Planning
What to Pack for a Phuket Villa Holiday, and What the Villa Already Has
Pack less: the villa has towels, toiletries and a kitchen. Bring these twelve things, buy the rest at Boat Avenue, and leave the hairdryer at home.
A villa holiday needs less luggage than a hotel one, not more: a pool villa comes with bed linen, bath and pool towels, basic toiletries, a hairdryer, a kitchen, a washing machine and fast wifi, and everything else is a ten-minute drive away at Boat Avenue. Pack light clothes, reef-safe sunscreen, mosquito repellent, a universal adaptor, your medication and a dry bag, and buy the bulky things here. This is the list we send guests who ask, with what the villa provides, what to bring and what to leave at home.
What the villa already has
A modern pool villa in Phuket, ours included, is typically equipped with:
- Bed linen and a set of bath and pool towels per guest, refreshed with the housekeeping schedule.
- Basic toiletries: shower gel, shampoo, hand soap, toilet paper.
- A hairdryer.
- A kitchen with hob, microwave, fridge-freezer, kettle, toaster, pots, pans, plates, glasses and cutlery, and washing-up liquid.
- A washing machine; laundry shops in Cherng Talay do a kilo for about 40 to 60 baht if you would rather not.
- Air-conditioning in the bedrooms and living area, ceiling fans, a safe.
- Fibre wifi and a smart TV. The pool is maintained by our team, not by you.
- An iron, mosquito screens on most windows.
Every villa is different, so check the amenities list on the booking page for the one you choose, and ask us before arrival about anything that matters to you: a cot, a high chair, a blender, a yoga mat. Many are already in the villa or available from a local rental shop.
What to bring
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| Light, loose clothes: linen, cotton, one long-sleeved layer | 31 to 34 °C every month; the layer is for temples, aircon and mosquito hour |
| Two swimsuits | One is always wet |
| Reef-safe sunscreen, SPF 50 | Thai marine parks ban oxybenzone sunscreens, and shop brands here are expensive and whitening |
| Mosquito repellent with DEET or picaridin | Dusk on the terrace; local brands work but can be hard to find in the strength you want |
| Universal adaptor | Thai sockets take flat two-pin and European round plugs; UK three-pin needs an adaptor |
| Prescription medication, in original packaging, with a copy of the prescription | Pharmacies are excellent but cannot dispense on a foreign script |
| A dry bag or waterproof phone pouch | Boat days, Songkran, sudden showers |
| Sandals you can wear wet, plus one pair of trainers | Beaches, boats and temples; the trainers for Old Town and the elephant sanctuary |
| Sunglasses and a hat | The hat you can buy here; the good sunglasses you cannot |
| A light rain jacket if you travel May to October | Showers are heavy and short; an umbrella is sold at every 7-Eleven |
| Cash card with low foreign fees | ATMs charge 220 baht per withdrawal, so take out larger sums less often |
| Travel insurance details | Bangkok Hospital Phuket is excellent and not cheap |
What to buy when you arrive
Villa Market at Boat Avenue and Tops at Porto de Phuket, both ten minutes from most villas, stock everything from imported cheese to baby formula. Buy here rather than pack: sunscreen for the children (choose the reef-safe range), after-sun, beach toys, snorkels and masks (300 to 800 baht), inflatable pool toys, coffee for the villa's machine, bottled water in bulk, and a SIM card if you did not get one at the airport. Boots and Watsons at Porto de Phuket cover pharmacy needs, and Lotus Cherng Talay is the budget supermarket.
What to leave at home
- Hairdryer, towels, beach towels. Provided.
- Heavy shoes and formal wear. Nowhere in Phuket requires a jacket; the smartest restaurants ask for smart-casual at most.
- A travel kettle or iron. In the villa.
- Big bottles of toiletries. Boots sells the same brands.
- Drones. Flying one in Thailand requires registration with the aviation authority and the broadcasting commission; unregistered flying carries fines. Leave it.
- Vapes. Illegal to import or use in Thailand, with real penalties. This one surprises people every week.
A note on temples and etiquette
Pack one outfit that covers shoulders and knees for temples and the Big Buddha, where sarongs are lent at the entrance but queues form. Shoes come off at temple buildings and at the door of most homes, so slip-ons make life easier. Our Bang Tao guide and Boat Avenue guide cover where all of the shops above are.
Frequently asked questions
Do Phuket villas provide towels and toiletries?
Yes. Pool villas come with bed linen, bath and pool towels, basic toiletries and a hairdryer, refreshed with the housekeeping schedule. Check the amenities list on the villa's booking page for specifics.
What plug adaptor do I need for Thailand?
Thai sockets accept flat two-pin (US style) and round two-pin (European) plugs at 220 volts. Visitors from the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand need an adaptor; Europeans and Americans usually do not, though US 110-volt appliances must be dual-voltage.
Can I buy sunscreen and mosquito repellent in Phuket?
Yes, at Boots, Watsons, Villa Market and every 7-Eleven, though imported brands cost more than at home and many local sunscreens contain whitening agents. Bring your preferred sunscreen and repellent and buy the top-ups here.
Are vapes allowed in Thailand?
No. E-cigarettes and vaping liquids are illegal to import, sell or use in Thailand, and tourists have been fined and detained. Leave them at home.
What should I wear to temples in Phuket?
Shoulders and knees covered, shoes off inside temple buildings. A light long-sleeved shirt and long trousers or a sarong is enough; the Big Buddha lends sarongs at the entrance.
