Getting to the island : Places to visit

 

The most beautiful beaches are found on the west coast, separated by rocky coves and headlands.

Whereas the east coast comprises mainly limestone shoals, a few sandy beaches, and spectacular limestone islands that adorn the horizon. Coral gardens full of exotic marine life are plentiful in the emerald waters surrounding the island.

The most popular areas are Patong, Kata and Karon, however nearly all the beaches along the west coast are frequented by locals and tourists alike with the northern beaches on the west coast remaining quieter and less developed.

 

 

By Plane

 

The compact Phuket International Airportis in the north of the island, and is Thailand's second largest hub, second only to Bangkok. There are very frequent flights to/from Bangkok as well as direct flights to many other airports in the region, including Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, and direct charters to Europe and Australia in the high season.

 

 

International flights:

 

• Australia - V Australia, and Jetstar have direct flights from/to major cities in Australia.
• Malaysia - AirAsia , FireFly and Malaysia Airlines have direct flights from/to Kuala Lumpur.
• Singapore - SilkAir has 32 flights a week. Low cost alternatives are Thai AirAsia and Tiger Airways . In addition, Jetstar flies there too!
• Indonesia - AirAsia flies from/to Jakarta, and often this is the cheapest connection between Thailand and Java and more eastern parts of Indonesia (promotional fares are often $30-50 for 3 hours flight). They fly to Medan on Sumatra, as well.
• Germany - Air Berlin has nonstop flights to Berlin (ends 26 April) and Munich.
• Vietnam - Air Asia operates direct daily flights from/to Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon)
• Qatar - Qatar Airways will operate direct daily flights from/to Doha as of October 13th, 2010)

 

Other low cost direct connections include Hong Kong, Macau, Seoul and Busan

 

Charter flights:

There are some charter flights in high season from European and Asian countries such as Sweden, Taiwan, Japan, etc. The airlines charge a very cheap fare.

 

Domestic flights:

Several budget/domestic airlines fly here, including JetStarAsia, Air Asia. Tickets from Bangkok can cost under 1000 baht one-way if booked well in advance, or around 2000 baht (including taxes) if bought on the day.

 

Thai Airways flies from Bangkoks Suvarnabhumi airport several times every day, as well as once daily from Chiang Mai (but there are no direct flights in the opposite direction). Additionally, they sell tickets from/to many domestic and international destinations with stopover in Bangkok - which are usually cheaper (especially international) than if you book separate tickets. Cheapest (non-exchangeable and non-refundable - though taxes are refunded even in the unfortunate case of no-show, if you call them later) one-way ticket from Bangkok, as of April 2008, costs 2320 baht - worth checking if you book just a few days before flight, as low-cost airlines may cost only 200-300 baht less in this situation, but you get world-famous Thai Airways service, and free onboard meals too.

 

Bangkok Airways has a monopoly on direct flights between Phuket and U-Tapao (Pattaya / Sattahip) and Ko Samui. They also have 4 daily flights from Bangkok - fares are around 1700 baht inclusive of taxes when purchased on the airline website.

 

Destination Air Shuttle offers direct seaplane transfers (some of which operate seasonally) between Phuket and Ko Lanta, Ko Phi Phi, Krabi, Ranong, Trang, the Similan Islands, and other popular Andaman coast destinations.

 

IMPORTANT: Thai Airways International and Bangkok Airways fly to Suvarnabhumi (pronounced: Soo-Var-na-phoom),

 

whereas NOK Air and Orient Thai fly to the old Don Mueang Airport. This may be of importance when you have a connecting flight

 

Airport Transport

To get from the airport to your destination, there are several options:

 

- Municipal a/c Airport Bus service (every day 6:30-20:45, every 60-90 minutes) to Phuket Town bus station costs 85 baht and takes one hour. Local buses run from there and Ranong Street Market to all the major beaches until around 18:00 for about 25-40 THB.

