Which is better Phuket or Koh Chang? Koh Chang or Phuket?! Which island to choose for a holiday in Thailand! Phuket or Koh Chang in June
People ask different things about the island, from general questions like “Is Phuket an island or not?” to specific ones, for example, “Which beach is better: Kata and Karon?” The article contains ten frequently asked questions about Phuket on the RuNet. Of course, an honest and comprehensive answer was given to each of them.
Is Phuket an island or not?
Phuket is an island, and the largest in Thailand. Unlike the country's other large islands (Samui, Chang and others), Phuket is connected to the mainland by a bridge, so you don't have to take a ferry to get there.
Is Phuket a city or an island?
Both. To distinguish the island from its administrative center, the latter is called Phuket Town. However, visiting tourists rarely visit it: most hotels are not built in the city, but near the busiest beaches, on the other side of the island. People usually come to Phuket Town for shopping and sightseeing.
How is "Phuket" translated and what does it mean?
This is not known for certain, but apparently the name comes from the Malay word “bukit” (bhu ket), which means “hill”, “mountain”. You can also hear another version about the origin of the name: the Thais believe that “Phuket” is formed from “phu” (mountain) and “ket” (colored glass). Both options are similar in one thing - the name of the island is associated with its mountainous landscape.
What is around Phuket - sea or ocean?
The island is located in the Andaman Sea, facing the Indian Ocean. This distinguishes it from other popular resorts in Thailand: the cities of Pattaya, Hua Hin, the Chang Islands, Koh Samui, whose shores are washed by the waters of the Gulf of Thailand in the South China Sea. This explains the behavior of the sea off the coast of different resorts: the Gulf of Thailand is calmer, so large waves off the coast are rare; in Phuket, on the contrary, high waves roll in often. But the peak of their appearance occurs in the low season (from May to October), when there are few tourists on the island.
Bangkok or Phuket? Where to go?
Ideally, you need to see both places. This is quite possible: buy a ticket to Bangkok, spend a couple of days there, then go to the island. Dozens of flights from seven airlines depart from Bangkok to Phuket every day. You can also get to the resort by bus, but it is tiring, because it will take 12-14 hours. You can return to Bangkok the day before the end of your vacation, have a nice walk in it one last time, and fly home the next day. This plan will allow you to appreciate the unique flavor of Bangkok and sunbathe on the beaches of Phuket.
Which is better: Phuket or Koh Chang?
The islands are noticeably different from each other: Phuket is much larger and more civilized, Koh Chang is less busy, and its infrastructure is much less developed than in Phuket. The beaches here and there are equally good, but in Phuket they are more crowded. In terms of variety of entertainment and number of attractions, Chang, of course, cannot be compared with Phuket: the island is more suitable for a relaxing holiday with the family in the lap of nature. Phuket, on the other hand, is more versatile; it will appeal to partygoers, supporters of active recreation, and those who just want to sunbathe on a secluded beach.
Which is better: Khao Lak or Phuket?
The resorts are different, comparing them with each other is like choosing between a pear and a strawberry - both are delicious, but each in its own way. Khao Lak is a quiet resort that has not yet been occupied by mass tourism. For those who value privacy, a leisurely pace of life, and a calm atmosphere, Khao Lak is ideal. Those who cannot do without the benefits of civilization on vacation (shopping and entertainment centers, for example), who want unbridled fun and noisy parties, for whom it is important to have organized excursions with a Russian-speaking guide, will like Phuket more than Khao Lak. People come to Khao Lak for the deserted beaches and picturesque nature in the nearby National Parks; they come to Phuket for a carefree holiday on an equipped beach and tireless excursions mixed with shopping.
Which is better: Vietnam or Phuket?
If we compare Phuket with the popular Vietnamese resorts of Nha Trang, Mui Ne and Phu Quoc, the comparison will be in favor of the first: the beaches in Phuket are definitely better than in Nha Trang or Mui Ne. Phu Quoc loses in terms of infrastructure and level of comfort: Phuket is a much more developed island, where it is much more convenient to live. The advantage of Vietnam is that prices for housing and food are lower than in Phuket. It will also appeal to those who are uncomfortable with the unbridled atmosphere of Thai resorts, the abundance of prostitutes and transvestites - Vietnam has socialist morality.
Which is better: Kata or Karon in Phuket?
Both beaches are similar in many ways: spacious, crowded, with developed infrastructure, restaurants near the shore and water attractions near the water. The sand, the behavior of the sea and the water in it differ slightly. Kata has a slightly more relaxed atmosphere, which families with children like. In general, the best way to compare these beaches is to visit both. This is not difficult: they are located next door and connected to each other by a road along which buses and taxis travel.
