With a Free Phuket Packing List You Can Download For Your Trip
Compared to many destinations, Phuket is relatively easy to pack for, as the tropical climate means weather patterns are fairly predictable (ie, it’s hot all year!). And, for the most part, you really won’t be wearing too much more than beach wear!
When you are packing for Phuket, you may find many additional items helpful beyond your clothing. Ensuring these items in your luggage will save you from needing to shop as soon as you arrive.
In our Phuket packing list, we’ll cover the basics of clothing for women, men, and children and then all those handy extras that can often be overlooked.
Table of Contents
What To Wear in Phuket
Selecting the best clothes to wear in Phuket is fairly easy, as pretty much anything goes!
Although the Thai people themselves are relatively conservative in what they wear, other than at tourist sites such as Big Buddha, you can get away with very basic beachwear in most situations.
Packing advice for women in Phuket
- Cotton shirts or t-shirts – remember breathable material is best; avoid nylons that can cling and sweat.
- Tank tops or singlets – these can be worn in layers with a shirt on top or stripped down for something basic at the beach.
- Shorts – length doesn’t matter too much, but include a mix of beach and ‘dinner wear.’
- Trousers or pants – You are unlikely to need thick jeans, but something loose like linen culottes or cargo-style pants would make sense.
- Maxi dresses and skirts – these will be your best friend! A mix of long and short, for the beach and something slightly dressier for dinner.
- Leggings – I always bring at least one pair, at least for the flight; it’s unlikely to get cold enough at night to need much more coverage, but you may want something long for visiting religious places in Thailand.
- Small cardigan or light jacket – it rarely gets cool enough to need a warmer layer, but I always pack one ‘just in case;’ .
- Underwear – a good idea to throw in a few extra than a normal week. It can be HOT! and regular sweat changes may be necessary.
- Bras – this depends on the type of activities you will be doing; if you are in a bikini most days, you may only need a few bras for the evenings. However, be aware that you may sweat through clothing faster than usual. Whenever possible, try to protect your bras with a travel case.
- Sleepwear – totally up to your personal style! Your hotel room is likely to be airconditioned year-round to a comfortable level so whatever you would normally sleep in.
- Swimwear – kinda anything goes in Thailand; sure, pack a cute bikini, but don’t forget a one-piece if you’ll be going to a water park or doing water sports, and a sun protective rash guard/UV sun top.
- Swimwear cover-up – for those walks to the beach and the bathrooms or pool to your hotel room, a cover-up over your swimwear is a great finishing touch for ladies, or buy yourself a beautiful new sarong on the beach.
Ladies’ footwear for Phuket
We recommend at least two pairs – something for the beach and something a little smarter for evenings.
- Flip Flops – (or thongs to my native Aussies!) you will pretty much get by most days in just a comfy slip-on set of beach footwear. Just remember, always keep your rubber shoes in the shade, or you can burn your feet when putting them back on!
- Sandals – I always include one slightly ‘nicer’ pair of footwear; make it something breathable but comfy you can walk in for heading to the night markets or long evening walks.
- Trainers – If you’ll be doing anything active like ATV rides, you will likely want at least one pair of closed-toe footwear with you, with socks/sockettes.
Packing advice for men in Phuket
- At least one t-shirt or collared polo shirt for every day – you may find you sweat through them quicker than expected so stick with cottons and light materials.
- Singlet or tank top – a great throw-over for walking to/from the beach, also something you can easily buy in Thailand.
- Nice collared shirt for going out – some restaurants and bars may have a ‘no beachwear’ policy, so throw in at least one in ‘just in case’; if you don’t want to be doing the laundry, look for crinkle-free and breathable material.
- Shorts – anything that goes, really. These can be shorts that double as swimmers during the day and something smarter for the evening.
- Long pants/trousers – not at always necessary. The fellas can wear shorts pretty much anywhere in Phuket, but if you think you’ll be doing any ‘nice’ dining out or for the plane trip over from a cooler country, you might want some longer cotton or linen trousers.
- A light jumper or longer-sleeved shirt—it rarely gets cool enough to need one; only pack one if you really don’t like the cold!
- Swimmers – you will see a wide variety from budgie smugglers to longer board shorts, so whatever you are comfortable in. Make sure to pack a pair without zippers/buttons, or that may be classed as ‘streetwear’ as these may not be allowed in water parks.
