Is Phuket Worth Visiting? (Pros & Cons!)
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If you’ve found your way here then you’re planning a trip to Thailand and you’re wondering if Phuket is worth visiting and adding onto your itinerary.
Thailand is a beautiful country with so many diverse and amazing spots to visit that it can get overwhelming when planning your itinerary on which destinations make the cut. One of the most popular areas of Thailand to visit is Phuket so there must be a reason for it!
After our trip to Phuket in September, we were actually really surprised with how much we loved this area of Thailand, especially when we were expecting it to be somewhat of a tourist trap.
Don’t get us wrong, there are parts of Phuket that are super touristy, but if you do your research (such as reading this blog post) then you will find some of the most stunning spots to experience the beauty in Phuket.
In this blog post, we will be sharing all the pros and cons of visiting Phuket so that you can decide if this is a spot for you!
Is Phuket Worth Visiting?
Let’s cut to the chase for those that don’t want to hang around and research further into Phuket. Yes, it is absolutely worth visiting no matter what type of traveller you are and things you like to do when travelling.
Whether you’re looking to go diving, experience some nightlife, explore a new spot of Thailand, go surfing or just to relax, there’s plenty of options for everybody.
If you’re seriously planning your trip to Phuket, keep reading. Otherwise you’re going to miss out on all the tips and reasons on why to visit Phuket and also why it might not be the destination for you!
Reasons to Visit Phuket
If you’re wanting to find out if Phuket is the spot for you in Thailand then check out these amazing reasons why Phuket should be on your bucket list!
1. Beautiful Marine Life
One of the main reasons we visited Phuket ourselves was to go diving, this was the main purpose of our trip. Trust us, we got to experience an insane amount of marine life after 6 days of scuba diving!
For Amy in particular who has been diving in multiple destinations, Phuket has now become one of her favourite destinations for scuba diving so far.
Every divers dream destinations and dive spots differs depending on what they’re looking for but our usual main goal is to see sharks. We did visit slightly out of season but we got to get a quick glimpse of Black Reef sharks during one of our dives. There are so many amazing dive spots to visit in Phuket so it’s definitely worth it!
Outside of that we got to see plenty of Triggerfish (every divers worst nightmare sadly), barracuda, puffer fish, stingrays, trumpetfish, starfish, urchins and so much more.
One of the other highlights of our diving adventures was diving through one of the man-made wrecks and also getting to not just see the Phi Phi islands but dive around them too.
Whether you’re scuba diving or snorkelling, Phuket is abundant with marine life and perfect for any water enthusiast.
2. Plenty of Water Sports
Like most coastal destinations, Phuket is also filled with plenty of water sports activities for anyone that is looking to experience something new or learn a new skill.
From surfing, kayaking, paddleboarding, jet-skiing, parasailing and so much more, you will have your pick of the bunch if water sports is one of your favourite things to do when travelling!
3. Great Family Destination
One of the things that surprised us the most about Phuket is that it is such a fantastic destination for families to travel to. Being from the UK, a lot of families prefer to keep to short-haul to avoid long-flights but if you’re like us and want your little ones to experience different cultures other than Europe, Phuket should be up there on your list!
Not only is it a safe destination to visit but there are a lot of resorts that are family-friendly and offer different board basis including all-inclusive.
For families visiting Phuket, there are plenty of day excursions that you can go on to visit Phi Phi islands, go snorkelling and even experience more of the historical side of Phuket. However, one of the activities that nearly every kid will love is a visit to the Andaman Water Park which will give plenty of excitement, adrenaline and fun for the whole family.
If you’re wondering what activities there are to do as a family, check out our activity guide at the bottom of this article for inspo for your family trip!
4. Very Safe Location
There are a lot of mixed reviews about whether Phuket is a safe destination or not but we can only go by our experience and opinion.
