Sino ThaiPhuket is Thailand’s largest island, connected to the mainland by a road bridge. The east coast of Phuket looks towards Phang Nga Bay. Boat parking and yacht clubs are mainly concentrated here, the coast is rocky, with strong tides, so the east coast is not in demand for mass tourism and real estate investment. The areas of greatest investment interest are the areas on the west coast of Phuket, such as Nai Harn, Kata, Karon, Patong, Kamala, Surin, Bang Tao, Nai Thon, Nai Yang and Mai Khao.
Nai Harn Beach
This is the southernmost beach of Phuket island. Nai Harn has repeatedly been included in the top list of the best beaches in Asia. The nature here is amazingly beautiful! This area is great for long-term living and is loved by Russian-speaking expats, as this location offers a huge variety of infrastructure: Russian restaurants, Russian schools and kindergartens, Russian baths, and the cost of living is relatively low. It is on Nai Harn that the famous tourist attraction, Promthep Cape, and other observation platforms are located. However, the area is very remote from the airport and the administrative center of the island, Phuket Town, so it is difficult to get around here without personal transport. The Rawai region is also highlighted separately. It is adjacent to Nai Harn Beach, but the coast of Rawai is very rocky and not suitable for swimming. However, from Rawai you can take a boat to the nearby small islands. The area is known for its fish market, where you can buy fresh seafood, as well as many inexpensive cafes and restaurants.
Kata Beach
This is a small beach, which is built up mainly with hotels and guesthouses, and is mainly of interest to package tourists arriving on vacation for a short period of time. Kata has a huge variety of tourist infrastructure: cafes, restaurants, massage parlors, bars, markets and souvenir shops. The entry into the sea is quite gentle, so Kata is often chosen for holidays with small children. The central part of the first coastline is occupied by the huge Club Med hotel, so access to the beach is only possible along the edges, bypassing the hotel. Due to the short length of the bay, the beach looks too crowded during peak season.
Karon Beach
Karon is a famous tourist destination in Phuket, with one of the longest coastlines, 7 km long. The beach is famous for its “creaky” white sand, due to the high quartz content, but the entry into the sea is quite sharp, which makes the beach unsuitable for swimming in the low season. The area is predominantly built up with hotels: from budget guesthouses to expensive five-star chain hotels such as Pullman and Movenpick. Just like Kata, there are numerous restaurants, bars, massage parlors and other tourist infrastructure facilities here, and it is perfect for a family holiday. One of the main advantages of Karon is the long pedestrian promenade, which is pleasant to stroll along in the evening, as well as the presence of children’s and sports grounds.
Patong Beach
Perhaps the most famous and controversial area of Phuket, which has become famous for its variety of “adult entertainment” and its vibrant nightlife. Patong is more suitable for young people and lovers of discos, bars and nightclubs. Here is the famous Bangla Road, where the fun does not subside until the morning. In addition, Patong has a large Jungceylon shopping mall, a supermarket and many different cafes and restaurants. The bay itself is not very suitable for swimming, as the water here is often cloudy due to the large number of jet skis and other water activities. From the point of view of investment in real estate, Patong is not the best choice, since the area is built up with budget hotels and guesthouses, and rental condominiums and villas are less in demand here.
Kamala Beach
This is a picturesque beach with palm alleys along the sea, surrounded by high hills. The area is in demand among older Europeans and lovers of a relaxing holiday. At the same time, Kamala is home to the famous beach club Cafe del Mar, which, coupled with its proximity to Patong, makes it attractive for young people. In general, the tourist infrastructure of Kamala is still less developed than in Kata, Karon and Patong, but it continues to grow, and now in this area you can find good restaurants, bars, night markets, supermarkets, as well as entertainment shows for adults and children – Phuket Fantasea. In terms of investment attractiveness, Kamala has good potential in the medium term, thanks to low competition from condominiums, as well as the construction of a large Montazure complex, which includes luxury apartments, five-star hotels, a premium shopping center and other infrastructure that attracts tourists.
Surin Beach
One of the most beautiful and colorful beaches in Phuket. Despite the poorly developed infrastructure, Surin is a point of attraction for beach lovers from different countries. There are several large five-star hotels on Surin, but the bay itself is very small, so many people classify Surin as the neighboring Bang Tao district.
Bang Tao Beach
Over the past few years, the Bang Tao area has been the most popular location for real estate investment, thanks to its developed European infrastructure and high rental demand. Bang Tao is perfect for both short-term holidays and permanent residence or wintering. Here you can find gourmet restaurants, the Porto de Phuket shopping mall, supermarkets with imported goods, a modern Blue Tree water park, international schools, luxurious five-star hotels and a variety of entertainment to suit every taste. An integral part of the Bang Tao area is the famous Laguna complex, with its picturesque landscapes, lakes and elite golf clubs. The bay itself is ideal for a beach holiday. The northern part of Bang Tao Beach is called Layan Beach and is adjacent to Sirinath National Park. The main disadvantage of the Bang Tao area is the high prices for accommodation, as well as traffic collapse during the peak season due to the large influx of tourists.
Nai Thon Beach
A long, clean beach adjacent to Sirinath National Park. The Nai Thon Beach area is suitable for tourists who prefer a secluded family holiday. There are several large five-star hotels here, but the area’s infrastructure is developing very slowly, so at the moment it is not of particular interest to investors.
Nai Yang Beach
The main advantage of Nai Yang beach is the clean, calm sea virtually all year round, thanks to the large coral reef located near the bay. Just like Naithon, Nayang is adjacent to Sirinath National Park, so the area will never be densely built up. At the moment, the area’s infrastructure is not very developed, but in the coming years large projects will be implemented here, such as an international hospital and a shopping center. All this, combined with its proximity to the international airport, can make this area attractive for investment in the medium term.
Mai Khao Beach
This is the longest beach in Phuket, 12 km long, with beautiful nature, but at the same time the most poorly developed. The area is being developed in a targeted manner, and the main infrastructure facilities include the international airport, the Splash Jungle water park, several yacht clubs and five-star hotels. The entry into the sea is quite sharp, so swimming here in the low season is dangerous. Due to the great distance from the center and main tourist attractions, the Mai Khao area is not yet of interest for mass tourism and can only be considered for real estate investment in the long term.
Separately, I would like to mention the Chalong region. The bay itself is located in the southeast of Phuket and does not have a beach suitable for swimming, but the area is very popular with expats and winterers. Chalong is definitely not suitable for beach lovers: dirty water, strong tides and a huge number of moored boats, but on Chalong you can easily find inexpensive housing and a wide variety of infrastructure for expats: a shopping center, supermarkets, international schools, clinics, the famous sports street , as well as tourist attractions such as Big Buddha, Bird Park and much more.