Hotels in Phuket

Whether you’re seeking five-star luxury hotels or travelling on a backpacker budget, Phuket offers a great choice of accommodation across the full price spectrum.

The cheapest option is hostels, of which there are many dotted around the island. Often prices start at about 400 Baht (£9) per night; very economical indeed.

There’s also a good mid-range selection of accommodation if you’re looking for something less basic. Be prepared, however, to pay top international prices for five-star resorts if pure luxury is what you’re after.

The majority of Phuket’s best beaches are on the Andaman Sea side of the island, clustered around areas like Patong (the main resort centre with a lively nightlife), Kata, Karon and Bang Tao.

If you’re based along the southern half of the coastline, it’s very easy to get to the attractions of Phuket Town and the interior of the island for day visits – despite being on Thailand’s largest island, it is, after all, only 48km (29 miles) long and 21km (13 miles) across.

In the south, as elsewhere on the island, there’s a great choice at every level of accommodation. The upper-range resorts offer private beaches with all the trimmings of top-notch dining, a broad range of activities, and of course the ubiquitous Thai spa treatments.

It’s also easy to find somewhat less expensive mid-range hotels too, along with many budget options. If you’re travelling with kids, you’ll find no shortage of ‘family friendly’ establishments featuring activities such as kids’ clubs (giving the adults a welcome chance to relax) and even in some cases, dedicated children’s restaurants.

The provincial capital has a rich heritage to explore. The streets of its colonial-era Old Town are notable for colourful Sino-Portuguese houses, a wide variety of restaurants and a buzzing nightlife.

This is the place to stay if you want to mix museums, historic streetscapes, and shopping trips with your time in the sun and exploring the inland countryside. As elsewhere on Phuket, the range of accommodation is good and varied, suiting all pockets, and most are within walking distance of the main attractions.

You’ll find everything here, from impressive internationally-branded resorts to quirky boutique hotels and cheap low-budget hostels. You could even choose to stay at the island’s atmospheric – and oldest – colonial-style hotel in the heart of the Old Town.

If it’s peace and quiet you’re after, and you’re not fussed about being a bit further from the beach or the town centre, Phuket also features a number of secluded hillside resorts inland. The best of these tend to be about halfway between the airport and Phuket Town, and provide pretty much everything you want for a relaxing, ‘get away from it all’ holiday in a delightful tropical landscape.

Again, there is accommodation on this part of the island to suit all budgets, and some of the smallest and cheapest hotels are very charming indeed – both in their individual character and in their surroundings.