Is it worth going to Phuket alone or not?
If doubts relate to security issues, then they are unfounded: traveling alone to Thailand does not pose any particular threats. Of course, you need to maintain sanity and prudence so as not to become a victim of petty scammers, but in general, situations that are dangerous for girls (attacks or sexual harassment) rarely happen in Phuket, so you shouldn’t refuse a trip just because of concerns about safety.
If the question implies an interesting pastime, then there is also nothing to worry about: there are a lot of tourists on the island, and a significant part of them are Russian-speaking vacationers, so meeting someone for the sake of a joint vacation will not be difficult.
Should you go to Phuket in September or not?
September is the rainiest month in Phuket, with twice as much rainfall as November and ten times as much as January. There are high waves at sea at this time. Surfers are happy to see them, but such conditions are not suitable for swimming. Red flags are often hung on the beach in September - a warning that swimming is prohibited. The only advantage of traveling in September is the low prices for accommodation, which is not surprising: there are very few tourists on the island at this moment and hotels are ready to offer discounts. In general, it is better to postpone your autumn trip to Phuket until November.
Author's note: e if questions such as “Is Phuket a city or an island?” answer is quite easy, then with questions like “Which is better: Vietnam or Phuket?” more difficult: personal opinion about resorts and countries is always subjective, it is not a fact that the reader’s impression of the places described will be the same as the author of the article. So you need to understand that there are no objective answers to such questions.
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When planning a trip to any world resort, sooner or later we are faced with the need to make a choice. A trip to one of the world's resorts, Thailand, will be no exception, because there are many places where you can spend a wonderful vacation. The answer to the question of where is the best place to relax in Thailand can only be given after familiarizing yourself with the most popular places in the country among tourists. These include Phuket, Koh Samui, Krabi, Koh Chang and the capital, Bangkok.
Holidays on Koh Samui
The attractive island of Koh Samui is washed by the waters of the Gulf of Thailand. The island will be a great place for those who want to spend a vacation with the whole family. Moreover, often a trip to Samui is not limited to 1-2 weeks, but extends to 1-2 months, which delights children beyond belief.
The island has wonderful beaches, exceptionally clean and clear water. In addition to relaxing directly on the island, you can visit almost one and a half hundred neighboring islands. It’s easy to do this by renting a boat or motorboat. There are also well-developed excursions on Koh Samui, allowing you to learn a lot of interesting things about the island and simply enjoy the beautiful scenery.
In recent years, holding wedding ceremonies on the island has become increasingly popular, and if previously they were carried out only according to local customs, now for a year now this can also be done according to the Orthodox rite.
Holidays in Phuket
If a holiday on Koh Samui is more relaxing, then Phuket is the complete opposite. Life here is in full swing at any time of the day or night. Washed by the waters of the Andaman Sea, the resort of Phuket has become famous throughout the world for its wonderful beaches, a wide variety of hotels of various levels, ranging from small bungalows to luxury hotels of the largest international operators, and a superbly developed entertainment industry. Also on the beaches of Phuket, various activities are very popular, including diving, snorkeling, water skiing and much more. Having listed all the advantages of a holiday in Phuket, we also note the disadvantages - the high noise level due to the abundance of discos and other entertainment venues, as well as relatively high prices.
Holidays in Krabi
Krabi is one of the most picturesque provinces in Thailand. A distinctive feature of the local beaches is very fine white sand, turquoise sea and an abundance of greenery. Such beauty has more than once made Krabi a platform for filming feature films and documentaries. Holidays in these places provide an exceptional opportunity for diving and snorkeling enthusiasts to experience the beauty of the underwater world. Krabi is rightfully at the top of the ranking of the best holiday destinations in Thailand.
Koh Chang
Koh Chang is an island located in the east of Thailand. A distinctive feature of the island is its almost virgin nature, combining impassable jungle, fishing villages, lakes, rivers and waterfalls. In the east of the island there are most of the beaches, the largest of which provides all the opportunities for entertainment. If you prefer silence, you can go either to a desert island or a deserted beach. Be sure to try the freshly prepared seafood, which the local fishermen prepare simply exceptionally.
Where is the best place to relax: Koh Chang or Krabi, Phuket or Samui
As you have already seen, each resort area in Thailand has its own specific features that attract one or another category of tourists. If you are interested in active recreation and nightlife, go to Phuket or Krabi, but if you want to spend a week or two in peace and quiet, go to Samui or Koh Chang.