We found Phuket a very safe destination to visit and so many friendly locals so we felt completely safe when we were visiting. However, that is not to ignore the reports during peak seasons that there are tourist scams that you need to be aware of.
There are tourist scams in nearly every destination you visit whether it be someone trying to put bracelets on your arm and demanding payment, pickpockets or people trying to get you to take pictures with animals and then ask for payments.
We hope that you’re with us when we say that nearly every destination has tourist scams but the important part is knowing when to spot them and how to avoid them. That doesn’t necessarily make a destination unsafe but that you need to inform yourself of scams or areas that are not recommended.
Whilst we were in Phuket for 10 days, never once did we feel we were pestered or spot any tourist scams but we can only account for our personal experience!
5. Close to one of the most ethical sanctuaries in Thailand
Thailand is one of the most renowned countries for having elephant ‘sanctuaries’ everywhere but the majority of them are not actually sanctuaries at all and are more of a tourist trap.
The Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is one of the most ethical sanctuaries in Thailand and is definitely worth a visit.
Before you plan to visit any Elephant sanctuary in Thailand, make sure to do your research and know what you’re looking for. Any ‘sanctuary’ that is allowing people to ride elephants or direct, provoked contact is definitely not an ethical sanctuary and deserves more time to research which elephant sanctuaries are ethical.
This is one of the things that we liked about Phuket’s Elephant Sanctuary because being ethical is one of the most important things to them so if you’re looking to see elephants, this is the spot to visit in Phuket.
6. Great hub for island-hopping
Phuket is such a large area which makes it an amazing hub for getting to other areas of Thailand and island hopping. We didn’t have time to do some island hopping ourselves as we were limited on the number of days we could be away for this particular trip but we certainly looked into our options before we decided 10 days in Phuket and spending the majority diving.
From Phuket you can easily take a trip to Coconut Island which looks absolutely stunning and luxurious. For most, one of the bucket list things to do is a trip to the Phi Phi islands and you can do this either on a day trip or go and stay for a night or two.
Not to mention that from Phuket you can get a boat to the Racha Islands, Coral Island, Phang Nga Bay, Koh Yaoi Yai and Nai, Similan islands and so much more, the options are endless.
7. Range of Budget – Luxury Hotel Options
Whether you like to travel in style or explore on a budget, there are options available in Phuket for all types of budgets.
You will find hostels around Patong, Bed & Breakfast options, mid-range hotels in Patong, Kata Beach & Karon Beach and of course the more luxurious elegant options across all 3 destinations, on Coconut Island and even as far North as Khao Lak.
Here’s some of our favourite hotels from budget, mid-range and luxury to help you narrow down your choices. We stayed in Wekata Luxury in Kata Beach and we were really happy with our choice so that would be our personal recommendation!
8. Great Spot to Learn Surfing
This is something we looked at doing during our trip ourselves but when we started adding on the different diving courses we were planning, we realised that we would have very limited time and had to put surfing lessons on hold.
However, before we made this decision, we done so much research that we knew that this was a great spot for anyone looking to learn or go surfing.
What is great about surfing in Phuket is that the prices are really cheap as well, especially when comparing to other destinations outside of Asia.
If you’re planning to visit Phuket for some surfing then you will want to try and visit during May – October for the best season. It’s probably not the ultimate surf destination for anyone that is a well-seasoned, advanced surfer but it’s a great spot to learn as a beginner and practice as an intermediate as it’s not too overwhelming.
9. Wide range of Different Areas to Visit
If you’re travelling for a long period of time or want to visit different areas of Thailand then Phuket is one of the perfect places to start. Not only are there plenty of islands accessible from Phuket but it is such a large area of Thailand that you don’t need to go far to experience diverse atmospheres.
When most people visit Phuket, they generally stick to one of the main 3 areas; Patong, Kata or Karon. These all have their perks depending on what you’re looking for. Patong is fab for anyone looking for a more lively atmosphere & nightlife, Kata & Karon are both more laid-back and great for diving, water sports and relaxing.
