The Best Phuket Hotels & Areas to Stay (My 2025 Guide)

9 Best Areas to Stay in Phuket

I think many travelers don’t realize just how freakin’ huge Phuket is. On other Thai islands, it’s reasonable to “see” the whole island on a single trip. That’s not possible on Phuket, unless you want to spend your whole vacation driving. 

Instead, I recommend smartly picking a base area that checks most of your boxes. Then, strategically plan a few day trips from there. Remember, you can always come back (and many Phuket visitors do!).

Kamala

👉 My Personal Favorite Area  | ✨ Best Kamala Hotels: Paresa Resort Phuket • Ratana Platinum • Ayara Kamala Resort & Spa • Glam Habitat • Sunprime Kamala Beach

Kamala is definitely not the most popular part of Phuket, but that’s exactly why I love it! It’s a quieter beach town that has a laid back vibe. You won’t find pumping nightlife here. But it’s a charming beach village that is probably closer to what you imagine Thailand to be like than the more popular towns in Phuket. 

If you prefer a resort-style hotel, check out Ratana Platinum Resort or Sunprime Kamala Beach. For apartment-style living, check out Glam Habitat.

For a more luxury stay, consider renting a villa at one of the nearby cliffs. We booked a private pool villa at the stunning Paresa Resort for Clara’s birthday one year, and our whole group just loved it. It wasn’t cheap, but it was totally worth it for the views and the 5 star service. 

If that’s out of budget, Ayara Kamala Resort & Spa also offers luxurious villas with incredible views at slightly more reasonable prices. 

Other luxury hotels popular with couples here include The Naka Phuket (which has beach access) or the Instagram-sensation Keemala. 

Pros of Staying in Kamala:

• Fewer crowds, but still enough amenities  
• Relatively quiet, peaceful, and laid-back
• Close enough to Patong that you can take a Grab or taxi there

Cons of Staying in Kamala:

• Beaches are nice enough, but not the prettiest or most crystal clear in Thailand
• Not the most modern part of Phuket 

Patong

👉 Best Area for Nightlife  | ✨ Best Patong Hotels: Patong Heights • Kalima Resort • Hotel Clover Patong • Nicky’s Handlebar

I’ll be honest: Patong really isn’t my cup of tea. But it’s the busiest area of Phuket, and probably the most popular area of Phuket for first-timers. Of all the beach towns in Phuket, Patong definitely offers the widest array of restaurants, bars, and entertainment options. I would say it’s worth considering if you prioritize nightlife and don’t mind the noise.

For groups or couples who want to be near Patong but away from the noise and nightlife, consider the highly rated Kalima Resort or the suites-style rooms at Patong Heights.

Prefer to stay in the middle of it all? Book a room at the reasonably-priced but well rated Hotel Clover Patong, which is right by the beach and offers a rooftop pool.

For the budget crowd, Nicky’s Handlebar is a boutique just 7 minutes walk from the beach. 

Pros of Staying in Patong:

• Busiest nightlife area of Phuket 
• Centrally located between other beach towns like Kamala and Karon 
• Lots of restaurants, cafes, street food, and bars
• Patong beach is convenient and decent enough

Cons of Staying in Patong:

• Noisy and crowded 
• Red light attractions might put off some families (avoid Bangla Walking Street if concerned) 

Karon

👉 Best Area For Families | ✨ Best Karon Hotels: Mandarava Resort • Avista Grande Phuket • The Le Meridien Phuket Karon

Traveling with children? I suggest staying in Karon (or its neighbor just to the south, Kata). Karon is a more relaxed area, with a massive three-and-a-half kilometer long stretch of public beach. There is plenty of space for sand, and most of the beachfront is still undeveloped (thanks in part to the beachfront Khlong Bangla Park). 

Karon is a good beach to enjoy sports like paragliding, surfing, jet skiing or volleyball. It is westward facing, meaning perfect for sunsets. The waves are strong, sometimes too much for swimming. 

The Le Meridien Phuket is perfectly right on a private cove to the north, and a solid choice for families. Or, for epic views, stay at Mandarava Resort. Another solid mid-range option is the Avista Grande Phuket.

