Wondering where to stay in Phuket with family?
In this article, we cover the best areas to stay in Phuket with family and as this island is perfect for families, there are plenty of options to choose from.
Phuket is one of the top places to visit in Thailand as it’s a full-grown tourist destination with resorts, restaurants, activities, nightlife and even an international airport.
For some, Phuket is too touristy, but for many, Phuket is a carefree destination.
Phuket itself is an island on the west coast of Thailand and is surrounded by 32 smaller islands.
Visiting these beautiful islands is highly recommended, as well as spending a day on beaches like Freedom Beach, Kata Beach and Karon Beach.
Other top activities are visiting the Big Buddha, perhaps partying at Bangla Road for the older ones, visiting Phuket Old Town, shopping at Phuket Town Weekend Night Market and visiting Phang Nga Bay.
All ingredients are a recipe for an amazing holiday for the whole family!
Tip: If you haven’t booked your flight yet, here is some advice that will save you one travel day: you can fly back via Phuket International Airway as it’s connected to several hubs.
Many travellers arrive at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport and fly back from this same airport. It’s possible to arrive in Bangkok and fly back from Phuket, which saves you often one travel day.
Where to stay in Phuket with family? Keep reading!
In brief:
What are the best areas to stay in Phuket with family?
The best areas in Phuket for families are Kata Beach, Karon Beach, Kamala Beach, Nai Harn & Mia Khao Beach and Surin Beach.
We advise not staying at Patong or Phuket Town as a family.
In the next paragraphs, we dive deeper into each recommended area including a map with all the areas and the island’s highlights.
Overview of the best areas to stay in Phuket with family
Below, you find a table with an overview of all the recommended areas along with a short explanation of what makes that area so special.
You can tap on one of the green links to go immediately to that recommended area, or just continue reading the article.
| Best areas to stay in Phuket with family | What’s so special about the area? |
|---|---|
| 1. Kata Beach |
This is most popular area in Phuket among families with plenty of things to do and activities that cater to families, a good and central location, but if you’re looking for something quieter, there are better options.
|
| 2. Karon Beach |
Quieter than Kata Beach, yet still plenty of things to do, a good variety of hotels and restaurants and you’re located centrally, yet often families prefer Kata Beach as it offers more comfort. |
|
This area offers an authentic feeling and a local experience, it has a secluded beach, ideal for those who want to escape the mass tourism Phuket often offers. |
|
| 4. Nai Harn & Mia Khao Beach |
Excellent for those looking for a calm area, beautiful beach, and luxurious resorts, away from the hustle and bustle of the tourist epicenter, but you need to rent a car in order to move around the island stress-free. |
| 5. Surin Beach | Excellent for those seeking privacy and luxury, it has the most beautiful beach on the island, this area comes with a premium price tag, though. |
The article continues after the following impressions of Phuket.
The best areas in Phuket for families are:
1. Kata Beach
Without a doubt, Kata Beach is the most family-friendly area in Phuket.
Although it’s a popular area, it is not as busy as Patong, which attracts a different type of traveller as this is the epicentre of Phuket known for its bustling nightlife.
Kata Beach has a beautiful beach that is ideal for snorkelling and even surfing.
The beach itself is surrounded by palm trees and the water is clear.
There are many activities to find along with a good variety of restaurants and shops.
As it’s such a popular area, there is a decent nightlife scene in Kata Beach, however, it’s nothing compared to Patong and that’s why you mostly find families and couples staying in this area.
Kata Beach is located southwest of the island close to Phuket’s highlights such as the Big Buddha, Karon Viewpoint and Phromthep Cape.
Also, you’re relatively close to Chalong Pier and Rawai Pier, for those who want to explore the island.
But usually, you book a tour via an agent and a pick-up service is included.
As it’s such a popular destination, prices can be higher than elsewhere on the island, but there are accommodations to be found for those on a stricter budget.
Pros: most popular area in Phuket for families, plenty of things to do, good location.
Cons: there are better alternatives for those who prefer a quieter area.
Some of the best hotels to stay in Phuket with family in this area are visually listed below:
Agoda is part of Booking.com, and often offers significantly cheaper options compared to its competitors. You’ll get the same service that you are used to at Booking.com, but you simply pay less.
2. Karon Beach
Karon Beach is yet another popular area in Phuket for families and it’s much quieter than Kata Beach.
It’s also a budget-friendlier area than Kata Beach.
The beach itself is among the longest on the island.
Although it’s quieter than Kata, during the day, there are plenty of things to do, including a large variety of water activities ranging from snorkelling, diving and surfing to parasailing.
But as it’s a long beach, you can have quite the space and not directly notice how busy it is.
This area attracts a variety of travellers, mostly families and couples, but also solo travellers.
It’s said that Karon is like Patong’s little sister, but without the vulgarity, Patong does offer.
When it comes to accommodations, there is a good option for every type of traveller at Karon Beach, meaning you can find budget hotels to luxurious condos.
The best part is that you have a wide panoramic view of the large beach.
Karon Beach is located under Patong Beach, meaning that it is located centrally on the west coast of the island with good access to the island’s highlights.
