Is Phuket Worth Visiting as a Backpacker? 🌴 Thailand Party & Explore Vlog

BACKPACKING THAILAND 🇹🇭 EPISODE 19 📍PHUKET
Phuket is the largest island in Thailand and is hugely popular with tourists from across the world. But is it suitable to visit for backpackers? In this episode, I visit Phuket for the very first time. I stayed at Bear Packer Hostel in Patong, went partying on Bangla Road (attended my very first Ping Pong show!), went to the famous Backpacker Bar, explored lots of beaches including Banana Beach, Nai Thong beach and Freedom Beach. I finished my time in Rawai Beach and went to the Let's Work Co-working Space.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro
01:19 Grab Bike & Scooter Rental
03:19 Arriving in Patong
04:32 Bear Packer Hostel
09:57 Night out on Bangla Road
16:14 The Morning After
17:39 Banana Beach
19:13 Nai Thon Beach
20:31 Backpacker Bar
21:13 Freedom Beach
24:29 Rawai Beach
28:25 Conclusion
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ABOUT ME🙋🏻‍♀️
I'm Christianne, a solo traveller, vlogger and entrepeneur from Surrey, UK. I spend half my time exploring new places around the globe with my backpack, and the other half creating videos about my experiences, what I'm packing, solo travel advice, money budgeting tips and anything else in relation to my backpacking lifestyle.
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FAQ's
How do you afford to travel? - I now earn a full time living through creating these KZbin videos, affiliate links, selling digital products and my clothing line. I used to simply just work any temporary job I could find to save up to travel! I budget the money I earn meticulously to reach my savings goals using www.backpackingbananas.com/pr...
Is travelling solo safe? - I would argue the answer is almost always yes! As long as you use your common sense and you follow your own government's guidelines about travelling in that country. I have made several videos on backpacking safety on my channel.
Do you have plans to settle down? Yes, I'm currently saving to purchase my first property in the UK and I'd love to have children one day. I doubt I'll ever live a completely 'conventional' lifestyle by society's standards though, as I often have my own preferred way of doing things.
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[@aimiefisher]

I fell down a rabbit hole of watching packbacking vlogs and stumbled onto this video... 3 minutes in to this video and i'm subbed 👍🏻A woman packbacking SOLO with no lip filler, no fakeness, with educational chat whilst travelling and filming for our entertainment. Hello my name is Aimie! I'm glad i found your channel

[@awnyeah]

Love love love your vlogs! They're so realistic, I completely relate to them from my solo backpacking trips - especially turning up somewhere not knowing anyone - then meeting awesome people sand having the best time!

[@BackpackingBananas]

It’s the best!! 🥳🥳

[@sidsid2389]

I miss that about travelling. Just rocking up to a new hostel, making new friends and then immediately proceeding to party with them. Great times, great memories!

[@whatthewhittw8160]

Absolutely love your vlogs!

[@Monica-jq4gy]

legit so cool, love how upbeat and happy u are !!

[@BackpackingBananas]

🥰🥰🥰

[@MrTpag]

Absolutely love your videos! I have been traveling through Thailand for 3 months and did not make to Phuket. Glad that you filmed your experience to every little detail! Keep up the great work and so positive and chilled life attitude! Love, Peter

[@BackpackingBananas]

Thanks Peter 🥰🥰

[@marisasmith395]

I was backpacking Phuket right when the pandemic hit, and it was quite an interesting experience seeing it as a huge party island and then completely deserted. Overall it is such a beautiful island, and I think totally worth a visit if only for a few days! I was lucky enough to stay at Lub D Patong before it closed permanently, and I feel that hostel definitely enhanced the experience ❤️

[@thaireetired75]

My first experience of Thailand I arrived in patong basically went for massage..met my wife got married uk last Yr.. 2019 ..your vlogs are ace..unique experience..different from the rest I've bn watching for 2yrs.we all need restrictions lifted..let Thailand breathe again..💯

[@seandesmond5560]

Great video wonderful Christie!!! 💖 Those beaches in Phuket looked amazing!!!

