Cheap Flights to Phuket in December
Fares shown are modelled estimates, not live quotes.
Weather & Crowds in December
Peak season kicks off — crystal-clear water, dry weather, and the busiest beaches. Christmas and New Year's week prices spike dramatically; book 3-4 months ahead.
Phuket in December
Great weather but high prices and peak crowds, especially the last two weeks. Christmas week and New Year's Eve in Patong are absolute madness with hotel prices tripling. The first two weeks of December are the hidden gem: perfect weather, most attractions and beaches accessible, and prices not yet at their holiday peak. New Year's fireworks over Patong Beach are genuinely impressive if you book early enough.
Events This Month
One of Asia's premier sailing regattas, held annually in early December in Phuket's Ao Chalong Bay. Over 80 boats compete and the associated beach parties, sundowners, and international yachting crowd create a surprisingly fun week even if you have no interest in sailing. Accommodation books out early if it coincides with your trip.
Prices shown are estimates. Search Google Flights for current options and pricing.
Quick Reference
Daily Budget in Phuket
$12 dorm bed or $25 basic guesthouse, $15 food (pad thai $1.50-2, som tum $1.50, fresh fruit shake $1, sit-down lunch/dinner $4-6 each), $8 transport (Grab rides or songthaew shared taxis), $10 activities (day at the beach is free; snorkel mask rental $5, kayak $8/hour)
$80-100 hotel room with pool in Kamala or Kata, $40 food (breakfast at hotel, street lunch $5, proper dinner at a restaurant like Acqua or Silk $20-25), $20 transport (2-3 Grab rides), $30 activities (day trip boat tour $40-60 split across 2 days, diving $70/2 dives)
$350-500 villa or five-star resort room (Amanpuri, Trisara, or similar), $80-100 food (resort breakfast, lunch out, fine dining dinner at Suay or PRU), $40 private transfers, $80 activities (private longtail boat $150/day, spa treatment at resort $90-120)
Book the Similan Islands liveaboard or day-trip boat through a dive shop in Chalong Bay rather than through your hotel or a Patong tour desk — you'll pay 30-40% less for the exact same boat on many routes. More importantly, visit between late October and mid-April only; the National Marine Parks officially close May 15 through October 31, and any operator claiming to take you to the Similans outside that window is running an illegal trip on an unmaintained boat. Also: the songthaew (shared red pickup truck taxi) running along Rat-U-Thit Road in Patong to Kata/Karon costs 30 THB versus the 300-400 THB a tuk-tuk will quote the same route. It runs every 15-20 minutes and takes the same amount of time.
Where to Stay
Phuket's party central — Bangla Road at night is pure sensory overload with bars, clubs, and neon. Ideal for 25-year-olds who want beach by day and chaos by night; a bad fit for everyone else. Hotels here are mid-range in price but the experience quality is low due to noise, traffic, and aggressive touts.
One stop north of Patong but a world quieter — the beach is genuinely beautiful with clean sand, no jet-ski mafia, and a handful of solid restaurants like Rockfish. Mid-range guesthouses run $60-100/night and you're 15 minutes from Patong if you want it. This is the sweet spot for most American travelers who want beach without chaos.
The upscale northwest coast, home to luxury resorts like Trisara, Amanpuri, and Banyan Tree. Surin Beach itself is stunning and relatively uncrowded; Bang Tao's Laguna complex has five-star hotels clustered around a lagoon. Street food is sparse here — you're meant to eat at the resorts or cab to Cherng Talay village.
The actual city of Phuket — Portuguese Sino-colonial shophouses, the best restaurant scene on the island, and almost no tourist infrastructure in the negative sense. Sleep at boutique heritage hotels like Phra Nakhon Hotel for $50-80/night. It's 30 minutes from the nearest beach, but the food alone makes a 1-2 night stay mandatory.
The quiet south tip of the island — Nai Harn Beach is gorgeous and much less developed than the west coast majors. Popular with expats and long-term visitors. Rawai has a working fishing pier where you can point at fresh seafood and have it grilled on the spot for $8-15 total.
The far north of Phuket near the airport — home to JW Marriott Phuket and a 17km stretch of near-empty beach that's technically a sea turtle nesting area. Zero development means zero crowds; the tradeoff is 45+ minutes from any town. Best for families who want a proper resort vacation without distractions.
Other Good Times to Visit Phuket
Frequently Asked Questions
Is December a good time to visit Phuket?
How much do flights to Phuket cost in December?
What's the weather like in Phuket in December?
How far in advance should I book flights to Phuket in December?
Save a price alert for Phuket
Fare reviews and notifications for Phuket are paused while the fare feed moves to a new provider. You can save the route now.
Your saved route will be waiting when fare reviews resume.
Create a price alert