Andaman Coast
Phuket
Your beach choice makes or breaks Phuket, so pick deliberately, come December to April, and time Phi Phi to dodge the worst of the day-trip boats.
Best length
5-7 nights
Airport
Phuket International (HKT), ~32km north of Patong
Airport to beaches
Taxi ~45-60 min, about 800-1,000 baht (£18-£24) fixed; Smart Bus 100 baht
Best base
Kata or Karon for first-timers; Patong for nightlife; Kamala for families
In short
Phuket at a glance
Phuket works best as a 5- to 7-night beach base with one or two boat days built in: pick Kata or Karon over Patong unless you want nightlife, agree your airport transfer price before you get in the car, book a Phi Phi speedboat tour for the morning rather than midday, and time the trip for the December-to-April dry season when the Andaman Sea is calm.
The short version
- Base yourself in Kata or Karon for the easiest first trip; choose Patong only if you actively want late-night bars and big crowds.
- A fixed-rate airport taxi to the west-coast beaches runs about 800-1,000 baht (roughly £18-£24), with Kata and Karon at the higher end; the meter plus the 100-baht airport fee is similar, so settle the price before you set off.
- Do Phi Phi as a small-group or early speedboat tour from about 1,800-3,500 baht (£42-£82): leave by 8am to reach Maya Bay before the midday armada.
- Come between December and April for calm seas and reliable sun; May-October brings rougher water, afternoon storms and lower prices.
- Five to seven nights is the sweet spot: enough for two beach days, one island tour and a day in Old Phuket Town without rushing.
Phuket is Thailand’s biggest island and the default UK package and honeymoon beach base, which is both its strength and its catch. The west coast packs four very different bases within a 30-minute drive of each other — party-loud Patong, balanced Kata, roomy Karon and quiet family-friendly Kamala — and getting that choice right shapes the whole trip more than any single sight. The island has no useful public transport, so taxis and pre-booked transfers are a real running cost rather than an afterthought, and the smart move is to base yourself somewhere with restaurants and a beach in walking distance so you are not paying for a car every time you want dinner.
The other big planning call is the calendar. The Andaman Sea is only reliably calm and clear from roughly December to April, which is when boat days to Phi Phi and Phang Nga Bay actually run as advertised; the May-to-October monsoon is cheaper and greener but brings rougher water, cancelled tours and a closed Maya Bay in late summer. Five to seven nights is the sweet spot for a long-haul trip like this: enough for two slow beach days, one full island tour and a half-day in Old Phuket Town. The structured planning below — where to stay, what the airport transfer should cost, the Phi Phi day-tour price, and a realistic budget in pounds — picks up from here.
Plan your Phuket trip
Keep a first trip focused: book the big timed sights, then leave room for neighbourhoods and food.
Top things to do in Phuket
James Bond Island (Phang Nga Bay)
James Bond Island (Khao Phing Kan) is reached only by a booked Phang Nga Bay tour from Phuket — there is no independent way in, so the choice is which boat. Book a small-group longtail or sea-canoe trip rather than a big speedboat armada, and pick the earliest departure (around 7–8am) to reach Ko Tapu before the midday convoy. Allow a full day, expect a 1–1.5 hour transfer each way to the pier, and budget for the 300-baht national-park fee that some operators leave off the headline price.
Phi Phi Islands & Maya Bay
Phi Phi is reached almost entirely by booked boat tour from Phuket, so the page that matters is the tour, not the island. Book a small-group speedboat that leaves Phuket by around 8am — it reaches Maya Bay before the midday armada of larger boats arrives. Choose a tour that bundles the national-park fee, accept that Maya Bay is now wade-only (no swimming on the beach itself), and treat the snorkelling at Pileh Lagoon and Loh Samah Bay as the real reward.
Big Buddha Phuket
Entry to the Big Buddha is free with a donation expected, so what you actually 'book' is the transport: most people reach it as part of a half-day island sightseeing tour that pairs it with Wat Chalong, or by pre-arranged Grab/taxi from the west-coast beaches. Go early — by 9am the 45m marble statue catches clean morning light and the car park hasn't filled, and the Nakkerd Hill viewpoint over Chalong Bay and Kata is the real draw. Allow 1–1.5 hours on site, and dress to cover shoulders and knees or you'll be handed a sarong at the entrance.
Where to stay first
The areas that make a first visit easier — not an exhaustive directory.
Kata
££ mid-rangeThe safest all-round first-timer base: a balanced bay with gentle surf, independent cafes and yoga studios, and an easier evening than Patong without feeling cut off. Close enough to reach Patong in 15-20 minutes by taxi when you want the noise.
Best for: First-timers, couples, surf-curious
Karon
££ mid-rangeA long, wide stretch of white sand with lower-density development than Patong and more space than Kata. The pick if you want a quiet beach day and a calm base but still want restaurants within walking distance.
Best for: Beach space, relaxed couples, value
Patong
£ valueThe neon party hub: Bangla Road bars, beach clubs, shopping and watersports all packed together. Convenient and lively, but loud, touristy and not a restful honeymoon base. Choose it only if nightlife is the point.
Best for: Nightlife, shopping, young groups
Kamala
£££ premiumThe quietest and softest of the west-coast bases, with resort-style stays and a calmer beach. Best for families and multi-generational trips that want Phuket dialled down, though it is a bit short on independent dining.
Best for: Families, resorts, quiet stays
Airport to city centre
| Option | Time | Cost | Book ahead? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed-rate airport taxi to Patong/Kata/Karon | ~45-60 min | about 800-1,000 baht (£18-£24), Kata/Karon higher | Book at the official counter, not touts |
| Metered taxi | ~45-60 min | about 600-700 baht plus 100-baht airport fee | Make sure the meter is on |
| Pre-booked private transfer | ~45-60 min | from about £20-£30 | Best with luggage or late arrivals |
| Smart Bus (airport to Rawai route) | ~1h to Patong | flat 100 baht (£2.30) any stop | Cheapest, but slow and limited stops |
When to go
Sweet spot: December to April is the dry high season: clear skies, calm Andaman seas and the best visibility for boat days and snorkelling, with comfortable 24-32°C heat. November and early December are quieter shoulder weeks before the Christmas peak.
May to October is the southwest monsoon: cheaper rooms and lush scenery, but rougher seas, more cancelled boat tours and afternoon downpours, with September the wettest. Maya Bay closes to visitors from 1 August to 30 September each year, so a Phi Phi trip in those months will miss it.
What it costs
There are no direct UK-Phuket flights, so expect a one-stop routing via the Gulf or Asia (Doha, Dubai, Bangkok, Singapore) of roughly 14-16 hours total. Return fares are typically £500-£800 booked ahead and outside the December peak, climbing well past £900 over Christmas and New Year.
Daily budget per person
Phuket is pricier than mainland Thailand because of the island's transport and resort economy. The two budget killers are beach-road dining and short taxi hops; eat one street-food or Old Town meal a day and batch your taxi trips and the daily cost drops fast.
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Where to stay
Tours & tickets
Airport transfers
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