Is it safe to travel alone in Phuket?
Travelling alone in Phuket is known to be very safe, and the island offers a lot of options to solo travellers, depending on how alone you want to be during your stay in Phuket. We divided ‘Travelling Alone in Phuket’ into three main types:
- Those who prefer to travel alone, but want to stay alone.
- Those who have no one to travel with and still want to travel (kind of halfway between the two above).
- Those who wish to travel alone and want to meet new people along the way.
How do you choose a hotel in Phuket?
- If you travel alone because you prefer to be, you probably want to avoid the crowded beaches. There are a few beaches with a good range of hotels on beautiful and peaceful beaches such as Bang Tao Beach (northern end part) Nai Yang, Naithon and Maikhao Beach. You won’t be isolated, but you will be able to enjoy long walks on the beach without being disturbed.
- If you travel alone because your friends couldn’t come, but you are not desperate to meet other people, Kamala, Nai Harn and Bangtao Beach South are lively without being too isolated.
- If you travel alone but want to meet people, you should consider staying where the action is. Patong, Kata and Karon are beautiful beaches with plenty of nice places to meet people. Read more
Solo Travelling Women in Phuket
Travelling solo can be an incredibly empowering and enriching experience, and Phuket, Thailand, is the perfect destination to visit on your own. Whether you’re a seasoned solo traveller or embarking on your very first solo adventure, Phuket offers a unique blend of stunning beaches, vibrant culture, and warm hospitality that will ensure your experience is unforgettable. Here are my top ten tips that I hope might be of use to you while travelling solo in Phuket
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Join Mel as she trades the daily grind for five extraordinary months living life to the fullest on the sun-soaked beaches of Phuket! In her fifties, she dives headfirst into solo travel, indulges in the mouth-watering Thai food, immerses herself in the vibrant Thai culture and builds genuine connections with the locals, creating life long memories. This book captures what it truly means to embrace all that Phuket has to offer. It’s all about celebrating the joy of living boldly, having fun, and never looking back! Read Mel’s ’Tips for Solo Travelling Women in Phuket’ here
How to go from Phuket Airport to your hotel
If you travel alone, and unless you can afford it and prefer to travel alone, there is usually no need to book an entire taxi for one person. In this case, your best option is a shared minivan. For 250 baht on average, you will share the van with people staying in the same area. It takes a little longer, but this is the best value for money and time spent. You could also use the smart bus, but it will take a lot longer, and you will still have to walk from the bus drop-off to your hotel. With a suitcase and bags, it can be difficult. Read more
How to get around Phuket
Tuk Tuks
Tuk Tuk is the most versatile way to travel around. They are virtually everywhere at any time but can be costly if you go alone, just remember to always agree on the price of your ride before getting inside the Tuk Tuk. Read more
Grab Taxi
Grab is a good, safe, and convenient mobile app widely accessible on the island (UBER is not available in Phuket as it was sold to Grab long ago). Grab might take a little longer than Tuk Tuk depending on how accessible and how far from you they are. Here too, it is a bit costly when travelling alone. ‘Bolt’ is another popular app but we haven’t tried it yet.
Phuket Smart Bus
Phuket Smart Bus is very affordable for a solo traveller. This convenient way to travel from beach to beach was long-awaited. As mentioned earlier, it is cheap, but it takes time as you need to wait for the next bus (every hour). Read more about Phuket Smart Bus
Motorbike Taxis
Motorbike taxis are cheap and fast but only available in Phuket City, Patong Beach and a few other beach towns. Just wave at them and ask for the price of your destination. You can bargain the proposed price a little.
Renting a Motorbike
Renting a bike is a good investment for solo travellers if you feel confident driving in Thailand where road safety is notoriously poor. It is cheap, available everywhere and gives you freedom of movement. It is fast and easy to park too, but if you decide to party and drink, better take a tuk-tuk home. Driving a motorbike in Thailand is a serious responsibility: you should have a driving licence and decent travel insurance. Read the following:
1. Technically, a shop will let you rent a motorbike with your country’s licence, but in reality, an international license is needed.
2. Police controls will ask to see your international driving license. If you don’t have one, you will be fined 500 baht payable on the spot.
3. Accidents are only covered by travel insurance if you have an international driving license, so think twice! Read more
Car Rent
Car Rent is also great to explore Phuket at your own pace. On the downside, it can be expensive, and difficult to park in town and you may have to deal with rush hour. Read more
Rent a car with a driver
Renting a car with a private driver or a minivan for a day in Phuket is a great way to discover the island without having to stress out about directions, parking and even driving safety. Besides, the drivers are very knowledgeable and always try their best to accommodate your schedule and requests. Read more
Things to Do Alone in Phuket
You actually can enjoy everything and anything when travelling alone in Phuket, but some activities will offer a chance to share the fun with other people in a very casual way, and even facilitate meetings with total strangers:
- Ethical elephant sanctuaries
- Zipline
- Cruise to Phang Nga
- Day trip to nearby islands
- Beach clubs
- ATV
- Cooking classes
Other things to do on your own
- Temples and Phuket Big Buddha
- Viewpoints (you probably would need a bike or a car)
- Phuket town (all by walk)
Meeting People
Except if you select a remote beach, there will be plenty of bars and clubs to meet people in a very casual way. You will soon notice how easy it is to open a conversation with people on holiday (and even more after a drink or two)
You could also ask our Phuket 101 Community who is travelling on the same dates as you, which seems to work!
About Safety in Phuket
Visiting Phuket alone is not a problem, Phuket is known to be safe and solo traveller-friendly. You only need to follow basic common sense rules.
Don’t go back alone too late if your hotel is far from the centre. Aggression is extremely rare, but why take a risk? When meeting new people, don’t trust everyone blindly, keep a basic common sense on ‘too friendly’ people. Keep an eye on your belongings. Again, Phuket is safer than the vast majority of holiday destinations. Read more
Stay in a Hostel
Staying in a hostel is a great way to meet other solo travellers, and hostels in Phuket are surprisingly nice and welcoming! Read more
Other Tips
If you travel alone, it may be a good idea to inform someone where you are going and carry some identification in case of an accident. Drive safe and don’t fall for the usual scams (timeshare). As you will be walking alone, you probably look more approachable than couples or groups.
More reading
