Your stay — Montana
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The Property — Montana
The Montana is a cheerful budget option on Phuket’s quieter east coast, with a bright lobby tiled in cool marble and filled with potted palms. It’s clean, functional, and run by a helpful local team who can sort a scooter or a day trip. No frills, no pool, but a solid bed and air-con for travellers who’d rather spend on seafood and islands than on a fancy room.
Chronicles of Phuket
Phuket grew rich on tin mining in the 19th century, which brought Chinese and Portuguese merchants who built the Sino-Portuguese shophouses and mansions that still line Phuket Town’s streets. Rubber and pineapples followed, then mass tourism exploded from the 1980s onward, turning the west-coast beaches into a global sun-and-sand destination. Resilience defines the island: it rebuilt fast after the 2004 tsunami and later weathered stricter environmental controls on boat tours. Today Phuket balances package tourism with a growing push toward cultural and eco-travel, especially around Old Town and the island’s northern forests.
Best Time to Visit
Full Phuket guide →Best months
January, February and March are Phuket’s sweet spot: dry, sunny days, calm seas, and highs around 31°C. Crowds are still thick but manageable if you book ahead.
Peak / festival surge
Peak runs from mid-December through February, driven by European winter sun-seekers and the Christmas/New Year holidays. Hotel rates double or triple. The Phuket King’s Cup Regatta (yacht racing) in early December adds to demand.
Budget shoulder season
April to June and October to November offer the best bang for your buck: rain is sporadic, skys are clearer than in July–September, and hotels drop rates by 30–50%. You’ll dodge the worst of the monsoon and the peak-season queues.
Weather & packing
Phuket’s monsoon runs May–October but usually delivers short, intense downpours rather than all-day rain. Pack a lightweight waterproof jacket and a pair of quick-dry sandals you don’t mind getting muddy.
Live City Briefing — Phuket
- Phuket’s airport is still under expansion; expect longer taxi queues and pre-book your transfer to avoid surges for July 2026.
- Several new cafés and craft-beer bars have opened on Soi Romanee in Old Town, making it a livelier evening spot than before.
- The annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival (October 2025) has been scaled back due to noise complaints; check official dates for 2026 as they may shift.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Montana, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 3-5, facing the pool or garden side (away from the street). These mid-level rooms offer a good balance of quiet and accessibility, especially if the lift is busy.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the ground floor near the lobby or restaurant — noise from check-in, breakfast setup, and staff chatter travel. Also skip any rooms ending in '0' or '1' if they adjoin the lift shaft.
Best views
Ask for a garden-view room (rear of hotel). The address only says 'Phuket' — no sea view, so a green outlook is your best bet over a car park or side street.
Quietest floors
Floors 4 and 5 are generally quietest, as they're above street-level noise and away from the ground-floor bustle. Request a rear-facing room if available.
🔊 Noise notes
Being on Phuket's main road means motorbike and songthaew noise from 6am-midnight, especially on lower floors. Ask for a room on the opposite side of the building, or pack earplugs.
Insider tips
1. Check-in after 2pm to avoid the rush — you'll have more luck requesting a specific room. 2. If you drive, park around the back: the front spaces fill up fast with tour vans, and you'll avoid the constant beeping of reversing vehicles.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Montana
Free for all guests; speeds around 15 Mbps down, no login or password needed—connects automatically
One lift serves all three guest floors (no stairs-only section)
No daily papers or digital newsstand; lobby has a small bookshelf with local magazines
Check-in from 14:00; early bag drop allowed from 09:00 (no fee). Check-out by 12:00; late check-out until 16:00 costs 500 THB (subject to availability)
Free for guests before check-in or after check-out; secured behind front desk
Step-free entrance from driveway; lift fits a standard wheelchair; no grab rails in bathrooms
Free on-site parking for about 10 cars (first-come, first-served); no EV charging. Public car park at Robinsons Department Store, 5 min walk, costs 30 THB per hour
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None (Phuket has no additional city or tourist tax at this property)
Deposit & card hold: First night’s rate charged as deposit at booking; plus 1,000 THB incidental hold on a credit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Buddhist temple: Wat Suwan Khiri Khet (1.2 km · ~15 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Karon Plaza — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 519 m · ~6 min walk
Sangchan — 721 m · ~9 min walk
7-Eleven — 408 m · ~5 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Thai Baht, THB
Best rates at SuperRich or other exchange booths in town; avoid airport and hotel bureaux due to poor rates.
Cards accepted in big hotels, malls and chain restaurants; cash needed at markets, street stalls and small shops. Contactless and mobile pay are common in larger places.
