When it comes to holidaying in Thailand, Phuket and Bangkok are two of the cities that will stick out for you. These cities are not only popular, but they also have some of the most astonishing manmade and natural attractions available in Thailand. But which of these cities is better? What are their pros and cons?
Of course, Phuket and Bangkok are great but imperfect cities. According to Wandering Our World, both cities have numerous attractions, high-end hotels, delicious food, etc. that will keep you busy throughout your stay in the country. In addition, they welcome people from all parts of the world; hence, you can never feel out of place.
As noted by Holidify.com, these two cities are suitable for both luxury and budget travelers as accommodation, food, etc. are available at different levels. But they are often crowded as they receive lots of visitors.
To learn more about Phuket and Bangkok, we will take a look at their overview, pros, and cons.
Overview of Phuket and Bangkok
Phuket is known as the largest island in Thailand. This awesome island is found around the Andaman Sea and is one of the most visited places in the country. It features lots of unsullied beaches, astounding temples, ever-lively party scenes, luxury resorts, and lots more.
Bangkok, on the other hand, is the capital city of Thailand. So, it doesn’t come as a surprise that it is a well-developed city that receives millions of tourists annually. This great city boasts of having excellent luxury malls, floating markets, temples, and lots more.
Pros and cons of Phuket
Based on the findings of Filipino Wealth, these are the pros and cons of Phuket:
Pros of Phuket
- Easy accessibility
One of the most beautiful things about Phuket is that this island can be easily accessed from many places around the world. This large island has an airport with different airlines. In addition, transportation within the island is easy as long as you understand where you are going. You can just rent or buy a motorbike to ease your movement around the city.
- Numerous multicultural food
If you are looking for a place with lots of multicultural food, then Phuket is one of the islands you must be. Lots of expats from different places around the world have made this island their home. They have no issue with finding their favorite dishes in Phuket.
Additionally, many Chinese, Russian, and other foreigners have opened restaurants on the island. Therefore, you can rest assured that numerous multicultural food in Phuket.
- Lots of English speakers
When traveling to Thailand, you should realize that most locals don’t speak the English language. Statistically, the country has one of the lowest levels of English proficiency in Asia. But Phuket is a bit different from most other cities and towns in Thailand. This is because the island has a higher level of English proficiency than most other places in the country.
Many of the foreigners in Phuket speak English. Furthermore, lots of locals speak English to an extent. As a result of this, you are likely not going to have any issue with communicating with others during your stay on the island.
- Several places to visit
If you are traveling to Phuket for tourism, you should definitely consider the attractions available before going. Fortunately, Phuket has some of the most outstanding attractions in Thailand. The island of Phuket is blessed with several great places to visit as well as things to do.
Some of the attractions to see include Phuket Big Buddha, Wat Chalong, Wat Phra Thong, Gibbon Rehabilitation Center, Phuket Trickeye Museum, Bang Pae Waterfall, Sirinat National Park, Banzaan Fresh Market, and lots more. You can enjoy snorkeling, bird watching, swimming, and several other activities in Phuket.
- Many awesome beaches to catch fun
Do you like beaches? If yes, Phuket offers a few of the most amazing beaches in Thailand. Phuket beaches come in different sizes and with varying attractions. At some beaches, you can catch lots of fun alone or with your friends whereas other beaches are perfect for relaxation after exploring the island.
As stated by Planetware.com, some of the beaches you can visit in Phuket are Kata Beach, Freedom Beach, Karon Beach, Patong Beach, Bang Tao Beach, Paradise Beach, and Surin Beach.
- Great locals
Many Thais from different parts of the country visit or live in Phuket. As a result of this, you can rest assured that you will meet lots of Thais when you are in Phuket. This provides you with a good opportunity to meet the locals and learn about their culture. Therefore, you don’t want to miss out on the chance to visit this island.
- Astonishing nightlife
Phuket is one of the best places for nightlife in Thailand. This is because the island has a wide range of bars and nightclubs that are open to everyone. As long as you have money to spend, there are places to spend your night in Phuket.
Cons of Phuket
- Higher cost of living than most other places in the country
When compared to most other places in Thailand, Phuket is one of the most expensive places to live. Some things are even more expensive in Phuket than in Bangkok.
Prices of accommodation, food, transportation, entertainment, and other things are significantly higher on the island of Phuket than in other cities in the country. This is especially true when visiting Phuket during the peak season. Of course, the high cost of living is because Phuket receives millions of tourists every year.
Nonetheless, if you compare the cost of living in Phuket to New York, London, Berlin, and other top cities around the globe, it is low. So, if you are coming from America, Europe, etc., you may not consider Phuket to be expensive.
- Limited options for transportation
In comparison to Bangkok, the transportation options in Phuket are quite limited. Even the available transportation choices are more expensive in the city than in other places. For instance, you will have to pay more for Grab Taxi in Phuket than in other places in the country. This is why many tourists have to rent motorbikes to ease their movement around Phuket.
