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Discover gay Pukhet and the vibrant nightlife of Patong including the best gay bars and clubs, hotels, things to do, and more.
Grab a water gun, head here in mid-April and you have a legit free pass to spray water at any cutie you see walking down the street!
Songkran is the Buddhist New Year festival, which takes place every year in mid-April. Around this time, Phuket and Bangkok host some of the biggest gay parties across all of Asia. But the thing to do in Songkran is chuck water at everyone.
Seriously – in Buddhism, this symbolizes the washing away of bad luck from the previous year. It cleanses you! And oh boy do we gays love a bit of cleansing? Trust us to take this to a whole different level, using it as an excuse to sashay the streets topless (it is, after all, super hot here in April!), chuck water at each other, and make it into a massive party!
Phuket continues the festivities right after Songkran when Phuket Pride kicks off. Though to be frank, we found Phuket to be one big gay partyville throughout the entire year. There's an entire area of gayness here in Patong affectionately nicknamed “Paradise Complex”, where all the gay bars and clubs on the island are.
Head a few blocks from here and you reach Patong gay beach, full of hot speedo-clad guys posing, tanning, cruising, Instagramming, and TikToking…suffice to say, if you're looking for a gay beach holiday in Asia, Phuket's got you covered!
This is our detailed gay guide to Phuket based on our trip here including the best gay hangouts, where to stay covering all budgets, gay spas, things to do, and more. Note for LGBTQ travelers heading beyond Phuket, be sure to also check out our bumper gay guide to Thailand.
Gay tour of Thailand
Discover how Thailand earned its moniker ‘The Land of Smiles' on this awesome gay tour with Out Adventures. The boys over at OA run four annual departures through the country with stops in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Krabi, and Phuket. It's a fantastic way for first-timers to Thailand to get a thorough flavor of this incredible country with a fabulous bunch of squirrel friends to hand.
Phuket gay area
We loved gay Phuket. It was almost as fun as the gay scene of Bangkok, but right next to the beach!
The gay area of Phuket is “Paradise Complex” in Patong. It is concentrated within a few pedestrianized streets. More specifically, opposite the Royal Paradise Hotel, just off Thanon Ratuthit Songroipi Road. The Paradise Complex is packed with bars, cafés, clubs, restaurants, hair salons, and travel agents – all catering to the LGBTQ crowd. We found that most of the guys here were looking for one thing…things can get pretty frivolous in the Phuket gay scene!
Most gay boys will spend the day by Patong beach then slowly head over to one of the bars before finishing up at ZAG club until the early hours.
Other practical facts about the Phuket gay area – Patong itself is a beach resort town on the southeastern side of the island. Phuket International Airport is located on the northern tip of the island, around 1-hour drive from Patong. Patong has two nightlife hotspots – Paradise Complex mentioned above (for us gays) and along Bangla Road, which is more straight-orientated.
Get online while you're in Phuket…
by renting a pocket WiFi device. Doing so will give you unlimited internet access on multiple devices, perfect if you're traveling in a group or need to do some work on your laptop. Pocket WiFi also ensures you have a secure and private connection which isn't always the case when using public WiFi hotspots.
Gay beaches in Phuket and Patong
Phuket has no fewer than 35 beaches looking out to the Andaman Sea. Patong beach is where most of the gay guys come to hang out during the day in Phuket. It's the closest one to the Paradise Complex and is always busy. However, if you want to go somewhere more chilled and less crowded, check out Karon and Bangtao.
Patong Beach
Patong is the most famous and developed beach in Phuket. It's around 3.5km (2.17 miles) long and has a large gay section in front of “La Flora Resort Patong” where all the rainbow flags proudly fly in the wind. As it's the closest beach to the gay scene of Paradise Complex (literally a few blocks from it), it's become the most popular gay beach in Phuket where most of the gay guys hang out during the day…we certainly did! Patong beach is also the focal point of Phuket Pride in April.
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Karon Beach
Karon is another popular beach for gay travelers in Phuket. It's located around 3km (1.8 miles) south of Patong beach. It has a 5km (3 miles) long stretch of white powder sandy beach, which is what makes it so popular. As it's quite far out, it's not as crowded as Patong. We came here one day to get away from the large Patong crowds, though Karon is still busy enough as it gets its share of crowds from the nearby guesthouses and resorts.
