Phuket Travel Guide & Money-Saving Tips

Phuket pairs Andaman beaches with a standout Old Town food scene, and this hub shows when to go, where money leaks, and how to spend less.

Phuket's best days mix Andaman water with brilliant local food

If you're thinking about Phuket, we'd point you towards the food as quickly as the beaches. Old Phuket Town has restored shophouses, Hokkien noodles and dishes you rarely find in a standard beach-resort restaurant.

The island also gives you real variety in one trip: a lively night in Patong, a canoe through Phang Nga Bay or a boat day out to Maya Bay. We like Phuket most when the sea time is balanced with a few hours eating our way through town.

This hub brings together what to know before going to Phuket and how to save money while still getting the most out of the trip.

Good to know

Patong is the loud party beach, while Kata, Karon and Kamala are calmer. Phuket is bigger than it looks and taxis are expensive, so pick your beach before booking.

Top tips

Currency: THB (฿)
Daily spend: 700–1000+ THB per person
Hotels: 300–1000+ THB per night
Plug: American 2-prong / Europlug / Thai
Tipping: Welcomed
Timezone: GMT+7
Taxis: Grab / Bolt / inDrive
Food: GrabFood / foodpanda / LINE MAN WONGNAI

Best time to visit

Weather, prices, crowds and the events worth travelling for.

Cool and dry season

Great

Nov – Feb

Dry and sunny with calm seas around 32°C; peak prices and crowded beaches arrive around December and January.

Hot season

Good

Mar – Apr

Mostly dry and 34°C+; prices ease after Songkran, while the hottest weeks bring fewer beach crowds.

Green season

Good

May – Oct

Short, fierce showers and 30–32°C; hotels drop 30–40%, though west-coast beaches see red flags and island parks close.

Cost saving tips

Green-season hotel rates can run 30–40% lower, so this is the strongest value window for flexible travellers.
Compare island-tour quotes carefully: the ฿400 Phi Phi or ฿500 Similan park fee may sit outside the headline price.
Phuket ATMs can add a fixed 220–250 baht fee per withdrawal, so fewer larger withdrawals cost less in fees.

Top tips

Use Grab, Bolt or inDrive for everyday rides; Patong's tuk-tuk cooperative can charge three to six times the app fare.
At Phuket airport, use the official metered taxi counter or Grab's terminal pickup instead of accepting touts' flat quotes.
Walk about 200 metres away from Bangla Road before booking a car, as pickup access and fares can improve.
Make time for Phuket Old Town food: Mee Ton Poe is a lunch stop, Lock Tien is cash-only and Lard Yai starts on Sunday afternoon.
For a calmer boat departure, book speedboat days in the morning and check whether weather-related rescheduling is included.

Packing tips

Reef-safe sunscreen for beach and boat days around protected marine areas.
A dry bag for phones and spare clothes on speedboat trips.
A light rain shell for short green-season downpours.
Mosquito repellent for Old Town evenings.
A light sarong for covering shoulders and knees at the Big Buddha and Wat Chalong.