 

- Minibus services (basically door-to-door share taxis) are a good value. They charge 150-250 baht per seat, and will get you to your destination much faster than the municipal/government buses. To Patong 150 is typical; to Kata Beach, 180. When you get off the plane, don't dally, because when the minibuses fill up, they leave.

 

- Metered (yellow) taxis - Turn right as you exit the airport building (ignore the touts) and you'll see a stand at the end of the walkway. You tell your destination to the staff at the stand and they will give you a paper with the taxi driver number for you to keep in case you need to report a problem. Fares to destinations in Phuket cost around 600 baht and up. The rate is what is displayed by the meter plus 100-baht airport fee.

 

- Limousine (blue) taxis from the airport are expensive, costing 600-700 baht to Patong or Bt800 Phuket Town. The airport co-op booth tucked away towards the back is a little cheaper than the competition. Despite the name, most "limousines" are Toyota Camrys with leather seats, though you may be lucky and get a Mercedes.

 

By train

 

There are no direct train services to Phuket. But many trains leave from Bangkok central station going south all the way to Singapore. The most comfortable are the sleeper trains (~685 THB for a berth in a 2nd class a/c car. Travellers by train must get off at Phun Phin railway station in Surat Thani province and continue for another 5 hours by regular bus to Phuket. Do not buy the bus ticket until you actally see the bus and can make sure it is not standing room only as it picks up passengers at the popular Ko Samui ferry. If full wait for the next one. See Surat Thani for more details.

 

 

By bus

 

Buses to mainland destinations including Bangkok, Chumphon, Hat Yai, Krabi, Phang Nga, Ranong, Satun, Sungai Kolok and Surat Thani use the BKS terminal off Thanon Phang Nga in Phuket Town.

The most reliable buses from Bangkok are the public BKS buses from the Southern Bus Terminal to Phuket. The journey takes 13 hours. There are also some private bus companies, Phuket Travel Tour, Phuket Central Tour and Phuket Travel Service. Khao San Road operations have a bad reputation for theft, often turn out to include a "surprise" transfer to a minibus at Surat Thani, and are best avoided.

 

From Phuket bus terminal to your final destination, you can take a motorcycle taxi, tuk-tuk, meter-taxi, or bus. A motorcycle taxi into Phuket Town will be about 10-20 baht; to most beaches 100-200 baht (negotiable).

 

A local bus to one of the main beaches will cost around 15-30 baht. It's not unusual for the tuk-tuk drivers at the bus terminal to tell arriving travellers that the local bus service has finished, even though it hasn't. If you are of the hiking/backpacking type, the local bus station, which will take you to Patong Beach is about twenty minutes away. When exiting the bus terminal, make a right onto Phang-Nga Rd. Continue down Phang-Nga until it terminates at Yaowarat Rd., then turn left. Within a few steps you will see a roundabout. Once at the roundabout, keep right. By keeping right, you will find Ranong Rd. Within 100 to 200 meters you will find the local bus stop.

 

Before exiting the Phuket bus terminal, grab a free Phuket map from the information window. While supplies may always not be on hand, the map is a great way to get your bearing before jumping-off.

 

 

By car

 

Phuket is directly connected to the mainland by the Thao Thepkasattri Bridge. From Bangkok, take Highway 4 through Nakhon Pathom, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, thence through Ranong province’s Kra Buri and Kapoe districts, Phang-nga province’s Takua Pa and Thai Muang districts and onto Phuket island. The total distance is 862km.

 

 

By boat

 

Ferry services connect from Rassada Port in Phuket Town to Ko Phi Phi and on to Krabi on the mainland twice a day, taking 90 minutes and costing 350/650 baht one-way/return, for each leg. It's usually a pleasant ride, but can be rather bumpy when it's windy.

There are also speedboats to Ko Racha (2 hours), the Similan Islands (about 3 hours) and other islands in the high season only. Boats and yachts can be chartered at Chalong Bay, the Boot Lagoon, the Yacht Haven and Royal Phuket Marina.

 

It's possible to visit Phuket by cruise ship. For cruises from Singapore, try Star Cruises.

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