[@alexloyola4695]

Phuket, specifically Patong, was one of my favorite backpacking experiences. I stayed at the Lub D there and met some amazing people. Loved their bar crawl experience and couldn’t have asked for a better place to stay. The nightlife is ridiculous, but the downside is how expensive things are compared to other places in Thailand. Love the channel!

[@Nordlys1966]

Glad to see Phuket has come back to life.

[@BackpackingBananas]

Improving all the time 😊

[@GlennHerriott]

Great vid looking forward to the next one

[@sophiawitkowski1082]

What a great video love all your videos thank you x

[@lhollybow]

The guys were big enough to handle anything and anyone , you obviously felt very safe with them , thanks guys.

[@BackpackingBananas]

Haha yes! Deffo felt safe with them 🥰

[@cryptolife77]

Another great video Backpacking, love your summaries at the end of each video, looking forward to your next video already.

[@BackpackingBananas]

Thanks Oscar 😊❤️

[@WhenAdventureKnox]

I'm loving how many vlogs are rolling our way from you at the moment! I love how free and relaxed all 3 of you were in this vlog, made it so much fun to watch! 🥳🤣 Banana Beach was stunning, reminded me a lot of places in Costa Rica, whilst Freedom Beach was very pretty, I think I preferred the look of Banana 😍

[@BackpackingBananas]

Banana Beach was my fave as well 😍 yesss I agree! It was quite Central America-esque

[@sarasays9883]

Always get excited when I see your new vids especially in my favourite country

[@rachelfritz]

I visited Phuket in 2019 and didn’t think it was very welcoming or comfortable although the beaches are beautiful! I went on to Koh Lanta and spent 10 days volunteering at Lanta Animal Welfare. My favorite island in Thailand 😍

[@ronaldoago-go5907]

FANTASTIC VIDEO!! So glad i got to tag along with you guys! You rock!

[@BackpackingBananas]

Thanks Ronaldo 😊🥳

[@bagusnusa]

A very memorable experience in phuket and the most epic is when suddenly lightning in front of your camera which is ready. wow.. 😲

[@TravelsofSarahFay]

Definitely wondering this myself. Thanks for the video to better see what it is like now.

[@BackpackingBananas]

Hope I’ve given a good insight!

[@florencelatimer]

My family and I are traveling to Phuket in the summer and I was curious how it was. So looked up phuket on youtube and you were the first to pop up. This video makes me really excited to travel in July and I will def visit some of the destinations you show in the video! Much love and enjoy your time in Thailand!

[@BackpackingBananas]

Yay I’m glad KZbin is showing the video to the right people 🥳 Hope you have a fab time in Phuket xxx

[@MillaExplores]

Lovely vlog! 😍

[@BackpackingBananas]

Thanks Milla ❤️❤️❤️

[@tthoren]

Such a great video! It really seemed like it was a group of friends enjoying the area together, even if you’d only just met!

[@BackpackingBananas]

It felt like that! So nice when you click right away 😊

[@N8turElle]

Another fav! (I did watch this one already!)

[@haxter3]

Awesome video Christianne 😊👍👍

[@BackpackingBananas]

Thanks Haxter 😊😊

[@DiverseMindset]

I absolutely love your Chanel!!! I found looking for a ideas for a trip that I’ll do next year!! And thanks to you, I want to leave like right now!! 😊😊😉 thanks for all your tips! And keep it up!! Blessings 😌

[@carlosmarindiez4118]

Really admire how adventurous..free spirited you are..like fish in the water..unbelievable..!!👍👍

[@BackpackingBananas]

Just like a fish😅🐡

[@kimiimore]

I've no plans of going to Thailand but I just love watching your adventures!!!

[@SeanHendy]

Anyone that avoids Phuket and Patong, need their heads read. Of course, you don't need to stay every day in Patong, but given the availability of things like, shopping, cinema, nightlife, restaurants and the rest, it is a great place to base yourself. From there you can day trip to soooo many different places, including Phi Phi, James Bond Ilsnad, Maya Bay, as well as Karon, Kata, Kamala beaches, Chalong Wat, Big BUddha, and the rest. Phuket, my favourite place on the planet.

