Phuket

Phuket is all about location. Pro Tip for a longer stay: head to Rawai—it’s laid-back, community-minded, and still one of the last corners not swamped by day-trippers who stick to Phuket Town or the big west-coast beaches. Like any tropical island, focus can melt in the sun, but I timed my visit for “rainy” season—which turned out to be a few heavy downpours, then occasional afternoon showers. Be warned: when it really rains, Phuket’s drains struggle, so brief flooding and power cuts do happen. Rawai’s solid expat base keeps adding bars, cafés, restaurants, and now coworking spaces, as people start showing up to work instead of just chasing Muay Thai camps. That fitness vibe is sparking a whole wellness boom, too. Because the south leans health-and-wellness, nightlife stays subtle—something I appreciate after Patong’s neon chaos. Most cafés offer decent Wi-Fi, but coworking hubs are my go-to when the heat (or rain) gets intense. For breaks, I love Hidden Gem in Rawai for sea-view lunches, Sthani Mi Sen for my favorite Thai noodles, and—obligatory—Ali’s BBQ because Phuket isn’t Phuket without it. One note: I struggled to find a ready-made “nomad community.” Meet-ups happen mainly through whoever you bump into at the coworking spots, so how connected you feel depends on how much you dive in.