- Sun protective top – don’t underestimate that midday sun; if you’ll be out all day, consider wearing a rashguard or UV top, or get yourself a nice linen shirt from a beach vendor in Phuket to protect your upper half of the beach.
- Underwear and socks – as with your shirts, maybe through in a few extra pairs for the sweat factor.
- Sleepwear – your choice! Most hotel rooms are kept well-airconditioned year-round.
Men’s Footwear for Phuket
This is the type of trip you could almost get away with a single set of footwear, but in case one pair gets too sandy, we’d recommend:
- Flip flops – for the beach and pool, in fact, just about everywhere you go, this will be your first choice!
- Nice Sandals – if you’re visiting a place with a higher dress standard or upmarket restaurants, most places are fine with accepting open footwear.
- Trainers – only if you’ll be doing activities that wouldn’t be appropriate for open-toe shoes (you will definitely want socks or sock liners to deal with the sweat smell , though!)
- A smarter shoe – only include these if you know you’ll be doing something fine dining or requiring a higher dress standard; otherwise, it’s not necessary.
Packing advice for children in Phuket
Truly, anything goes! You will see many let their littles run around all day in not much more than bathers all the time, but you’ll want something nicer for the evenings. Your key focus should be on packing appropriate sun protection for kids.
- At least one t-shirt for every day – they may not sweat through them like adults, but, well, they’re kids!! Sleeveless tank tops are fine, too.
- Shorts/dresses/skirts – any size of style; they may not be wearing them for long each day, so you should assume they can get several wears out of each. And you’ll be able to pick up plenty of cute kids sundresses while you’re there.
- Light jumper – only if you have space for ‘just in case’ – but I can count on my hand how many times we’ve actually needed them over the years.
- Swimwear – anything goes for both boys and girls, but importantly (especially for fair-skinned kids that burn easily), a Rashguard or UV top for the harshest rays of the day and a sun hat.
- Underwear, socks and footwear
- Sleepwear – your choice!
- Kids beach robe – your accommodation will almost certainly give you towels, but the one extra you might find handy to pack for little kiddos is a robe you can dress them in after they’re finished in their wet gear
Toiletry and sanitary items for Phuket
This is an area you should focus on for your packing list. Draw a line between what’s nice to have and what you can pick up in Thailand only if needed.
Ladies’ Accessories and Toiletries
Unless you’re planning some stylish beach club days, there’s little need to get totally glammed up in Phuket; your key beauty regime will be around protecting your skin from the sun and humidity. Here are the basics to consider:
- A hair tie – ladies with long hair in the heat, you’ll know exactly why!
- Moisturisers and skincare products – especially if you are not used to the heat, take extra good care of your skin. The sun is not as penetrating as it is in Australia, for example, but you will certainly burn if you’re out in it all day. We recommend a moisturiser with sunscreen for daily wear.
- Make-Up – pack all your usual favourites. A foundation with built-in SPF is a great idea if not wearing an SPF moisturiser.
- Sunscreen – on top of normal fountains or moisturiser SPF for your face, any length of time out in the sun, you will want to lather on the sunscreen. We like Sun Bum Reef Safe for all the family. These are readily available to purchase at pharmacies too, but could cost more than your home country.
- Lip balm – our handbag essential on the plane and out in the heat.
- Hair products – hair dryers are almost certainly included in most hotel rooms, but straighteners and other hair accessory items you will want to bring with you (see notes on wattage below for electronics).
- Anti-chaffing cream – try Vaseline ok anti-chafe cream – this one you will thank us for pointing out! Living in hot climates for many years, we can tell you the struggle to stay neat, composed and heat rash-free in the hottest months is real!
- All your usual toiletries – although most hotels are well prepared for visitors’ needs, you may prefer your own items, from toothbrush and toothpaste, floss, comb, deodorant, tissues, cotton buds. If you’re only travelling a few days we love Gotoob travel bottles for our toiletries.
- Sanitary products – you can purchase these readily in Phuket, but your favourite brands may not be stocked, we recommend you bring your own.
- Sunglasses – an essential for all the family, plus you’ll want to take a hard glasses case to keep them protected from sand and scratches.
