Ultimate Guide to Phuket and the Phi Phi Islands - Thailand
Important Update for Travelers to Thailand! 🇹🇭
Starting 1 May 2025, all non-Thai nationals entering Thailand by air, land, or sea must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online before arrival.
https://tdac.immigration.go.th
There is NO charge for the arrival card. If you see a payment screen you are on a fake site.
You can register within 3 days before arrival. The arrival card will be a requirement at check in for all flights into Thailand. Unlike the Dominican Republic you do not need a separate card for departure.
Google Maps Link - IMOL recommended hotels, bars, restaurants and points of interest.
PHUKET IMOL RANKINGS
Difficulty Level 3/10
GFE Level 5/10
Concerns: Drunk tourists, 500,000 Russian expats, mini bus scams, foreign vendors running scams on everything from “discounted” jet ski rentals, island tours, exchange services and drink cards. There is an estimated 1400 Cannabis shops on the island…(for now) Phuket is known as the Wild West of Thailand.
Why we go there: Bangla Road in Patong Beach one stop shopping for mayhem, drinking, go-go bars and clubs. Phuket City is the main gateway to the Phi Phi Islands.
Five quick tips:
Do not use the mini busses at the airport. Use the public taxi’s over on the left of arrivals. Taxi fares from Phuket Airport vary depending on your destination and the type of vehicle, but you can expect to pay between 600 and 1000 THB for a standard car to popular locations like Patong or Phuket Town. Metered taxis are available, but fixed-price taxis the most reliable option.
ATM’s are safe to use in Thailand. There are machines located at every 7/11 in town, so basically every street corner. Select “do not use conversion” when doing international withdrawals.
Stay out of the Russian Go-Go bars, beer clubs and travel shops. They are nothing but trouble.
Bangla Road is notorious for bang ups, avoid any and all confrontations with drunk tourists.
Go to the Phi Phi Islands and spend at least two nights. You’ll thank us.
The Hard Part:
The journey to Phuket constitutes a significant challenge, individuals departing from North America are facing a transit time of 20-30 hours. European / UK travelers face 10-12 hours in the air. Along with the extended travel duration, there's the added hurdle of dealing with the Jet Lag upon arrival.
For those looking to tag a few nights in Bangkok on the front or back end of your trip please be aware that there are two airports in Bangkok. BKK and DMG…
Flight Matrix by Google is a great tool for finding the best flights. We recommend sorting your flight options by length of duration, layover time and carrier. Qatar, Emirates, Singapore, Eva, Thai Airways, Asiana and Philippine Airlines have been solid as of late.
Phuket International Airport is extremely easy to navigate. It's pretty rare to wait longer than ten minutes to float through customs. Your checked baggage is usually spinning around the carousel by the time you reach the baggage area. There are also plenty of airport employees floating around who are available to answer questions and point you in the correct directions - almost all of whom speak English.
When it comes time to depart (on the flight of tears home) you should try to arrive at HKT at least two hours before departure, especially during high season (Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar).
Pro Tip: Always try to select your own seat before checking in for your flight. Look for seats with an adjacent vacant middle seat. You might get lucky and have that seat remain vacant during your flight and enjoy some extra space.
Given that many of today's wide-body aircraft accommodate over 300 passengers, positioning yourself towards the front of the aircraft and ahead of the crowd can also make a substantial difference during layovers and arrival. Being among the first groups to disembark provides a valuable head start. Seize this advantage to streamline your journey and minimize potential delays.
Getting from the airport to your hotel
As mentioned in the video, you will be approached multiple times by the mini-bus representatives. Don’t do it. Grab your luggage and go directly outside to the taxi stand on the left side of the parking lot. The taxi drivers at the airport rarely play games and will almost always give you the honest going rate. The other option is to use the Bolt App for a private driver.
The traffic in Phuket and Patong can get gnarly during rush hour especially during peak tourist season.
Tricks for reducing the effects of Jet Lag.
Stay hydrated during the flight.
Upon arrival try to stay awake until at least 9:00 pm local time on your first night.
Resist the urge to sleep during the day, no naps
Put electronics/phones in sleep mode at night
Speaking Thai
Most of the Thai’s living and working in Pattaya speak at least some English. Quite a few speak of them speak English fluently. Even if they don’t speak English, they will patiently try to work out a translation with you. Communication is not an issue in Thailand, next to the Philippines it’s our easiest destinations to navigate.
