Best Hotels Phuket
----|------|----------|----------| | Patong | Loud, touristy, nightlife | Parties, Bangla Road, budget options | You want quiet or a beach vacation | | Kata | Relaxed, family-friendly | Families, surfers (May–Oct), mid-range | You want nightlife or luxury | | Karon | Quieter than Patong, long beach | Couples, older travellers | You want a scene | | Kamala | Upscale, calm | Luxury resorts, long stays | You want budget options | | Bang Tao / Laguna | Luxury resort strip | Families at 5-star, golfers | Budget travellers | | Surin | Boutique luxury, beautiful beach | Couples, honeymooners | Budget and party seekers | | Rawai / Nai Harn | Local, quiet, south tip | Long-stay expats, divers | Beach-hopping convenience | | Mai Khao | Remote, quiet, airport-adjacent | High-end isolation, wildlife | If you want to be near anything |
Patong Beach
Patong is the most famous — and most polarising — beach in Phuket. Bangla Road is pure chaotic neon and walking street energy. The beach is wide and busy. There are thousands of hotels, restaurants, and bars within walking distance of each other.
If you want nightlife, convenience, and cheap eats at every turn, Patong delivers. If you want a peaceful beach holiday, stay somewhere else.
Best hotels in Patong:
| Hotel | Price/Night (approx) | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Impiana Patong Hotel | 2,500–4,000 THB | Mid-range, beachfront access |
| Patong Beach Hotel | 1,500–2,500 THB | Central location, value |
| Millennium Resort Patong | 3,500–5,500 THB | Pool, location, leisure travellers |
| All Seasons Naiharn | See Nai Harn section | — |
Budget options are plentiful in Patong — hostels from 300 THB, decent private guesthouses from 700–1,000 THB. The trade-off is noise. If you're on Bangla Road, expect it until 3–4am.
Kata Beach
Kata is about 20 minutes south of Patong and has a completely different feel. The beach is beautiful — softer sand, cleaner water, a small headland separating Kata Noi from Kata Yai. The town has good restaurants, beach bars, and a surf scene in the wet season (May–October when Patong gets rough, Kata gets good waves).
It's popular with families and couples who want a beach holiday without the Patong circus. Mid-range and boutique hotels dominate.
Best hotels in Kata:
| Hotel | Price/Night (approx) | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Kata Rocks | 15,000–30,000+ THB | Ultra-luxury villa, couples |
| Katathani Phuket Beach Resort | 4,000–8,000 THB | Beachfront, family-friendly |
| Tipa Resort | 1,500–2,500 THB | Good value, pool, quiet |
| Sugar Palm Resort | 1,200–2,000 THB | Budget-friendly, small pool |
Kata Rocks is one of the standout luxury properties in all of Phuket — clifftop villas with infinity pools over the Andaman Sea. It's expensive, but the views and level of service justify it.
Katathani is the best all-rounder for families — it's right on the beach, has multiple pools, and has enough facilities to keep everyone occupied without being overwhelming.
Karon Beach
Karon is the long, wide beach between Patong and Kata. It's quieter than both — fewer bars, fewer tourists, less development. The beach itself is one of the nicest in Phuket (3.5 km of sand) but can get rough seas in wet season.
It's a good call for couples and older travellers who want a proper beach without the Patong noise, and who don't need a scene.
Best hotels in Karon:
| Hotel | Price/Night (approx) | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort | 5,000–9,000 THB | Full resort, families, beachfront |
| Novotel Phuket Karon Beach | 3,500–6,000 THB | Modern, pool, good value 4-star |
| Karon Sea Sands Resort | 1,500–2,500 THB | Budget-mid, pool, decent beach access |
Kamala & Surin
These two beaches north of Patong are where Phuket's upscale scene has migrated. Kamala is calm and residential; Surin has arguably the most beautiful beach in Phuket — clear water, casuarina trees, and a chic beach club scene at Café del Mar.
The Andara Resort in Kamala is worth mentioning — private pool villas on a hillside with panoramic views. Not cheap, but genuinely impressive.