Bangtao (aka Laguna) Beach
Bangtao is where we recommend you go if you want a more remote beach. It's located around a 20-minute drive north of Patong in the direction of the airport. There were noticeably fewer crowds here due to the distance. And unlike Karon beach, there aren't as many resorts around here. The Dream Beach Club is located nearby, which is a popular spot for gay travelers to hang out.
Gay nude beaches in Phuket
As a general rule, nudism is not as prevalent in Phuket as it is in other gay destinations. Public nudity is illegal in Thailand and therefore not socially accepted. As such there are no official gay nude beaches in Phuket. There are a few remote beaches on Phuket where nudism is tolerated, simply because they are so remote that there's no one around to complain. The two main ones are Nui Beach in the south and Mai Khao located just north of the airport. Note: these are more places where women come to sunbathe topless rather than a place where gays congregate to cruise.
Gay men only resorts in Phuket
This is where you decide if you want THAT sort of holiday! What's great about Phuket is that it covers all the options – do you want to stay in a gay hotel (see below) or do you want something with a more intimate setting… If you do, we recommend checking out these all-male clothing-optional resorts in Phuket:
01
Phuket Gay Homestay
Kathu area
Why we love it
- Intimate male-only gay homestay
- Fabulous and super-cute hosts
- Weekly BBQ and lots of pool parties
- Excellent gay budget option
This is one of the most popular gay hotels in Phuket. It's strictly men-only, and with just 5 guest rooms available, it's super intimate, especially in the sauna/steam room!!
Jokes aside, we love the Phuket Gay Homestay because it feels like you're staying with your own gay family who will quickly become your lifelong friends.
The owners are Ulf and Boy (don't the Thai have the best names ever?!) who go out of their way to make everyone feel at home. They are what MAKES this place special in our opinion!
The Phuket Gay Homestay is located on Neramit Hill, further inland, around 20 minutes tuk-tuk ride from the Paradise Complex and Patong Beach. This is the only negative if we're being honest. The upside is that the rooms are a lot cheaper here than the other gay hotels, which makes it the perfect choice for solo gay travelers or LGBTQ travelers on a budget. It's also very peaceful here, away from all the noise of Patong. One thing we loved about the location, it's close to one of our favorite Phuket restaurants: Thong Dee (read more about it below).
The hosts are truly amazing! They go all out to make guests feel welcomed, with lots of socials, like a weekly gay BBQ and lots of pool parties, open to non-guests. Some of these parties are quite popular, especially on weekends – it's like the Patong gays come here rather than the other way around! The other perk about staying here is their popular steam room/sauna…we'll leave the rest to your imagination!
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02
Aquarius Gay Guesthouse and Sauna
Patong
Why we love it
- Men-only gay guesthouse in gay Paradise Complex
- Around the corner from all the gay bars and clubs!
- Comfortable and affordable rooms or suites
- On-site swimming pool, sauna, spa, and gym
If you want to be right in the heart of the action, right there in the middle of the Patong Paradise Complex where all the gay boys hang out day and night, then we recommend staying at the Aquarius Gay Guesthouse!
Here you are literally the gay scene!
Aquarius has also become famous in the Phuket gay scene due to its sauna. The Phuket gays come from all over to socialize here and as a guest of the hotel, you're allowed to use it for free.
Aquarius caters to different budgets, from the cheaper “room-only” rates to the more fancy spacious suites and even a fancy Jacuzzi Studio – a worthwhile splurge we totally recommend! As well as the infamous sauna, the Aquarius Gays (that's what they called us when we were guests here!) also have access to the swimming pool and rooftop sunbathing area. Just remember to put sun lotion everywhere – Aquarius Gays are NOT shy and can easily be spotted donning bright red burnt buttocks!
Overall, we loved the vibe here. It's a lot bigger than the Phuket Gay Homestay but less personable because of that. We made more friends here, but found it to be a bit pricey for what you get – the reason, of course, is because you're paying for the location. Remember, this is right slap bang in the heart of the Phuket gay scene!
Gay friendly hotels in Phuket
Phuket has many different gay hotels to suit all LBGTQ travelers including luxurious boutiques to budget-friendly guesthouses. The first thing we advise is ascertaining what your priorities are. If you want to be close to the gay beach and the Paradise Complex gay scene, then we suggest booking a hotel in or around this area, like Adonis. If the gay scene is not your priority and you prefer something more akin to a romantic getaway, then we recommend lush hotels like the STAY Wellbeing in Rawai or Impiana Private Villas in Kata Noi. Here's a summary of some of the best gay hotel options in Phuket that we recommend:
01
STAY Wellbeing & Lifestyle Resort
Rawai
Why we love it
- Incredible luxury wellness resort
- Massive gym: the best hotel gym ever!
