Phuket is Thailand’s largest island and is joined to the mainland by a bridge, which means you can fly there directly. The island is large, every beach has its own character, and a person who chooses the wrong beach gets an entirely different holiday. For citizens of Azerbaijan there is one more advantage: the visa on arrival is still issued for our passport. Below I have written about choosing a beach and the island tours.
Which beach to stay on in Phuket
Patong is the noisiest beach and the night life and Bangla Road are there. If you are looking for quiet, this is not your place. In exchange the choice of restaurants and shops is the widest.
Kata and Karon are the most balanced option for families, the beach is wide and prices are middling. Kamala and Surin are quieter and more expensive. Nai Harn is in the south of the island, the beach the locals love, and it only gets crowded towards evening.
Phi Phi, Phang Nga and the boat tours
The Phi Phi islands take two hours by fast boat and are known for Maya bay. The bay stayed closed for a period for restoration and is now open, but there are restrictions on boats stopping there. The national park fee is paid separately from the boat ticket.
Phang Nga bay, meanwhile, is famous for the limestone rocks rising straight out of the water, and James Bond island is there. Going into the caves by kayak is the best part of this tour. The boats that leave in the morning are both cooler and emptier, while the afternoon tours coincide with the crowds.
The old town and the Big Buddha
The old part of Phuket Town consists of coloured houses in the Sino-Portuguese style and completely changes your idea of the island. On Sunday Thalang Road becomes a pedestrian zone and the street food is at its best precisely there. Half a day is enough.
The Big Buddha is on a hill in the middle of the island, a white marble statue forty-five metres high, and is visible from everywhere. From up there both coasts are visible at the same time. Entry is free, there is a donation box, and clothing must be covered.
Read more: A Thailand travel guide: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi and the right route among the islands
Transport and budget in Phuket
Taxis are expensive on the island and there is no fixed tariff, while the Grab app does not work everywhere. The bus from the airport to Patong is the cheapest and the minibus the most practical option. A scooter is cheap, but the roads are winding and riding without an international licence invalidates your insurance.
| Three-star hotel | 40–70 dollars a night |
| Resort, Kamala and Surin | 120–250 dollars |
| Visa on arrival | 2000 baht, 15 days, in cash |
| Entry form | The TDAC is filled in online |
Ferry tickets between the islands and to the mainland have to be taken in advance, because in season places fill up quickly, and comparing the ferry and bus timetable on one screen makes this easier. There is no direct flight; you go via Doha, Dubai and Istanbul, so compare ticket prices in the Phuket direction against the option via Bangkok. Official tourism information is on the Tourism Authority of Thailand site.
Season in Phuket
November–April is the dry season and the best time for the island, the sea is calm and the weather is around 30 degrees. December–January are the most expensive months. May–October is the monsoon period; it does not rain every day, but the ocean gets rough and a red flag goes up on some beaches. In these months hotel prices halve, while boat tours are frequently cancelled.
Conclusion
In Phuket everything starts with the choice of beach, and the rest follows from it. If you want quiet, stay away from Patong, put the boat tours in the morning, give a day and a half to the old town, and if you pick the monsoon, pick it knowingly. If you want to combine Thailand with several cities, you can look at the ready-made tour options. For a route and a visa, fill in the application form.
Note: visa rules and national park fees may change, so check from an official source before travelling.
