Where to stay in Phuket with family 2024 - 5 best areas
In this article, we dive deeper into your question about where to stay in Phuket with family.
To make it as easy as possible for you as a reader, we start with a summary of all the recommended areas.
You can click on the purple links to go directly to that part of the article where you can find detailed information.
Summary of the best areas to stay in Phuket with family
Kamala Beach: this is the quieter version of the most popular area in Phuket with incredibly beautiful beaches, which makes it the ideal area for families who want to combine a comfortable beach life with sightseeing activities.
Kata Beach: this is the most popular area in Phuket and is especially suitable for couples and families with a great location and all the comforts you can possibly think of, but it does get crowded.
Nai Harn Beach: a great option for families seeking a laid-back area where mass tourism hasn’t caught up yet, but keep in mind that there are fewer modern amenities and that you need to travel a bit to see the island’s highlights.
Karon Beach: a central area that offers budget-friendly accommodations as well as a decent nightlife scene, which is absolutely not as wild as Patong, ideal for families who also want to enjoy a drink in the evening.
Surin Beach: if you’re looking for privacy and luxury, Surin Beach is the best option you have, as this upscale area offers plenty of luxurious resorts and private villas.
1. Kamala Beach
Kamala Beach is the somewhat quieter version of Phuket’s most popular area, Kata Beach.
The whole area itself offers a family-orientated atmosphere, making it one of the most desired parts of the island among those traveling with kids.
One of the best parts of Kamala Beach is the beach itself, which is a clean, soft sand beach with calm waters, ideal for children to swim in.
Another great advantage is the central location.
You’re located on the west side of the island with good access to the major attractions.
There are also several family-orientated activities available nearby, including Carnival Magic, several water parks, and ethical elephant sanctuaries.
It’s also very easy to reach the other popular beaches and arranging transport is a piece of cake in a tourist-orientated area like Kamala.
Restaurants offer international dishes and many restaurants have a kids (friendly) menu.
It’s hard to beat all these advantages, I admit, but there are a few things that you should know before booking a hotel here.
Because it’s a little bit quieter compared to the other areas, there are simply fewer restaurants and shopping options.
Nightlife is also limited, so families who like to have a drink at a beachfront bar in the evening won’t have many options.
Lastly, in recent years, there have been quite some construction and renovation works which produce quite some noise during the day in some parts of the area.
With that being said, it’s still to optimal area for most families as it’s a family-orientated area where you can have a proper holiday with beach life, excursions, activities, and a lot of fun.
Some of the best hotels to stay in Phuket with family in this particular area are listed below:
Agoda is part of Booking.com, and is the best option for booking a hotel in Asia. They often offer significantly cheaper options compared to their competitors, including Booking.com. You’ll get the same service that you are used to at Booking.com, but you simply pay less.
2. Kata Beach
Kata Beach is probably the most popular area to stay in Phuket in general, and for families, it’s also an excellent option.
Similar to Kamala Beach, Kata Beach is a family-orientated area but attracts more crowds.
There are good reasons for that and one of the most important factors why it’s such a popular area is that Kata Beach offers a beautiful stretch of sand.
As the area attracts many people, there are also a lot of accommodation options in all budget classes.
Another great advantage is Kata Beach has excellent access to Phuket’s major attractions.
The location is even better compared to Kamala Beach.
Being such a bustling area, there are plenty of restaurants to choose from.
You can find many spa and wellness centers where you can relax and many hotels offer babysitting services, allowing you to have some alone time while knowing your children are in safe hands.
Is there anything not to like about this area?
First of all, during peak season, Kata Beach gets crowded.
Secondly, the area feels less authentic compared to other areas.
And lastly, generally speaking, Kata Beach offers higher prices due to its popularity.
But for a carefree holiday with great access to the major attractions, Kata Beach is an excellent option!
Some of the best hotels to stay in Phuket with family in this particular area are listed below:
Agoda is part of Booking.com, and is the best option for booking a hotel in Asia. They often offer significantly cheaper options compared to their competitors, including Booking.com. You’ll get the same service that you are used to at Booking.com, but you simply pay less.
3. Nai Harn Beach
So far, I’ve discussed the most common and most popular areas in Phuket for families.
But a large island like Phuket has also somewhat alternative areas.
One of them is Nai Harn Beach, an area where mass tourism hasn’t completely caught up yet.
This area is located in the southern part of the island, close to Promthep Cape.
That means that you have quite good access to the major attractions of Phuket, which mostly are located in the southern parts of the island.
Of course, an area like this comes with fewer comforts and amenities like the common and popular areas, but if you’re particularly looking for something quieter, Nai Harn Beach won’t disappoint.
What sets this area apart from the rest is its stunning natural beauty.
Yes, Phuket, in general, is a beautiful destination, but often commercialization spoils the views.
That’s not the case at Nai Harn.
You simply can enjoy a peaceful atmosphere, something the previously two recommended areas don’t offer.
What are the downsides of this area, then?
Simple, there are fewer things to do and to visit, like restaurants, shops and family-friendly venues.
But that’s exactly the point of choosing Nai Harn Beach as your base.
If you’re looking for luxurious resorts and water parks, this area is not for you.
Families who seek a tranquil area that isn’t spoiled by mass tourism should choose to stay here, knowing that it comes with fewer comforts.
Some of the best hotels to stay in Phuket with family in this particular area are listed below:
Agoda is part of Booking.com, and is the best option for booking a hotel in Asia. They often offer significantly cheaper options compared to their competitors, including Booking.com. You’ll get the same service that you are used to at Booking.com, but you simply pay less.
4. Karon Beach
Karon Beach is a budget-friendly area located south of Patong, Phuket’s nightlife epicenter.
It’s primarily a family-orientated area, though, and the beach is one of the longest in Phuket.
Because of that, it never feels crowded, which is one of the best advantages Karon has.
Younger travelers who are on a strict budget sometimes choose to stay in Karon as their base if they cannot find something affordable and take a tuk-tuk ride to Patong in the evening to party until the early hours.
To accommodate these travelers, you can find quite a few bars in Karon, but the area itself is definitely not known for its nightlife scene.
That means that families who like to enjoy a beer in the evening while listening to some live music will have a good time in Karon.
Another great thing about Karon Beach is the location.
It’s a short drive from other popular beaches like Patong and Kata, providing more options for dining, shopping, and activities without being in the center of the hustle and bustle.
Now, keep in mind that areas like Kamala and Kata are simply more popular because of their facilities.
Karon Beach offers more affordable accommodations, which makes it a popular base to explore Phuket.
If you’re flexible and comfortable driving to other towns instead of having all the comforts at your doorsteps, then Karon Beach is an excellent choice that will save you quite some bucks!
Some of the best hotels to stay in Phuket with family in this particular area are listed below:
Agoda is part of Booking.com, and is the best option for booking a hotel in Asia. They often offer significantly cheaper options compared to their competitors, including Booking.com. You’ll get the same service that you are used to at Booking.com, but you simply pay less.
5. Surin Beach
The last area that I recommend is Surin Beach, which is the exact opposite of the previously recommended area.
That’s because Surin Beach is known as an upscale area that’s perfect for those who seek privacy and luxury.
This part will be updated very soon.
Some of the best hotels to stay in Phuket with family in this particular area are listed below:
Agoda is part of Booking.com, and is the best option for booking a hotel in Asia. They often offer significantly cheaper options compared to their competitors, including Booking.com. You’ll get the same service that you are used to at Booking.com, but you simply pay less.
Areas to avoid in Phuket with family
This part will be updated very soon.