Getting There
By Air
The Phuket International Airport(HKT) (+076 327230 7/http://www.airportthai.co.th/)is Phuket's major airport.
Airlines include:
Asia Air (+603 8660 4343/http://www.airasia.com)
Bangkok Airways (+66 02 265 5678/http://www.bangkokair.com/)
Britannia Airways (+1 800 626 747/http://www.ba.com/)
China Airlines (http://www.china-airlines.com/)
Far Eastern Air Transport (http://www.fat.com.tw/)
Finn Air (http://www.finnair.com/)
Hong Kong Dragon Airlines (+852 3193 2000/http://www.dragonair.com/)
Lauda Air (+43 0 820 320 321/http://www.laudaair.com/)
Malay sian Airlines (+1 300 88 3000/http://www.malaysiaairlines.com/)
Nova Airlines (http://www.novair.net/)
Premi Air (+01895 830900/http://www.premiair-aviation.com/)
Silk Air (+66 53 904 985 7/http://www.silkair.com/)
Thai Airways (http://www.thaiairways.com/)
Bus
The Intercity Bus Terminal (+66 0 762 11480) is located at City Park Complex, Phang-Nga Road in Phuket Town
Ground Transportation
In the arrival hall (+66 0 762 272307) has the most up to date information on ground transport from the airport. Several resorts and hotels offer courtesy pick up and drop off from the airport.
Car Rental
Thai Rent A Car (+66 0 763 28341)
Andaman Car Rental (+66 0 763 2 5222/http://www.andamancarrent.com/car.htm)
David Car Rental (+66 0 763 27487/http://davidcarrent.com/)
Around Town
Several small mini-buses operate in place of public transportation from 6a until 6p. Most trips around town are 10 Baht. Transit to the beaches and between towns on the island is also available on mini-buses or by private taxi. All transit options should have a company name or phone number printed on their vehicle. Never accept a ride from a bus or taxi that does not. Tuk-tuks or small open air taxis, are good for short distances. It is recommended to negotiate a fare with the driver before your trip begins.
Planning a Trip
Visitor Information -- The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has an office in Phuket Town at 191 Klang Rd. (tel. 07621-2213), but traditionally, hotel concierge or tour desks offer more up-to-date information. There are lots of free maps on offer (all are full of advertisements); for driving around the island, pick up the very detailed Map of Phuket (Periplus Editions) at bookstores. Restaurants and hotel lobbies are good places to pick up any of a number of free local publications: Phuket Food-Shopping-Entertainment is packed with dining suggestions and ads for many of the island's activities; What's on South has some useful information on Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, and Krabi; and there a few fun local magazines for sale. Also look out for the useful Art & Culture South and Old Phuket Treasure Map.
Special Events -- If you are on Phuket around October/November, don't miss the Vegetarian Festival. The name is misleading -- it is not about Animal Rights or being health conscious, but a Thai-Chinese tradition on Phuket (and now celebrated widely throughout southern Thailand) that corresponds with the Buddhist Lent. For 9 days, not only do devotees refrain from meat consumption, but many also submit to violent public acts of self-mutilation through piercing their bodies with long skewers or swords, and often walking over hot coals. The festival began as an act of penance to the spirits to help early inhabitants ward off malaria, but these days, the rituals are more for young men to prove themselves and for gaining merit and good luck. Early morning processions follow through the streets of Phuket Town and major temples around the island, with onlookers clad in white for the occasion. During this time you can also feast on terrific vegetarian buffets at just about any restaurant in Thailand. See www.phuketvegetarian.com for info.
Getting There
By Plane -- Thai Airways (tel. 02545-3690 domestic reservations in Bangkok; www.thaiair.com) flies daily from both Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport and Suvarnabhumi International Airport (trip time: 1 hr. 20 min.). Thai Airways' office in Phuket is at 78 Ranong Rd. (tel. 07621-1195 in Thailand, or 07621-2499 international).
Bangkok Airways (tel. 02265-5555 in Bangkok or 07724-5601 on Koh Samui; www.bankgokair.com) connects Phuket with Koh Samui at least two times daily. The Bangkok Airways office in Phuket is at 158/2-3 Yaowarat Rd., Phuket Town (tel. 07622-5033, or 07632-7114 at Phuket Airport).
Budget airlines flying here include Air Asia (tel. 02515-9999; www.airasia.com), Nok Air (tel. 1318; www.nokair.com), and One-Two-GO Airlines (tel. 1126 in Bangkok, or 1141 in other provinces; www.fly12go.com); they all fly daily between Bangkok and Phuket. Connecting with Singapore is Silk Air (tel. 07630-4018 in Phuket; www.silkair.com). Budget carriers Tiger Airways (tel. 02351-8333; www.tigerairways.com) and Qantas subsidiary Jetstar (tel. 02267-5125; www.jetstar.com) also have regular connections from Phuket to Singapore; Jetstar flies directly to Australia, too.