- FRESCA restaurant: the perfect place for dinner
- Bloody beautiful swimming pool!
The STAY Wellbeing & Lifestyle Resort is an incredible place that combines luxury and wellness – for very affordable prices too.
It's a very unique resort that provides multiple ways to take care of your health while you're staying there. GAYS TAKE NOTE: the Stay Fit gym takes up three floors and is widely considered to be one of the best gyms in Asia! Quite honestly, it's definitely the best hotel gym that we've ever come across!
They take fitness serious here with 8 complimentary group classes for guests each day. You can take part in strength training, yoga, and high-intensity interval training classes. It's also possible to book private sessions with one of their (very sexy!) personal trainers. The in-house spa (called Le Spa) has a sauna, steam room, cold plunge pool≤ mineral pool, and plenty of massage treatments to choose from.
In terms of dining options, check out FRESCA. It's one of the most highly rated restaurants in Phuket with four different kitchens serving charcoal-grilled dishes, Italian classics, Asian fusion, and local fresh seafood. During the day you can order delicious Thai dishes from the Stay Green Cafe. The Cafe also doubles up as a bar later in the day, serving cocktails to enjoy beside the pool. And yes, the pool (or pools!) – it's bloody beautiful, surrounded by lush green gardens. A tropical paradise you'll never want to leave!
02
Adonis Guesthouse
Patong
Why we love it
- Straight-friendly guesthouse
- Located in the Paradise Complex
- Clean, spacious, and comfortable rooms
- Cruisy rooftop garden terrace
Not as gay or cruisy as Aquarius, but still gay enough not to compromise your Scene Queen card!
Adonis is a straight-friendly hotel to stay in, located in the gay Patong Paradise Complex. It's not as plush as Aquarius, minus the pool/sauna, but still an excellent option for budget-conscious travelers.
You can choose to stay in rooms or studios, which are all spacious, clean, and comfortable, allowing you to be the perfect party host (wink wink!).
While there's no pool here, Adonis has a rooftop garden terrace which we loved lounging at when not at Patong gay beach. It's covered to provide shade and protect you from any tropical rains. Location-wise, all the gay boys and bars are on your doorstep, but despite this, it's quite peaceful and serene here – even Princess Seby (he's the world's worst light sleeper!) was able to get a decent night's kip here!
As we said, Adonis is best suited to LGBTQ budget travelers, but the plus side (as well as the proximity to the Paradise Complex) is that it doesn't feel cheap here. In other words, it feels more like you're staying in a hotel rather than a hostel. And a final tip: make sure you have a meal at the Honeymoon by Kenya restaurant around the corner!
03
CC's Hideaway
Kata Beach
Why we love it
- Beautiful boutique hotel
- Amazing wellness and yoga retreats are available
- In-house restaurant and bar
- Free shuttle to nearby attractions
If you love yoga and relaxation as much as I do then I recommend checking out CC's Hideaway. Whilst Seby prefers his scene queen card, I always try and get us to spend a few nights of our holiday in a health and wellness retreat.
CC's Hideaway includes all sorts of activities from yoga (obviously!) to flotation therapy, acupuncture, and even surfing (though I'll be honest, we did this more to ogle at the hot surfer dudes!).
CC's Hideaway is located on the hills of Kata overlooking the Andaman Sea. It definitely feels like a little jungle hideaway cut away from all the touristic noise over at Patong! However, they also provide free hourly shuttle buses into town which put my Seby at ease! Gay boy party bunnies be warned: this is not a pumping party spot like Aquarius or Adonis. Far from it! But if you're looking for a relaxing, chilled retreat as a base for your holiday, my pleasure!
All the rooms at CC's are spacious and even feature a private balcony. In terms of in-house bars and dining options, The Sanctuary Bar and Sky Terrace is the perfect spot for a sunset cocktail and the Refuge Restaurant serves delicious Thai cuisine along with a themed weekly buffet. Bonus: Thai cooking classes are offered, which I strongly recommend trying out!
