Bob & Janette's Travel Adventures

Phuket and surrounding area tips

Transportation
It is very difficult to bargain with tuk-tuk drivers as they group together and set standard prices for trips around the island.  Alternatively try and share a tuk-tuk – check that the price quoted is per trip and not per person. The minimum price for a short trip is usually 100 Baht. 

 The local Songtaews are a very cheap and fun option, allowing you to rub shoulders with local Thais. These are small converted pick-ups with wooden benches, seating around 20 people (or 40 standing). Songtaews are privately owned and ply the routes between the beach resorts and Phuket Town. There are no designated bus stops, just flag one down. They usually run every 30 minutes during the day and cost next-to-nothing, approximately 25 Baht, flat fare, depending on the route.

Airport Taxi

If arriving at Phuket airport without pre-arranged transportation then make a point of checking out the metered taxis. The metered taxi is your cheapest option to get to the beach resorts.  As you  exit the terminal building, turn to your right and go all the way to the end of the veranda.  Here you pay 100 baht airport levi and tell the  person manning the booth where you want to go.  He will then issue you with a coupon and direct you to your taxi.  Ensure the taxi driver uses his meter and that is all you pay  at the end of your journey.  A typical fare from the airport to Patong is usually around 500 baht (100 + 400). These are about half the price of tuk-tuks and airport limousines. 

Private Airport Transport

There are several private drivers who do airport pick-up/drop-offs as well as daily hire.  Listed below are a few recommended driver and their contact details:

Phuket Airport Bus

The public airport bus runs 12 times a day between Phuket Town and the airport.  The bus can be caught at two airport locations:

1.    First Floor: Outside the Arrival Hall
(when you come out, just turn left).

1. 2.    Second Floor: Next two Burger King Restaurant
   (outside the Departure Hall turn left).
2. For bus timetable see the schedule on the LH sidebar.

Tickets can be purchased on the bus and cost 85 baht for the full journey, cheaper for shorter stops.

Hiring a Vehicle
You are required to carry a valid driving license whenever you drive.  That means either an international driving license obtained from your home country or a Thai driving license. Thai driving licenses are only available to Thais and foreigners on long-term visas.  The police may be generous with foreign visitors and accept a foreign driving license, however they are not obliged to so it is better to be safe and carry a legal driving license.  Not carrying a legal driving license will also invalidate most insurance policies.

World Class Thailand Drives
 Budget World Class Drives are a unique series of self drive itineraries.  Each Budget World Class Drive is a 16 page comprehensive guide with easy to follow driving directions, maps and information about sites to see at each featured destination. Guidance is also given on accommodation houses and restaurants.

 

Drinking Water
Drinking water straight out of the tap in Phuket is not advisable.  Most mid range and higher hotels provide one or two bottles of water per day.  It is best to get in the habit of drinking bottled water especially if you will be visiting rural areas or other countries in the region. Always take bottled water with you when you are out touring.  If you have purchased bottled water, check that there is a proper seal or that the packaging is intact.  Some places have been known to sell recycled bottles that have merely been filled up with tap water.

  Electricity
Thailand's voltage is 220 AC, 50 hertz using a two round or flat prong plug. Some of Phuket's larger hotels may be able to provide an adapter plug and have special outlets for shavers in the bathroom.  Alternatively, adapters can be brought relatively cheap at the markets.  For a full list of all world wide travel adapters click  here.

Internet Access
Internet access is readily available and most hotels will have an internet kiosk or corner however it is usually more expensive than an internet cafe.  Along Thawiwong Road there are a few internet shops however if you plan to spend a long time on the net it would better to go along Rat-U-Thit Road or SaiNamYen Road where prices are usually half of Thawiwong Rd.

Medical Facilities
There are several reputable clinics in Phuket that can provide assistance and first aid in English.  For international visitors, the Bangkok Hospital Phuket and the Phuket International Hospital offer an extensive range of services. An international liaison office has been set up in the private Bangkok Hospital Phuket to aid foreigners with health related issues.

 
A room at Bangkok Hospital Phuket

Dental clinics are numerous and provide excellent services and, like health care clinics, are open into the early evening hours. Pharmacies must be registered and operated by a licensed pharmacist in Phuket.  Most pharmacies are open until 10.00pm and have staff that speak English.  A lot of  hotels also have their own doctor on 24-hour call.

Timeshare scams
Unfortunately timeshare salesmen have found their way to Phuket.  They have people working on the streets whose job is to get you into the sales room. The most common scam used is to claim you have won a prize. One method is to offer you a free scratch card and surprise surprise they all win. If you do find yourself in the sales room, you will be subjected to a high pressure and very professional sales pitch.

Please help our site grow
If you think we can improve the above information,  please let us know. This web site is continuously being updated and more pages are being added.  If there is a tip about Phuket that interests you, but is only covered superficially or not at all, please let us know.

 

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