Phuket International Airport: where to stay, areas and recommended…

Phuket is the Thai island with the most distinct beach areas, and the distances from the airport, which sits at the northern tip, vary enormously: from just a few minutes for Mai Khao and Nai Yang to almost an hour for Karon and Kata, on the south-west coast. There is no train, and during peak hours the main road south can easily add 15-20 minutes to any journey. Patong, the island's most touristy area, does not appear here because none of its properties available in our catalogue can be verified with certainty; Kamala and Karon remain two valid alternatives on the same coast.

Mai Khao and Nai Yang

Airport area · 2-10 minutes by car depending on the hotel; several addresses are right in Sa Khu, the sub-district where the terminal is located.

Best for: Short layovers and morning departures, or those who want quiet beaches in Sirinat park without moving away from the airport.

Pros

The shortest transfer on the island, handy for those arriving late or with a dawn flight
Mai Khao and Nai Yang beaches are quieter and less built-up than the south coast

Cons

Far from Patong, Kata and the island's nightlife: 45 minutes or more
An area with few independent restaurants, meals are mostly taken at the hotels

Recommended hotels in this area

Wyndham Phuket Airport: In Sa Khu, about 2 minutes by car from the terminal and 16 minutes on foot from Mai Khao beach; spacious gardens and a pool for those with an overnight stay between two flights.
Chao Wilai Residence I Naiyang Beach I HKT Airport: Holiday homes about 5 minutes from the airport with free pick-up included; Nai Yang beach is about 15 minutes on foot.

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Kamala

Neighbourhood · About 17 km from the airport, 35-45 minutes by car; several hotels in the area offer their own shuttle.

Best for: Those who want a quieter beach than Patong but with restaurants and bars close at hand, accepting a 35-45 minute transfer.

Pros

A white-sand beach with a more relaxed atmosphere than Patong, but still with restaurants and bars
Hotel shuttle available around the clock on request at some properties

Cons

35-45 minutes from the airport, among the longest transfers of the areas north of the island
Nightlife more limited than in Patong, if that's what you're looking for

Recommended hotels in this area

Wyndham Garden Phuket Kamala: About 12 minutes on foot from Kamala beach, with an airport shuttle available around the clock on request; three outdoor pools and a gym.

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Karon and Kata (south coast)

Neighbourhood · 43-44 km from the airport, about 45-55 minutes by car, more during the afternoon peak hours.

Best for: Those looking for the more surf-oriented, less commercial beaches of the west coast, accepting the longest transfer on the island.

Pros

Karon and Kata beaches are wider and less crowded than Patong
Viewpoints and coastal paths reachable on foot or with a short ride

Cons

The longest transfer on the island together with Phuket Town, worth considering with a morning flight
Heavy traffic on the road south in the late afternoon

Recommended hotels in this area

15D Waterfront Suites Phuket NEW: On Karon beach, run by Centara; rooms with a kitchenette, handy for longer stays.

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Phuket Town

Neighbourhood · About 30 km from the airport, 30-45 minutes by car depending on traffic.

Best for: Those who want the Sino-Portuguese old town, local markets and lower prices, giving up a beach right outside the hotel.

Pros

Markets, Sino-Portuguese architecture and local cuisine at lower prices than on the coast
Patong is still reachable in about 20 minutes for an evening by the sea

Cons

No beach on foot: even the actual old town requires a short extra ride from the hotel
An area less geared to beach tourism, more for those basing themselves in the town

Recommended hotels in this area

Travelodge Phuket Town: Next to the Central Festival shopping centre, in the Vichit district; about 10 minutes by car from the old town and 20 from Patong.

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