- Hat – choose your style, but even if you are not a regular hat wearer, you will be thankful for that little extra protection on your head – plenty of beach stalls sell everything from caps to broad-rimmed hats.
- Deodorant Wipes – with long hot days out and about, this can be a quick and easy way to refresh yourself when a full shower is not available, and they’re easy to slip into your day pack.
- Hand sanitiser – should go without saying, right mums?
- Mosquito repellent – we’ve personally not encountered many issues, but if your accommodation has open sources of water, many travellers have reported this as a big issue. Using mosquito wipes you can rub on your feet and ankles.
- Jewellery and accessories – accessorize as you like! Just be careful of losing your favourites at the beach/ocean, and keep anything of value in your hotel safe.
Men’s Accessories and Toiletries for Phuket
There’s really not too much your fellas need to think about in Phuket, it’s the type of place they may want to drop the shaving regime while they relax, but just enough to keep up the personal hygiene! But if they really need a list, some suggestions to check off in your luggage:
- All your usual toiletries – most items are provided by your hotel or accommodation, but you may want to throw in your own toothbrush and toothpaste, floss, comb, deodorant, tissues, cotton buds.
- Anti-chaffing cream – don’t be surprised how quickly heat rash can come on; you’ll be grateful to throw some Vaseline or skin treatment into your backpack.
- Hat – even if they’re normally cap wearers, at the beach, something broad-rimmed would be great.
- Sunglasses – essential accessory any time of year.
- Hair care products – note most hotels come with hairdryers.
- Razors – noting voltage for electric razors.
- Handkerchief – more for the sweat than your nose! Even if you’re not normally a hanky guy, you may want to consider this.
- Deodorant wipes – not just for the ladies; even gents will appreciate these refreshing wipes in the hottest months.
Baby and Toddler Items to Pack For Phuket
Whilst Phuket supermarkets are reasonably well equipped with baby essentials, a shopping trip of this nature is highly unlikely to be your top priority on vacation. Plus, your international brands of choice, if you can find them, may be quite expensive.
When travelling with young children, we recommend you bring with you to Phuket:
- A sling or some sort of baby carrier – often on days like trips to the beach or boat trips, a carrier will be much more practical than a stroller.
- A stroller might still come in handy if you think you’ll be walking a fair bit, eg from hotels to restaurants or strolling the markets at night, it will give little legs a break without having their sweaty body next to you all the time (yes, speaking from experience when we thought we could ditch the stroller one year!)
- A portable booster or car seat – do not rely on these being provided in any mini van or taxi. The safe rider vest can be a good solution for your older tots.
- Diaper change gear – a portable change mat would be handy, with rash cream, disposal baggies and, of course, your preferred diapers/nappies.
- For formula feeding, you’ll want to bring enough or your own preferred brand; you can get formula in Phuket, but there is no guarantee on specific brands. Bring a container with pre-poured portions for days out (and note you will need to boil water here before use).
- Nursing Cover – if you prefer to feed in privacy, though its the type of place you’ll find no issue with feeding your bub as and when needed in public (trust me, there will be plenty of ladies flashing more of their bodies on the beach than you).
- If you are taking pre-pumped bottles out with you or want to keep snack packets etc chilled, we suggest bringing a small insulated bottle bag with you, these can easily slip into your beach tote.
- Include any other feeding essentials you might need; finding high hairs is quite common, but you may still want your own portable eating set up with boosters, bibs, and utensils.
- If you’re not self-catering and staying in a condo/villa, pack your own small bottle of dish detergent and a scrubbing brush. This will enable you to do quick bottle washes and clean snack containers and utensils in the bathroom sink.
- Monitor – you’ve just got baby to sleep… and then what? Place a small, portable monitor in your room; then you can duck onto the balcony or sit nearby while safely keeping an eye on your little one.
- Toys – should go without saying bring a few favourites from home for both the journey and while you’re in Phuket. You’ll be able to pick up plenty of beach toys once you’re here.
Medicine Kit Essentials for Phuket
There are plentiful pharmacies all over the island, even in the smallest towns, that will provide you with the vast majority of medicines over the counter (even medicines that might be prescription-only in your home country).
Do, of course, bring your prescription meds with you and any regular vitamins and supplements you normally take;plus we would throw in at a minimum:
- Imodium – The tummy wobbles can strike us all unexpectedly, especially if you are a Thai street food connoisseur! Always better safe than sorry.