[@NM-bn4jh]

I just booked my flight today because of this little lady! Much love Christianne from San Diego, California.

[@cheekyboy5000]

Phuket is great if you get on a motorbike or scooter and explore. It's a beautiful island with a lot of different experiences there. There's more than just bangla road, if you get mobile you can discover nature or quieter beaches, or the thai boxing camps and shows there, and ex pat people live long term there too.

[@judykekesi5174]

I just subscribed. Your bubbly personality shines through all of your vlogs. They are always very entertaining to watch and I especially enjoy the very realistic content of them.

[@tevysmith8962]

Literally obsessed w this Chanel😭inspired my first solo trip

[@chrisrowley2025]

Christianne what an amazing Vlog. I'm heading to Thailand on Tuesday & I'm solo travelling. I'm starting in Bangkok then flying to phuket. I booked a nice 4 star hotel in patong but I have now cancelled that hotel & now I've booked the hostel you stayed in It looks so fun & as I'm travelling alone it will be good to meet new people. Thank you for an amazing vlog ❤

[@BackpackingBananas]

Sounds like a great plan 😍😍 you’re much more likely to make friends in a hostel environment! Hope you have a fabulous time ❤️❤️

[@tesshardie3765]

I'm going to Thailand solo in July so I'm loving watching your videos for inspiration!

[@asmaqadah]

Nai Harn and Rawai beach in Phuket are mainly for expats and digital nomads. I stayed there for a month during October 2021 and rented a villa with swimming pool which cost $300/month excluding electricity and water (extra $50 for that), these were Covid price since there were no tourist and lots of hotels are empty back then. There are lots of cafes and good restaurants which was helpful to escape touristy and backpackers scene in Phuket, meanwhile helping locals to gain profits again.

[@NomadShifu]

Phuket is worth visiting for anyone looking to sit back and relax, whether on one of the beautiful sandy beaches or by the pool. The city offers picturesque sceneries, delicious cuisine, and vibrant nightlife at a lower price than some more popular travel destinations.

[@BackpackingBananas]

Lower price?! It was the most expensive place I went in Thailand by far 😅😅 but I do agree the beaches are lovely 🏝

[@bethmeredith]

Enjoyed the video. Hope you arrived safe in Australia and had a great time. xx

[@BackpackingBananas]

Thanks Beth!

[@thelifeofpriz]

you are hilarious and so fun and wholesome... love watching you! thank you for sharing your passion for travel 🙂

[@jasonleedunn666]

Best Video Eeeeevvvveeerrrr🤣🤣🤣Phil is the man!It just shows you can make friends anywhere at the drop of a hat.

[@BackpackingBananas]

Absolutely!! I love how we all met 🥰

[@MexicanChook]

Really feel like I’m living through you with these vlogs. Hope you’re enjoying my home town of Perth!

[@primmyk7594]

I am dying to go back to my home country!! I love your videos so much 💕

[@BackpackingBananas]

❤️❤️❤️

[@maculifrons]

Thanks for the video, heading to Phuket from Australia in two weeks and it gives me an idea what to expect!

[@Lu-uu9ew]

Totally agree! Had a great time, but we ended up cutting our stay short in Phuket. It’s great for a night out but that felt about it in comparison to other places in Thailand. Time can be better spent elsewhere I feel😊

[@BackpackingBananas]

Yep! My thoughts exactly 😊

[@TheRazza84]

Hi, I stayed in Phuket for 2 weeks back in December 2019. Its so dead compared to when I was there. Bangla Road after 8pm is buzzing. The Irish pub you went to would have been packed with no seats and no place to stand. So yes you are right. Covid has really shut down everything.

[@looking511]

Enjoying the trip could use some sun and fun ps nice tan line

[@Arianspirit7]

Sorry in advance for my english. Loved it ! Thank you so much for sharing this with us. I'm planning a solo trip to Thailand myself and it's so reassuring to see you make friends so quick. That's my biggest fear, to be alone the entire trip because i will be too shy to speak with people. Anyway love your energy keep it up ! xx

[@ChrisLearnsNewThings]

Phil manages the get everywhere! Love that guy 😂

[@donstravelsandrants.]

