Where to Stay in Phuket: Best Areas & Hotels by Budget

Here is a quick-reference guide to help you zero in on the right neighborhood before diving into specifics:

• First-time visitors: Kata Beach — beautiful beach, good restaurants, balanced atmosphere.
• Couples & honeymooners: Surin, Kamala, or Cape Panwa — romance without the Patong crowds.
• Families: Kata, Karon, or Bang Tao/Laguna — kid-friendly beaches, resort pools, family restaurants.
• Solo travelers & backpackers: Patong (for socializing) or Old Town (for culture and co-working).
• Luxury seekers: Surin (Amanpuri), Nai Thon (Trisara, Rosewood), or Cape Panwa (Sri Panwa).
• Long-term stays: Rawai or Chalong — affordable monthly rentals, local feel, Muay Thai gyms.
• Digital nomads: Old Town or Cherngtalay — co-working spaces, cafes, and community.

Phuket has excellent budget accommodation, especially in Phuket Town, Kata, and Patong. Here are top picks in each area:

Phuket Town:

• The Memory at On On Hotel — A restored 1929 heritage building on Phang Nga Road. Dorm beds from 350 THB, private rooms from 800 THB. Featured in "The Beach" movie. Central location near all Old Town attractions.
• Hatch Hostel — Co-working-hostel hybrid near the Sunday market. Dorms from 300 THB. Fast Wi-Fi, good coffee.

Patong:

• Lub d Phuket Patong — The most social hostel on the island with a rooftop bar, pool, and daily events. Dorms from 400 THB, private from 1,000 THB. 5-minute walk to Bangla Road.
• Bodega Phuket — Party hostel with organized pub crawls and pool parties. Dorms from 350 THB.

Kata:

• Phuket Backpacker Hostel — Clean dorms, solid common area, 10-minute walk to Kata Beach. From 300 THB.
• Kata Beach Guesthouses — Small family-run places on the back streets. Private rooms with fan from 500 THB, with AC from 700 THB.

The mid-range segment in Phuket offers tremendous value — pools, breakfast, modern rooms, and often beach access for $30–$115 USD per night.

Kata & Karon:

• The Shore at Katathani — Adults-only boutique hotel on Kata Noi Beach. Infinity pool, breakfast included. From 2,500 THB.
• Centara Kata Resort — Family-friendly with two pools and a kids' club. 5-minute walk to Kata Beach. From 1,800 THB.
• Beyond Resort Karon — Directly on Karon Beach. Clean rooms, beachfront restaurant. From 2,000 THB.

Kamala:

• Novotel Phuket Kamala Beach — On the beach with a lagoon pool, gym, and family suites. From 2,500 THB.

Patong:

• BYD Lofts Boutique Hotel — Modern loft-style rooms on a quiet Patong side street. Rooftop pool with views. From 1,800 THB.
• Holiday Inn Resort Phuket — Excellent kids' zone, beachfront location, reliable quality. From 3,000 THB.

Old Town:

• Casa Blanca Boutique Hotel — A beautifully converted shophouse. Vintage charm, walkable to everything. From 1,500 THB.

Phuket's luxury segment rivals the best in Asia at prices that undercut the Maldives and Bali.

Iconic properties:

• Amanpuri (Surin) — The original Aman resort. Thai-pavilion villas, private beach, fleet of yachts. From 30,000 THB/night.
• Trisara (Nai Thon) — Private pool villas, Michelin-starred PRU restaurant, exclusive beach. From 25,000 THB.
• Sri Panwa (Cape Panwa) — Hillside pool villas with 180-degree ocean views. Home of Baba Nest. From 15,000 THB.
• Rosewood Phuket (Hala Lam) — Phuket's newest ultra-luxury resort. Contemporary design, beachfront villas. From 20,000 THB.

High-end but relatively affordable:

• Banyan Tree Phuket (Bang Tao) — Famous for its spa. Pool villas in a lagoon setting. From 12,000 THB.
• COMO Point Yamu — East-coast design hotel with Phang Nga Bay views. Italian restaurant by the pool. From 8,000 THB.
• InterContinental Phuket (Kamala) — Opened 2019. Terraced into the hillside with a 60m infinity pool. From 7,000 THB.
• Keemala (Kamala Hills) — Whimsical treehouse and bird's nest pool villas in the jungle. From 10,000 THB.

When to book: For peak season (December–February), book 2–3 months ahead. For Christmas/New Year week, book 4–6 months ahead. Low season (May–October) requires minimal advance booking — many hotels offer walk-in discounts.

Best booking platforms: Agoda consistently has the best prices for Southeast Asian hotels. Booking.com has the widest selection. For luxury properties, book directly with the hotel for perks like breakfast, room upgrades, and spa credits that OTAs cannot match.

Price comparison: Always check the hotel's own website after finding it on Agoda or Booking.com — direct booking benefits can add 20–30% in value.

Low season deals: May–October prices drop 30–60%. A pool villa that costs 15,000 THB in January may be 6,000 THB in June. Weather is wetter but still offers plenty of sunshine, especially mornings.

For groups of 6 or more, renting a private villa is often better value than multiple hotel rooms and far more fun. Phuket has hundreds of luxury villas for rent, many with private pools, personal chefs, and stunning views.

Where to look: Airbnb, Villa-Phuket.com, The Luxury Collection, and Villondo specialize in Phuket villas. Kamala's "Millionaire's Mile" has the most spectacular options.

Budget: A 3-bedroom pool villa starts at 5,000 THB/night in low season, which is just 1,700 THB per couple. A 5-bedroom estate with staff and chef runs 15,000–50,000 THB/night.

Important: Read recent reviews carefully. Confirm whether the listed amenities (pool heating, Wi-Fi speed, chef availability) match reality before booking.