I’m very confident I can give you a very good answer to the question of where to stay in Phuket first time. Why?
Because I lived in Thailand from 2017 to 2021 and visited this ultimate holiday destination many times during that period, for different reasons. But it was not the first time I visited Phuket, though.
My very first time traveling around Thailand was in 2015 and Phuket was our final destination, where we spent more than a week enjoying the island to the fullest. Now, some travelers hate Phuket due to the fact that it’s touristy. However, because it’s such a developed tourist destination, it’s one of the best options in Southeast Asia for a carefree time. And yes, several parts of Phuket are spoiled by mass tourism, but you can still find a few somewhat unspoiled areas.
Phuket also attracts many party-minded travelers, but because it’s such a versatile island, you won’t be bothered by the nightlife if you don’t want to.
In this article, I will dive into the best areas and beaches that Phuket has to offer, using my extensive experience. I’ll try to keep it as short as possible, make clear distinctions between the areas, and above all not recommend part of the island that doesn’t have something special to offer. With that said, let’s get started!
In brief: the best areas to stay in Phuket first time are Kata Beach, Patong, Nai Yang & Mai Khao, Karon Beach, and Bang Tao Beach.
For the majority of tourists, Kata Beach is the most convenient base for your holiday to enjoy beach life and explore the island.
You want to stay as close as possible to this part of Phuket.
Karon Beach is a great alternative nearby that offers affordable accommodation options, making it the most budget-friendly area that we recommend.
Bang Tao Beach is a luxury area located not far from Kata Beach, but this area is only suitable for a select few travelers with a very high budget.
Patong is the nightlife epicenter of the island and mainly attracts younger travelers who love to party after a day of island exploration or relaxing at the beach.
Couples who seek a quieter and more romantic experience should consider staying at Nai Yang & Mai Khao, although keep in mind that these two areas are located a bit away from the main attractions of the island, and arranging transportation might be a bit challenging.
You can easily navigate to each area by tapping the link. Or go straight to the overview of the best areas to stay in Phuket first time.
For the majority of first-time visitors in Phuket, Kata Beach is the best option.
Thanks to its conveniently central location, visiting the highlights of the island is a piece of cake.
It’s a smaller and quieter area than Patong (Phuket’s nightlife epicenter), which is something many travelers looking for.
Yes, it comes with similar comforts and conveniences, but it’s a far more laid-back area.
Aside from its convenient location, Kata offers a beautiful beach.
It’s one of the most beautiful beaches on the island.
You can also find a great night market here where you can find a lot of street food but also cool souvenirs.
The area mainly attracts families and the area is completely designed for those traveling with kids.
Hotels here come with family-orientated facilities.
But also couples tend to stay in this area.
In the evening, you can find several bars where you can watch the sunset, but Kata Beach is definitely not a nightlife area.
This makes it a cool area not only during the day but also during the evening.
It’s simply perfect for those who want to enjoy a night out without the intensity of Patong’s party scene.
Keep in mind that, despite its laid-back character, Kata does get crowded during peak season.
It’s very hard to find something relatively quiet in a popular destination like Phuket.
The best alternative to Kata Beach for couples is Nai Yang and Mai Khao, but for families, these combined areas are not that ideal as they lack family-friendly facilities.
For families, Kata is actually the best option, despite it does attract many other families.
It’s simply hard to beat the convenience of Kata!
How to get around in Phuket: for most travelers, the easiest way to get around in Phuket is simply by taking a taxi or arranging transportation at your hotel. When you book an organized tour, for example, to visit the islands, transportation is included.
Many travelers tend to rent a scooter to explore the island at their own pace. We highly recommend not doing this as many end up in accidents or get involved with the police. Foreigners are an easy target for the local police.
Instead of renting a motorbike, it’s far safer to rent a car, although the majority of tourists rather spend that money on taxis. If you do rent a car, make sure to bring an international driver’s license and a credit card (for insurance).
If you depend on taxis, know that the taxis have different (more expensive) rates compared to cities like Bangkok, unfortunately. You can use apps like Grab, though, where you can find a bit more reasonably priced drivers.
Another common way of transportation is the songtheaw. This is a modified pickup truck that always drives the same route and stops whenever you ring the bell. The experienced traveler knows how this system works, although, for first-time visitors, it might be a bit confusing.
Long story short, for the majority of tourists: just stick to taxis for a carefree holiday.