Destination Air (tel. 07632-8637-39; www.destinationair.com) is a new air service based at Phuket Airport, running small, amphibious light aircraft between island resorts such as Krabi (trip time: 12 min.), Koh Lanta (trip time: 28 min.) and Koh Phi Phi (trip time: 16 min.). Operated by foreign pilots, their routes are growing fast and more routes and local offices are planned in 2008.
Getting from the Airport to Town -- The modern Phuket International Airport (tel. 07732-7230, information) is located in the north of the island, about a 45-minute drive from Patong Beach in off-peak hours, or an hour in rush hour (8-9am and 4-7pm). There are banks, money-changing facilities, car rental agents, and a post office at the airport. The Phuket Tourist Business Association booth there can help you make hotel arrangements if you need accommodations.
For a fee, many resorts will pick you up at the airport; check if this is included in your booking. A new airport bus connecting with Phuket Town bus terminal costs 52B (US$1.50/80p). Just outside the terminal to the right is a new (and long overdue) meter taxi stand. You'll need to check the estimated price with the driver -- based on how far you are going, plan on spending 500B to 800B (US$14-US$23/£7-£12). There is a ready supply at the right on exiting the terminal. To book a meter taxi, allow up to 2 hours for a response; call tel. 07625-0333.
The airport limousine counter, operated by Tour Royale (tel. 07634-1214), offers many options for getting to your hotel from the airport. A prepaid car from the airport can also be arranged at the limousine counter; you'll pay between 400B (US$11/£6.15) to Phuket Town and 700B (US$20/£11) to Kata Beach. Alternatively, you can take a minibus, which operates every hour, on the hour, from 9am to 11pm daily. Stopping between Patong, Kata, Karon, and Phuket Town, they charge from 250B (US$7.15/£3.85), depending on how far you're going. Paying 300B (US$8.60/£4.60) gets you as far south as Kata Beach (Note: This van may stop at a small travel agency en route in an attempt to sell rooms.)
By Bus -- Three super-cooled air-conditioned VIP buses leave daily from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal (tel. 02434-7192) and cost from 750B (US$21/£12). These buses feature fewer seats, more room, a usually deafening all-night action movie, hostesses, and snacks. Numerous regular air-conditioned buses go each day and cost as little as 275B (US$7.85/£4.25). Standard buses make frequent connections to Surat Thani and nearby towns on the mainland (to Surat is 6 hrs. and 105B/US$3/£1.60).
The intercity bus terminal is at the City Park Complex on Phang Nga Road (tel. 07621-1480), east of Phuket Town just opposite the Royal Phuket City Hotel.
By Minivan -- Minivans to and from Surat Thani, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Ranong, and other southern cities leave on regular schedules throughout the day. In each city, minivan operators work with the hotels and arrange free pickup, so it is best to book through your hotel front desk or a travel agent. Tickets to destinations in the south, to places like Surat Thani or Had Yai, go for between 200B and 500B (US$5.71-US$14.30/£3.10-£7.70). Note: Operators of minivan companies rarely speak English.
Planning a Trip
Visitor Information -- The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has an office in Phuket Town at 191 Klang Rd. (tel. 07621-2213), but traditionally, hotel concierge or tour desks offer more up-to-date information. There are lots of free maps on offer (all are full of advertisements); for driving around the island, pick up the very detailed Map of Phuket (Periplus Editions) at bookstores. Restaurants and hotel lobbies are good places to pick up any of a number of free local publications: Phuket Food-Shopping-Entertainment is packed with dining suggestions and ads for many of the island's activities; What's on South has some useful information on Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, and Krabi; and there a few fun local magazines for sale. Also look out for the useful Art & Culture South and Old Phuket Treasure Map.
Special Events -- If you are on Phuket around October/November, don't miss the Vegetarian Festival. The name is misleading -- it is not about Animal Rights or being health conscious, but a Thai-Chinese tradition on Phuket (and now celebrated widely throughout southern Thailand) that corresponds with the Buddhist Lent. For 9 days, not only do devotees refrain from meat consumption, but many also submit to violent public acts of self-mutilation through piercing their bodies with long skewers or swords, and often walking over hot coals. The festival began as an act of penance to the spirits to help early inhabitants ward off malaria, but these days, the rituals are more for young men to prove themselves and for gaining merit and good luck. Early morning processions follow through the streets of Phuket Town and major temples around the island, with onlookers clad in white for the occasion. During this time you can also feast on terrific vegetarian buffets at just about any restaurant in Thailand. See www.phuketvegetarian.com for info.