Pros of Staying in Karon:

• Convenient location for trips to Patong and Old Town Phuket
• Large wide beach with lots of activities 
• More relaxed, quiet vibe 

Cons of Staying in Karon:

• Strong waves can mean red-flag (no-swim) days 
• Jellyfish can sometimes be an issue 

Kata & Kata Noi

👉 Best Area For Beautiful Beaches | ✨ Best Kata Hotels: Chanalai Romantica Resort – Adults Only • OZO Phuket • The Color Kata

Just to the south of Karon lie the smaller beach communities of Kata and Kata Noi. Kata is a great area to stay in Phuket for couples and families seeking a more relaxed beach town vibe. It’s home to a small resort town situated around Kata Beach, one of the prettiest beaches in Phuket and one of the handful of places you’ll see surfers on the island. 

Considering its small size, Kata packs in quite a bit of amenities, including a diverse array of restaurants and accommodation options for every budget. 

For families, check out the kid-friendly play-zones at OZO Phuket or the villa-style accommodation of Blu Pine Villa. 

For couples, the Chanalai Romantica Resort is adults-only. Or you could also opt to stay at the smaller Kata Noi Beach, which is close enough to the main conveniences of Kata but offers a more secluded jungle feel. Check out The Shore At Katathani – Adult Only or Katathani Resort.

For the budget crowd, The Color Kata is a highly rated boutique.

Pros of Staying in Kata:

• Nice public beach with smooth white sand, plus access to the smaller nearby Kata Noi Beach  
• Beautiful sunsets 
• A wide variety of accommodation options 

Cons of Staying in Kata:

• Beach can get crowded during high season (November – January)
• Jellyfish can be an issue 
• Rip tides may mean “red flag” (no-swim) days during low season 

Phuket Town

👉 Best Budget Area | ✨ Best Phuket Old Town Hotels: Courtyard by Marriott Phuket Town • Chamemon Bed • The Memory at On On Hotel

Phuket Town is the closest thing to a “city” on the island, and is a good place to stay if you’re on a budget. At the center is Phuket’s small Old Town, a historical area filled with Sino-Portuguese style buildings. Even if not staying in the Old Town, it’s worth a visit, especially on Sunday night to see it lit up for the famous Sunday Walking Street Market. 

Accommodations in Phuket Town are a fraction of the cost of Phuket’s beach towns, and you can get a lot higher quality for the same price point. 

The big downside, of course, is that you’ll be quite some distance from the beaches. If you can get over that, however, you’ll have lots of affordable hotels, restaurants, bars, and spas at your disposal.

I recently stayed in the Courtyard Phuket Town, and was very impressed by the quality to value ratio. It had a massive breakfast, a fantastic pool sporting views of the mountains, and super clean modern rooms. It’s walking distance to Old Town. Overall, it’s a good choice for families or groups on a budget. It’s also bookable on Marriott if you’re a Bonvoy member.

On even more of a budget than that? Check out the affordable but stylish rooms at Chamemon Bed or The Memory at On On Hotel. 

Pros of Staying in Phuket Town:

• Affordable accommodation options 
• Lots of restaurants and shopping 
• Lots of locals creates a more authentically Thai vibe 

Cons of Staying in Phuket Town:

• Far from the beaches! 

Mai Khao

👉 Best Area For a Peace & Nature | ✨ Best Mai Khao Hotels: Le Méridien Phuket Mai Khao • JW Marriott Phuket • Renaissance Phuket

Ok, now we’re getting in the “hidden gems” part of this guide. Situated at the very northern tip of Phuket, above the airport, Mai Khao is a super chill beach area home to several resorts. Almost half of the resorts here are Marriott branded, so this is a good area to stay if you are a Bonvoy member.

Mai Khao beach seemingly goes on forever. When I stayed here at the new Le Méridien Phuket Mai Khao, I managed to get my 10,000 daily steps just by taking a sunrise and sunset walk each day. And I saw barely anyone else on my walks except for a ton of cute little crabs. It was also really cool to watch the planes coming in and landing at the airport (though we were thankfully far enough that noise wasn’t an issue).

There isn’t a lot to do in Mai Khao besides the beach, but that’s kinda the whole point of staying here! 

