Phuket is one of Thailand’s premier tourist destinations, and has been for many years. While the island was heavily damaged in the 2004 tsunami, visitors now probably would not even notice. It has been cleaned up and restored once again to its status as one of the best island getaway destinations in South East Asia. As is the case with many tourist hotspots in SE Asia, you may find the prices on even high-end hotels to be much lower than you expect – which means that there are even more places which can be considered cheap hotels in Phuket.
Because this is an island we are talking about, there are several areas in which to find cheap hotels in Phuket. Most are clustered around the island’s most popular beaches, and some are also in the island’s main town – Phuket Town. If your main goal is to spend as much time as possible lying on a beach somewhere or enjoying the water, your best bet is to find a place to stay on or near a beach rather than in the town, which is on the other side of the island from the best beaches.
Having said that, spending a little time in Phuket Town is nice because there is some interesting architecture as well as shops and restaurants in the town. But the main draw of this island is clearly the beach scene. There are lots of beaches to choose from running along the western coast, and you just need to find the one that suits you – some are busier and more popular, others are quieter and feel almost private. The good news is that things are very close, so you can explore them all before you make your decision.
Some of the cheap hotels in Phuket you might want to look at are Metropole Hotel Phuket (in Phuket Town, 228 rooms, fitness center, outdoor pool, traditional Thai massage available, nearby tennis courts & golf course, laundry service, internet access available), Peach Hill Hotel & Resort (7 minutes walk to Kata Beach, 211 rooms, 3 swimming pools, traditional Thai massage available, on-site restaurants, laundry service), Club Med Phuket (on Kata Beach, on a 20-acre park, laundry service, valet parking available, on-site restaurant & bar, outdoor pool, circus lessongs for adults & kids), Patong Lodge Hotel (at one end of Patong Beach, 130 rooms, some rooms with sea view, all rooms with private balcony, internet & WiFi access available, free breakfast, laundry service, massage service, parking available), and Quality Resort Patong Beach (on Patong Beach, on-site restaurant, on-site internet cafe, outdoor pool, rooftop terrace).