Phuket Holidays

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Thailand’s biggest island is as famous for its deserted beaches as its wild nightlife, so holidays to Phuket are all about variety.

40-kilometre coast

Just off Thailand’s southwest coast, Phuket is heaving with 40 kilometres of beaches that bear the country’s trademark white sands and hammock-strung palms. But that’s about the only thing these sandy stretches have in common – in terms of their vibe, they couldn’t be more different.

Sun, sea and solitary

At Bang Tao Beach – a long stretch of quiet coastline peppered with deserted sunbathing spots – shops lean more towards quality antiques than touristy souvenirs. The sleepy beach scene here, and at the footprint-free sands of Mai Khao Beach in the north, defines the phrase ‘getting away from it all’.

Patong

Kicking back on peaceful Bang Tao Beach, you’d never know it was a 30-minute drive from the bright lights of Patong, the west coast’s liveliest party town. Chock-full of restaurants, bars and live music venues, this place is serious about having a good time.

King of variety

It would be handy if Phuket came with its own beach menu, because with 40 kilometres of the sandy stuff to choose from you’re spoilt for choice. There are miles of footprint-free stretches where you can kick back with nothing but long tail boats for company. But if you want something livelier, there are just as many places packed with watersports, bars and restaurants.
The big beach

As you’d expect from Phuket’s party capital, Patong’s beach is one lively stretch of sand. It runs 3.5 kilometres down the island’s west coast and you’ll find watersports, restaurants and beach shacks all the way along it. The action here isn’t just limited to daylight hours – the town’s noisy strip of shops and party-all-night bars is a stone’s throw from the seafront.
The secret beach

If you like your beaches with a hint of in-the-know exclusivity, head for Freedom Beach. Accessed by long tail boat from Tri Trang Beach or Patong, this peaceful beauty spot has white, powdery sands, and a lush green hill as its backdrop. It’s a no-go zone for vendors or watersports. In fact, you’ll find little more here than swaying palms and a quiet restaurant or two.

Bargain Buys

The busy, anything-goes Phuket Weekend Market is a place to experience as much as a place to shop. You’ll find it on Chao Fa West Road, just outside Phuket Town, on weekend evenings, hawking everything from deep-fried insects to fashion accessories. Handicraft and souvenir stalls are thick on the ground in the streets behind Kata Beach, too. Head here late afternoon to browse low-price textiles, jewellery and sunglasses.
Mid-Range Buys

Phuket is home to a handful of shopping malls, but the glossiest is the Jungceylon in Patong. This 300-store complex ticks off crafts, fashion labels, perfume, watches and TVs. If it’s chic souvenirs you’re after, pick up carved wooden elephants and hand-woven textiles at Laguna Phuket, near Bang Tao Beach, or head to Turtle Village, in Mai Khao for silk wall hangings and Thai art.
Designer Buys

You won’t find many genuine designer labels in Phuket, but that doesn’t mean you can’t shop like a celeb. From one-of-a-kind shirts to bespoke ball gowns, tailor-made outfits are easy to come by. You’ll find a smattering of tailors in just about every resort on the island, where made-to-measure outfits can be whipped up in a few days at a fraction of the price you’d pay at home.

Laid-back evenings

If you’re after a quiet evening, the restaurants near Kata Beach are a good bet. Before the bars get busy around midnight, it’s a good spot for people-watching. Mai Khao is the best place for gourmet dining – the luxury hotels dotted along the shoreline here are great for beachfront meals and cocktails.
Lively evenings

Ex-pats have shaped the nightlife in parts of Bang Tao, where late-night sports bars show football on big screens. Over in Phuket Town, you can party with the locals at kitsch clubs and karaoke bars. But if you really want lively, Patong’s Bangla Road redefines the word. This neon-lit strip of adult-only bars, discos and live-music venues is the favourite spot for a wild night out.