Patong is the nightlife epicenter of the island. If you’re not into nightlife, it doesn’t make much sense to stay here.
The nightlife takes place in and around Bangla Road, where you can find nightclubs, bars, pubs, and Go-Go-Bars.
As it’s also the redlight district of Phuket, many of its clientele choose a hotel in this area, meaning that it’s definitely not a family-friendly area.
Nonetheless, Patong comes with quite some advantages, despite having a bit of a dark side.
It’s by far the most touristy area in Phuket and the whole area is designed for a comfortable holiday.
You can easily find shops, international restaurants, tour operators, shopping malls, pharmacies, private clinics, and so much more.
On the outskirts of Patong, you can find many luxury resorts, while closer to Bangla Road, you can find affordable accommodation options.
During the day, you can enjoy beach life at Patong Beach or one of the other nearby beaches.
Explore the island is a piece of cake thanks to Patong’s central location.
But later in the afternoon, when bars start offering happy hour promotions, Patong turns into a wild nightlife area.
Combining all of this you understand why many younger travelers come to this part of Phuket.
If this is your thing, Patong won’t disappoint.
If you’re not into nightlife, then pick one of the other areas instead. It’s that simple.
Nai Yang and Mai Khao are two areas in the northern parts of Phuket close to the airport and are, in my opinion, the best options for those seeking a quieter experience.
Because you’re located further away from the major highlights of the island – but you’re close to Phangna Bay and the island hopping tours – most tourists tend to stay further south.
This brings us also straight to the disadvantage of Nai Yang and Mai Khao: traveling around the island is much more difficult and it’s actually almost a must to rent a car.
Now, what do you get in return?
In this part of Phuket, you mainly find upscale resorts.
Some of the top brands in the hospitality industry have a hotel here.
Expect top-notch accommodations with all the comforts you can possibly think of.
The beaches here are quiet and a stroll during sunset is something highly recommendable.
If you’re a couple and you seek a romantic experience, this is the area you want to stay in.
But keep in mind that there is barely any nightlife.
If you’re a couple that loves a bit of night out, but not in a wild area like Patong, Kata is a better option.
Also, families won’t really appreciate a stay here because most hotels cater to couples.
Areas like Kata and Karon are far more suitable for families.
But as a couple, it’s a lovely place to be in as it is not spoiled by mass tourism with excellent restaurants with romantic oceanfront views.
The best way to describe Karon Beach is that it’s the budget version of Kata Beach.
There are quite some similarities between these two areas, however, Karon Beach is simply not always as good as Kata Beach.
Let me explain.
You can find many restaurants in Karon Beach, but the diversity in Kata Beach is broader.
You can find a bit of nightlife in Karon Beach, but the quality of the bars at Kata Beach is slightly better.
And Karon Beach is located centrally, but Kata Beach’s location is more convenient.
Nonetheless, Karon Beach is still a great option.
Because many tourists tend to choose Kata Beach over Karon Beach, this area is quieter.
Thanks to its long beach, Karon Beach feels far less crowded.
On top of that, you can find accommodation that fits your budget much easier compared to the somewhat pricey hotels at Kata Beach.
Karon Beach is also quieter than Kata Beach, making it even more suitable for families with very young kids.
Don’t get me wrong, this area is still a popular spot and you will definitely have a great time here.
Just ask yourself: do you want to stay in a more convenient area rather than staying in a quieter area?
If that’s still a question you don’t know the answer to, don’t worry, because these two areas are just a 5-minute taxi ride from each other.
The last area that we recommend is Bang Tao Beach.
As you might have noticed, all the recommended areas are located on the west side of the island and Bang Tao Beach is no exception.
The beaches here are superior compared to the other parts of the island.
And out of all the beaches, Bang Tao Beach is the absolute winner.
Now, as you can expect from such an incredible beach at such a popular destination, it turned into a premium area.
In fact, Bang Tao Beach is the luxury area of Phuket, and when you’re looking for an upscale experience, you probably end up in this area.
Luxurious resorts, private villas, and beachfront properties are all available for those seeking high-end accommodation.
The famous Laguna Phuket complex is the prime example of what Bang Tao Beach is all about (golf courses, spas, and world-famous dining options).
These resorts come with lots of privacy and exclusivity.
For most travelers, this is just a dream.
But for a select few, this will be reality.
If you are part of the lucky few, look no further and book your dream accommodation in this part of Phuket.
For the rest of us, let’s keep dreaming.
