Phuket Budget Prices Hotels Food And Nightlife
Sawadikap. Today is a travel day and we are traveling to Phuket from Bangkok. We are starting at Suvarnabhumi Airport, and this trip will explore the low season, the weather, hotel prices, food, transport and nightlife in Patong.
Domestic departures feel relaxed compared with international departures. There is still an hour before boarding, so an Americano at the airport costs 36 Thai Baht. The domestic flight from Bangkok to Phuket is 1,900 Thai Baht one way. In the low season, a return ticket can sometimes be around 2,000 Thai Baht.
Phuket Airport Departure
Welcome to Phuket and the south of Thailand. The airport is cold, and there is no luggage to collect, so the next question is transportation. Money exchange, car rental, hotels, tours, taxis and minibuses are all available along the route out of the terminal.
The airport transport prices shown for Phuket Town, Patong, Kata and Karon are 100, 180, 200 and 200 Thai Baht. The Smart Bus is the best value option for Patong and the nearby beaches. Follow the signs, walk out of the terminal and continue towards the buses. Phuket Express and the Smart Bus are both clearly marked.
By the time we reach Patong, it is almost 2 p.m. The bus from the airport to Patong, or to Karon and Kata, now costs 120 Thai Baht, compared with 100 before. Jungceylon is behind us, Bangla Road is close, and the hotel is only about 11 minutes away.
Phuket Shopping Malls
Tonight is at a budget hotel on Soi Sawadirak Road, about a five minute walk from Bangla Road and two minutes from the beach. The area is busy with hotels, massage parlors, money exchange, shopping and minimarts, while the beach is close enough to reach on foot.
The room is simple but clean, with a large bed, refrigerator, kettle, safe box, umbrellas, hair dryer, shower, shampoo and towels. The balcony has little view, with trees and another building, but it is spacious enough to sit and relax. There is also a small pool upstairs, and from there the beach is visible.
The room costs 780 Thai Baht for one night without breakfast. That makes it a practical choice for travelers who want a budget hotel next to Patong Beach and Bangla Road. Dear valued guest, welcome to Cocotel Phuket Patong.
The clouds are heavy and the rainy season has started, but the rain often lasts only 20 or 30 minutes before the streets return to normal. Patong is still quiet in the early evening. The beach is not crowded, and the breeze makes the low season comfortable unless the main goal is sunbathing.
Phuket Local Food Seafood
After checking the hotel, it is time to eat. A restaurant near PS Hotel Patong offers Thai food at reasonable prices. Chicken massaman curry with rice, papaya salad with rice and water make a filling meal, and the total comes to 280 Thai Baht, cheaper than Pattaya.
Bangla Road is quiet early in the evening, with pubs and bars preparing for the night. The weather is cloudy, so the beach may need to wait, but there is still time for a massage before the nightlife begins. The small streets around the hotel have many parlors, and the prices are described as affordable.
Later, Bangla Road becomes the focus. Red Hot is quiet, while New York across the road is busier. Regular bars offer beers for 90 to 100 Thai Baht, and two beers plus a 20 Thai Baht tip costs 200 Thai Baht. At Madam Wong, a San Miguel costs 100 Thai Baht. A live band raises the price to about 160 Thai Baht.
Near 2 a.m., Patong is still calm and relaxing, especially compared with the high season. Drinks and food remain affordable, although domestic flights and transport are becoming more expensive. Overall, Phuket feels quiet in the low season, with a relaxed atmosphere and plenty of budget choices for hotels, meals, transport and nightlife.
