Is Phuket, Thailand Worth The Hype?
We’re leaving Thailand in a week, and the past four months have flown by. I cannot believe that we’ve been living in this sunny paradise for that long. While I’m excited about Kuala Lumpur's newness, Thailand is always going to hold a special place in my heart. It was the first place I visited on my big OE many years ago. And now it’s the first place Kieron and I made our home on our digital nomad journey.
It is the perfect time to reflect on our time here in Phuket, what I’ve loved and what hasn’t been the best.
Pros of Phuket, Thailand
The People
Every single person I’ve encountered (aside from the run-in with the police) has been an absolute delight. From the sweet mother/daughter team that made us coffee in Chalong, to the reception staff at Homa, to every person I pass on the street who says hello to me.
The people of Thailand always seem to be smiling, hence the Kingdom of Smiles nickname. I’m sure the tourism in Phuket has its downsides, but the people don’t seem to resent us for being here. They seem genuinely delighted to see us.
Safety
Sometimes I think that the giant apartment building we live in could be anywhere in the world and I’d be happy. It’s got a pool, restaurant and co-working space. The apartment itself is also great. But then I think that it is the fact that it’s in Thailand that makes it so much better. Importantly, it’s safe and welcoming when we step outside which is so important when you’re living somewhere new.
Homa Apartments, Phuket
The Sunshine and Warmth
I am made for tropical climates. Kieron's a slightly different story, but we spend most of our time in air conditioning anyway. Living somewhere that’s sunny most of the time and never gets cold makes me so happy. Sure, sometimes I miss crisp, cool air, but I don’t think I’d have it any other way.
The Beaches
Phuket is blessed with some incredible beaches, both on the mainland and on the islands. The boat trips to Racha and Coral Islands are worth the day trip. When we were living in Chalong, popping over the hill to Kata Noi for a swim and a beer on the beach was the perfect way to get through a hump day.
Beautiful Racha Island
The Pace of Life
Although Kieron and I were both doing what we’re doing now before we left NZ, it was only briefly. So this has been a full immersion into our new daily routines. Our schedules are a little opposite (I work mornings whereas he does evenings) but we’ve found our rhythm of enjoying island life in between staring at our laptops.
Cons of Phuket, Thailand
The Plastic
If you go out and order a take-away coffee, it’ll come in a plastic cup with a plastic lid. A little plastic straw, sometimes wrapped in a plastic sleeve, will be added. Then, this is placed into a plastic bag to make it easier to carry or hang off your bike. All that plastic before you’ve even had breakfast.
It’s a structural issue now. Plastic is so convenient and embedded in daily life that we need to find cheap alternatives rather than expecting individual people to make individual changes.
The Bank Fees
We have a credit card that lets us make international withdrawals for free. But the Thai ATMs all charge a ฿200 fee each time. (I have heard that there is one bank that doesn’t change this, but they don’t have many ATMs.) It isn’t a lot of money, but when you’re taking out cash multiple times a month, it does start to add up. Make sure you withdraw larger sums less often to soften the blow.
Vegetarian Options
I’ll preface this by saying we live on a reasonably tight budget. Food and rent are our biggest expenses, so we’re keeping a close eye on how much we spend. So while there are a lot of vegetarian options out there, a lot are at more expensive, Western restaurants. The cheap and cheerful Thai restaurants are often lacking a vegetarian option or it’s just an omelette and fried rice. We’ve found more options in Phuket Town than in Chalong, but it takes a while to find reasonably priced options wherever you are.
Waiting to eat another Pad Thai
Final Thoughts
Would I return to Phuket, Thailand? Probably not. Overall, I feel the place is quite touristic, and that’s not what I’m looking for in places we stay.
It is a great place for a holiday. But I think we’ll be heading to other locations for now.
I’d love to know if you have stayed in Phuket, Thailand. If you have, let me know in the comments what you thought.
