10 Really Cheap Things to Do in Phuket (For Fun!)

Phuket on half a shoestring? That sounds cliché or impossible. It doesn’t even fit the style of our blog with all our fancy restaurants and trendy hotels, but it was just too tempting! So just for fun, you can try the 10 items below and come back with a pretty fun story to tell.

Sleep at On On Hotel (was 150, now 450 Baht)

Internationally known from the movie ‘The Beach’, this cheap hotel does actually looks like what you saw in the movie. Very well located in the historical streets of Phuket Town, it could have taken advantage of its fame, but no, it’s still looking as cheap. The On On hotel was renovated in 2013 so I guess I have to find something new to add here… but it’s still a good value! See more photos.

Get a Local Haircut (70 Baht)

Knowing the price of a haircut in Phuket in general, here is one of the cheapest hair salon in town… for only 70 baht you too can look like a school boy! Surprisingly they will even shave your ears and your forehead, I tried. (now if you are looking for a proper haircut, head to Central Festival Phuket)

Watch a Kung Fu Movie at the Temple (Free)

This free entertainment was usually offered by local temples to citizens when not everyone had LED TVs, not to mention internet. It’s very loud, image can be horribly scratched but no teen can resist a good Kung Fu movie! Sometimes located at very dangerous curves (top of Patong Hill!) or set for someone’s funerals right next to your house. Free Kung Fu action all night! Yay! The movie on the photo was ‘Lord of the Ring’ though 😀

Moo Ka Ta ‘All You Can Eat Buffet’ (160 Baht)

A big time Thai favorite is ‘Moo Ka Ta’, which means ‘Pig on Pan’ is a ‘Cook-it-yourself-all-you-can-eat-barbecue-slash-steam-boat’. Buffets display raw meat, fish, veggies or processed ‘things’ to take back to your table and cook. Venues are packed, especially on week ends and charge for left overs! So take only what you can eat. I guarantee that you will smell of smoke after dinner and everyone will know where you have been! Read more

Second Hand Shoe Shop!

(Price is up to your bargain skills) 

We talked about this one on Phuket Week End Market. I don’t personally know anyone who bought shoes from a second hand shoe shop. Please do send us your story if you did! If you got your shoes stolen once, you might find them here.

Blind Massage (2 hours 200 Baht)

If you are not familiar with massage, this might surprise you. Traditional massage is part of Thai life as much as going for a haircut. However, blind massage is more unusual and it is supposed to be effective, especially when you have sore muscles. Masseurs can really spot where your problem is and fix it better than anyone… be warned, it can be painful! But no pain, well, you know…

Fitness at the Park or at Tesco Lotus (Free)

You can join the aerobic class at Tesco Lotus or even in front of The Bangkok Phuket Hospital  every day at 6 pm for free, or use the new set of free fitness equipment at Suan Luang Park on Chaofa road, just outside Phuket town on the way to Chalong.

Shop at ‘SuperCheap’ (cheap! :D)

After serious price investigation, this is the cheapest possible shop in town. Even shops shop here! And it is also about how you can get lost in their amazing maze of everything you need for your daily life or local business. An experience in itself. Note that SuperCheap was burnt down and is currently being rebuilt (Read all about Super Cheap)

Get your Wedding Dress done in Town (5,550 Baht!)

Maybe a wedding dress is too serious a subject to have it done at such cheap price. But you will be surprised what local tailors can do with little budget! Yes the dress in the middle of the photo costs 5,500 baht and a Tuxedo with fancy white shirt costs… 3,500 baht! We found this shop called ‘Mueyium’ (means Great Skills) at the intersection of Yaowarat and Phang Nga Road in Phuket town… Looks good from outside but decide for yourself… small budget and quality don’t necessarily go together!

Party Cheap with a Bucket (150 baht)

A fun way to have party and no memory of it the next day is the famous ‘Bucket’. For only 150 baht, you can get drunk and wake up the next day in the situation of the movie ‘the Hangover’, with a major headache as bonus. Made of ‘Mekong’ or ‘Sang Som’, two popular Thai whiskies, mixed with ‘Red Bull’, soda or basically anything you can think about and lots of ice. Very popular and often advertised at bars in Soi Bangla !