Where is Phuket located? How to get to Phuket from Bangkok?
Phuket is around 220 square miles and is in the second smallest province in Thailand. Laying on the west coast it is surrounded by 32 smaller islands. It has a population of 417,000 people and is around 75 minutes flying time from Bangkok. Phuket is accessible via land, air and sea points. Phuket is linked to the mainland by the man-made bridge called 'Sarasin Bridge'. Originally its tin and rubber trade provided its income before it became one of Thailand's most popular beach destinations. Cultural celebrations include the vegetarian festival ( 9 emperor Gods festival), The ghost festival and the gypsy boat festival.
Beaches in Phuket
Beaches make the mainstay of tourism with Phuket being one of the great Island -hopping points of the south, Its own beaches. such as Karon and Karon noi. Kamala, Kata, Ya Nui, Paradise beach, Surin and Bang Tao being firm favorites. There are 43 beaches in Phuket and many of them with little development are still small pieces of paradise. (check out the quieter Banana beach, Ao yon or Nui beaches).
Phuket's Night Life
Let's also not forget the party life of Patong and the all famous Bangla road. The markets and nightlife, seafood and scuba diving as well as the famous temples like Wat Chalong. Phuket really does have something for everyone. Expenses here are closer to Bangkok prices than say Krabi, but as with everywhere in Thailand expense is what you make it. eat like a local and pay like a local, or eat like a tourist and pay like a tourist is the mantra in most countries and Thailand is no different.
Weather
Phuket has a monsoon climate and temps are generally high all year round with lows of 24/25 C and highs of 32/34 C, often feeling far hotter and with April bringing the higher temperatures. May to October is low season this aligns pretty much with the Andaman side of Thailand and is in line with Bangkok and the North. September and October are deemed to be the wettest months and occasionally tours and boat services will be cancelled on the grounds of safety. Most good Agents and operators will refund or rearrange tours if they have to be cancelled due to weather. November to April is busy and boisterous with everyone from family's to backpackers and couples to honeymooners. It is rare for hotels to fill but advance booking direct via email to many of the hotels will save you money over the normal booking sites. once you find your hotel, before you book online, send an email it takes 5 mins and it may save you a lot. (A good example is a 1,000 baht a night saving we made ourselves in one of the higher tier hotels).
(If you are after backpacker/ hostel style accommodation send us a message we can also help there).
Where should you look to stay?
If you are partygoing, single or just adventurous then central Patong is for you. Lively, vibrant with plenty of nightlife it is the party capital of Phuket.
North and south of Patong is more laid back and more suited to those looking for a quieter night, with some local life going on.
Honeymooners can look around Karon and kata or down into Bang Tao where the wealthy hang out and the nights are much quieter.
Phuket old town is more for the culture. With so many choices and areas these are just a general idea.
Phuket Activities
Phuket has something for everyone and how much time here purely depends on how much time you have in Thailand. Some stay a week and some stay a month. Mostly it depends on the type of holiday you have planned but 3 to 7 days is a good rule. 3 to 4 days will cover some basic beach time with a tour or two and a week will have you nicely relaxed and ready to venture out further. Krabi maybe or Samui, Koh Tao, Phuket is a gateway to the south where so much more waits for you to explore.
Author: Gary C.
Photo Credit: Splash
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