If you are looking for a quiet beach holiday in Phuket that is close to the airport, you can consider staying in Mai Khao. This beach town is known for its laid-back atmosphere, expansive sandy beach, and a prime spot for watching airplanes take off and land.
In this article, I will help you to look at the best places to stay in Mai Khao Beach, including the best areas and best hotels. I also explain why you stay in Mai Khao and the disadvantages of staying here. If you are searching for Where to stay in Mai Khao, keep reading!
Where is Mai Khao Beach?
Mai Khao Beach is part of the Sirinat National Park, located on the far north west of Phuket, just around 10km from the airport and 10km from Sarasin Bridge. It is just north of Nai Thon and Nai Yang Beach.
Mai Khao is further away from major attractions like Patong and Phuket Town. It is around 40km north of Patong, and 35 km north west of Phuket Old Town.
Why Should You Stay in Mai Khao Beach?
1. Peaceful Getaway & Natural Beauty
Mai Khao has a relaxing and secluded beach atmosphere, which is ideal for those who want to escape from touristy and overdeveloped areas of Phuket like Patong, Karon, and Kata.
As the longest beach in Phuket (around 11 km long), Mai Khao has lots of space and you don’t feel crowded even in the high season.
It’s also still relatively untainted by mass tourism. It is part of Sirinat National Park, so there are protected mangroves, coastal forest, and birdlife. There are turtle conservation efforts and sometimes you can see turtles in the area.
2. Close to the Airport
Mai Khao is located very close to the airport, around 15 minutes drive away. This is very convenient for those who want to relax a couple of nights in Phuket after exploring all other parts of the island and before heading to the airport.
Phuket often experiences heavy traffic, particularly during peak hours. Staying near the airport can significantly reduce the time spent commuting between the airport and your hotel.
Mai Khao is also a famous destination to watch giant airplanes landing and taking off up close. Lots of people come to visit during the sunset to watch this beautiful scene.
3. Family-Friendly
Mai Khao is a family-friendly destination in Phuket. It has a beautiful quiet beach, lots of family-friendly resorts, and good enough tourist amenities for a comfortable stay. If your family is looking for a peaceful beach getaway, Mai Khao is definitely worth considering.
4. Luxury resorts
Mai Khao has a wide range of accommodations for all budgets, but it’s also known for its cluster of luxurious 5-star resorts. These resorts are concentrated in the north area of the beach. These resorts offer a range of luxury amenities and services designed to help you relax and unwind.
5. Good base to get to Mainland Thailand by road
Mai Khao is located on the northern tip of Phuket, very close to the mainland. The Sarasin Bridge connects the island with the mainland, so you can easily get to other parts of Thailand by road.
Mai Khao is just 1 hour drive to Khao Lak, 45 minutes drive to Samet Nangshe Viewpoint, 2 hour drive to Khao Sok National Park, and around 2 hours drive to Ao Nang/ Krabi.
The downside of staying in Mai Khao Beach?
1. Distance from Major Attractions
Mai Khao is located in the far north of Phuket, far away from major attractions in the south like Patong, Karon, Kata, and Phuket Old Town.It will involve longer travel times and higher transportation expenses if you use Mai Khao to explore the island.
Taxis in Phuket are quite expensive, around 700 to 1200 baht to go to nearby Bang Tao Beach or Phuket town. If you book tours such as boat tours to Koh Phi Phi, many tours will require extra 1000-2000 baht extra for pick up.
So, if your intention is to explore all touristic attractions of Phuket or island hopping, The Mai Khao area might not be the perfect place for you.
2. Lack of Beach Amenities
Unlike other beaches in the south packed with umbrellas and sunbeds, Mai Khao has very limited beach amenities like beachfront bars, massage services, or beach vendors. This adds to Mai Khao’s peaceful charm, though some travelers may miss those conveniences.
3. Limited Nightlife and Shopping
The town has a good range of tourist amenities like local restaurants, bars, shops, travel agencies, and convenient stores. You will mostly spend time at the resort’s facilities. It doesn’t have wild nightlife like Patong, or huge chain shops in other parts of the island.
Best areas to Stay in Mai Khao Beach
Mai Khao Beach is a very long beach (around 11km long). I will divide the beach into two areas: North Mai Khao and South Mai Khao.
North Mai Khao is closer to the mainland and has a high concentration of luxury 5-star resorts. This area is home to Turtle Village and Mai Khao Plaza where you can find some upscale brands, as well as convenience stores, restaurants, and local groceries.
South Mai Khao is closer to the airport and is a popular spot for plane-watching. It has a good range of mid-range accommodations. It is home to family-friendly Splash Jungle Water Park, and the local attraction called Wat Mai Khao.
You can find local restaurants, massage shops, cafes, minimarts, on Road 3033 running parallel with the beach on South Mai Khao.
