Kamala is one of the best areas to stay in Phuket for families, couples, and those looking for a quiet beach holiday close to the famous Patong. This area has a beautiful beach, lots of tourist amenities, and a relatively central location to explore the whole island.
Kamala Beach is becoming a favorite among retirees and expats, thanks to its tranquil environment and friendly local atmosphere.
In this article, I will help you to look at the best places to stay in Kamala, including the best areas and best hotels. I’ll outline both the benefits of staying in this area and its disadvantages. If you are searching for Where to Stay in Kamala, keep reading!
Where is Kamala Beach?
Kamala is located on the west coast of Phuket, between the popular Patong and Surin Beach. It is around 25km south of Phuket Airport, 10km north of Patong, and 20km west of Phuket Old Town.
Kamala is also close to some smaller secluded beaches such as Haad Laem Sing in the north and Hua Beach in the south. In addition to Kamala Beach, the area has some local attractions like Carnival Magic and Phuket FantaSea.
Why Should you stay in Kamala Beach?
1. Good Beach and Relaxed Atmosphere
Kamala has a 1km long beach with white sand and clean water. It is ideal for swimming, sunbathing, and enjoying watersport activities such as skiing, and surfing.
Kamala Beach offers a more laid-back vibe compared to the bustling Patong Beach. It’s perfect if you’re looking for a quieter escape while still being close to all the action that Phuket has to offer.
In addition to Kamala beach, you can easily within a few minutes drive to other beautiful beaches such as Haad Laem Sing and Surin Beach.
2. Proximity to Patong and the Airport
Located in the central west coast, Kamala is a good base to explore the island. It is only 15-20 minutes drive from Patong Beach, where you can explore more lively nightlife, shopping, and entertainment.
Kamama is relatively close to the airport, only 35 minutes to 1 hour drive away. Traffic in Phuket can get pretty bad during rush hour and the taxi is usually more expensive than other parts of Thailand. Staying in Kamala helps reduce travel time and taxi costs between the airport and your hotel.
The town is also within reasonable distance from other tourist destinations like the old town, Karon, Kata, Big Buddha, Wat Chalong, or Promthep Viewpoint. It at least has a better location than other beaches far north like Nai Thon and Mai Khao.
3. Family-Friendly
If you are a family looking for a great area to stay with your kids, Kamala is one of the top areas in Phuket to look at. It has a family-friendly beach, family-friendly accommodations, quiet atmosphere, and easy access to all tourist amenities just on foot.
The Downside of staying Kamala
Kamala doesn’t have wild nightlife like in Patong. There are enough bars and restaurants for you to enjoy relaxing nightlife. If you’re after high-energy nightlife or clubbing, you’ll need to travel to Patong.
The beach town doesn’t have big shopping malls. It has decent minimarts, convenient stores for a comfortable stay. Several 7-Elevent stores are scattered the area and it is also home to a small Big C Mall.
Best Areas to Stay in Kamala
The Kamala area includes the 2km long beach, the beach road, the main road 4030, and the more inland area. Generally speaking, there are two best areas to stay in Kamala, including the beach front area and the hillside area. I will divide the beach into three areas: the northern, central, and southern part.
The northern and central area of the beach has the best conditions for swimming, the southern end is where fishing boats are parked, and the water is a bit muddy.
The whole is lined with casuarinas and palm trees, creating natural shades and a tropical atmosphere. There are also sunbeds and umbrellas for rent on the beach for around 100-200 baht a day.
The water is calm in the dry season from November to April, which is ideal for swimming, jet skis and parasailing. The beach is also a popular spot for surfing in the low season when the waves are big.
Kamala has a wide range of accommodations for all budgets. There are clusters of several luxury resorts at the very north end and south end of Kamala. The central has a better range of mid-range and budget-friendly hotels. It also has a high concentration of tourist amenities.
You can easily access tourist amenities like restaurants, bars, massage shops, motorbike rentals, and convenient stores in all parts of the beach. Some major attractions in Kamala include Phuket Fantasea, Carnival Magic, Café Del Mar, Kamala Waterfall, Kalim Viewpoint.
My top hotel picks in Kamala Beach:
- luxury: InterContinental Phuket Resort by IHG
- Mid-range: Sunprime Kamala Beach
- Budget: PapaCrab Boutique Guesthouse
Best Places to stay in Kamala
1. Northern End Kamala Beach
In the northern part of Kamala beach offers tranquil atmosphere and is home to several luxury resorts like InterContinental and Novotel. This area is home to the famous beach club Café Del Mar, Fantasea, and Carnival Magic Theme Park.
If you enjoy tranquility and luxury, this northern section is a great option for you. You can walk to several restaurants and bars but it doesn’t have many options like in the more central area of Kamala. You can rent a scooter, car, or take a short taxi ride to get to the more central areas for more shops.
Where to stay in North End Kamala Beach:
InterContinental Phuket Resort by IHG
InterContinental is one of the best places to stay in Kamala. It is a five star luxury hotel located right in the beachfront area of Kamala in the northern end part of the beach. The resort has excellent services and amenities for a perfect family and romantic getaway.
