Where to stay in Phuket
Phuket's areas line the west coast from Nai Yang, next to the airport, to Kata in the south, with Old Phuket Town on the island's east side. The drive from the airport runs from about 8 km to about 46 km, and steep hill roads separate the west coast from the rest of the island (via GetCar).
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How the areas differ
Patong is the island's main tourist resort and the centre of its nightlife and shopping, with Bangla Road as its nightlife street. South of it, Karon, the second longest beach in the province, is quieter and popular with families and couples, and Kata runs for 1.5 km with hotels and restaurants behind it.
Old Phuket Town, on the other side of the island, is the historic quarter of Phuket city, known for Sino-Portuguese buildings along Thalang, Phang Nga, Krabi, Dibuk and Yaowarat roads; many are now shops, hotels, restaurants and museums, and the nearest beaches are Patong, Karon and Kata.
North of Patong come Kamala, a beach and town, and Bang Tao, one of the longest beaches on the island. The north-west coast at Nai Yang and Mai Khao lies inside Sirinat National Park, next to the airport.
Staying with a rental car
The airport is at Mai Khao, 32 km north of Phuket city. By road it is about 8 km to Nai Yang, 21 km to Bang Tao, 25 km to Kamala, 32 km to the Old Town, 35 km to Patong, 41 km to Karon and 46 km to Kata.
The roads over the hills between the west coast beaches and the rest of the island are steep and winding, and signs ask drivers to use a low gear on the descents (via GetCar). In Old Phuket Town the streets are narrow and lined with shophouses; GetCar's advice is to park on the edge of the old quarter and walk rather than hunt for a space on Thalang Road.
No official parking scheme was found for Patong, Phuket Town or the beaches as of September 2026, so ask the hotel or host how parking works before booking. The road off the island crosses the Thepkasattri bridges on Highway 402 at the north end, close to the airport (via GetCar). GetCar's guide Driving in Phuket with a Rental Car: Licence and IDP, Left-Hand Traffic, Rain and Scooters covers the permit, the left-hand traffic and the rainy season.
What the rules mean for a guest
Thailand's Hotel Act counts accommodation that lodges people temporarily for payment as a hotel, which needs a licence; running one without a licence carries up to a year in prison or a fine of up to THB 20,000, plus up to THB 10,000 a day. Two exceptions matter to a guest: lodging charged by the month or longer, and small places with 4 rooms and 20 guests at most, run as a side income and notified to the registrar. A condominium or villa let by the night outside those exceptions is unlicensed hotel business under the Act.
Whoever lodges a foreign guest, a hotel manager, a landlord or a homeowner, must report the guest to immigration within 24 hours of arrival on form TM30, filled in from the guest's passport. Hotels also record each guest on a registration card at check-in.
No per-night tourist tax was found. Hotel bills carry VAT at 7%, charged on the whole amount including service fees. A tourism entry fee of THB 450 per foreign visitor was being prepared for public hearing in August 2026; it is not in force.
When to book what
Since 15 September 2026, citizens of the EU, the UK and the US get 30 days without a visa for tourism, and the date on the entry stamp is the last day of the permitted stay. Fill in the Thailand Digital Arrival Card within the 3 days before arrival, and keep proof of funds ready: THB 10,000 per person or THB 20,000 per family can be asked at the border. The UK government gives the rainy season as generally May to October, with flash floods and landslides after heavy rain (via GetCar).
Which area for which trip
Beach and nightlife: Patong.
A quieter beach holiday: Kata and Karon.
Town life with day drives to the beaches: Old Phuket Town.
A beach between Patong and the north: Kamala.
A resort or villa near the airport: Bang Tao.
The first or last night, next to the airport: Nai Yang and Mai Khao.
Questions
Which area of Phuket is best for a first visit?
Patong for the beach and nightlife, or Kata and Karon for a quieter beach. Old Phuket Town suits a stay in town with drives to the coast.
Is parking a problem in Old Phuket Town?
The old streets are narrow and lined with shophouses. GetCar's advice is to park on the edge of the old quarter and walk (via GetCar).
Must a Phuket host report guests to immigration?
Yes. Under section 38 of the Immigration Act, the hotel manager, landlord or homeowner reports a foreign guest within 24 hours of arrival on form TM30.
How does a car leave Phuket?
Over the Thepkasattri bridges on Highway 402 at the north end of the island, close to the airport (via GetCar). The old Sarasin Bridge beside them is for pedestrians.