Getting There
By Plane -- Thai Airways (tel. 02545-3690 domestic reservations in Bangkok; www.thaiair.com) flies daily from both Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport and Suvarnabhumi International Airport (trip time: 1 hr. 20 min.). Thai Airways' office in Phuket is at 78 Ranong Rd. (tel. 07621-1195 in Thailand, or 07621-2499 international).
Bangkok Airways (tel. 02265-5555 in Bangkok or 07724-5601 on Koh Samui; www.bankgokair.com) connects Phuket with Koh Samui at least two times daily. The Bangkok Airways office in Phuket is at 158/2-3 Yaowarat Rd., Phuket Town (tel. 07622-5033, or 07632-7114 at Phuket Airport).
Budget airlines flying here include Air Asia (tel. 02515-9999; www.airasia.com), Nok Air (tel. 1318; www.nokair.com), and One-Two-GO Airlines (tel. 1126 in Bangkok, or 1141 in other provinces; www.fly12go.com); they all fly daily between Bangkok and Phuket. Connecting with Singapore is Silk Air (tel. 07630-4018 in Phuket; www.silkair.com). Budget carriers Tiger Airways (tel. 02351-8333; www.tigerairways.com) and Qantas subsidiary Jetstar (tel. 02267-5125; www.jetstar.com) also have regular connections from Phuket to Singapore; Jetstar flies directly to Australia, too.
Destination Air (tel. 07632-8637-39; www.destinationair.com) is a new air service based at Phuket Airport, running small, amphibious light aircraft between island resorts such as Krabi (trip time: 12 min.), Koh Lanta (trip time: 28 min.) and Koh Phi Phi (trip time: 16 min.). Operated by foreign pilots, their routes are growing fast and more routes and local offices are planned in 2008.
Getting from the Airport to Town -- The modern Phuket International Airport (tel. 07732-7230, information) is located in the north of the island, about a 45-minute drive from Patong Beach in off-peak hours, or an hour in rush hour (8-9am and 4-7pm). There are banks, money-changing facilities, car rental agents, and a post office at the airport. The Phuket Tourist Business Association booth there can help you make hotel arrangements if you need accommodations.
For a fee, many resorts will pick you up at the airport; check if this is included in your booking. A new airport bus connecting with Phuket Town bus terminal costs 52B (US$1.50/80p). Just outside the terminal to the right is a new (and long overdue) meter taxi stand. You'll need to check the estimated price with the driver -- based on how far you are going, plan on spending 500B to 800B (US$14-US$23/£7-£12). There is a ready supply at the right on exiting the terminal. To book a meter taxi, allow up to 2 hours for a response; call tel. 07625-0333.
The airport limousine counter, operated by Tour Royale (tel. 07634-1214), offers many options for getting to your hotel from the airport. A prepaid car from the airport can also be arranged at the limousine counter; you'll pay between 400B (US$11/£6.15) to Phuket Town and 700B (US$20/£11) to Kata Beach. Alternatively, you can take a minibus, which operates every hour, on the hour, from 9am to 11pm daily. Stopping between Patong, Kata, Karon, and Phuket Town, they charge from 250B (US$7.15/£3.85), depending on how far you're going. Paying 300B (US$8.60/£4.60) gets you as far south as Kata Beach (Note: This van may stop at a small travel agency en route in an attempt to sell rooms.)
By Bus -- Three super-cooled air-conditioned VIP buses leave daily from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal (tel. 02434-7192) and cost from 750B (US$21/£12). These buses feature fewer seats, more room, a usually deafening all-night action movie, hostesses, and snacks. Numerous regular air-conditioned buses go each day and cost as little as 275B (US$7.85/£4.25). Standard buses make frequent connections to Surat Thani and nearby towns on the mainland (to Surat is 6 hrs. and 105B/US$3/£1.60).
The intercity bus terminal is at the City Park Complex on Phang Nga Road (tel. 07621-1480), east of Phuket Town just opposite the Royal Phuket City Hotel.
By Minivan -- Minivans to and from Surat Thani, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Ranong, and other southern cities leave on regular schedules throughout the day. In each city, minivan operators work with the hotels and arrange free pickup, so it is best to book through your hotel front desk or a travel agent. Tickets to destinations in the south, to places like Surat Thani or Had Yai, go for between 200B and 500B (US$5.71-US$14.30/£3.10-£7.70). Note: Operators of minivan companies rarely speak English.