Best hotels in Kamala/Surin:
| Hotel | Price/Night (approx) | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Andara Resort & Villas | 8,000–20,000 THB | Hillside luxury, couples |
| The Surin Phuket | 5,000–9,000 THB | Beachfront, casually elegant |
| Ayara Kamala Resort | 4,000–7,000 THB | Views, boutique, quiet |
Bang Tao & Laguna
Bang Tao is home to Laguna Phuket — an integrated resort complex with six hotels sharing facilities across a large lagoon property. It's one of the most family-friendly setups on the island: kids' clubs, golf, multiple pools, beach access, and a shuttle system between hotels.
Hotels in the Laguna complex: - Banyan Tree Phuket (ultra-luxury) - Angsana Laguna Phuket (mid-luxury) - Laguna Holiday Club (family-focused)
Outside the Laguna complex, Bang Tao beach is increasingly popular with high-end villas and newer boutique hotels.
Rawai & Nai Harn (South Phuket)
The south tip of Phuket is the most local-feeling part of the island. Rawai is where Phuket's expat community concentrates — seafood restaurants on the pier, dive shops, longtail boats. Nai Harn beach is genuinely beautiful and far less crowded than the west coast beaches.
Getting to Patong from here takes 30–45 minutes. If you want to feel like you're living in Phuket rather than visiting it, the south tip is the best base.
Best hotels in Rawai/Nai Harn:
| Hotel | Price/Night (approx) | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Le Méridien Phuket Beach Resort | 4,000–7,000 THB | Beachfront, full resort, families |
| The Nai Harn | 6,000–11,000 THB | Boutique luxury, beautiful beach |
| Nai Harn Beach Resort | 1,200–2,000 THB | Budget, good location |
The Nai Harn is exceptional — a boutique property perched above the beach with one of the best views on the island and a strong sustainability focus.
Phuket Old Town
Inland and underrated. The Sino-Portuguese architecture, street art, and cafe scene make it one of the most photogenic areas in Phuket. Good base if you want culture over beach, or if you're transiting through.
| Hotel | Price/Night (approx) | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| The Memory at On On Hotel | 1,200–2,000 THB | Historic, character-filled |
| Casa Blanca Phuket | 1,500–2,500 THB | Boutique, Old Town atmosphere |
Phuket Hotel Price Guide (2025)
| Category | What to Expect | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Fan or AC room, guesthouse, hostel | 300–1,000 THB |
| Mid-Range | Pool, breakfast sometimes, decent beach access | 1,500–4,000 THB |
| Upper Mid | Pool villa or resort facilities, good service | 4,000–8,000 THB |
| Luxury | Full resort or boutique villa, exceptional service | 8,000–20,000 THB |
| Ultra Luxury | Private villa, pool, butler service | 20,000+ THB |
When to Visit Phuket
November to April — dry season, best beach conditions, peak prices. May to October — wet season. Andaman side (Patong, Kata, Karon) gets rough; east coast and Phang Nga Bay are better. Hotels are 30–50% cheaper and much quieter.
The shoulder months of May and October are a solid sweet spot — cheaper rates, manageable weather, fewer crowds.
Getting Better Rates on Phuket Hotels
The major OTAs have Phuket saturated, but boutique and independent properties often have better deals outside those platforms. EezyStay lists Phuket hotels with rates that frequently undercut Agoda and Booking.com — worth comparing before you commit.
Related Reading
- Cheap Hotels in Phuket Without Sacrificing the Beach
- Phuket vs Krabi: The Honest Comparison for First-Time Visitors
- Khao Lak vs Phuket 2026 — Beaches Without the Crowds
- Best Hotels in Koh Samui 2025: Beach-by-Beach Guide
- Best Hotels in Krabi 2025: Ao Nang, Railay & Klong Muang
Browse Phuket availability at eezystay.com.
FAQs
Is Patong worth avoiding? Not necessarily — it depends what you want. If you're after a beach holiday with peace and quiet, yes, go to Kata or Karon. If you want nightlife, cheap food, and the full chaotic Thailand experience, Patong delivers exactly that.
Can I base myself in one beach and explore others? Yes. Songthaews run between the beaches (slow but cheap), or use Grab. Renting a scooter gives you the most freedom but Phuket roads can be dangerous.
Is Phuket expensive compared to other parts of Thailand? It's the most expensive part of Thailand outside of Bangkok's five-star scene. Budget for at least 30% more than Chiang Mai or the Gulf islands.