04
Impiana Private Villas Kata Noi
Kata Beach
Why we love it
- Luxury resort with private pool suites and villas
- Villas with private infinity pools overlooking the sea
- A private butler service if you book a villa or suite
- Gym, library, and cigar lounge!
One of our favorite luxury gay friendly hotels in Phuket is the Impiana Private Villas boutique resort in Kata Noi. It's stunning!
Although it's located a taxi ride away from the Paradise Complex, it's totally worth it. Here you have your own luxurious secluded private villa perched above the bay of Kata Noi, overlooking the stunning Andaman Sea. Add to that the panoramic sunset views and you've got your ideal wedding location! Impiana is in fact famous for hosting and organizing gay weddings.
All the villas at Impiana come with private infinity pools overlooking the sea. This was Seby's favorite thing about it – as well as the bathtubs which are right next to the windows so you can enjoy those sea views. I can guarantee you'll go Insta crazy here posing for your next thirst trap! Everything here is designed to pamper you and make you feel like a celebrity. For example, if you book a villa or a suite, you get your own private butler!
Whilst Impiana may be far from the Patong gay beach, you instead have the more tranquil Kata Noi Beach on your doorstep. Another perk of Impiana we loved is that you can request in-room spa treatments and massages so you never have to leave your little love nest. And if you really want to feel like a boss, head over to their cigar lounge after dinner!
Gay bars in Phuket
The Paradise Complex in Patong is where you'll find all the main gay bars in Phuket. Note that most bars don't get going until after 10 pm, with some putting on shows both inside and outside on the street to attract customers.
In this section, we've summarised some of our favorites. These are the best gay bars in the Paradise Complex to check out. Note that the iconic Boat Bar of Phuket has shut down and is no longer in operation.
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I Bar
I Bar is a fun new gay bar located in the main Paradise Complex amongst the other gay bars. It's a lovely spot to sit with a drink and people watch before the area gets pumping, or just to observe the shows that tend to spill out onto the street! The staff are really friendly plus they have karaoke if you feel like belting out some gay classics before heading to the clubs.
Aquarius Guesthouse bar
During the day, the bar/restaurant of Aquarius is a popular gay hangout. As most of the main gay bars in Paradise Complex don't really get busy until around 10 pm, most head here beforehand, usually to get a bite to eat and to use their infamous sauna! The best time to come here to eat and play is in the afternoon, around 5-8 pm – i.e. when the Patong beach boys start to head back to shower/get ready for a gay night out!
Time Bar
Time Bar is another comfortable spot to have a drink earlier in the evening, with outdoor chairs and tables to watch the fun out on the street. There are also some comfy sofas and chairs inside if you'd prefer something a little more intimate. We liked to start our evening here since we can actually talk inside as it's not too rowdy. Then after some yummy drinks it's time to get the party started!
Connect Bar and Restaurant
Connect Bar and Restaurant is part of the larger Connect Guesthouse in the Paradise Complex, so you might like to stay here as well if you want to be right where all the action is! The bar/restaurant is open every day but their Thursday and Sunday night buffets are two of the busiest for meeting other gay locals or travelers. They also offer a weekly gay tour to one of the beautiful islands in Phang Nga Bay, so we recommend coming for a drink, making some friends and then frolicking together on a tour!
Gay clubs in Phuket
As we said for the gay bars, the Paradise Complex is a fraction of what it was back in its heyday before the gay apps became so popular. You'd be hard-pressed to find many gay clubs beyond ZAG and Tangmo here, but don't worry, because these two more than make up for there not being any others!
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ZAG Club
As the main gay club in Phuket, the ZAG crowd almost feels like one big gay family! It's the same guys who you saw earlier on the beach, and now head here to dance the night away. That's what it felt like for us when we were here. ZAG is a male-only club, complete with a shower on stage so you can help lather up the GoGo dancers, and a darkroom upstairs. ZAG has some of the funniest themed nights we've ever come across, like “Topless Tuesday” where you get 50% off your drinks if you stay topless all night long, and “Farang Fridays” when foreigners get 50% off. As well as the GoGo dancers, ZAG also has cabaret performances and drag shows happening through the night.
Tangmo Club
Tangmo is the other main dance/show/bar nightclub in the Paradise Complex and it sure does pack in a huge amount of entertainment! Here is where you come to see the best performers Go-Go dancing, lip-syncing and vogue-ing the house down each night, with regular comedians, dancers and singers performing each night to a packed crowd. The energy is always super high, the choreography is on point and the queens always know how to read the audience to absolute filth! A truly epic experience.