- Painkillers – Your standard ibuprofen and Panadol are great inclusions – nothing with opiates.
- Hydration salts– especially if the sun has hit you hard these are a good recovery methods.
- Bandaids – blisters, cuts you name it – especially travelling with kids!
- Motion sickness tablets – if you suffer from queasiness, you will want these before a boat ride or even just driving on the windy roads. Just check if they make you drowsy.
Electronics and Other Gear You Need For Phuket
Plugs and adaptors
Remember to pack the right sort of adaptor for Phuket, if necessary. Phuket’s power sockets are certainly not consistent, but you’ll find many plug types that do not work without an adaptor, such as Type A/B used in North America and Type C/F used in Europe.
If your electronic devices have Australian Type I, British Type G, or Indian Type I plugs, you’ll want to bring an adaptor.
Whilst many resorts are catching on to modern needs and DO have USB plugs fitted in your rooms, don’t expect this to be universal; you’ll want a great adaptor plug for Thailand that can handle both plugs and USB sockets.
Note that the voltage in Phuket is 220-240V; if you come from a country where most appliances run on 110-120V, you may need a step-up transformer too.
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- Powerboard – especially when you’re travelling with family, you will be amazed at how many things suddenly need charging simultaneously! We solve these arguments with a multi-board with several USB and socket points.
- Cord tidy – essential for stopping everything getting in a tangle.
- Smartphones —do we even need to mention them these days? Even if you run your smartphone just on Wi-Fi and for taking photos, you will find your Smartphone essential in Phuket. From ordering a Grab to maps, currency and translation tools, you will no doubt want your mobile with you at all times.
- Cameras – unless you are a pro, or want something specialised for underwater snaps, your smartphone will really suffice for most occasions.
- Battery pack – almost as important as your phone these days. You may want to note that phones do use more battery in the heat, so especially if you’ve been snap-happy, you may go through your phone battery faster than normal. Battery packs are becoming much slimmer and lighter; we recommend you pack from 10,000mAh onwards. (NB these need to be packed in your carry-on not stowed underneath, when on the plane to Phuket; Note Thai Airways has introduced restrictions on battery pack use onboard).
- Headphones – for the flight over or lying on the beach always essential travel gear. You will want something noise-cancelling for the plane but perhaps smaller and lighter buds at the beach.
- Laptop and charger – totally up to you if you work on the road, but there’s not much your smartphone can’t do these days. Just take note of our comments about adaptors and wattage when bringing any of your electronics.
- Reusable water bottle – bottled water is readily available as the tap water in Phuket is not suitable for drinking. However, if you want to minimise single-use plastics, we suggest buying large bottles and then decanting these into reusable water bottles for all the family. If you want to use tap water, be sure to use a filtered bottle; a very popular brand for travellers is the filtered bottle from Grayl – a small upfront investment, but these really are the best water bottles.
![GRAYL Ultralight Water Purifier [+ Filter] Bottle (Alpine White)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31n-egWFO-L._SL500_.jpg)
Essentials You Don’t Want to Forget in Your Phuket Packing
- Passports – Essential! Make sure you have six months of validity. We recommend you protect your passport with a passport holder.
- Visas – check your visa-exempt status. Otherwise, you will need the appropriate tourist visa with you or see if you’re eligible for Visa on Arrival.
- In Case of Emergency (ICE) contact details. Should the worst happen, travelling anywhere, you want this information to be clearly and readily available somewhere within your belongings, in English and Thai.
- Credit card and debit cards – cash can easily be withdrawn from ATMs (don’t pay crazy expense airport exchange rates), and credit cards are widely accepted. Should you wish to use a cash exchange, you will need your passport with you. You can learn more about Phuket currency here.
- eSIM or SIM Card – picking up a SIM card for data and calls is quite straightforward at HKT airport, but you may want to pre-arrange an eSIM for Phuket if you like to hit the ground running as soon as you arrive and stay connected without any queues or waiting.
- Thai phrasebook – You will get fairly far in Phuket speaking only English, but it would definitely be polite to learn some basic Thai phrases too. The only time the strict use of Thai may come up is in legal processes. If it comes to this – contact your embassy for support immediately.