Pad Thai

Pad Thai is served the world over, but nothing beats a bowl of the stuff on its home turf. Noodles are stir fried with eggs, chillies and fish sauce, muddled with chicken or tofu, and sprinkled with crushed peanuts.
Kanom Jeen

Swap your cornflakes for a Phuket breakfast of Kanom Jeen– a spicy curry, usually fish based, served with noodles and vegetables.
Gai Phad Med Mamuang

Spicy chicken and cashew nuts, known as Gai Phad Med Mamuang, is a staple Thai dish. It’s a stir-fried combo of chicken, Thai-grown cashews, fresh chillies and soy sauce.
Thai iced tea

Tropical temperatures and spicy food call for drinks of the iced variety. Cool off with a glass of Thai iced tea, known as cha yen – a strong black tea sweetened with sugar and milk then poured over ice.
Sang Som

This Thai-brewed rum is the country’s most-guzzled spirit. In touristy bars it’s served in pint-sized buckets with soft mixers, but you’ll feel a lot better in the morning if you stick to splashing it in a glass of fruit juice.

Places To Stay In Phuket View all places to stay

Tri Trang Beach

Tri Trang Beach steers well clear of the spotlight, and instead cuts its teeth as a proper under-the-radar resort. All eyes are on its better-known buddy, Patong, which is a five-minute drive around the headland. You can hop here for full-moon parties or stay put for peaceful beach strolls – whatever takes your fancy.

Merlin Beach Resort

Bang Tao

Bang Tao Beach has hollowed out a big wedge of Phuket’s west coast. It’s got textbook Thai sands, tucked in by mountains on both sides. The belt’s backed by trees, but the greenery’s sometimes substituted for a plush hotel or two. In fact, it’s got one of Thailand’s biggest and fanciest resort complexes on its turf.

AT A GLANCE

Trek through the jungle
Take a boat to James Bond Island
Check out a Thai boxing match

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Weather

Average monthly temperature and rainfall for Phuket.

TEMPERATURE (°C)RAINFALL (mm)

Month	Temperature	Rainfall
JAN	32.0	45.0
FEB	33.0	28.0
MAR	34.0	124.0
APR	34.0	134.0
MAY	32.0	255.0
JUN	32.0	256.0
JUL	32.0	246.0
AUG	31.0	336.0
SEP	31.0	369.0
OCT	31.0	361.0
NOV	31.0	201.0
DEC	31.0	65.0

WHEN TO GO

December to March is the best spell to visit Phuket. While the mercury hovers between 31˚C and 34˚C in some parts of Thailand at this time, sea breezes knock the heat down a couple of degrees in places on the coast like Phuket, making for toasty beach holiday weather. It’s warm in November and April, too – but you can expect a day or two of rain. Phuket’s rainy season runs between May and October, the cool season lasts from November to February, and the hot season starts in March. The cool season – despite its chilly-sounding name – is actually a great time to visit the island. Temperatures range from 24˚C to 30˚C and showers are rare.

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Top 2 resorts in Phuket

1

Tri Trang Beach
2

Bang Tao

Top 3 hotels in Phuket

1

Best Western Premier Bangtao Beach Resort and Spa

From £876
2

Arinara Bangtao Beach Resort

From £926
3

Merlin Beach Resort

From £1,170

Where we go in Phuket Show on a map »

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Phuket Holidays

40-kilometre coast

Sun, sea and solitary

Patong

Things to See and Do in Phuket

King of variety

The big beach

The secret beach

Bargain Buys

Mid-Range Buys

Designer Buys

Laid-back evenings

Lively evenings

Pad Thai

Kanom Jeen

Gai Phad Med Mamuang

Thai iced tea

Sang Som

Places To Stay In Phuket View all places to stay »

Tri Trang Beach

Bang Tao

AT A GLANCE

Weather

WHEN TO GO

Things To Do View all »

Top 2 resorts in Phuket

Top 3 hotels in Phuket

Where we go in Phuket Show on a map »

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