Gay massages and spas in Phuket
The number of gay massages and spas in Phuket has decreased a great deal over the past few years, mainly due to Covid and the rise in the popularity of gay dating apps. The main (and only!) gay sauna in Phuket is the one at Aquarius:
Aquarius Guesthouse & Sauna
Aquarius prides itself on being the only male sauna in Phuket. It's attached to the guesthouse, located right in the heart of the Paradise Complex. It includes a steam room, Jacuzzi, fitness center, rooftop terrace, saunas, and a team of handsome highly qualified (licensed!) masseurs. The best time to come here to play is around 5-8 pm when the Patong beach boys are looking for a play to hang out before taking over the Paradise Complex later in the evening.
Gay Pride in Phuket
Phuket comes alive during the big holidays, particularly Xmas/NYE when the Bangkok party boys head here for beach fun, and again during the Buddhist Songkran new year festivities in mid-April. However, the mama of all gay parties in Phuket is just after Songkran in late April – Phuket Pride!
Phuket Pride has a range of events from art shows, charity auctions, concerts, a large parade, and of course, lots of parties. It started out in 1999 and has been taking place each year with the exception of 2018 and 2020. It attracts tens of thousands of gay boys from all around the world, making it one of the most popular gay pride events in Asia.
Gay restaurants in Phuket
If you're looking for gay gay gay, pick any restaurant in the Paradise Complex!
Otherwise, Phuket has several really good restaurants to check out. Sadly, being so touristic, there is also a lot of tourist traps with low-quality food. We've set out some of our favorites right here which we guarantee will leave you satisfied:
Honeymoon Thai Restaurant by Kenya
Honeymoon Thai Restaurant by Kenya is located inside the Paradise Complex, so by default, it always attracts a very gay crowd. It's a fabulous place to come when you want a Pad Thai fix! They also serve some mouthwatering seafood here, including their signature dish the (massive!) grilled seafood basket. We love all the pretty plants and flowers everywhere in the restaurant, as well as how friendly all the staff is, particularly the owner, Kenya. As well as all the delicious food (trust us, you'll be back!) they also serve excellent cocktails.
Roma Ristorante & Pizzeria Da Mauro
Roma Ristorante & Pizzeria Da Mauro (yeah it's a bit of a mouthful!) is our favourite restaurant in Patong for pizza and other Italian yumminess. It's located close to Patong Beach which makes it a good place to come for lunch or an early dinner after sunbathing all day. As well as their fantastic pizzas (we recommend the seafood one!) you can have scrumptious pasta, steak and other tasty Italian treats like prosciutto with melon slices. Chef Mauro has been serving pizza in Phuket for over 20 years. It's always packed here which just goes to show how good the food is!
Thong Dee – The Kathu Brasserie
Thong Dee – The Kathu Brasserie is regarded as one of the best restaurants in Phuket and the number one restaurant in Kathu according to TripAdvisor. It's around 25 minutes drive east from the Paradise Complex into the mainland of the island, but totally worth it for a top fine dining experience. They serve both European and Thai cuisine, with the most popular Sunday roast on the entire island! We love their hearty meals, with classic favourites like lamb stew, Swedish meatballs, lasagne and different types of Stroganoff. The service is always exceptional, plus they have an extensive drinks menu to pair with your meal.
Takieng
As part of the fancy Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa, Takieng is an incredible spot for a romantic meal of traditional Thai cuisine. Both the food and the service is impeccable, so you will be amply taken care of – along with options that are vegetarian, vegan or gluten free. You dine while overlooking the beach, so if you can get a balcony table then it’s particularly magical. Then you can feast the night away on mouth watering dishes like Tom kha kai soup, Massaman curry, poke bowls (from a special poke station), seafood, cocktails and sweet sticky rice with mango for dessert.
Top things to do in Phuket
Beaches, diving, remote islands and even a giant Buddha… Whilst most LGBTQ travellers will head to Phuket as a gay beach party destination, we've set out a few other activities we enjoyed here which we think you should make time for during your trip:
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See the Big Buddha
Phuket's Big Buddha statue, also known as The Great Buddha of Phuket, is the third-tallest statue in Thailand at 45 meters (148ft) high. On a clear day, you can see it all the way from Patong beach! Coming here to marvel at the statue also means you can see spectacular 360-degree views of the island. It's also very peaceful. The statue of Buddha sits on top of the Nakkerd Hills between Chalong and Kata. You can visit the Big Buddha as part of a Phuket highlights tour, which also includes stops at other famous sights on the island, like the Chalong Temple and Phuket Old Town.
