Jeff and I have been traveling to Thailand for years, and one of the best parts about coming back is getting the opportunity to visit the friends we have made over the years. We enjoy traveling the northern part of Thailand as well, but the south has become our favorite area. Unfortunately, some changes are beginning to unfold in Phuket, and it’s not very positive. I don’t want to discourage anyone from traveling to Phuket, because it’s a great place, but I just want to let anyone who plans on visiting Phuket about the changes that are currently taking place.
Although Phuket is a popular destination for tourists, it is becoming more expensive due to all of the Russians fleeing their country to come and stay for extended periods of time. They are driving up the prices of hotels, and real estate developers are coming in and buying up land and building high-end condominiums. It didn’t used to be this way, and because so many Russians are coming over here, it makes it difficult to find reasonably priced accommodations.
We have many local friends in Phuket, and they aren’t very happy with these recent changes either. They are working harder than ever trying their best to please the Russians, which according to them, isn’t an easy task. I understand why they would want to come to Thailand. With the war between Russia and Ukraine and the freezing cold winters, they want to bring their kids to go swimming and bask in the sunshine. It’s just that when Jeff and I come to Thailand, we don’t want it to become “Little Russia.”
Another problem is the increase in traffic and reckless driving. With more people flocking to Naiyang, that means a lot more traffic, which is something we have noticed more of over the years. It used to be more walker-friendly, but despite the increase in motorized traffic, it’s still a good place to visit.
One nice thing about visiting Phuket that hasn’t changed are the buses. There’s a bus going to Phuket Airport and buses going to the different beaches. The most popular destinations include—Patong, Chalong, Kamala, Kata, Karon, Surin, Thalang, and Naiyang. In Phuket Town, there are three main bus terminals—Phuket Bus Terminal 1, Phuket Bus Terminal 2, and the bus station on Ranong Road. It’s always a good idea to check with locals in case of any changes in the bus schedules, but they usually run every half hour.
One thing that never changes in Phuket is the delicious and reasonably priced local food. There’s a Muslim place Jeff and I go to for lunch near the mosque in Naiyang. Free drinking water and hot tea is always readily available as well. The only problem is the food runs out fast, so it’s best to get there early before that happens. Friday isn’t the best day to go, because that’s the Muslims long prayer day, and the place gets super busy on Fridays, and food is guaranteed to run out. It’s not a fancy place, but in our personal travel experiences, we find that fancy places are highly overrated, not to mention overpriced for what you get. Trust me when I tell you that the local food stalls are the best.
Even despite some of Phuket’s changes, I still highly recommend visiting this beautiful destination and taking in some of the breathtaking scenery. The best way to discover your optimal travel destinations in Thailand is by going to different places to see which places become your new favorites.
Thank you for reading!