Without question, the two words you’ll hear the most often on a trip to Thailand are "khap" and " kha". Depending on the gender of the speaker (men say khrap; women say kha), they are added to the end of a statement to indicate respect.
Khrap and kha are also used standalone to indicate agreement, comprehension, or acknowledgement. For instance, if you tell a Thai woman thank you, she may reply with an enthusiastic “khaaaa.” At the end of a transaction, a man may say "khrap!" indicating both thanks and that "we are done here."
Khrap (sounds like “Kop”): Male speakers say khap sharply with a high tone for emphasis. Yes, it inconveniently sounds like “crap!” — although, most of the time the r is omitted in Thai, making khrap! sound more like kap!
Kha (sounds like “khaaa”): Women say kha with a drawn-out, falling tone. It can also be a high tone for emphasis.
The default way to say hello in Thai is with a friendly sawasdee khrap (if you are male) or sawasdee kha (if you are female).
Hello: sawasdee [krap / kha] (sounds like “sah-wah-dee kop / kah”)
How are you?: sabai dee mai (sounds like “sah-bye-dee my?”)
Unlike when saying hello in Malaysia and Indonesia, the time of day does not matter when greeting people in Thai. Honorifics don't affect the greeting, either. You can use sawasdee for people both older and younger than yourself. Sawasdee can even for “goodbye” if you choose.
Saying hello in Thai is often accompanied with a wai — the famous, prayer-like gesture with palms together and head slightly bowed. Unless you’re a monk or the King of Thailand, not returning someone’s respectful wai is impolite. Even if you aren't sure of the exact technique, simply put your palms together (fingers pointing toward your chin) in front of the chest to show acknowledgement.
If one phrase sums up the essence of Thailand, it’s mai pen rai. Remember the catchy hakuna matata song and attitude from Disney’s The Lion King movie? Well, mai pen rai is the Thai equivalent. Just as the Swahili phrase, it also loosely means “no worries” or “no problem.”
Mai pen rai can be used as “you’re welcome” if someone tells you thanks.
Mao - you’ll hear this term at the bars. “Me, mao last night” translation, I got drunk last night.
Ting Tong - crazy
How do you pronounce "Pattaya" seems simple but there are a few variations floating around. Play the video below and learn how to pronounce it the Thai way.
Logistics
Apps that you should install on your phone.
Line Messaging App communication with the girls (some will have WhatsApp also but ALL of them have Line)
BOLT - transportation
GRAB - food delivery
Google Maps - with our map list Google Maps Directory . Download and install all four before leaving for the airport.
None of these apps work without having a data connection. I wish I had a dollar for every time someone has told me "I couldn't _____ because I didn't have a wifi connection"
SIM cards/ ESIMS are cheap in Thailand. 1000 baht at the airport or 700 baht at a local 7/11. There are a bunch of carrier booths right in the arrivals area at BKK. Walk up, hand them a 1000 baht note, your phone, your passport and let them hook you up. In less than five minutes you'll be rolling with high speed data. We recommend using True 5G for a carrier.
Once you have the sim inserted or ESIM installed you can download the app and add fun extras like international roaming which is a great feature, especially if you decide to slide over to Cambodia or even the Philippines.
ATM’s and Exchange Booths
Unlike some of the countries we visit, Thailand operates exclusively on the Thai Baht. It is not advantageous to try and use US or other currency instead of the baht. Most individuals and small businesses won’t even accept it.
Almost every 7/11 has an ATM attached to it and there is a 7/11 on every corner in Pattaya. None of us have ever had an issue using these machines. Well, unless you consider accidentally leaving your card in the machine at 3:00am an issue. Believe it or not you can return to the attached 7/11 the next day, show the clerk your passport and in most cases you will get your card back! If the clerks don't have it, go back and look carefully around the machine. If another customer finds your card in the machine they will usually place it on the top of the machine. - Welcome to Thailand, things are different here.
Pro-tip: When withdrawing money, a pop up screen on the ATM will ask if you would like to use the machines conversion rate - select no. Selecting yes allows the machine to override the prime exchange rates and use a lower rate thus costing you more.
Currency exchange booths are located all throughout town and they have the exchange rates clearly posted. Bring your passport when exchanging money because in most cases they will need to make a copy of it. Note - the exchange booths will not accept torn or damaged bills. As always, try to avoid exchanging currency at the airport they have the worst exchange rates and the highest fees.