Loved it. 👍😊💙

[@BackpackingBananas]

Thanks Don 😊

[@ShannonMatier]

I love party Christianne! You’re so funny

[@annabellyth6625]

Tipsy Christianne is iconic 🍾

[@APieceofCake]

Oh! Thailand looks like Brazil! 🇧🇷 I'm impressed!!

[@andiehunt1835]

You should make Backpacking Solo Party Shorts!!!

[@BackpackingBananas]

That’s a fantastic idea!!

[@tijay8507]

Yes! the same as your ones but with pockets xxx

[@colesilber7890]

You are my comfort youtube vlogger❤️Also you are gonna love Koh Phi Phi!!!

[@latebloomerabroad]

I had to spend a week in Phuket because of Covid requirements, and I thought it was far too expensive and crowded (the pushy vendors were irritating). If you're in your 20's or 30's, love to party, and have a lot of money to spend, then Patong would be okay for a week. I can't wait for your Koh Phi Phi video, I loved that place!

[@dimitrabir.4177]

Tipsy Christiane seems so much fun!!! Loved seeing this part of you 😂😂

[@malufreedom]

Your videos are helping me so much!!!! Thanks a lot! You are brilliant =)

[@BackpackingBananas]

I’m so glad, thank you ❤️

[@georgiamellisa1097]

ahhh your vlogs make me so jealous!!! I wanna be there!!

[@BackpackingBananas]

Next holiday destination?

[@baileyspencer6604]

I am in Thailand at the moment and I'm going to be taking a night train from Bangkok to Koh Samui. I never would have thought to get a train or even go to Koh Samui if it weren't for you. I'm looking forward to watching what you get up to for Songkran!

[@CharieAnnHare]

I miss Bangla Road lol it's definitely crazier than Khao San in my opinion. I went pre-covid and Bangla Road was POPPIN and ping pong shows are only 250-300 baht!!!!! I also went to that Backpacking bar, it was raining and we all went out to the street and danced under the pouring rain! 😂

[@TravelPhuket]

On a scale from 1 to 10, your personality is an 11! Your videos are a pleasure to watch. Thank you.

[@BackpackingBananas]

You’re so sweet thank you 🥰🥰

[@captjacc6213]

Toasted buns! I love it! 😂😂

[@MaplessAdventures]

AHHH! I stayed at the same place! Super central location! I loved my stay there!

[@bradbeckett]

I stayed in BGW Hostel in Patong Beach and it was very good and VERY close to the action.

[@leslee_fw]

Ouch that sunburn!!!

[@BackpackingBananas]

Sunburns are never fun 😂😭

[@jonnyb4271]

Great vlog, I love the aspect of meeting new people from around the world. I do exactly the same a few cheap nights then treat myself to somewhere nice. I must say I prefer Ko San for a night out I just found Patong too much of a hard sell. Awesome idea with the moped I'll remember that. Cheers

[@akramawan7797]

I enjoyed your video a lot,

[@karlschmidt4018]

The tan lines 😜🙌🙌🙌🤣🍹🍹🍹

[@tatianashelbourne9095]

I love the banana scooter , prfect for you :)

[@tomlee8311]

Beau was definitely on the latest aussie bachelorette

[@BackpackingBananas]

😂😂 he was indeed

[@jeffreymore6799]

Good morning Christianne do you want a smile? I found your turtle you looked for at 23.08. Sending a smile back to you thanks for all.

[@demetridoes]

You're so inspiring!

[@TheVanderfulLife]

As a non drinker I'm still undecided about backpacking - the scenery looks amazing but I feel I'll be left behind in the social scene and say in the mornings forever be waiting around for people I do meet to wake up

[@BackpackingBananas]

It totally depends on where you go and where you choose to stay! There are so many non-party hostels which would be better suited 😊 It’s also not normal for backpackers to party every night 😅 this video is a bit of an exception haha

[@rakelllindsay6600]

Read reviews on line, stay in smaller dorms to avoid party hostels. Also most hostels organize tours that leave early.

