We have collected reviews about holidays in Phuket in 2019-2020: pros and cons, tourist tips, hotel and food prices. Useful information from seasoned travelers and holiday lovers in Thailand.
Phuket is the largest island in Thailand, washed by the waters of the Andaman Sea. It is extremely popular with tourists and travelers who come here for the winter: there are evergreen forests, mountains, and a comfortable climate. Vacationers enjoy the views of endless sandy beaches and turquoise water, along the roads there are tropical fruit trees - mangosteen, banana, papaya and others.
In this review, we will share with you our knowledge of Phuket holidays and useful reviews from other tourists.
General impressions of tourists about the island
What are you satisfied with? Without exception, all travelers in their reviews admire the beauty of the island. There are magnificent nature reserves with exotic plants and animals, well-groomed beaches. From the point of view of cultural life, Phuket Town is interesting, where you can see several cultures at the same time - Buddhist and Chinese temples, Muslim mosques. Many, usually women, take an orchid with them as a souvenir as a reminder of a wonderful holiday.
What are you dissatisfied with? Among the shortcomings, travelers noted the underdeveloped public transport and the lack of pedestrian zones. Transport runs until 18 pm, which imposes some restrictions on the independent travel of tourists, so many rent motorbikes.
On a note: ordering a transfer from Phuket airport to the desired beach on the island - it will come in handy, since public transport along this route, one might say, no, its functioning is impeded by the taxi driver's lobby.
If you are going to Thailand on your own, then our helpful tips about visa, budget flights, prices, accommodation and weather will come in handy.
Phuket hotel prices - 2021
Hotels on the island are located on the coast or a little further - in the villages. Hotels closer to the center of the island are rarely chosen, in which case you will have to drive to the beach.
Prices for accommodation in hotels in Phuket depend on the category of the hotel and its location. In general, the choice of accommodation is good, there are many inexpensive options with excellent ratings and reviews from tourists.
Prices for hotels in Phuket for the 2021 season (double room):
- 1 * - from 450 rubles
- 2 * - from 650 rubles.
- 3 * - from 850 rubles.
- 4 * - from 1200 rubles.
- 5 * - from 2500 rubles.
We recommend looking for hotels, apartments and villas on the popular service Rumguru - there you can find very comfortable accommodation at any price! We also recommend that you familiarize yourself with our selection of the best Phuket hotels with a private beach.
The best hotels in Phuket according to tourists' reviews
There are few frankly negative reviews about hotels in Phuket, mostly tourists are satisfied with the level of service and the price-quality ratio.
So, the hotels Peach Blossom Resort 4 * and Karon Sea Sands Resort 4 * on Karon Beach - close to the beach, there is a transfer, on the territory - shops, swimming pools, etc. deserve good responses. Large clean rooms and exotic fruits daily.
The 3 star hotel in Phuket Sungthong Kamala Beach Resort is located on the quiet Kamala Beach. The area is surrounded by palm trees, the hotel is ideal for romantic and family holidays. The staff does not speak Russian, only English. The food in the hotel is a little pricey, although the quality is excellent.
Baan Krating Phuket Resort 3 * on Rawai Beach is an inexpensive and cozy hotel for a secluded holiday. Small villas are located in the shade of forests, each room has its own private terrace. Breakfasts are European, dinners are expensive, but you can go to cafes nearby. There are few people, there is a separate beach. But for entertainment you need to go somewhere on purpose - this hotel is for those who like a quiet and relaxing holiday without noisy events.
Phuket Food Prices - 2021
According to the reviews of tourists comparing the island with the mainland of Thailand, prices are higher here, although the food is very affordable and of high quality - you can have a delicious lunch on average from 200 to 650 baht in a restaurant. You can eat in makashnits much cheaper - from 30 baht per dish.
A cup of coffee will cost almost 75 baht (in a cafe for Thais - about 30 baht), a bottle of beer - 50-60 baht. Fresh fruits and vegetables are quite cheap (cheaper than in Russia, but more expensive than in other places in Thailand). On the whole, our compatriots assessed the local price level as quite acceptable.
Fishing is well developed on the island, here you can buy any seafood - squid, crabs, shrimps - at ridiculous prices. The cost of a meal in a fish restaurant is about 200 baht.
For those who do not like Thai food, you can buy ready-made meals in supermarkets - very decently and cheaply - or go to establishments of Russian and European cuisine. But the most budgetary way is to eat in small cafes for local and night markets. Check out the prices in Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket in detail to get an idea of how much to plan for food in Thailand.
Helpful: Review of food prices in Phuket.
Reviews of tourists about the weather in Phuket
The climate of the island is favorable for recreation all year round. There is no extreme heat here, the locals harvest twice a year, and travelers have the opportunity to buy tropical fruits. May is the hottest - the temperature rises above +33 ... + 35 ° С, the rainy season begins, February is the driest month.
December
In December, the weather in Phuket is often unpredictable, the heat has already subsided, it is fresh, the waves practically do not interfere. Water + 28 ° С, during the day + 31 ° С.
January February
In January and February, the high season is very warm and dry: + 31 ° С during the day, the sea + 28 ° С - a wonderful time to relax on the island, however, there are too many tourists. Weather in Thailand in winter >>
March - May
It gets hotter on the island in spring, + 32 ° С during the day. The water is a little lower by a couple of degrees. Cheap fruits appear on the shelves. In April, the weather in Phuket, according to tourists, may already begin to deteriorate and rebuild for the rainy season. In May, the number of rainy days increases; it rains mostly at night.
