What a night costs
| 🛏️ Hostel dorm bed | $8–$16/night |
| 🚪 Private room (hostel/guesthouse) | $20–$35/night |
| 🏨 Budget hotel / Airbnb room | $28–$55/night |
Full backpacker daily budget for Thailand (bed + food + local transport + fun): about $35/day shoestring or $55/day flashpacker.
Where to stay
Phuket Old Town for charm and cheap eats; Kata/Karon quieter than Patong.
Local tip
💡 Stay in Old Town and day-trip to beaches by songthaew ($1) — beachfront prices double everything.
The clean-bed formula
Filter to rating ≥ 8.3 with 150+ reviews, then read the recent negative reviews — that's where the cleanliness truth lives. Prefer free-cancellation rates; plans change, especially yours.