Fans of excursion holidays will be interested in Phuket, since the territory of the island allows representatives of the local tourism industry to expand widely. And if you come to Thailand to spend more time under water, drinking tea over water, then there is no better place to implement these plans than Samui and Koh Chang.
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Sea
If the sea on Chang cannot be compared with anything, then it is beautiful: clear water, so clear that you can see fish swimming past you and you won’t touch anyone swimming with your elbow, because there are many times fewer vacationers on Chang than on its giant brother. For a holiday with kids - just right.
However, on the Mountain Island (Phuket) I liked the sea more than on the Elephant Island (Chang): here you have a scooter, a banana, and a parachute
and on Chang it is shallow, there are no waves, there are no water activities - good, but a bit boring, and until a couple of days before our arrival (according to other tourists), the section of the sea on our Klong Prao beach was also dotted with jellyfish (we arrived at the end of the rainy season, this happens during this period).
In addition, there are corals on our beach, so you need to swim carefully so as not to get hurt. We were unable to avoid the sharp pebbles; after each one cut ourselves, we preferred to walk along the shore a little further to swim; in other places there was much less coral.
One day, in windy weather, waves arose. But if there are always waves on the Karon beach in Phuket and you get a real buzz from them when you are rocked on the waves,
then on Chang the waves brought a lot of debris, chips, leaves... That day we hurried to finish the sea procedures early and retreat to the pool. The next day there was calm again. But grandpa had his eye on such a chic hairstyle in seafood
Beaches
I have never seen so many beautiful and original beaches as on Chang. Each beach is amazing in its own way - different sand, different vegetation, different lengths of the coastline, swings everywhere on the shore - perfect for photo shoots. On one of the islands of the archipelago we were on an island where there is no beach - the entire coast is strewn with corals. On Chang itself, what we liked most was Lonely beach - “Lonely Beach”, it is located in the distance and there are only a few hotels on it, so there are even fewer people than everywhere else. It is very beautiful there, simply magical.
Natural world
In terms of natural world, Changa will give Phuket a head start. Of course: 80% of the island’s territory is jungle; the Koh Chang archipelago itself consists of 54 islands and is considered a national protected area. That’s why there are beautiful waterfalls, palm groves, and lakes with clean fresh water.
I will never forget this music from the voices of nature, which woke us up on Chang in the mornings - the shimmer of wonderful birds, which were broken by the crowing of roosters and nothing else - no extraneous sounds that interfered with the reunification with the natural world. It was as if nature itself was saying: “Why are you sleeping, stupid, the world has already woken up a long time ago!” I woke up, looked at the palm tree waving its leaves at me through the window, mentally said hello to the coconuts hanging on another palm tree, thanked fate and smiled the blissful smile of the happiest of people.
Will you see as many shells in urbanized Phuket as in Chang? On the latter, each beach is a whole storehouse of shells of different shapes, colors and sizes. Here is such a “bouquet” (in the hands of my grandmother - we went together) nature itself sculpted:
Chickens walking under the supervision of mother hens on the temple grounds, monkeys watching tourists from the tops of palm trees, or sitting on roofs and wires along the roads - this is all Chang. Here the monkeys are full-fledged local residents, who are happy to be fed and photographed by tourists. We couldn’t resist doing this either. You see, even a monkey is decorated with motherhood:
Excursions
Of course, there are more excursions and entertainment in Phuket. There is no Tiger Kingdom on Koh Chang, no water park, no zoo, no chic evening shows... But, you see, the best excursions in this tropical country are still trips to the islands, so in this regard, Koh Chang will not disappoint.
When we went to Phi Phi in November 2013, I was shocked to find myself among the limestone monoliths growing from the sea surface, seeing a Viking cave, plunging into the azure water in Maya Bay... But on Chang, others, no less beautiful and amazing islands.
If on Phi Phi we tried to take photos so that the heavenly landscapes would not be complemented by someone’s majestic torso
then on the islands of the Koh Chang Marine Reserve you could even sit down or lie down - no one would bother you, because there was no one in the area except a dozen or two more tourists like you. And when we went fishing on Chang, there were only five of us on the ship. Personalized service!
You won’t find snorkeling like this here on the islands of the Koh Chang archipelago, where you don’t even need masks:
All the local marine life probably flocked to our bread. We didn't see any fish!
Another plus in terms of excursions in Chang is that it is several times cheaper here than in Phuket: fishing - only 700 baht per person
excursion to 5 islands - 1200 baht per person, meals, snorkels, snorkeling masks - all included.