Don’t forget that Phuket Old Town is a great spot to visit even if it’s for a night or two to see a different side to Phuket.
However, beyond that, there is also smaller areas to visit that are less touristy such as Promthep Cape, Kamala Beach & Freedom Beach. These are great spots to truly relax and have that beachy holiday.
If you’re someone that loves wildlife and nature then you’ll want to take a trip further up North to Sirinat National Park, Bang Pae Waterfall and so much more.
When we get the chance to go back to Phuket (which we definitely will) we would want to go visit Samet Nanshe and stay there overnight. We were recommended this by our dive instructor and it looks out of this world.
It’s safe to say that as there’s so many different spots to visit in and around Phuket that we will be going back to visit for this reason alone!
Cons for Visiting Phuket
There aren’t many cons for visiting Phuket but just like every destination, there are things that are not right for everyone.
1. Very Touristy
Sadly, one of the reasons you shouldn’t visit Phuket is that it can be very touristy so if you’re looking for somewhere off the beaten track, sadly this isn’t the destination for you.
However, the one thing we can say is that it is a touristy destination for a reason. It is absolutely beautiful and has a lot to offer anyone visiting.
If you don’t think you can cope with crowds and busy areas then you can still enjoy the destination but visit Phuket during off-peak season instead. We visited Phuket at the end of September, start of October and even though it was the rainy season, it didn’t impact our trip at all, if anything it enhanced it as there were less people around!
2. Can Be More Expensive Than Other Areas of Thailand
As it’s a tourist hot spot, with that also comes enhanced prices which may not be ideal for anyone looking for the cheap / budget-friendly side of Thailand.
We personally found that prices were still very reasonable but all we’re saying is that it isn’t as cheap as other areas of Thailand.
3. Dive Sites are Further Away
Our main purpose for visiting Phuket was to go diving and get a few courses & certifications under our belts. The dive sites in Thailand are absolutely incredible but they are further away so it is a long day.
One of the dive sites we visited was around the Phi Phi islands and this took around 2 hours. For us, we didn’t mind too much because it gave us time to wake up in the morning, enjoy a cup of tea, take our time with a dive brief and prepare our equipment.
For some, this may not suit because you struggle with boats or you may only want to do a half-day diving so this can make it more tricky!
4. Quite Busy
With it being a popular tourist spot, Phuket can be quite busy which means that the beaches can be a bit more crowded, if you’re going diving, the boats are larger and more people, tourist attractions will be busier too.
This is not for everyone, especially people like us that are looking to try and get some epic photos or just purely like a calmer atmosphere.
5. Weather Risks
When visiting Thailand, it is no secret that this incredible country is prone to serious weather risks. If you’re visiting during the rainy season then you may experience monsoons, tsunamis etc.
Like any tropical country, there are always risks with weather so it is worth planning your trip accordingly so that you are visiting during the best times.
Activities to Make Your Phuket Trip Worth It
These activities below are some of the best & most exciting things to do whilst you’re visiting Phuket that will make your trip into something that is epic!
- Maya, Phi Phi, and Bamboo Island with Buffet Lunch
- 3 Fun Dives for Certified Diver to Phi Phi Islands & Shark Point
- Phang Nga Bay Bioluminescent Plankton & Sea Canoes
- Paradise Island Zipline
- Patong Boxing Stadium Muay Thai Match
- Andamanda Waterpark Ticket
In Summary: Is Phuket Worth Visiting?
In short, yes Phuket is absolutely worth visiting and we would recommend it to anyone that is looking for a fun-filled exciting adventure. Whilst there are some cons to visiting Phuket, in our opinion the pros far outweigh the cons!
Whether you’re travelling solo, as a couple or a family, there is something for everyone to enjoy. What’s even better is that it is a beautiful beachy destination so there’s also plenty of time to relax in between all the exciting activities!
