Phuket is a beautiful spot to chill out at for a few days. ✅ Accommodation and eating options right up there in standard with just about anywhere. ✅ Beautiful sunset beaches. ✅ Great opportunities for partying / lash. ✅ Good scuba diving to the south. ✅ Enough scale to head off on trips all around the peninsular.
Yes, its touristy, but it ticks the chill out vibe after a few weeks of travelling or as a simple break from any of the nearby Asian cities.
Only a very brief travel entry, so a few high level tips:
- Even if there for full on partying/ lash – try not to stay in Patong. It’s great for the nights out, but there are just so many wonderful options slightly further away in the hills and on the beaches for the same prices. Staying in one of these villas typically is the highlight for me
- There are a bunch of islands off the east coast of Phuket that you can visit as part of day tour with a variety of operators leaving from Yamu Pier. The islands are great, but you just need to be careful who you book with because it is very easy to get rammed into a full tourist boat that won’t quite hit the paradise vibe you’re looking for
- Definitely visit the Sunday Phuket Street Market in the Old Town – I was blown away by how good it was and just how atmospheric the old town is. Also known as Lard Yai or the Sunday Walking Street Market, located on Thalang Road, its open every Sunday from 4pm-10pm
- When in Patong, even if not there for a giant night out, make sure to head to Tiger Bar . . . and you can’t miss Suzie Wongs. Both kind of sum up the Patong vibe with something like 50 different mini bars each with their own theme in Tiger Bar, and Suzie’s is an institution – be sure to go the original one!
- There are some super spots for scuba diving all around Phuket, in particular the ferry reef dive off Raja Yai in the south is superb, with heaps of large cleaner fish that come up super close.