In popular Phuket, for this money you can only go to one nearby island, like Coral or Racha, where it’s also nice, but crowded.
Nutrition
Phuket has food for every taste and budget. There it was not difficult to order European dishes - julienne, cream soup, cocktails, porridge, anything you like. Every cafe has Russian translation and even Russian waiters. On Chang, food is more difficult: translation into Russian is not available everywhere; European cuisine is often only indicated on the sign. But in general, we didn’t go hungry here either. We ate delicious pineapple rice, tender lasagna, tom yam, carbonara pasta... 
Some menu problems were more than compensated for by the low price; judge for yourself - the three of us could eat at least a thousand in Phuket. Here the average price was 500-700 rubles, despite the fact that my husband always ordered meat.
Infrastructure
There will be people who want to take you for a ride (in a tuk-tuk), both on one island and on the other, it is equally expensive - from 200-300 baht and more, depending on the distance. But if you suddenly want to visit a massage parlor, like us, at 10 pm, then you are unlikely to be able to do this on Chang. Life stops here early - at 22-23 it is already dark and quiet. In Phukta, as you know, life is humming at least until midnight. 
Once we arrived in Phuket at 21:00, by the time we checked in it was already 22:00. We argued with my husband that we would not find a working exchanger, my husband won the bet - almost in despair, we found an open Exchange at about 23:00 in the evening. If we had been on Chang, we would have been hungry that day - there are few exchangers here, they work from 10 am until about 7 pm. That is, if you are going on an excursion to Chang, do not hope that early in the morning you will be able to exchange your hard-earned money for baht somewhere.
Hotels
In Phuket, there are practically no hotels on the first line, standing right on the seashore - I left my room and there it was, the sea! But on Chang, almost all the hotels are on the first line. Beauty! 
There are restaurants with live music and evening fire shows on the beach.
Therefore, if the first days on Chang, I endlessly compared it with Phuket, called it a village, then by the end of the trip the island charmed me and made me fall in love with its original and inimitable beauty. 
On the morning of departure, we threw coins into the sea to return to this wonderful world of nature, which so hospitably received us, treating us to a hefty portion of ultraviolet light, fruit cocktails and smiles. 
Returning to the hotel on the day of departure from the beach, I cried quite sincerely, as if I was parting with someone dear and loved. And ahead of us lay a long road to the city of angels and skyscrapers - Bangkok, a million-plus city. Thanks Chang! 
What do you think - which is better Chang or Phuket?
Phuket or Koh Chang? If you have asked this question, it means you are serious about planning your vacation and want to get the most pleasure for your money.
Unfortunately, there is no clear answer to this question, since all the pros and cons of a particular resort are subjective.
For example, for single men the presence of bars with available girls is a definite plus, but for married couples with children it is rather a minus. You also need to keep in mind that Phuket is a huge island, 50 km long, and because of this it is heterogeneous - there are party places, and there are almost wild ones. Also on the island of Koh Chang.
The best answer to the question of what is better than Phuket or Koh Chang would be an objective review of these two islands, without embellishment and desire to recommend one or the other. We will analyze them according to several parameters (sea, accommodation, entertainment, food, shopping, attractions, etc.), and you yourself will conclude that Koh Chang or Phuket is more suitable for you.
Where is the best sea - Koh Chang or Phuket?
Koh Chang is located in Thailand on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand, and Phuket is on the Andaman Sea, which is part of the ocean. The water is traditionally clearer in the latter, but here you have to take the beach into account. For example, the water may be littered with all sorts of human waste (bags, wrappers), while the water throughout Koh Chang is devoid of this. On the other hand, on Koh Chang Island the water is not as clear as on the uncrowded beaches of Phuket (Yanui, Nai Yang, Nai Thon). But opacity does not mean dirt, since Koh Chang is part of the National Marine Reserve and even motorized water activities (skis, motorcycles) are not often seen there.
If it is important for you that the sea can be seen many meters deep, then it is better to choose the uncrowded beaches of Phuket (especially Yanui). But in general, the water on these two islands is equally clean (with the exception of Patong, Rawai and the entire east coast of Phuket).
Select beaches - Phuket or Koh Chang islands
But on Koh Chang there are no shopping centers or large hypermarkets at all, only small souvenir shops, tents with clothes and shoes, and several mini-Lotus stores, which are similar in assortment to 7/11 (only they sell vegetables and fruits there). So you can’t even dream about purchasing the latest iPhones here.
Where is transport better developed in Phuket or Koh Chang?