Visit James Bond Island
Travelers to Phuket almost invariably find themselves joining an excursion to visit James Bond Island, which was made famous in the film The Man With the Golden Gun. Christopher Lee played the villain Scaramanga, who had a hideout on the Thai island of Khao Phing Kan and the tiny island beside it called Khao Ta Pu. Together, these two islands are known as “James Bond Island” but it's not one of those places where the hype exceeds the reality. Kayaking through the limestone formations surrounding this area is an amazing experience and one we definitely recommend for film fans or just lovers of nature.
Do some island hopping
James Bond Island isn't the only famous and stunning island you can visit from Phuket! It's just a short boat trip away to the glorious Phi Phi islands, as well as lots of other beautiful sights in the Andaman Sea. We recommend joining an island-hopping boat tour for a day so that you can see some of the unspoiled magic of Thailand's most beautiful islands. Stops include Maya Bay, made famous by the 2000 Leo DiCaprio movie The Beach, as well as corals reefs where you can go snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters. You can sunbathe on white-sand beaches or go trekking in the jungle and look for monkeys!
Learn how to scuba dive
We love scuba diving and have been diving in some of the most beautiful parts of Asia during our travels. Phuket is an excellent destination for those who like to dive as you can easily get to stunning spots all around the Andaman Sea. There are also lots of dive schools if you've never scuba-dived before and want to learn! The waters around Phuket are ideal for first-timers because the waves are usually flat, it's not too deep, and full of healthy coral reefs. You might be lucky enough to spot turtles, manta rays, grey reef sharks, leopard sharks, and even massive whale sharks! And that's not even mentioning all the colorful fish…
Go kayaking
If you prefer to be above the waves rather than under them, then you can also kayak among the beautiful islands surrounding Phuket. Using a kayak means you can often get into hidden secret spots like internal lagoons and sea caves which you wouldn't be able to access on a larger boat. Not to mention, kayaking is a great upper-body workout! This full-day kayaking tour takes you to the Ao Phang Nga National Park, where you will have ample time to kayak among the towering rocks of Khao Phing Kan, explore beaches, swim, or snorkel, and enjoy a fresh Thai buffet lunch.
Plan your trip to Phuket
We've put together some handy hints and tips to help you plan your own trip to Phuket. Read on to find out everything the gay traveler should know before they go.
Travel insurance: We never travel without the reassurance of having travel insurance, and recommend all travelers do the same. Even in safe destinations like Phuket, you just never know when something will happen out of your control, from missed flights to lost luggage or even illness. We always use Heymondo Travel Insurance as they provide comprehensive cover and an easy-to-use online system for when you do need to make a claim.
How to get there: You can get to Phuket from other parts of Thailand by bus, train, or ferry, although the easiest (and quickest) way is by flying into Phuket International Airport. This is the second-busiest airport in Thailand (after Bangkok's) and you can get direct flights to Phuket from many nearby countries. It's often very cheap if you're flying from within Thailand as well. Once you've arrived, the airport is quite a distance out of Phuket proper (and there are only taxis or buses available), so we recommend organizing a private airport transfer ahead of time. That way you don't need to worry about anything except getting ready to have fun!
Visa requirements: Thailand offers visa-free travel to a lot of countries for stays of up to 30 days. Make sure you check your personal visa requirements before you book your travel to Phuket to see if your nationality is exempt and how to get a visa if not.
Getting around: Public transport can be an adventure in Thailand, and the island of Phuket is no exception. You can get around using public buses, songthaews, tuk-tuks, taxis, hiring scooters or motorbikes, and even ferries. Check out this guide for more info on navigating transport in Phuket.
Power Plugs: There are actually quite a few different power plug/socket types used in Thailand, so your best bet when traveling to Phuket is to bring a universal power adaptor with you. That way you can still charge your devices no matter which particular socket type you may come across.