You can consider staying at Naiyang Beach, which is located south of Mai Khao. This area has a wide range of accommodations, quiet atmosphere, close proximity, and better nightlife than in Mai Khao.
Both Mai Khao and Naiyang Beach are part of Sirinat National Park, so they offer a calm, and often deserted atmosphere. You can swim at the beach in the dry season from November to February.
My top hotel picks in Mai Khao Beach:
- luxury: JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa
- luxury: Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas
- Budget: Wayla Villa@Maikhaobeach
Best places to stay in Mai Khao Beach
1. North Mai Khao
If you are looking for an inclusive stay in a luxury resort in Mai Khao, the northern section of the beach has many resorts for you to choose from. They are JW Marriott, Anantara, SALA, Renaissance, Meliá, and Le Meridien.
JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa
JW Marriott is one of the best places to stay in Mai Khao. It is a five star luxury resort in a secluded beach section of Phuket. The beach is ideal for families and couples who are looking for a luxury beach stay in a peaceful environment.
The resort has a huge pool area surrounded by palm trees with lots of umbrellas and sunbeds. There is a kid-friendly pool with slides. The resort has an on-site turtle shelter, multiple dining options, a gym, and a spa. They offer all services for a comfortable stay.
You can walk to a few local restaurants and massage shops, as well as a couple of small shopping centers like the Turtle Village and Mai Khao Plaza.
Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas
Anantara is a huge 5-star resort complex located right on Mai Khao Beach. The resort is one of the filming locations of White Lotus Season 3. It has multiple swimming pools, well-maintained ground, and direct access to the beach. You can probably spend most of your day relaxing at the resort’s amenities.
You can walk to several beachfront restaurants and massage shops as well as the local village with its two small shopping centers for some more local restaurants and shops.
SALA Phuket Mai Khao Beach Resort
This is a 5-star beachfront resort in Mai Khao Beach. The resort has beautiful grounds with lots of tropical greenery, outdoor pools, private villas, and peaceful surroundings. The resort offers shuttle services to the Turtle Village. You can book a room with a private pool for the best experience.
Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa
This is a 5-star upscale resort in North Mai Khao, 15 minutes drive from the airport. Like all the resorts in Mai khao, this resort has all amenities for a comfortable stay. There redirect access to the beach, swimming pools, multiple restaurants/ bars, and spa services.
You can take part in several health and wellness activities such as yoga, and Muay Thai boxing. They offer an amazing breakfast buffet with a wide range of dishes, both Asian and Western food. They also offer shuttle services to nearby restaurants, and malls.
Meliá Phuket Mai Khao
This is a 5-star beachfront resort in a secluded area of Phuket that offers a peaceful atmosphere, excellent services, and quality amenities for a comfortable stay. It is a great base if you want to be away from all the tourism and crowded areas.
Le Meridien Phuket Mai Khao Beach Resort
This is another famous 5-star luxury resort in Mai Khao. It has direct access to the beach, large pools, onsite beachfront restaurants and bars. They have Kid’s Facilities, which is a bonus for those traveling with children. Rooms are spacious and clean. Breakfast has a variety of dishes.
2. South Mai Khao
South Mai Khao is the area around the southern end of Road 3033. You can find good mid-range and budget-friendly accommodations in this area. This area has a wide selection of local restaurants, shops, and convenient stores.
Wayla Villa@Maikhaobeach
This is a good value for money mid-range hotel in a good location of Mai Khao, easy distance from the beach and local amenities. If you want to stay somewhere with a reasonable price to rest before heading to the airport, this is also a good choice.
You can ask for the ground floor if you don’t want to climb up and down to the room when staying on the upper floor as there is no lift in this accommodation.
Coriacea Beachfront Boutique Phuket Resort
This 4-star mid-range hotel is located near Splash Jungle Water Park and is 15 minutes drive from Phuket International Airport. It is a good spot for plane-spotting. It is also near the village, so you can walk to local supermarkets and restaurants for many choices of food.
Maikhao Dream Villa Resort and Spa
This five star resort is located on Mai Khao Soi 8, close to the beach and the village. The resort offers spacious villas, swimming pools, and good breakfast. They have a three-bedroom villas option which is ideal for big families or a group of friends.
3. Naiyang Beach
Naiyang Beach is a small beach located just south of Mai Khao and right next to the airport. Similar to Mai Khao, it is part of Sirinat National Park, offering a peaceful atmosphere and close proximity to the airport. It is another great spot for plane-spotting.
Some good places to stay in Naiyang Beach:
- The Slate, Phuket (5-star)
- Naiyang Park Resort (4-star)
- Ideo Phuket Hotel (3-star)
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So there you have it, my recommendation on some of the best hotels and resorts to stay in Mai Khao. The town is a great destination for relaxing and unwind. If you want to explore the other part of the island more freely, you can consider renting a scooter or a car. Alternatively, you can use a taxi or rideshare service, but it will cost you more.