[@nofood1]

Good energy

[@jackmccourt6180]

Thailand is definitely on my bucket list!. One of these days I'll just say Phuket and go 😛

[@BackpackingBananas]

Good one 😂

[@heids2810]

Love phuket! My hubby and i actually got married there at kata noi beach. Holds a special place in my heart. But yeah patong is nuts lol.

[@jazzthemess9636]

Looks like so much fun💜

[@nicolasi.castrosanmartin1041]

Bangla is another level

[@Newaza_Ippon]

Beautiful woman, i was i. Thailand last year and coming back. Thank you for your videos its very helpful ❤

[@EscapingWife2020]

Welcome to Thailand my country

[@xkavan]

I glad u make it out alive from the ping pong show, be aware of those shop that lead u far into the back alley because they usually tried to extort $$$ out of u and wouldn't let u leave unless u paid up. But I sure it's eye opener for first time like u

[@pal555]

Just come across your channel new subscriber Phuket is beautiful I've been before I'm due back for songkran good to see a lady solo traveler

[@rgmm8888]

Looks like a great time!! 😉

[@gfree8037]

It is funny that I have been in that exact bus station. It looks so quiet there compared to pre-Covid

[@lu333y]

Hahaha we started Thailand in Patong and our first experience was Bangla road, heavily jetlagged. Almost traumatised but we got the hang of it. There’s also really cool drag bars behind the main road and monkey hill hike is also a pretty good hike 20 mins away

[@BackpackingBananas]

Haha wowza, that’s one way to ease yourself into Thailand 😉

[@cinemask8]

Phuket is my dream

[@stormer6364]

Great video, especially the night out. one of your best, didn't top the guy singing the banana song in the Philippines but very close 😉 even vloggings better with a few drinks.. 😁.. Roughly how much more expensive was phuket? 30%? Or more?

[@johnnymaldonadoparedes3502]

Thank gos you brought the tattoo situation up. I was thinking on getting a tattoo when I get to Thailand, but now I’m gonna do it at the end, cuz if not, I could not be able to get into the ocean.

[@BackpackingBananas]

Good call! Would suck to not be able to swim in Thailand!!

[@fernpestell3585]

Hi love your videos ! You are on the same bike we where on 😂 we are in patong at the moment we should meet up for a drink! We are also going phi phi but on the 15th. Kata beach is amazing and a 15 minute drive away !

[@johnnymaldonadoparedes3502]

Hahahahahahahahahahhahaahhaahah You are the kind for Backpacker i want to meet when traveling, so funny!

[@BackpackingBananas]

🥳🥳 I’m always up for a good time!

[@gambityt1961]

Thanks for the videos.. Im missing travelling and guess what Im gona book a trip out today.. If anyone else is planning a thailand trip, lets catch up.. Cheers 🥂

[@BackpackingBananas]

Woo 🥳 hope you have a fab day out!

[@gambityt1961]

Thank you C.. Hope I ll bump into you sometime while in Thailand.. Takecare.. Have a fab trip 🥂🎉

[@WanderlustIndie]

okay beau is yumm

[@joshuarountree1651]

Duder I’m staying at Bear Packer right now. Staying on Panda. Little hungover from Bangla last night.

[@denjell112]

@BB, have u tried to go to freedom beach noi (the very tiny freedom beach), is it accessable from freedom beach? thx

[@jamesthomasparker]

I went to Phuket in 2018 , freedom beach is beautiful! This video tempted me to go back later this year 🤭😁

[@BackpackingBananas]

And quieter now than back then 🙈

[@sholaolugbega2733]

I am backpacking in thailand in about 2 weeks. So i have a question on the transportation. Which app or site do you use to plan your transport from place to place?

[@kivinprod]

What is the little hand held camera you got at 26:44 ? Thank you

[@AGLex743]

Hi.. watching from hongkong....

[@santiagosp5]

I went there. It’s good if you wanna go to play beer pong and dance Black Eyed Peas and techno with a bunch of gringos. So yes, it’s good for backpackers.