Phuket in 5 Days: What I’d Do Differently Now

Phuket gets a bad rap it half deserves

My first Phuket trip I stayed in Patong, got aggressively sunburned on a crowded beach, ate at a restaurant with a laminated picture menu, and paid ฿800 for a Thai massage that was fine but nothing special. I came home thinking Phuket was overrated.

Then I went back and stayed in a completely different area. Different island entirely, almost.

Day 1–2: Skip Patong, go north

The north of Phuket — around Bang Tao Beach and Surin Beach — is a completely different experience from the Patong madhouse. Longer, less crowded beaches, good restaurants that aren’t performing for tourists, and accommodation that ranges from budget guesthouses to genuinely excellent resorts. Bang Tao was my base on my second trip and I barely left the area.

Day 3: Phang Nga Bay

This is the non-negotiable day trip. James Bond Island is the famous one and it’s legitimately beautiful, but it’s also legitimately packed. I’d recommend a sea kayaking tour of the bay that skips the main island and focuses on the hongs (caves accessible only by water) instead. Full day, around ฿1,500–2,000. Book through Klook to compare operators.

Day 4: Old Phuket Town

Nobody tells you this but Phuket Town, 30 minutes from the beaches, is genuinely charming — Sino-Portuguese shophouses, excellent coffee, good food that isn’t aimed at tourists, a Sunday Walking Street market. I spent a whole morning wandering around and ate the best khao man gai (poached chicken rice) of my Thailand trip for ฿60 at a place with four plastic tables.

Day 5: Departure or island-hop

Ferries to Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, and Krabi leave from various piers around Phuket. If you’re island-hopping, this is your jumping-off point. The pier situation is confusing — make sure you know which pier your ferry leaves from the night before.

The honest take

Phuket isn’t ruined. It’s just that the ruined part (Patong) is also the part that’s most visible and most written about. Avoid it, or visit just for one chaotic evening, and Phuket is actually great.