The resort has two areas, one on the hillside and one on the beachside. These areas are connected by a short tunnel and they provide buggy service to get around its ground.
The resort has 4 swimming pools with lots of umbrellas and bed chairs. They also offer villas with private pools. There are also multiple onsite bars, restaurants, gym, and spa facilities, so you won’t have to leave the resort.
Novotel Phuket Kamala Beach
This 4-star mid-range resort is located in the northern corner of Kamala Beach. It offers direct access to the beach and a large swimming pool area overlooking the sea. The beach in this area is quiet and is perfect for swimming or walking along the beach.
You can walk to a couple of restaurants nearby, and take a longer walk (30 mins) or a few mins taxi to the village for more shops and restaurants. The secluded location is ideal for relaxing and unwinding.
2. Central Kamala Beach
The Central Kamala Beach is the most popular place to stay in Kamala. It is a lively area packed with tourist amenities like cafes, restaurants, bars, convenient stores, massage parlors, and travel agencies. This area also has a good range of budget and mid-range accommodations.
The central beach is packed with beach facilities like sunbeds, umbrellas, SUP boards for rent. There are more beachfront restaurants, bars, and massage shops in the central parts of Kamala.
Some attractions in this part include Tsunami Memorial Park, Kamala Friday Market, and Big C Market. The area around Na Hat Road is very lively with all kinds of shops.
Where to stay in Central Kamala Beach:
Sunprime Kamala Beach
This is a popular 4-star hotel in the prime location of Kamala. It has direct access to the beach and is a short walk from a range of restaurants, shops, and cafes. The resort is surrounded by palm trees, creating tropical feels.
It has a large outdoor pool in the beachfront area. The resort has good clean rooms, onsite restaurants, bars, gym, and spa services. It is an overall good mid-range hotel for families, couples, and solo travelers.
Sunwing Kamala Beach
This is a large 4-star resort located in a pretty central location of Kamala, with easy access to the beach and tourist facilities on foot. They have good-size rooms, comfortable beds, and a large swimming pool area. Restaurants, shops and night markets are a few minutes walk from the hotel.
PapaCrab Boutique Guesthouse
PapaCrab is a great budget option in the central part of Kamala, a short walk away to the beach eateries, and 7-Eleven. They offer basic amenities for a comfortable stay such as clean rooms, air conditioning, hot shower, and a safety deposit box.
3. Southern End Kamala Beach
The southern end of Kamala is less lively than the more central area of the beach. It is home to several upscale resorts, which are good options for relaxing and unwind.
The beach at the south end is muddy, shallow, and not ideal for swimming. The longtail boats dock here. You can always walk to the more central area for swimming and other beach activities.
The southern end area of Kamala is also close to several small beaches like Rayee Beach and Hua Beach. These are quiet beaches which are great for escaping from the crowds.
Where to stay in Southern End Kamala Beach:
Andara Resort Villas
This 5-star resort is located at the southern end of Kamala Beach, high on the hill, offering stunning views of the bay. It has an infinite pool overlooking the sea.
There are spacious rooms, multiple dining options, and massage services. It is located on the edge of town, and they offer a free shuttle bus to the beach.
Kamala Beach Estate Resort
This 4-star mid-range hotel is located in Kamala, in a fairly good area, close to town, grocery, and convenience stores. The hotel has well-maintained grounds, multiple pools, and a private rocky beach. You can walk to the sandy beach in the central area of Kamala easily anyway.
They offer apartment style accommodations with a comfortable bedroom and kitchen area where you can prepare your meal.
Cape Sienna Phuket Gourmet Hotel & Villas
This resort is located at the far end of Kamala Beach. It offers stunning views of the sea, and outdoor swimming pool with a rock cafe. Rooms are spacious and modern, and breakfast is generally good.
It is on a hill which means you will have stunning views and also can be a bit tired when walking up from Kamala Beach or shops in Kamala Beach’s direction.
4. The inland area of Kamala
The island’s main road 4030 stretches from Bang Tao to Rawai passing the Kamala area. This road is located around 100 to 500m from the beachfront area. There are plenty of facilities on the main road like Big C Mall, 7-Elevents, clinic, post office, and petrol station.
There are plenty of accommodations located between the 4030 road and the hillside area. You can find some good value for money hotels in this area. It is best to rent a scooter when staying in this area for exploration.
On the hill area, you can hike to Bang Wan Waterfall, Kalim View Point, and Kathu waterfall. If you are an enthusiastic hiker, these are great trails for you to explore.
Where to stay in Kamala – the hillside and inland area:
- Luxury: Villa Tantawan Resort – Private Pool Villas
- Mid-range: Yenna Apartment
- Budget: Clear House Resort
So there you have it, my recommendation of the best areas and resorts to stay in Kamala. If you are looking for a quiet and family-friendly beach holiday while still being close to the popular Patong, Kamala is an excellent choice.
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