back the beauty that enticed travelers from all over the world. Beaches in Phuket are well developed and dotted with hotels, restaurants, and nightclubs. Popular beaches in the island include Hat Patong and Hat Karon. Water sport activities are popular in the area and is a must try for thrill-seekers. Phuket, being a cultural melting pot, is also home to several must-see attractions including Two Heroines Monument, View Point, Wat Chalong, Thalang National Museum, Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife Conservative Development and Extension Centre, and Laem Phromthep. Travelers that have been to Phuket experience a natural revival from the beauty of the sea and the rich culture that surrounds this magnificent island.
Captain Francis Light, the man responsible for bringing world's attention to Phuket by successfully defending it from the frequent attacks of Burmese navy, is commonly attributed with the remark of, 'This Island, right here, is a heaven on this world, and I find it my duty to keep it safe.
Well, subtracting the stigma of vanity from these words, the essence we are left with doesn't belie the fact that Phuket, for many, is a heaven on this earth.
Phuket Province, the province that houses the Island of Phuket, is spread over various islands forming an archipelago of sorts that are interconnected with bridges, canals and waterways. Phuket is the most famous and globally renowned island among these, and attracts over 5 million tourists every year.
The history of Phuket has seen ups and down like few other places. Once an uninhabited island, Indian settlers founded settlements on Phuket Island over 2,000 years ago. Since then, the fortunes have waxed and waned with regularity for the island. During the course of the history, Phuket has been an important trading pit stop for various traders who dealt between India and China via the Andaman Sea. Later on, after the British took over the region, Phuket became an island of no significance. As Dutch settlers found tin on the island, the fortunes again turned for Phuket, as it became an important trading post for the British “ next only to Singapore and Hong Kong.
Today, Phuket is solely known for its tourism and associated revenue generators. From pristine beaches and deep blue patches calm and composed sea waters to tall curtains of coconut trees and surreal statues of Buddha at every cornerstone make Phuket a daylight delight. But as the night arrives, the tranquillity of the day fades and the insanity of Phuket nightlife takes over. This is something that every tourist must experience through their own eyes. Phuket won't disappoint many.
Budget Hotels in Phuket
Based on the pricing front of it, there are over 200 budget hotels in Phuket. These budget establishments cannot guarantee you the best of stays, but more often than not, a budget hotel will be good enough to make your stay in Phuket more economical, allowing you to spend a little more on sightseeing and local shopping. If you are traveling with family or with valuable belongings, it is best advised that you opt to pay a little more in order to stay at a safer hotel, rather than a cheaper one. Tourists from western countries are especially advised to be cautious while negotiating with the hotel management as the instances of extravagant prices being charged through ignorance and lack of communication are quite commonly reported by tourists.
Luxury Hotels in Phuket
There are travelers who have to manage their wanderlust on a shoestring budget, and then there are travelers who are fortunate enough to be able to connive at extra expenses in order to get the better services. Phuket hotels of luxurious kind are certainly the option that the latter kind of tourists should have no hesitation in opting for.
Being a phenomenally popular tourist destination, Phuket is home to numerous luxury hotel establishments that are at par, if not above par, the luxury standards set in major cities like Paris and London. These luxury hotels in Phuket add quite a bit of extra grandeur and pleasure to the already pleasurable trip to Phuket for thousands of travelers.
Amanpuri is probably the most popular of such resorts in Phuket. It is a traditionally equipped luxury beach resort that houses over 60 suites and independent villas that boast of modern amenities like indoor heated pools and traditional pleasures like luxury Nuru massage spas for tantric healing and the peace of mind. Trisara Phuket is the next name in line for the award of the best luxury hotel in Phuket. It allows its patrons to get the best of both western and oriental worlds by combining the tastiest of cuisines from all over the world, prepared by the most renowned chefs in Thailand.
Marriott Beach Resort & Spa is not too far behind, as it combines the brand name of Marriott with the tempting local beaches and flavours, working its charm on its magnanimous patrons.
Boutique and Independent Hotels in Phuket
Adding to the list of many hotel establishments in Phuket, a passing mention of boutique and independent villas and bungalows from the colonial British era cannot be out of order. These bungalows offer the ease of home along with the feel of British Raj “ at rates that can easily compete with other cheap Phuket hotels that are present in plenty all around.
Hotels Near Airport in Phuket
Phuket Int. Airport has experienced steadily increasing traffic throughout the last decade or so, as the word of mouth and coverage in some famous movies like The Beach has popularized Phuket as a pleasure island in the east. Nearby this airport, travelers can find a slew of cheap hotels that are, if not always appealing, get the job done. Approaching such places with caution and apprehension is always advised, as some of these places are notorious for xenophobia and questionable practices. The best course of action is always to lodge with a hotel of repute instead of shady and cheap hotels.
Best Time to Travel to Phuket
Phuket is a typical tropical island that is fortunate enough to have a more or less steady weather throughout the year, without much fluctuations. The weather overall is on the warmer side, as one would come to expect for tropical places. Rain is also a very common occurrence in Phuket, as locals don't even take heed of rains that are not substantially heavy. Two months “ September and October “ are, however, considered to be the hottest in the whole year as the island experiences heavy monsoon rainfalls during these two months. Barring these two months, the weather in Phuket should not be much of a concern to tourists. January to May are generally considered to be the best months to travel to Phuket.
FAQs about hotels in Phuket