- Travel insurance policy information – Because you booked your travel insurance when you booked your trip, RIGHT? Should the worst happen while you’re travelling, you want your overseas emergency phone number handy and your policy number.
- Driver license / ID card – should you wish to hire a car and drive in Phuket, you will need this.
Note that the legal drinking age in bars in Phuket is 20 years old; you may be asked to prove this with photo identification, (maybe a sign of how old I’m getting, but even ‘back in my youth,’ I have never been carded in Phuket.)
- Copies of booking confirmations and important documents – we like to keep a backup copy in our room safe should the worst happen.
What Should I Pack Everything in? Luggage for Your Phuket Trip
The major airlines flying into Phuket, such as Thai Airways, may have generous luggage allowances, but the budget airlines do not, so be wary of overpacking. Check the weather before you travel, and only bring what’s necessary.
After baggage collection in HKT, there is a final customs control point where passengers’ luggage may be randomly x-rayed and possibly opened. Make sure you have your key handy to unlock any padlocks.
Checked Luggage for Phuket
We recommend packing everything into a sturdy, lockable rolling suitcase. We prefer cases that can roll on four independent wheels. Soft sides or hard cases—it’s up to your personal style.
Top suitcase recommendation for Phuket: Samsonite Omni PC Hardside expandible Luggage
- Keep everything organised with packing cubes! The best way to keep a large suitcase organised without a doubt is by packing cubes. Great for dividing by person or separating your wardrobes for different occasions.
- Hanging Toiletry bag – regular travellers will assure you that hanging bags that can fold flat are best.
- Laundry Bag – keep a bag aside for filling with your dirty clothes. Hotel laundry services can be expensive, but seek out a laundry nearby with your dirty bag. We guarantee this will be a much cheaper way to get your laundry done, with most charging by the kg rather than by the item.
Your Day Bag for Phuket
We love and recommend the CitySafe backpack by PacSafe for travellers; no matter where in the world, this is an ideal traveller’s backpack with built-in safety features and is comfortable enough to wear all day without looking too touristy. Pacsafe also offers stylish cross-body bags good for men and women – here are a few great examples:
We’d also consider a dry bag if you’ll be undertaking many boat trips and water-based activities to keep your valuables safe.
In your day bag for Phuket sightseeing, you will want to carry around
- Water
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Wallet
- Smartphone / Camera
- Battery Pack
- Hand Sanitiser
- Tissues/toilet paper
- Deodorant wipes
- Foldable shopping bag (plastic bags are being phased)
If your purpose for visiting Phuket is mainly the beach, then for ladies, we recommend a smart-looking beach bag too (though invariable, we know you’ll end up being the pack camel and probably carrying a hug mum bag for the beach!
Your items will be pretty similar to the above, but don’t forget to pack the towels and towel hoodies, your book/reader, plenty of lip balm, and sun hydration.
If you want to enjoy some of Phuket’s nightlife, a cute and stylish handbag is a definite must for the ladies!
What Items Should I NOT Bring With Me to Phuket?
This can often concern people a lot more than what they do pack, what should you avoid packing for a trip to Phuket so as not to find yourself in jail inadvertently?
Most of the big no-nos in Phuket and Thailand involve drugs. If you are taking any prescription medications, I would highly you understand these rules and carry medical letters from a doctor if the item is prohibited in Thailand.
The best place to find more information on prohibited drugs is from the Narcotics Control Division, Ministry of Public Health.
We’d also caution on going overboard on any sort of rain protection, even if you’re visiting Phuket in rainy season. Most accommodation providers leave umbrellas for guests knowing that it frequently rains, and we’ve found plastic rain ponchos just leave you even more hot and sweaty, it’s too hot for full raincoats.
Up to you, but we simply find shelter when it rains or accept we’ll get wet; it’s hot and humid enough, you dry out fast. At most, if you’re visiting in the rainy season, pack a pocket umbrella and quick-dry towel.
Your Downloadable Phuket Packing List
As promised, here it is – your very own downloadable checklist you can print out to prepare for your trip to Phuket.
Depending on your family’s age and stage you may not need all these items, so simply cross out the items that aren’t applicable and tick as you pack.
We hope you’ve found this guide helpful in planning your family trip to Phuket.
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