Where to stay in Phuket and the southern islands?

A design hostel for the Phuket stop, a communal option on a modest budget. You sleep here between outings, reefs in the morning, the old town or the Big Buddha in the afternoon, without committing much to accommodation.

A large hotel on Muen-Ngern Road, on the Patong beach side, 1.7 km from the centre. You gain a foothold on the bay, a little away from the crowds of central Patong.

On the cliff north of Patong, 1.4 km from the centre. The height filters out the noise; you go down to the beach and climb back up to the quiet in the evening.

Villas on the cliff at Kamala, 5.5 km north of Patong. You deliberately move away from the bustle, for a stay focused on the Andaman Sea and the sunsets.

A hostel right on the sand of Loh Dalum, the bay north of Tonsai village, on Koh Phi Phi. For a budget stay where the beach and the bar are at the door, more than sleep.

A resort on Loh Ba Kao beach, 2.4 km from the village. You trade the bustle of Tonsai for a bay of your own, for a restful stay between trips out to sea.

There are no roads on the island: you reach Loh Ba Kao by boat from Tonsai, so plan the transfer.

Homestay rooms in the Mueang Phang Nga district, on the landward side of the bay, away from the coastal resorts. For staying with a Thai family and heading out by boat or kayak to the limestone islands.

Near Tha Khao beach, on Ko Yao Noi, an island set in the middle of Phang Nga Bay, facing the limestone peaks. Adults only, for a quiet stay away from the crowds of Phuket and Phi Phi.