Pros: Quieter than Kata Beach, yet still plenty of things to do, a good variety of hotels, located centrally.
Cons: Most families choose Kata Beach over Karon Beach as Karon beach is less vibrant.
Some of the best hotels to stay in Phuket with family in this area are visually listed below:
Agoda is part of Booking.com, and often offers significantly cheaper options compared to its competitors. You’ll get the same service that you are used to at Booking.com, but you simply pay less.
3. Kamala Beach
While the previous two recommended areas in Phuket for families have a strong touristic character, Kamala Beach, which used to be a fisherman’s village, still has an authentic feeling.
Life here is slower and because of that, it attracts mostly older tourists and retirees who love to watch the world go by.
Because of this unique vibe, it is an excellent option for families who love to be at the beach, discover local restaurants and experience a laid-back vibe.
To be clear, it is impossible in a tourist hotspot like Phuket to find something completely authentic, but Kamala Beach is as close as it gets.
The beach itself is surrounded by hills, which gives it a secluded feeling.
Kamala Beach offers a good variety of affordable accommodations, which makes it the most budget-friendly area on this list.
What’s also good about Kamala Beach is that you won’t get harnessed by locals who try to sell you things. At Kamala Beach, you can really come to peace!
Pros: Authentic feeling, local experience, secluded beach.
Cons: Fewer things to do.
Some of the best hotels to stay in Phuket with family in this area are visually listed below:
Agoda is part of Booking.com, and often offers significantly cheaper options compared to its competitors. You’ll get the same service that you are used to at Booking.com, but you simply pay less.
4. Nai Yang Beach & Mai Khao Beach
These two areas are located near Phuket International Airport on the north side of the island, away from the tourist areas.
Here, you can find several luxurious hotels that have access to the largest beach on the island.
As it’s so far away from the bustling areas, you totally depend on the facilities of the hotels.
Also, you will need to rent a car if you want to move around freely.
These are the obstacles in this area.
What do you get in return?
Beautiful accommodations in a completely peaceful environment.
You can fairly say that people come for their peace, but there are family-friendly hotels and resorts available as well.
Families with a larger budget who seek luxury and comfort will definitely love this area.
Make sure to visit Mai Khao Beach – Airport viewpoint for that unique selfie with an ascending aeroplane in the background.
Pros: Excellent for those looking for a calm area, beautiful beach, and luxurious resorts.
Cons: You need to rent a car in order to be mobile and explore the island as it’s located far away from the island’s highlights.
Some of the best hotels to stay in Phuket with family in this area are visually listed below:
Agoda is part of Booking.com, and often offers significantly cheaper options compared to its competitors. You’ll get the same service that you are used to at Booking.com, but you simply pay less.
5. Surin Beach
When it comes to luxury, there is one absolute winner in Phuket and that is Surin Beach.
This area is not for budget travellers.
No, here you can expect luxury resorts for the rich (and famous) with the most beautiful beaches on the island.
It’s an area for families who are looking for high-end, trendy holidays where the sky is the limit.
There are not many activities to do except shopping, and visiting high-end restaurants and bars.
Besides, those who book a luxurious villa tend to seek privacy.
If this kind of holiday attracts you, Surin Beach is the area in Phuket you want to stay with your family.
Pros: Excellent for those seeking privacy, the most beautiful beach on the island.
Cons: Only affordable for those with a large bank account.
Some of the best hotels to stay in Phuket with family in this area are visually listed below:
Agoda is part of Booking.com, and often offers significantly cheaper options compared to its competitors. You’ll get the same service that you are used to at Booking.com, but you simply pay less.
Areas in Phuket for families we don’t recommend you to stay at:
Patong
Although this is the epicentre of the island and you do find family-friendly hotels here, the area itself is not the most family-friendly.
Patong attracts the hedonistic traveller and Bangla Road and its surrounding alleys target mostly single men and young party-minded travellers.
It’s definitely not Pattaya, but staying in an area in Phuket with family with go-go bars and beer gardens is something we won’t recommend.
Patong is an excellent area for families to walk around and even to stay at during the day. But to pick a hotel where many tourists are constantly drunk is far from ideal.
Old Phuket Town
Old Phuket Town is one of the highlights of the island. Wander through these iconic streets full of colourful houses is simply amazing.
But when travelling with a family, there are better areas to stay in than at a boutique hotel with not that much space.
Besides, you don’t have direct access to the beach, which is something you absolutely want when travelling with family.
So, Old Phuket Town is great for a trip, but we recommend you stay elsewhere.
Map of best areas in Phuket for families
The next image is a map of the best places to stay in Phuket with family including the city highlights.
The image is in high resolution so you can easily zoom in to see all the details.
A map will follow soon.
There you have it, our recommendations to your question about where to stay in Phuket with family.
We hope you enjoyed it and hopefully, you can make a good decision and have the time of your life in this amazing destination!
Other relevant articles about travel in Phuket:
Where to stay in Phuket for the first time?
Where to stay in Phuket for nightlife
Hotels in Phuket with water slides
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