Turquoise bays, boat trips to Phi Phi and James Bond islands, night markets and Thai cooking.
Last updated: 2026-07-16
Tourist traps, SIM cards, cash vs card, taxis and safety — the city's reality in five questions.
Basing the whole trip in Patong — the island's soul is Old Town, the southern capes and the small-island boat runs.
AIS/True airport SIMs activate in minutes and cost little; eSIMs work too.
Cash country: markets, boats and masseuses want baht. ATMs charge ~220 baht per withdrawal, so take out larger sums.
Grab is reliable; never board tuk-tuks or yellow cabs without agreeing the fare, and stay away from the jet-ski 'damage' game.
Never swim on red-flag days (monsoon rips kill); watch your drink on Bangla Road at night.
Turn the dial to any hour and it tells you where you should be.
Pull the day dial; the estimated per-person cost is calculated instantly.
Figures are per-person daily USD estimates compiled from BudgetYourTrip, Numbeo and recent traveller reports. Flight/ferry tickets not included.
Things you won't find on the first page of a search engine.