Best area to stay in Phuket for families

Phuket can be accessed from the Thai mainland via the Sarasin Bridge, which spans 600 metres over channel in the Andaman Sea. It is the only island in Thailand with its own governor and covers a total area of 570 square kms. Phuket extends approximately 49 km from north to south and it is around 21 km from the west coast to the eastern shore. The island can be reached by road, by sea or by air. Phuket International Airport handled over 3.5 million passengers in the first half of 2017, 54% of whom came from overseas.

With so many people visiting Phuket it follows that the range of accommodation options in vast, but one of the fastest growing sectors – especially for families – is private villa rentals. Upscale villas are located all over the island and they offer a wide choice of private facilities that includes everything from swimming pools to cinema rooms and private spas. Family friendly villas are in plentiful supply with added facilities such as dedicated children’s bedrooms, private playgrounds and even gaming consoles for kids now provided

In terms of locations, the area around Bang Tao on the island’s west coast offers an impressive selection of private villas for rent. The wide bay boasts soft sands, swimmable seas and easy access to nearby shops and restaurants, including those located within Laguna Phuket – a well established resort complex that has helped Bang Tao beach become an island favourite.

Nai Harn Beach in the far south of the island is also popular and offers a choice of private villas. The beach was voted one of Asia’s best in a recent TripAdvisor survey and it is also a favourite with long-term residents. Recently, a handful of shopping malls have sprung up in the area, adding to its appeal and prompting developers to buy and build more properties there.

Some of the most breathtaking luxury villas are located close to Kamala beach on the island’s central west coast in an area known as ‘millionaire’s mile’. Many of the rental villas in this part of the island occupy dramatic hillside locations, but their size and facilities still make them popular with families from around the world.

Over on the east coast of the island, Cape Yamu is popular location for families looking to rent a luxurious home away from home. Although the beaches are less attractive there, the views are even more spectacular and there are plenty of options for excursions on land and sea to keep the kid’s entertained.

With increasing demand for private rentals, not only from foreigners but also Thai visitors, holiday villas have quickly become a very popular choice on Phuket with Chinese, Russians, South Koreans and Europeans all opting for exclusive alternatives to a luxury hotel suite.

For family breaks, rental periods on Phuket range from three days to two weeks, depending on the season and nationality of the guests. European families generally linger longer, while Asian families generally choose to stay for a week.