Pros of Staying in Mai Khao:

• One of the least crowded beaches in Phuket 
• Close to Phuket International Airport 

Cons of Staying in Mai Khao:

• Not a lot to do beside chill at the beach 
• A bit far from the populated areas and attraction of Phuket

Bang Tao

👉 Best Area For a Beach Resorts | ✨ Best Bang Tao Hotels: Banyan Tree Phuket • Dusit Thani Laguna • The Pavilions Phuket • Hilton Garden Inn Phuket • Pai Tan Villas • Sole Mio (Wellness / Adults Only)

If you like resort life, Bang Tao is a good choice for your base in Phuket. Bang Tao is situated south of the airport on Phuket’s western shore. The area is home to the large Laguna and Bang Tao beaches, as well as a wide variety of resorts. 

You’ll find resorts spanning from high end luxury options like the Banyan Tree Phuket and the Dusit Thani Laguna to more affordable beachfront hotels like the Hilton Garden Inn Phuket. 

Want a reasonably priced infinity pool experience? Check out the pool villas at The Pavilions.  

Want a romantic retreat free from children? You might like Sole Mio, an adults-only wellness resort. 

Pros of Staying in Bang Tao:

• Lots of resorts to choose from
• Central location, convenient to the airport but also beaches to south
• Enough dining and drinking options, but still relatively quiet 

Cons of Staying in Bang Tao:

• Parts of the beach near resorts can get crowded 

Siray

👉 Best Area For Convenient Luxury | ✨ Best Siray Bay Hotels: The Westin Siray Bay • Sinae Phuket

Siray Bay is a small overlooked area of beachfront very near Phuket Town. Clara and I spent a few days staying here at The Westin Siray Bay. We really liked the incredible views and the easy access to the dining and nightlife options of Phuket town. 

The views from the pools are incredible, and our room even had a private pool. The hotel was a little bit dated in places, but the pricing reflects that and we think it’s a good value option in the luxury category. For a similar but newer property, check out the nearby Sinae Phuket. 

If you want to stay near town, but can’t bear the thought of foregoing the beach, Siray is a good middle ground option. 

Pros of Staying in Siray:

• Close to amenities of Phuket Town (but still on beach)
• Epic views over the bay (and the Westin’s rooms angle westward, perfect for sunset) 

Cons of Staying in Siray:

• Beach is not the prettiest, particularly at low tide 
• Not as many restaurants immediately nearby (though easy to take a Grab or taxi to town) 

Rawai

👉 Best Area For a Local Vibe | ✨ Best Rawai Hotels: The Nai Harn • Stay Wellbeing & Lifestyle Resort • Lady Naya Villas • Navatara Phuket Resort

At the very southern tip of Phuket you’ll find Rawai beach. The location is a bit inconvenient to the rest of the island (particularly the airport). But if you want a more relaxed local vibe, and like the thought of being surrounded by as many Thai tourists as foreigners, this is a good place to stay. 

You can find relatively affordable accommodation in Rawai, like the highly rated Lady Naya Villas or the surprisingly luxurious Navatara Phuket Resort. 

Also nearby is the famous Nai Han Beach, which I’ve actually never visited but a lot of people swear is one of the prettiest on the island. It’s also home to The Nai Harn, one of Phuket’s most Instagram-famous 5-star resorts. 

Pros of Staying in Rawai:

• Lots of nature and cliffside viewpoints nearby 
• Chill fishing village vibes
• Decently affordable guesthouses and villas 

Cons of Staying in Rawai:

• (Very) long way to the airport 
• Beach is not the best for swimming 

Tips for Staying in Phuket

Decide if You Want Views or Walkability (You Can Only Pick One!) 

Phuket has kilometers of coastline with soaring cliffs, perfect for villa-style rooms overlooking the sea. If the thought of your own private infinity pool sounds great, check out the villas at Paresa Resort or search Phuket villas on VRBO. 

The downside of booking a villa? Often it means you won’t have direct beach access (since you’re up on a rocky cliff), and it almost always means you will have to drive or take a taxi to get anywhere.

Ultimately it’s a choice: walkability or epic views. You can really only pick one.

Plan How You’ll Get Around Phuket

Phuket is huge, and one of the biggest challenges of visiting is getting around. There isn’t a great public transportation network, and walkability isn’t great outside the beach towns.