Vaccinations: All travelers to Phuket should make sure they're up to date with routine vaccinations like measles, mumps, and chickenpox. Most travelers should also be vaccinated for hepatitis A and typhoid. Some travelers may also need vaccinations for hepatitis B, cholera, Japanese encephalitis, malaria, yellow fever, and rabies, depending on what you'll be doing. Check the CDC website for the most up-to-date info before you head to Thailand and talk to your doctor as well.
Currency: The currency used in Phuket (and the rest of Thailand, of course) is called the Thai Baht. The currency code is THB and the symbol is written as ฿. Currently, $1 USD is worth about ฿31.87, €1 converts to around ฿34.66, and £1 around ฿41.18.
Tipping culture: Thailand is not a country with a strong tipping culture so you won't ever be expected to tip while visiting Phuket or other parts of the country. If you feel like you received really good service you can always round up to the nearest note as a tip. Check out this guide for more detailed information on when you should or shouldn't tip in Thailand.
Internet access: Most hotels, bars, restaurants, and the like will have free WiFi available in Phuket, but if you know you will need a reliable connection then we recommend renting a pocket WiFi device while you're there.
Accommodation: There are many more wonderful places to stay in Phuket beyond what we've mentioned in this guide. We recommend looking for accommodation options on Booking.com because they have lots of choices for the best prices. Many listings offer free cancellation if needed, and the online customer support is available 24/7.
Sightseeing and adventure: For more fun things to do in Phuket as well, check out GetYourGuide. They have a wide range of activities for all styles and interests, with a very easy-to-use booking system. Their online customer support is also available 24/7 and is very good.
When to visit: Phuket is a hot and enjoyable destination pretty much all the time, except during the monsoon season between May and October. November to February is the most popular time, so it's also the most crowded and expensive. March to May are the hottest months, but April during Songkran is also a very fun time in Phuket.
Gay map of Phuket
Here's a map of Phuket which includes all the gay bars, clubs, hotels and sightseeing highlights we've mentioned in this post:
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For more inspiration:
- Read more about the best things to do in Phuket
- As well as the top 15 places to visit in Thailand
- For more beach fun, check out our gay guide to the island of Koh Lipe
- We can help you choose between Koh Adang and Koh Tarutao
- Find out our favorite scuba diving locations in Asia
- Or check out these best gay cruises heading to Asia
- If you're traveling further, here's our gay guide to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam
- As well as a complete gay city guide to Tokyo
- If you've never been before, check out our gay Japan itinerary for first-time visitors
- And did you know Japan is also home to the beautiful Yaeyama Islands?
- We also love visiting the gay friendly island of Bali
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Andy
Friday 17th of January 2020
Hi guys. We often check out your site for info. I think your guide to patong could do with updating though. We Just had a week here in high season and found the gay area almost deserted. The only club with any shows is Zag and whilst you state it’s men only at least half the customers were straight women. The shows finish at midnight when the last few customers leave. The whole street is packing up at midnight, not coming to life. So I think they’re has been some fundamental change in licensing or attitudes recently as it’s become one of the quietest, most “vanilla” gay scenes that we’ve ever encountered! I was here about 20 years ago and it was packed with go go boys and “numbered” hosts. Whilst that’s not everyone’s cup of tea it added a particular atmosphere which is now completely missing. Just thought your readers would maybe appreciate our experience as an update.
Stefan Arestis
Friday 17th of January 2020
Hi Andy we were also just there and see what you mean, however, Zag is still a cool hangout cause their music dancy and poppy :) Boat bar is also worth checking out - kinda like the DJ Station of Phuket. Though agree about the influx of straight female customers - I wonder if it's because it's high season?
Martin
Monday 6th of January 2020
The Gas Place in Patong is awful. Recommendation only for gays with a very sad life...
Stefan Arestis
Wednesday 8th of January 2020
To be honest, best of a bad bunch?
Miraj
Sunday 22nd of September 2019
Hey there Please advise which are the best Gay hotels or Gay hostels in Bangkok
Stefan Arestis
Monday 23rd of September 2019
Definitely check out the ones we put in here: https://astratesting.nomadicboys.com/gay-bangkok/
VEILLEROT
Sunday 11th of August 2019
Very interesting site in order to visit Phuket next April.
Stefan Arestis
Monday 12th of August 2019
Thank you
Enzo
Monday 29th of April 2019
But where do you go if you kinda do want something "naughty"?
Nomadic Boys
Tuesday 30th of April 2019
We look forward to you telling us ;)