Credit and debit cards are widely used in Thailand so is electronic banking.
Patong Beach
95% of you will “probably” want to stay in Patong Beach. There are some amazing beach resorts including the Amari, Phuket Marriott Merlin (family friendly), InterContinental Phuket and Hotel Indigo which is stumbling distance to Bangla Road. None of these are budget friendly but if you are looking for a 5 star beach experience these might fit the bill.
Hotel Indigo is a good mid-range option.
We recommend using Agoda.com to book. Take a look at the reviews (filter by most recent) before booking.
Bangla Road
Soi Bangla, the main strip, and its side alleys (like Soi Sea Dragon) are famous for go-go bars, dance clubs, beer bars and cabaret shows (ladyboys). These venues cater to a mix of curious tourists and partygoers, with vibrant shows and a lively atmosphere. After 6 PM, when the road closes to vehicle traffic, street performers, food vendors, and market stalls add to the carnival-like vibe. Expect to see everything from fire dancers to quirky street acts. This is the main entertainment district in Patong Beach and as such, pulls almost every tourist in town during the evening hours. Expect it to be very busy.
Tiger Night Complex is a giant complex located on Bangla Road. Over 5,000 sq meters with huge statues of tigers, snakes and other animals. The venue opens at 8:00pm. and usually stays open until the wee hours of the morning. The ground-floor is filled with beer bars with the nightclub area located up on the second & third floor, featuring high tables & high stools, a stage and pool tables.
Suzy Wong’s is the most notable Go-Go bar in Patong. It’s located on Soi SeaDragon adjacent to Bangla Road. Don’t get sticker shock the cheapest small bottle of beer is 190 Baht, lady drinks cost 290 Baht. Welcome to Phuket…
Illuzions is one of the largest night clubs on Bangla Road - after 10pm you can purchase an unlimited drink for 800 baht. Essentially allowing you to drink all night - vodka, whiskey etc.
Pro tip: Find the alley next to Illuzions Club on Bangla, it is filled with smaller Go-Go bars and can be a lot of fun.
Bar fine prices range from 1000 - 4000 baht on Bangla Road. There is a wide price range and it is always fluctuating. It would be impossible for us to post an accurate price list and keep it update. Solid bet is 3k - 5k for long time services especially if you pull the trigger late in the evening (bar fines get reduced after 1am at most locations)
Karon and Kata Beach
If you are looking for a more relaxed vibe both Karon and Kata Beach are located just a few clicks south of Patong Beach. Just beware that the trip from these beaches into Patong can take over 30 minutes. It’s a long journey home after you’ve been partying on Bangla Road all night.
There are a few beer bars scattered around Karon and Kata Beach. They can actually be more fun than those on Bangla Road. The girls seem to be more laid back. Karon Aussie Bar and Walkabout Beer Bar are both worth a visit.
Getting to the Phi Phi Islands
The Rassada Pier is located in Phuket Town which is about 40 minutes from Patong Beach. Taxi or Bolt will cost between 400 and 600 baht each way. Once you arrive at the pier you can purchase tickets from any of the various boat companies, we suggest using a speedboat service which is the fastest and most comfortable form of passage. Tickets on the fast boats cost around 600 baht per person and the passage takes around 45 minutes. The traditional ferries are cheaper by 200 baht but the passage takes over 2 hours to complete.
Phi Phi Don is the commercial island filled with hotels, 7/11’s, bars, restaurants and even a Burger King. The entire island is walkable so no transportation is needed while on the island.
Phi Phi Leh is a national park with no commercial or residential structures allowed. Maya Bay is the main attraction and was featured in the movie The Beach. The best method of visiting Phi Phi Leh is to hire a private long tail boat for a 1/2 day or full day trip. Prices range from 1800 baht to 3500 baht (full day) and are negotiable. You’ll find plenty of captains hanging around the waterfront in the mornings and evenings. It’s an unforgettable journey and a must do while on the island.
You’ll find plenty of beach bars, small clubs and even an Irish bar ( Dubliner) on the island. Most of the beach bars feature fire dancers in the evenings.
We recommend spending at least two nights on the island. Bring your own sand! 👯♀️
We hear ya, getting video notifications every single day is getting annoying. Daily life plus another birthday party at Som bar 🎉