Your best options to get around Phuket: 

• Use the app “Grab” (Thailand’s version of “Uber”) – this will let you hail taxis or cars. Just note that wait times can sometimes be long, especially if staying outside the towns. 
• Rent a car or scooter – this is great if you’re comfortable driving (just be safe!). You can search for rental cars in Phuket on Discover Cars. 
• Hire a private driver – search Phuket private drivers here. 
• Book tours with hotel pickup – most tours to the nearby islands and elsewhere will pick you up at your hotel. Search popular Phuket tours here. 

Plan for a Long Transfer from the Airport to Your Phuket Hotel

The Phuket airport is located at the northwestern corner of the island. Unless you are staying in Mai Khao or Bang Tao, you should build in lots of time for your airport transfer so you don’t miss your flight. 

From Phuket International to Kata Beach, for example, can easily take 90 minutes or more!

Consider Adding on a Visit to Koh Yao Noi or Koh Yao Yai

Ok, nothing against Phuket. It’s convenient because it has an airport. And there are lots of accommodation options, so I get why it is popular. 

BUT, in my personal opinion, Phuket is actually the least interesting of Thailand’s many amazing islands. The smaller islands have just so much more charm and authenticity to them. 

Fortunately, you don’t have to go far from Phuket to find two of my favorites: Koh Yao Yai and Koh Yao Noi. If you have an extra couple days, I highly recommend taking the 20 minute ferries and spending a couple of nights to experience a different Thai island vacation. 

Clara and I recently stayed in the stunning beachside boutique Cape Kudu Hotel on Koh Yao Noi, and it was just incredible. I highly recommend it for couples or anyone looking for a quiet retreat.  

Or Consider Visiting Khao Lak Instead

Another more relaxed alternative to Phuket is to Khao Lak, a jungly beachside area on the mainland about an hour’s drive north of Phuket International (Khao Lak is actually closer to the airport than some of the beach towns on Phuket itself). 

There you can find many more affordable and relaxed beach resorts. Clara and I spent two weeks at the JW Marriott Khao Lak, which has a massive pool that winds through the whole resort, including many swim-up suites. Families with school-age children will love it. 

Khao Lak is also a good base for day trips to Khao Sok National Park, which is a must visit for nature lovers. The lake there is just stunning! 

If You’re With a Group, Hire a Speedboat for a Day

Traveling to Phuket with a family or group of friends? A super fun thing to do is to rent a speedboat for the day to go out and visit the many smaller islands near Phuket. Many of these islands can only be visited by boat, and they are so much more pretty and interesting than anything on the main island. 

I recently took a group from this blog out on this 5 star boat tour. You can customize the tour to visit the places that are most interesting to your group. You can also bring your own food and drinks onboard and store them in the cooler. 

The service is so excellent that it’s actually the #1 rated thing to do in Phuket according to TripAdvisor. Sure, it’s a little pricey, but if you’ve got a group and can split the cost, it’s worth it!

👉 Read Next: What to Pack for Thailand

FAQs about Phuket Hotels

Where should I avoid staying in Phuket?

Safety-wise, all of Phuket is safe to stay and there are no “bad” areas. But, Phuket is big, and staying too far from the beach or airport might be problematic for some. Overall, stick to any of the areas I recommend above and you’ll be fine!

What part of Phuket has the best beaches?

Kata and Karon are good areas to stay for beautiful beaches, while still having access to dining and nightlife options. For a more secluded beach stay, Mai Khao is beautiful and the beach is largely empty even during high season. 

How do I get around in Phuket?

Phuket is very large, and public transportation options are limited. Your hotel can call you a taxi, or you can use the Grab application (which functions similarly to Uber). Just be forewarned that it can take over an hour to get between parts of Phuket.

Is it better to stay in Phuket or Krabi?

Personally, I prefer staying in Krabi (specifically, Ao Nang Beach) over Phuket because it is smaller and the beaches are nicer in my opinion. Both are good bases for taking day trips to the smaller islands, and Phuket does offer a larger airport and more accommodation options. 

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I hope this guide helped you figure out where to stay for your trip!

Traveling around Thailand? Read my guides to where to stay in Bangkok and where to stay in Chiang Mai next!