What Kind of Holiday in Phuket is Best for You?
With 30 years of experience helping travellers explore Phuket, we’ve gathered valuable insights into what makes a trip truly enjoyable for different types of visitors. Whether you’re travelling with family, looking for a luxury escape, or seeking adventure, Phuket has something tailored to your needs.
This guide breaks down the island’s best experiences based on different traveller profiles. Each section focuses on what matters most to you, from the best family-friendly spots to quiet retreats away from the crowds.
Explore Phuket Based on Your Travel Style:
- Families – Safe beaches, fun attractions, and kid-friendly activities
- Budget travellers – Affordable stays, cheap eats, and free things to do
- Luxury travellers – High-end resorts, fine dining, and exclusive experiences
- Romantic travellers and honeymooners – Secluded beaches, sunset cruises, and intimate dining
- Active travellers – Sports, training camps, and outdoor adventures
- Influencers – Instagram-worthy locations and unique experiences
- People who want to party – Bars, beach clubs, and nightlife hotspots
- People who want to stay away from the crowds – Hidden beaches, quiet resorts, and off-the-beaten-path attractions
- Solo travellers – Safe stays, social spots, and independent adventures
Phuket for Families
We recommend Kamala, Kata Beach, and Bang Tao Beach for families visiting Phuket. These areas offer a good mix of fun and comfort without being too crowded. Kata Beach has soft sand and clear, shallow waters that are safe for children, with many palm trees providing shade. Kamala Beach offers a quieter setting with gentle waves. In Bang Tao Beach, many family-friendly hotels in these areas have kids’ clubs and swimming pools.
Budget Travellers
We know that visiting Phuket doesn’t have to be expensive. Kamala Beach has several budget hotels that offer good value. While few are right on the beach, many affordable options are just a short walk inland. These hotels are clean and comfortable, with basic services like Wi-Fi and air conditioning. For cheap food, head to Phuket Town, where you’ll find places like Kopitiam by Wilai, serving Thai favourites, Abdul’s Roti Shop on Thalang Road, offering traditional flatbreads and Loktien Food Market in the old streets. Many local markets around the island also offer tasty, low-cost meals.
Luxury Travellers
We’ve seen that the north of Phuket offers several high-end resorts that provide privacy and comfort, including Trisara Phuket and Sala Phuket, which have private pool villas and Renaissance Resort. These resorts are close to the airport, making it easy to go from your plane to your private villa. For fine dining, Phuket has impressive restaurants like PRU (the first in Phuket with a Michelin green star), Acqua (a Michelin-starred Italian restaurant in Patong), Tambu at Avista Hideaway (known for Indian cuisine), L’Arome by the Sea (French cuisine with sea views), and Siam Supper Club (world-class steak).
Romantic Travellers and Honeymooners
We find that the north of Phuket is perfect for couples seeking peace. Mai Khao Beach, the longest and quietest beach on the island, is part of a national park and offers long walks on an almost empty tropical beach. The central part of Phuket (from Kamala to Bangtao) is less busy than the south and has several beautiful coves. For truly private spots, we recommend hidden beaches like Ao Yon and Panwa Beach. Romantic resorts include The Surin on private Pansea Beach, Intercontinental Phuket in Kamala, Paresa Resort with its panoramic restaurant, and Hyatt Regency in Kamala with beautiful rooftops.
Influencers
We find that Phuket offers many Instagram-worthy locations. The colourful Sino-Portuguese buildings of Old Phuket Town provide perfect backdrops for photos, especially on Thalang Road and Soi Romanee. For stunning sunset shots, Promthep Cape and Windmill Viewpoint offer spectacular views of the Andaman Sea. Many luxury resorts and beach clubs have specially designed spots for social media photos, including infinity pools overlooking the ocean. Island-hopping tours to places like Phi Phi Islands or James Bond Island give influencers unique landscapes to capture. The Big Buddha statue and Wat Chalong temple also provide culturally rich settings for memorable content.
Active Travellers
We see many options in Phuket for people who enjoy sports and outdoor activities. The island offers excellent water sports at most beaches, from surfing at Kata Beach during the monsoon season to paddleboarding at calmer beaches. Hiking trails through the island’s green hills provide both exercise and amazing views, especially at spots like the Big Buddha or Monkey Hill. Muay Thai training camps are popular with fitness enthusiasts, with many gyms offering daily or weekly training packages. For water lovers, diving and snorkelling trips to nearby islands are easily arranged. The island also has several well-maintained golf courses for those who enjoy a day on the greens.
People Here to Party
We know that Patong Beach is the centre of Phuket’s nightlife, especially Bangla Road, with its many bars, clubs, and neon lights. This lively street comes alive after sunset, with music playing from every doorway. Beyond Patong, beach clubs in Bangtao, like Catch Beach Club and Café del Mar, offer more sophisticated party environments with DJs, cocktails, and beachfront dancing. Paradise Beach hosts regular full moon parties, while Phuket Weekend Night Market combines shopping, food, and entertainment. For those looking for a different kind of night out, Simon Cabaret shows present colourful performances and many resorts offer their own entertainment programs.
People Who Want to Stay Away From the Crowds
We recommend Maikhao Beach for travellers who want to avoid crowds. As the longest beach in Phuket and part of a national park, it has stayed mostly untouched and peaceful. The north of Phuket generally offers a quieter experience with opportunities to discover great local restaurants like Rimpan Seafood and Thanoon Seafood. Other peaceful areas include Nai Yang Beach near the airport, which has a relaxed local feel, and Nai Thon Beach, a small bay with few hotels. The east coast of Phuket, while less known for beaches, offers peaceful fishing villages and mangrove forests to explore.
Solo Travellers
We find that Phuket Town is ideal for solo travellers, offering a mix of culture, good transportation, and safety. The colourful old town has many cafés, museums, and markets where you can easily meet people or enjoy time alone. Hostels in areas like Patong and Kata provide social spaces to meet other travellers, while many tour companies offer group trips to nearby islands where solo travellers can make friends. For independent exploration, renting a scooter gives you the freedom to discover hidden beaches and viewpoints at your own pace. Many cooking schools, yoga retreats, and diving centres offer activities where solo travellers can learn new skills and connect with like-minded people.
