When you come for a holiday on the paradise island of Phuket, it’s easy to while away your days in the splendid Phuket hotels by the pool, or topping up your tan on one of Phuket’s many idyllic white sandy beaches. Most visitors who spend more than a few days in Phuket soon get the urge to do some exploring, though, and there are many excellent places to eat, drink and shop on the island.
Thailand is rightly famous for its cheap high-quality clothing, and Phuket is no exception to the rule. Big shopping malls such as Jungceylon at Patong Beach offer a wide range of clothing for men and women, with plenty of genuine designer labels on offer. The prices are not significantly cheaper than what you might pay back at home, but you can be assured that any brand-name clothing that you buy is completely legitimate. Central Festival and Premium Outlet near Phuket Town are two of the larger malls offering a wide range of branded clothes.
Probably the best bargains are to be found in the markets of Phuket, which is where most local Thais do their shopping. The night markets here in particular are a Thai cultural experience that no shopaholic should miss – lasting from late afternoon until after dark, these temporary marketplaces offer a wealth of Thai and Western clothing to suit every budget. The permanent marketplaces are also a real treat for those people seeking out an authentic Thai bargain.
Thailand is rightly famous for its cheap high-quality clothing, and Phuket is no exception to the rule. Big shopping malls such as Jungceylon at Patong Beach offer a wide range of clothing for men and women, with plenty of genuine designer labels on offer. The prices are not significantly cheaper than what you might pay back at home, but you can be assured that any brand-name clothing that you buy is completely legitimate. Central Festival and Premium Outlet near Phuket Town are two of the larger malls offering a wide range of branded clothes.
Probably the best bargains are to be found in the markets of Phuket, which is where most local Thais do their shopping. The night markets here in particular are a Thai cultural experience that no shopaholic should miss – lasting from late afternoon until after dark, these temporary marketplaces offer a wealth of Thai and Western clothing to suit every budget. The permanent marketplaces are also a real treat for those people seeking out an authentic Thai bargain.
Probably the best bargains are to be found in the markets of Phuket, which is where most local Thais do their shopping. The night markets here in particular are a Thai cultural experience that no shopaholic should miss – lasting from late afternoon until after dark, these temporary marketplaces offer a wealth of Thai and Western clothing to suit every budget. The permanent marketplaces are also a real treat for those people seeking out an authentic Thai bargain.
Clothes at the market are almost always sold at a negotiable price – while 500 baht for a pretty sarong may seem like a decent buy, you can probably purchase the same garment for 100-150 baht (around $5) if you are prepared to haggle. Every stallholder in Thailand owns an oversized calculator – if the calculator is brought out, you can expect to enter into some friendly bargaining with the shopkeeper. Equally, if there are no prices clearly on display, it is an open invitation to get a big discount on the clothes that you are interested in. Expect to be able to get 50%-70% off any initial price that you are quoted. Smiles, compliments and a sense of humor are all part of the experience – it can be a lot of fun!
Anywhere in Phuket that has a few hotels will almost certainly have a shop selling formal clothes and suits –these shops are usually run by persuasive Nepalese immigrants who speak excellent English. It is certainly possible to get a good deal on high quality clothes at these shops, but be careful that you are not talked into buying clothes that you do not really want. If you want to do business with these shops, be prepared to do some hard bargaining, and visit a few different tailor shops. Once the shopkeepers realise that you are willing to shop around, the prices will quickly drop to close to the lowest price that they are prepared to offer. If you have no interest in buying formal clothes in Phuket, it’s best to shake your head, say “no” and keep walking as you pass the tailors shops, unless you want to talk about suits and shirts for the rest of your vacation!
Anywhere in Phuket that has a few hotels will almost certainly have a shop selling formal clothes and suits –these shops are usually run by persuasive Nepalese immigrants who speak excellent English. It is certainly possible to get a good deal on high quality clothes at these shops, but be careful that you are not talked into buying clothes that you do not really want. If you want to do business with these shops, be prepared to do some hard bargaining, and visit a few different tailor shops. Once the shopkeepers realise that you are willing to shop around, the prices will quickly drop to close to the lowest price that they are prepared to offer. If you have no interest in buying formal clothes in Phuket, it’s best to shake your head, say “no” and keep walking as you pass the tailors shops, unless you want to talk about suits and shirts for the rest of your vacation!
Shopping for clothes in Phuket is a unique and enjoyable experience. If you have any favourite shops or markets that you would like to recommend to your fellow travelers, please post on our Facebook page and let us know!