What to Pack for Phuket: Clothes, Adapters, Rain Gear and Temple Cover-Ups

Clothes

Lightweight, breathable clothing is the baseline. For temples, packing guides advise covering shoulders and knees, and suggest a scarf or sarong that doubles as a cover-up and beach towel. Slip-on shoes help because shoes come off at temple buildings. Some rooftop bars and fine-dining restaurants have dress codes, so one smarter outfit is useful. Air conditioning can be cold, so a thin layer helps. See the etiquette guide and the Wat Chalong guide.

Rain and sea season

The Andaman coast is described as drier from November to April and wetter from May to October, with squalls and rough seas in the wet months. Guides suggest a packable rain jacket or umbrella, quick-dry footwear and a dry bag. See the weather guide and the sea safety guide.

Electronics

Thailand uses 220V at 50Hz. A guide stresses that a plug adapter changes the plug shape but does not convert voltage, so check each device's label. Sockets are described as taking round-pin and flat-pin plugs, and a universal adapter with a short extension lead is the usual advice. See the power cuts guide for outages.

Health and extras

• Reef-safe sunscreen may be harder to find locally, so some guides advise bringing it.
• Insect repellent with DEET or picaridin helps year-round, see the dengue guide.
• Keep prescription medicine in original packaging in hand luggage with a doctor's letter, see the pharmacy guide.
• Bring copies of documents and read the arrival card guide.