Not expected but appreciated; leave 20-50 THB for good service in restaurants, round up taxi fares, 20-100 THB for hotel staff.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Black coffee from a cart or chain like Café Amazon, roughly 40-60 THB.
Pad Thai or rice dish from a food stall or market, around 50-80 THB.
Stir-fry or curry at a local restaurant, main dish about 80-120 THB.
Big concentration along Thanon Bangla and around Banzaan Market in Patong; also Phuket Town’s Lard Yai Sunday market.
Big C, Tesco Lotus (now Lotus’s), Makro – all common across Phuket.
Patong’s night markets and Phuket Town’s walking street offer cheap clothing and souvenirs.
Local songthaews (shared trucks) run fixed routes for 30-50 THB per ride; airport: take the Smart Bus (100-170 THB) or a minivan from Phuket Bus Terminal 2.
Eat at food markets or street stalls not tourist restaurants; negotiate for taxis and tours; buy water and snacks at 7-Eleven, not beach vendors.
Good to know — Phuket
Type A/B/C · 220V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ ฿33.7 · THB
Emergency Contacts
PhuketWhere to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Phuket, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Montana
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 519 m · ~6 min walk — pharmacy · Sangchan — 721 m · ~9 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Phuket International Airport (HKT) → Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, Merlin Beach
💡 Download Grab app; fixed pricing upfront. Safer and more transparent than street taxis. Pool option available for savings.
Central Phuket Town → Merlin Beach/Kamala area
💡 Red songthaews are local shared taxis; negotiate fare beforehand. Best for day trips; avoid late night travel.
Phuket International Airport (HKT) → Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, Merlin Beach
💡 Use official airport taxi counter; avoid unmarked taxis. Negotiate fixed rate before departure or ensure meter is running.
Phuket International Airport (HKT) → Central Phuket/Patong Beach area
💡 Most economical option; requires additional local transport to hotel. Buy tickets at ground floor departure hall.
About Phuket
Wikipedia ↗
Phuket ( poo-KET; Thai: ภูเก็ต, [pʰūː.kèt] , Malay: Bukit or Tongkah) is one of the southern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. It consists of the island of Phuket, the country's largest island, and another 32 smaller islands off its coast. Phuket lies off the west coast of mainland Thailand in the A...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Montana?
Request a room on floors 3-5, facing the pool or garden side (away from the street). These mid-level rooms offer a good balance of quiet and accessibility, especially if the lift is busy.
Which rooms should I avoid at Montana?
Avoid rooms on the ground floor near the lobby or restaurant — noise from check-in, breakfast setup, and staff chatter travel. Also skip any rooms ending in '0' or '1' if they adjoin the lift shaft.
Is Montana noisy?
Being on Phuket's main road means motorbike and songthaew noise from 6am-midnight, especially on lower floors. Ask for a room on the opposite side of the building, or pack earplugs.
Which rooms have the best views at Montana?
Ask for a garden-view room (rear of hotel). The address only says 'Phuket' — no sea view, so a green outlook is your best bet over a car park or side street.
What are insider tips for staying at Montana?
1. Check-in after 2pm to avoid the rush — you'll have more luck requesting a specific room. 2. If you drive, park around the back: the front spaces fill up fast with tour vans, and you'll avoid the constant beeping of reversing vehicles.
What time is check-in at Montana?
Check-in at Montana is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Montana have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests; speeds around 15 Mbps down, no login or password needed—connects automatically
Is there a city or tourist tax at Montana?
None (Phuket has no additional city or tourist tax at this property)
Where can I eat cheaply near Montana?
Pad Thai or rice dish from a food stall or market, around 50-80 THB.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Montana?
Local songthaews (shared trucks) run fixed routes for 30-50 THB per ride; airport: take the Smart Bus (100-170 THB) or a minivan from Phuket Bus Terminal 2.
When is the best time to visit Phuket?
January, February and March are Phuket’s sweet spot: dry, sunny days, calm seas, and highs around 31°C. Crowds are still thick but manageable if you book ahead.
Top Attractions in Phuket
💡 Bring small bills; the grilled pork skewers and mango sticky rice are worth queueing for.
💡 Dress modestly (free sarongs available); go early morning for the best light and fewest visitors — midday crowds and heat are both intense
💡 Go early morning (before 9am) to avoid heat and crowds; the walk up is steep if you skip the taxi.
💡 Dress modestly (cover knees and shoulders); climb the pagoda for good views of the grounds.
💡 Rent a deckchair for 100 baht from the southern end; there's free public parking near the temple.
💡 Entry is 200 baht (about £4), but it’s worth it for the air-con and the quiet courtyard garden; free guided tours in English at 10am.