The question here is ambiguous. In Phuket, transport is well developed and there are many routes, but not all beaches can be reached by inexpensive city buses. There are tuk-tuks, but the cost of a trip to the neighboring beach is at least 200-300 baht.
There is also a city songthaew with fixed tariffs. They have only one route (since there is only one road), but you can get to any beach (except for the east coast, but there are almost no tourists there and rarely anyone goes there).
Restaurants and food
On every corner in the literal sense of the word, so you definitely won’t go hungry anywhere.
There are plenty of bars and restaurants on Koh Chang where you can eat delicious and varied food. Many are located in hotels right on the seashore. In Phuket it’s different - the choice is much larger, but on the coast there are almost none (behind the sunbeds and sand the road immediately begins and only after it are places of gluttony).
Food prices in Koh Chang are generally lower.
Sights of Phuket and Koh Chang
If we consider Koh Chang and Phuket in terms of attractions, then the second has an order of magnitude more of them, especially for ancient temples and observation decks. Strictly speaking, there are no temple complexes at all on Koh Chang (where there are several buildings, a chapel, a pagoda on the territory). There you can only see a few lonely temples next to the road (without any pagodas or chapels). Lookouts too - once, twice, and I’ve missed the mark. And they don’t give such a panoramic view of the island. In fact, on Chang you can only go to a couple of waterfalls, to neighboring islands, and to a village and a market on stilts. Phuket is another matter, where there are several dozen large temple complexes that are 100-200-300 years old (not only Buddhist, but also Chinese). And about a hundred temples built 30-50 years ago. Plus, there are about a dozen observation decks with stunning views, waterfalls and National Parks.
Summarizing
A brief review cannot fully cover the topic of whether Koh Chang or Phuket is better. Place of residence plays a big role here. For example, as mentioned above, Phuket is more intended for entertainment, and Koh Chang is more for relaxation and a leisurely beach holiday. But if you stay on Koh Chang at White Sand Beach, you'll be in a pretty lively place with bars with girls and music and a fairly large selection of hotels. While on the beaches of Phuket Nai Yang and Yanui there are few hotels (and all of them are expensive), there are no bars, there are very few people during the day, and after sunset, life generally stops and you won’t see people on the coast. So we advise you to study in detail this or that beach in Phuket or Chang and then make a conclusion for yourself what is best for you.
Which island to choose for a holiday in Thailand? Phuket, located in the southwest, or Koh Chang, on the eastern coast of the Gulf of Thailand?
What's better - a noisy night out or a quiet evening? Great hotel or cozy beach house?
The two islands are located quite far from each other, but the main difference between them is not geographical. A tourist planning a trip to Thailand and expecting the most pleasant impressions from his vacation should know what awaits him, and the difference between these Thai islands is significant: Phuket is a kind of Majorca of Asia, Koh Chang, on the contrary, is a yet to be found pearl.
Islands in numbers
Phuket is the largest island in Thailand with a total area of 534 km¬2. Population - 286,000 inhabitants.
Koh Chang - the area of the country's second largest island is about 492 km2. Population - 5,000 people
Beaches of the islands
Phuket - The island's most popular beach, Patong, is located 15 kilometers south of Phuket town. This beach is considered the most comfortable. It is also known for its varied nightlife entertainment. In 2004, during the tsunami, Patong was destroyed more than other beaches.
Karon Beach, one of the longest beaches on the island, is more suitable for families. Its length is about 6 km. The nightlife here, compared to other Phuket beaches, is not as active.
Koh Chang - White Sands Beach (Hat Sai Khao), 2.5 km long, is located in the northern part of the island and is famous for its unusual brown sand.
The longest beach on Koh Chang is Klong Prao, stretching for more than 4 km.
Shopping, food, entertainment
Phuket - shopping at an affordable price, custom tailoring, wonderfully prepared fish dishes, discos and noisy parties with a wide variety of shows - you will find all this in great abundance in Phuket. Phuket City's 70,000 residents live off tourism.
Koh Chang - the choice of shops is small, bars and restaurants are somewhat provincial. Along the streets of the island, mainly at intersections, there are small cafes and shopping shops. In the southeast of Koh Chang, a floating fish restaurant near the fishing village of Baan Bang Bao serves excellent food.
Water sports, diving
Phuket - there are more than 100 diving centers here and Phuket is rightfully considered the capital of diving in Thailand. The most popular diving spots include the islands of Koh Yao in the east and Koh He and Koh Raya in the south. A little further away are the world-famous Similan Islands, Surin National Marine Park, which includes 5 stone islands covered with evergreen forest. The diving center is the south of Phuket, where trips to the islands of Yoa, He and Raya begin.