Thailand (Lonely Planet, 13th Edition) - China Williams [574]
Bangkok Airways ( Map; 0 7622 5033; www.bangkokair.com; 58/2-3 Th Yaowarat, Phuket Town) has daily flights to Ko Samui (one way 2600B), Bangkok (one way 2800B) and Utapau for Pattaya (one way 3100B).
Nok Air (1318; www.nokair.co.th; Phuket International Airport) links Phuket with Bangkok, as do One-Two-Go (1141, ext 1126; www.fly12go.com; Phuket International Airport) and web-based Air Asia (www.airasia.com), from 2000B one way. Air Asia also flies to Kuala Lumpur (one way from 25,000B) and Singapore (one way 2500B).
Other international airlines with offices in Phuket’s Old Town:
Dragonair ( Map; 0 7621 5734; Th Phang-Nga)
Malaysia Airlines ( Map; 0 7621 6675; 1/8-9 Th Thungkha)
Silk Air ( Map; 0 7621 3891; www.silkair.com; 183/103 Th Phang-Nga)
BOAT
Ferries link Phuket Town to Ko Phi-Phi three times per day at 8.30am, 1.30pm and 2.30pm (400B). Boats depart in the opposite direction at 9am, 2.30pm and 3pm. Ask at the airport about cheap buses linking Phuket International Airport to the ferry pier.
MINIVAN
Minivan services (plus a ferry connection) link Phuket to Ko Samui, Ko Pha-Ngan and Ko Tao on the gulf coast. Air-con minivans to Krabi, Ranong and Trang are also available. Departure locations vary – see the TAT office ( Click here) in Phuket Town for more info. Prices are slightly higher than the buses (see below).
Getting Around
Phuket is quite large and public transport leaves a lot to be desired, so most tourists opt to hire cars (per day 1200B to 1500B) or motorbikes (per day 250B to 500B). Both are reasonably priced and easy to find. All you need is a current driving license from your home country. Remember to keep it with you at all times, because checkpoints pop up – especially in Patong. Helmets are also required, and if you don’t wear one (which is monumentally stupid considering the prevalence of motorbike accidents on Phuket), you’ll pay a fine.
There are regular srng·ta·ou (also spelt swngthew), the Thai version of local buses, which run between resort areas and Phuket Town. They’re cheap, but can be packed and are very slow. A trip from Kata to Phuket’s Old Town takes nearly two hours. With private transport you can get there in 20 minutes.
Taxis and túk-túks are good alternatives, but they are surprisingly expensive. They don’t have meters, so you should negotiate a fare before you leave. Most rides between resort areas cost at least 300B, and sometimes up to 500B one way. There’s virtually no price break for choosing a túk-túk over a much faster and safer automobile, so unless you crave the novelty ride (and you will…once), get in a car.
BOAT
Long-tail boats are easily hired on the sand for remote beach locations. There are also daily public boats to Ko Yao from Bang Rong and Phuket Town harbours.
CAR
Driving around Phuket looks complicated when you’re bleary-eyed from a long flight, but it’s a snap. The main roads are wide, the roundabouts are easy to manoeuvre and traffic snarls only occasionally. There are cheap car-hire agencies on Th Rasada in Phuket’s Old Town near Pure Car Rent. Suzuki jeeps and Toyota sedans go for anywhere from 1000B to 1500B per day (including insurance), though in the low season the rates can come down to 750B. If you hire for a week or more, you’ll pay near the low end of the range.
Some car-hire agencies sport international names like Budget, but if you book through an agent (rather than directly through the company) you must pay cash up front to receive the car, and it will usually bring the car to you. No matter which you choose, it’s always a good idea to reserve in advance.
Andaman Car Rent (0 7632 4422; www.andamancarrent.com; Moo 2, Cheangtalay, Thalang)
Budget (0 7620 5396; www.budget.co.th; Phuket International Airport) Also a branch in Patong ( Map).
Phuket New Car Rent