Destination Thailand - A closer look at Kamala, Phuket

[CharlieH]

 

 

Known for its scenic beauty, Millionaire’s Mile, and a growing blend of luxury living and authentic village charm, Kamala has become one of Phuket’s most talked-about areas. In this episode, we speak with local experts in real estate, hospitality, and more to find out what makes Kamala tick in 2025.

[Bohemianfish]

I think Rob, 20 Seconds To Thailand, has been living there for many years. Seems like a nice town.

[Patong2021]

I think of Kamala as the middle sister of  three. Patong is the raunchy, party girl  and always  getting in trouble and embarrassing the family, Surin is the pretty, glamorous sister who likes expensive things.  And then there is plain Jane Kamala who is distinguished by  her lack of personality. Never causing a problem, she is low key and  is often ignored.

 

I expect that alot of people like Kamala because it is still more affordable than Surin or Patong and it is not over run by the demographic   that plagues Patong now. The people who went to  Kamala (when I was in Phuket) were mostly European and older. The Chinese were  middle aged.  The downside is that beach access is not easy (compared to Karon or Patong and other popular  tourist  towns) and the  narrow Na Hat Road is a nightmare on weekends and holidays. Anyone doing a delivery or stalling or stopping, can cause tail backs.  Zero planning and no thought given to beach facilities. It is hard to drive around in parts of Kamala. Highway 4030 dissects the  town and acts as a barrier. Those who are south of the highway have a hard time accessing the beach. One must choose wisely when picking a  hotel to stay at if one wants beach access.  I was  surprised by the reduced number of 7-11s near the beach  area. It is not a town that is as convenient for tourists as others like Hua Hin, Pattaya or Patong. The upside though is that  it is faster getting to and from the airport. When I first arrived in Patong it was 30 minutes  transit, then  45 minutes, then an hour on some days and then 90 minutes in  peak season.  Kamala can shave 15-30 minutes off the trip.