Phuket

Patong or Kata for a first stay in Phuket?

AU, first island nights. I do not want a nightlife brochure. Beach vs hill vs the strip.

Two beaches, two volumes

If	Lean	Why
You want the strip, shows, 02:00 food	Patong	Loud. Easy Grab. Easy to overspend
You want a beach day and sleep	Kata / Karon class	Hills. A scooter is a different thread (licence + helmet)
First stay, no scooter	Stay where Grab density exists and walk the sand	A “quiet villa” up a hill with no car is a trap
October rain	Either can be grey	Andaman vs Gulf is the coast, not the soi

This is not a hotel list. Nights and whether you will rent a bike. I have not picked yet.

Where to stay

11 comments

Ian Crowe

Patong if you want the strip. Kata/Karon if you want the sand and sleep. Hills. Grab density is worse than Patong. I would not learn to ride on night one.

22d

Ploy

First stay, no bike: stay where cars actually show up. A quiet villa up a driveway is a taxi tax.

22d

Kit Rattana

This is not Chiang Mai. Do not paste Nimman. Phuket is beaches plus hills plus the strip.

22d

Lukas Weber

Helmet and Category A are other threads. This one is the bed. If you will not wear a helmet, do not rent to “see both beaches.”

22d

Mint Saelim

October rain: the coast guide, not the soi. Either beach can be grey. Book cancellable.

21d

Rob Ellison

I would not pick Patong for two weeks of laptop. That is a holiday strip. Different stay.

21d

James Collingwood

First island nights: one base. Do not hop Patong then Kata in 48 hours. Pick.

21d

Freya Holm

I am the wrong north. If the trip is Phuket, stay on that map. Do not add a third region in ten days.

21d

Dan Okafor

Prices on the strip are not Bangkok. Budget accordingly. The daily budget page already flags islands.

20d

Sophie Bataille

Gulf vs Andaman is the month. Patong vs Kata is the soi on the Andaman side. Two different questions.

20d

Yuki Mori

If I will not ride, I want a beach I can walk to. A hill listing with “5 minutes to sand” is often a lie in the rain.

20d

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