Phuket areas: where to stay and how they differ

Phuket is a small island, yet its areas feel nothing alike: in one the music goes on until morning, in another sea turtles come ashore at night. You pick your stay once for the whole trip, so it pays to know the difference up front.

Below are the areas we deliver a PlayStation 5 to, in the order people usually weigh them. The delivery price is next to each.

Patong and Kathu — where everything happens

Patong belongs to Kathu district, together with Kathu itself and Kamala. Patong’s beach runs about 2.85 km along the whole west side of town. It is the island’s main nightlife and shopping area; the best-known street is Bangla Road.

Good for: people who want restaurants, bars and shops within a five-minute walk. Not for: anyone after quiet past ten at night.

PS5 delivery to Kathu and Patong — 400 ฿.

Karon — quieter than Patong

Karon is a beach and a small town on the west coast, south of Patong. According to the Bangkok Post it is the second-longest beach in the province. The area is calmer than Patong and popular with families and couples.

Delivery to Karon — 500 ฿.

Kamala — between Patong and the north

Kamala is a subdistrict of the same Kathu district, north of Patong. It is the smallest of the three: about 5,500 residents against almost 18,000 in Patong. Patong’s busy streets are close, but you do not have to live on them.

Delivery to Kamala — 500 ฿.

Kata — the south of the west coast

Kata lies south of Karon. When choosing between Kata and Karon, the deciding factors are usually the specific hotel and the walk to the beach rather than the area’s reputation.

Delivery to Kata — 600 ฿.

Bang Tao — the north and big villas

Bang Tao beach is on the west coast in Thalang district, the northern part of the island. Phuket International Airport is in the same district.

Good for: longer stays in a villa or resort, heading “into town” for errands rather than every evening.

Delivery to Bang Tao — 600 ฿.

Chalong — residential rather than beachy

Chalong is a subdistrict of Mueang Phuket district in the south-east of the island. It is home to Wat Chalong, officially Wat Chaiyathararam, a Buddhist temple dedicated to the monks Luang Pho Chaem and Luang Pho Chuang.

People choose Chalong when they stay for months rather than a week: more everyday life, less resort.

Delivery to Chalong — 600 ฿.

Mai Khao — the longest beach, and turtles

Mai Khao is Phuket’s longest beach, about 11 km, in the north-west of the island. It is part of Sirinat National Park, established in 1981. From November to February leatherback turtles come here to lay eggs. The airport is next door, and planes come in low over the sand.

Note: from May to November swimming here is dangerous because of strong currents.

Delivery to Mai Khao — 700–800 ฿.

How to choose

• In the middle of it all — Patong.
• With kids and without music under the window — Karon or Kata.
• A long stay in a villa, close to the airport — Bang Tao or Mai Khao.
• A month or more, living like a local — Chalong.

Your area is not on the list? Write anyway — we will tell you whether we deliver there and what it costs.

An evening in any area

Whatever area you pick, there will be evenings when you do not want to go anywhere: heat, rain, tired kids. For those we bring a PlayStation 5 with games already installed — FC 25, GTA V, Marvel’s Spider-Man and more. All you need is a TV with HDMI, and almost every villa and hotel room has one.