Travel Tips For Your Next Trip To Phuket

Phuket, as one of the largest and most populous cities in Thailand, is a tourist haven. It has something for everyone. Beautiful coastlines and beaches? Check. Interesting temples and other culutral attractions? Check. Restaurants that serve the most exquisite of dishes that you’ve ever tasted this side of Asia? Check! Cheap flights from Singapore to Phuket? Check! Accommodations in Phuket? Check!

Being such a touristy city as it is, most people make the rookie mistake of letting their guard down upon their arrival. But this should not be the case though- it’s easy to get overwhelmed by a big city like Phuket if you’re not prepared. 

Here are some Phuket travel tips to help you get started:

 

Travel Like a Local

And this means motorcycles and buses. If you’re feeling adventurous and have a valid international drivers license, then you might want to try hiring a scooter and ride around the city yourself. Don’t go for unnamed random dudes who offer bikes to unsuspecting tourists on the street- get a reputable company to hire your motorcycle from (ask the hotel where you’re staying in, since this is the kind of info that most tourists would ask for). 

If riding a scooter isn’t your thing, then try the Song-thaew, local buses with distinctive blue coloring that travel around the city, with stops at some of the major beaches. These are the very buses that the locals also use, and it’s probably one of the cheapest ways you can get around. 

 

Visit The Temples

Thailand being a predominantly Buddhist country, means that you can be sure to find a number of interesting Buddhist temples in Phuket. One example is the Wat Chalong, widely considered to be the city’s largest and most prominent temple. It is decorated with elaborate paintings and statues of Buddhist imagery, as well as scenes from Thai mythology. 

Another popular temple to visit is the Big Buddha, aptly named for the gargantuan Buddha monument situated on it. It is an iconic landmark in the city, and is located in the Nakkerd Hills in between Kata and Chalong. The road leading up to the statue can give you quite a workout, but it’ll reward you with some of the best panoramic views you will ever find in this city. 

 

Party At The Famous Bangla Road

Bangla Road is where most of the festivities and night life happens. During the day, it looks just like a regulard old street, but at night it transforms into a busy entertainment district. If you like live karaoke, cabaret shows, and Go-go bars, then this place is for you.

If you’re not a fan of the rowdiness and prefer a more quieter experience, then head on over to Patong beach, which is located near the beach end of Bangla. Here is where you can find the tattoo shops, massage parlors, beachh bars, and other relatively chill places to hang out. You can also do a bit of shopping in this area- just make sure that you know what the relative prices of things are, and you can haggle around for lower prices.