July August
In summer it is hot, damp and windy, during the day the temperature reaches + 32 ° С, and at night - up to + 25 ° С. Most of the precipitation falls at night, during the day there are short showers for 20-30 minutes, so the island is visited even in the unpopular summer months. Find out more about the weather in Thailand in June, July and August.
September - November
In September, October and November, according to reviews, it is very warm in Phuket, +30 ... + 31 ° С during the day. Showers can be daily, but there is still a lot of sun. Bathing can be hampered by strong sea waves. Weather in Thailand in autumn >>
Phuket beaches: reviews of tourists
There are not many umbrellas and sun loungers on the beaches of Phuket, everywhere there is clean and soft sand, you can easily get by with a towel. There are no sea urchins here, so no special footwear is required. The entrance to the sea is usually shallow and comfortable. The most popular beaches are Patong, Karon and Kata, although vigilant tourists have found their flaws everywhere.
Patong
Patong will surely appeal to those who love nightlife and entertainment: there are many clubs, cafes, inexpensive hotels. Patong has beautiful sand - flour and silky, with sparkles. The beach itself is beautiful, but crowded and dirty in places, normal rest is hampered by standing boats and water scooters on the shore and constantly scurrying sellers. The water is clean, of a beautiful azure color, but closer to the rainy season it becomes cloudy, and there is a lot of rubbish. According to reviews, in Patong, on the left side of the beach, some kind of runoff with an unpleasant smell flows out, and many people no longer want to swim there at all - that is why the bulk of people rest in the center of the beach and on the right side of it.
Karon
A very long - several kilometers - clean beach with clear water, located 20 km from Phuket Town.According to tourists, there are not very many hotels in Karon, and they are all located across the street from the beach, the distance from the hotel on the first line to the beach is 300 m.In the northern part of the beach there are more entertainment venues and cafes, in the south it is quiet and calm, a good choice for vacationers with children.
Three Trang
A small secluded beach near Patong - 20-30 minutes walk or 5 minutes by bike. In translation, the name of the beach means "crystal clear". There are few casual tourists here, usually the inhabitants of the Tri Trang Beach Resort are resting on this beach. The beach is clean, wide, the water is clear, its only drawback is the strong ebb.
Kata
A very beautiful small sandy beach, the main attraction is a small island of Pu nearby. You can get to the beach from two sides, the center is blocked from the road by a huge territory of the hotel. The water is warm, practically without waves, very good entry into the water. According to reviews, on the Kata beach fishermen interfere with the rest, who lay out the nets on the shore, sometimes a car can pass.
Kamala
Another calm and clean beach in Phuket, wide and not too crowded. The most popular is the middle part of the beach, where all water activities are available, there is a shower and toilet. There is no nightlife here.
Reviews of excursions in Phuket
Judging by the reviews, Phuket offers several main options for excursions:
- Trips to the zoo, butterfly park, temples and museums, nature reserves.
- Marine - with a call to neighboring islands for swimming and photo sessions.
- Entertainment - show programs and more.
There are also children's programs and extreme tours - the choice of excursions is very large. You can buy them both from your tour operator and on the spot. Prices are reasonable, although some tourists comparing the island with other regions in Thailand found the programs too simple, not meeting expectations and price.
Approximate prices for excursions in Phuket in 2021:
- A trip to the islands of Phi Phi and Kai with a Russian guide for 1 day - from 1400 baht per person, for two days and a night - from 3500 baht per person.
- Excursion to James Bond Island with a Russian guide - from 1,100 baht per person.
- Krabi Islands by speedboat - from 2,300 baht per person.
- Elephant trekking in Khao Lak - from 1000 baht per person.
- Quad bike ride: 1 hour - 1,750 baht, 2 hours - 2,500 baht.
- Rafting - from 1300 baht.
Find out: What to bring from Thailand as a gift to friends and family.
Useful travel tips from tourists in Phuket
If visiting the beach is not the main goal of your vacation, then you can safely settle in the historical center (Phuket Town), where there are shops, cafes, museums, but you will have to go to the beach by bus, tuk-tuk or taxi, which can be caught on the spot. or order in advance, including to the airport. For fans of parties and entertainment, tourists recommend Patong Beach - according to reviews, this is the noisiest resort on the island.
Excursions to Buddhist temples are very popular here, so it is important to remember the rule - go inside barefoot, knees and shoulders must be covered.
The purpose of most excursions is to sell more expensive goods to tourists. Therefore, experienced travelers advise not to buy anything during their trips, in any store it will cost 1.5-2 times cheaper. Cheating tourists and safety in Thailand >>
It is better to eat in small establishments focused on the local population - they are cheaper, tastier and more authentic. We recommend buying fruits and vegetables at markets or supermarkets. When buying, you can bargain: the more you buy, the more significant the discount will be.
As you can see, the rules and recommendations are the simplest. Phuket is a great holiday destination and most tourists are happy to visit this island again. Personally, we rested in Phuket twice, having lived there for about two months in total. If you are in doubt which is better - Phuket or Pattaya, read our in-depth review of these two resorts in Thailand.
