Phuket is an incredible place that every travel should consider visiting. From the rainforests to the beaches to the resorts, you have everything you need. In this Phuket Thailand Travel Guide, I highlight everything to do in 48 hours.
With Phuket’s location in southeast Asia, consider visiting other cities in this region. Ashlee and I visited Bangkok, Siem Reap, Ho Chi Minh, and Singapore. Each city is unique and is somewhere I recommend that you visit.
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Best Credit Cards to Use in Phuket
Not all Phuket establishments take cards so you need to have cash (Thai Baht is the local currency) on you at all times. We easily found ATMs and never had an issue accessing cash. For places that accept cards, consider bringing ones that do not have foreign transaction fees.
The American Express Gold, Chase Sapphire Reserve, and Citi Premier are cards to consider bringing to Phuket. You earn 4x points on dining and US grocery stores with the Gold. Reserve cardmembers earn 3x points on dining and travel. You earn 3x points on airfare, hotels, gas stations, restaurants, and grocery stores with the Premier starting August 23, 2020.
How to Fly to Phuket
Phuket International Airport (HKT) is served by a variety of airlines. Both major alliance airlines and low-cost airlines fly into Phuket. Generally speaking, you route through Europe or Asia when flying from the US to Phuket.
Asiana Airlines, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Turkish Airlines are examples of airlines that fly between the US and Phuket. Consider your award flight options with Air Canada Aeroplan, Avianca LifeMiles, United Airlines, ANA, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Iberia Avios, Flying Blue, and Delta Air Lines.
Thailand Travel: Where to Stay in Phuket
Hyatt, IHG, and Marriott are the major points hotel brands with Phuket properties. Keep the Hyatt Regency Phuket, Twinpalms Phuket, Twinpalms MontAzure, Le Méridien Phuket, Phuket Marriott Resort and Spa, The Naka Phuket, Hotel Indigo Phuket Patong, and InterContinental Phuket Resort on your radar.
We stayed at this Airbnb and I can’t recommend it enough! This place sits in the mountains and overlooks the ocean. It’s exactly what we were looking for at only $52/night during our stay. Add breakfast for an additional $2/day, throw in the free bicycles, and a 5-minute ride to the beach and you can see why we love it!
Thailand Travel: Where to Eat and Drink in Phuket
Coffee & Breakfast
It’s hard to pass up our incredible Airbnb breakfast spread at only $2/day. If you want to venture out, Lima Cafe is a solid spot that we biked to.
Lunch/Dinner
With the way that our schedule lined up, we opted for convenience when it was time for lunch and dinner. Our meals were either from street-side vendors or walk-up beach restaurants. On our next trip to Phuket, we plan to check out Pru, Talung Thai, Acqua, Red Sauce, and Ta Hkai.
Thailand Travel: Things to Do in Phuket
Ashlee has an entire Travel Guide to Phuket Thailand that you should check out. In her guide, she goes into everything we did on our first trip. We left Phuket relaxed and satisfied with what we did.
Bang Tao Beach, Surin Beach, and Phang Nga Bay are my favorite places to see. Both of the beaches are stunning and Phang Nga Bay is something out of a movie. The Phuket Elephant Sanctuary, Jui Tui Shrine, Wat Chalong, and Big Buddha Phuket are things to see on our next visit.
Common Thailand Travel Questions
Is it safe to travel to Thailand?
After spending time in both Phuket and Bangkok, I personally feel it is safe to travel in Thailand. Obviously, major cities like Bangkok are likely to have areas of the city that you may want to avoid as a tourist for safety reasons.
What is the best month to go to Thailand?
We visited in February and think this may be on the list of the best month to go to Thailand. Rainy season is what you want to avoid to consider visiting between December and March.
What should I avoid in Thailand?
I’m certainly not a Phuket and/or local of Thailand but from everything I’ve read and heard, spend time researching elephant sanctuaries if you want to interact with elephants.
How much money do you need a day in Thailand?
Relatively speaking to other resort-style places I’ve visited, Phuket is cheap. The current USD to THB exchange rate is 1:0.03 so it doesn’t take much to get you a nice meal or a round of drinks.
Conclusion on Thailand Travel
In terms of exotic, Phuket checks all of the boxes. As you can see in this Phuket Thailand travel guide, it’s a place that’s low-key. However, there’s still plenty more for us to do and eat on our second trip. Do yourself a favor a book a trip to this part of Thailand and thank me later!
What do you think of this Phuket Thailand Travel Guide? What other things do you recommend doing? Please let me know in the comments below or by sending me an email on my contact page.
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