Phuket looked very different in 1994! I arrived with a suitcase and a camera, and 32 years later, I’m still here. Over that time, I’ve eaten at hundreds of restaurants, stayed in more than 100 hotels, and explored every beach on the island, all 46 of them. Phuket 101 is where I share all of that.
I started this blog on January 15, 2011, because too few websites talked about Phuket in a way I thought was actually helpful to travellers. Some were too formal. Some were hard to read. Some recycled the same generic advice without ever setting foot on the island. I wanted something different: real recommendations from someone who lives here, backed by thousands of original photos and videos.
Phuket 101 has been featured on CNN, on French national television (a documentary about Phuket’s recovery after the 2004 tsunami), on Netflix (Chefs Uncut series, 2024), and in several Thai national newspapers, and many in-flight magazines from airlines around the world.
Phuket 101 now has more than one million Facebook followers, 35,000 on Instagram and gets more than 150,000 visitors per month, which is about 400,000 page views per month.
 1M |  36,000 |  Threads 5,000 |
What You’ll Find Here
I write about beaches, hotels, restaurants, things to do, nightlife, shopping, and day trips to nearby islands. Every recommendation comes from personal experience. I’ve visited and photographed every place I write about, and I update my content regularly because Phuket changes fast. I pay for almost everything myself, which means I can say exactly what I think. I’m pretty strict about that.
The site covers:
- 100+ hotel reviews based on personal stays and visits
- 100+ restaurant reviews from years of eating around the island (my favourite part)
- All 46 beaches I personally explored and photographed
- Tours and activities I’ve tested myself
- Nightlife and shopping
- A free business directory to support local businesses
- An event calendar to share what’s happening around the island
- Available in more than 10 languages
Our Mission
My goal is to help visitors plan the best possible trip to Phuket. First, I help you figure out when to visit, and it’s not always the high season. The low season can be superb and a lot more affordable. Then, I help you pick the right beach for your hotel, and find accommodation that fits your budget and your travel style. Once that’s sorted, I share everything I know to help plan your days: where to go, what to see, and where and what to eat.
The Numbers
- 400,000+ monthly pageviews
- 1 million Facebook followers – Facebook
- 35,000 Instagram followers – Instagram
- 5,000 Threads followers – Threads
What Does ‘101’ Mean?
101 (pronounced “one-oh-one”) is the first course in a subject taught at a university. By extension, it means the basics of any subject. Phuket 101 covers everything you need to know to plan a great trip, from the basics all the way to local tips you won’t find in guidebooks.
About Willy Thuan
I’m Willy Thuan, and I arrived in Phuket in 1994 with not much more than a suitcase and a camera. Born in France, I spent my 20s travelling through more than 40 countries before landing in Thailand and deciding to stay. I worked in hotel guest relations, started my own advertising company, and later worked with companies like Club Med and Expedia. Somewhere along the way, photography became an obsession, and exploring every corner of this island became a daily habit. In 2011, I put all of that together and launched Phuket 101. I still live here, I still eat at the restaurants I recommend, and I still take all the photos you see on this site. Read more about me here →