- Overcrowding during peak season
If you are visiting Phuket during the peak season, then you should be ready to deal with overcrowding. Generally, many tourists usually visit the island during the same period; hence, everywhere will be jam-packed. Visiting the beachfront and downtown in peak season can be quite challenging.
- High levels of tourist traps
When a location receives lots of tourists, it is expected that there will be lots of tourist traps there. Notably, Phuket is not an exception. In other words, you are likely going to encounter lots of tourist traps in Phuket. From tuk-tuk scams to gem traps, hotel scams, and Jet Ski scams, everything is available on the island.
- High levels of police corruption
Unfortunately, the police in Phuket don’t help tourists in dealing with scammers. Many police officers will look for ways to make money from tourists. A few others will collaborate with scammers to cover up tourist traps and scams. So, you should be careful of police corruption.
Pros and Cons of Bangkok
Bangkok is not different from Phuket as it also comes with several upsides and downsides. According to Mojomatt.me, these are the pros and cons of Bangkok.
Pros of Bangkok
- Numerous transportation options
One of the major advantages of Bangkok over other cities in Thailand is its varying transportation choices. The capital city has numerous tuk-tuks, taxis, trains, and other options for people to move from point A to point B. The public transport is great and easily accessible for anyone. Therefore, you cannot have any issues with visiting your favorite attractions in Bangkok.
Besides, this city is the best place to fly to in Thailand. Flights are also cheaper in Bangkok than in Phuket and other cities in the country. As a result of this, many tourists will have to first get to Bangkok before moving domestically to any other places they want to visit in Thailand.
- Higher quality of life than other places
Another pro of staying in Bangkok is that the city has a higher quality of life than other places in the country. Bangkok has almost everything associated with top cities around the world. Hence, you can have the best of time here. However, you should note that you can only enjoy Bangkok if you have lots of money.
- Varying accommodations
If you are looking for expensive 5-star hotels, they are available in Bangkok. Nonetheless, affordable hostels are also at your beck and call in this city. Therefore, the capital city of Thailand has numerous accommodations for everyone. You just have to select what you can afford.
- Innumerable attractions
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Bangkok received around 30 million visitors annually. Of course, these people were visiting the city for some reasons which include the availability of several top-quality attractions.
These attractions include the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Wat Traimit (the Temple of the Golden Buddha), Lumpini Park, National Museum, and Khao San Road. You can check out more attractions in Bangkok at Planetware.com.
- Great shopping options
As long as shopping is concerned, no other place in Thailand comes close to Bangkok. There are numerous 7-Eleven Stores in the capital city of Thailand. Of course, there are numerous other shopping centers where you can find any items you are looking for in Bangkok. A few of these stores operate 24/7.
But if you want to shop where most of the locals do, then you should visit the well-known Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. There are many other night markets that you can go to for shopping in Bangkok.
- Astounding food
Thailand is known for its great food options. So, it is not strange that you can enjoy amazing meals in the capital city. If you have some money to spend, you should think about visiting one of the highly rated restaurants in the city. Many of them serve both Thai and intercontinental dishes.
However, if you are looking for ways to save money, go to a low-end restaurant to enjoy the best of Thai foods. Otherwise, just take a short trip to one of the food stalls found on the streets of Bangkok.
- Great nightlife
Do you love clubbing? Are you a party lover? If yes, Bangkok offers you everything you want. Several nightclubs and bars litter the streets of Bangkok. Hence, you can have astounding nightlife throughout your stay in Bangkok.
Cons of Bangkok
- Traffic jams
Although Bangkok is a nice place to stay, traffic can be a major source of headaches for you. If you are going out around 8 am to 11 am and 5 pm to 9 pm, you should be ready to spend some extra minutes or hours in the traffic. This doesn’t only increase your commute time but can also be frustrating for many people.
- Pollution
Several industrial activities are taking place in Bangkok. Unfortunately, the government is not doing enough to deal with the effects of industrial activities on the environment. As a consequence, you should be ready to deal with noise and air pollution in Bangkok.
- High cost of living
If you are coming from a Western country, this cannot be a problem for you. Factually, you will likely consider Bangkok, Phuket, and other cities in Thailand to be cheap. However, for the locals, Bangkok is expensive. This is because the wages are low; hence, many locals struggle to survive in the city.
- High level of scams
Like Phuket, scams are everywhere in Bangkok. If you are not careful, you will pay hundreds or thousands of Thai Baht than you should have paid for a product or service. So, you should be ready to haggle prices. Also, don’t allow anyone to convince you to buy what you don’t want.
Verdict: Phuket vs. Bangkok
In conclusion, both Phuket and Bangkok are great cities with several astounding features such as delicious cuisines, exceptional monuments, and accommodations. While Phuket offers more beaches and other attractions, Bangkok is the home of culture and shopping. Therefore, you can never go wrong with visiting either Phuket or Bangkok.
