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| Generally, if your desired resort knows
your arrival time, you will be picked up by the resort's mini-bus.
If not, there are many private taxi services (pickups) waiting for
new guests. Listen to words like "taxi sir ?". Limousine service is
also available at Phuket airport. Hints: ask for the price
before entering any taxi - and bargain!
If you have a clear destination, avoid any discussions or
suggestions for "a better hotel". Always the best is to have a
pickup service from your hotel. You may also call the hotel from
Phuket, Bangkok or wherever you are now.
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 By
Car |
Take Route 4
from Bangkok to the south. Along the way pass the provinces of
Nakhon Pathom, Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, Prachuap-Khirikan, and at
Chumphon go right
 to
Ranong. From Ranong, go south through Kraburi and Kapoe Districts to
Phang-nga Province.
In Phang-nga the road passes through Kuraburi, Takuapa, and Thai
Muang Districts before reaching the town of Kok Kloy. Then, cross
the Thao Thep Kasattri or Sarasin Bridge to Phuket Island.
The distance is 867 kilometers.
Travel Time from Bangkok: 8 hours |
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By
Sea |
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The Deep Sea Port (Port of Phuket) at
Puket is visited by both cargo and cruise ship from Thailand and
from abroad. Contact your travel agent for information about the
many different ships that stop at Phuket.
Timetables ferries
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By
Bus |
Both air-conditioned and non
air–conditioned buses leave the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok
daily at 18:30. The bus ride from Bangkok to Phuket bus Terminal in
Phuket town takes 14 hours or more for the nearly 900 kilometers.
The fare is around THB 700 to 800. There are also regular mini-bus
trips from Singapore and Penang which are reasonably priced.
Southern Bus Terminal Tel. (02) 4347192, 4345557-8, Phuket Central
Company Tel. (02) 4355019, Phuket Travel Tel. (02) 4355018, Phuket
Bus Terminal Tel. (076) 211480.
Please use Sawadee's
online
booking system for hotels in Bangkok.
Timetables buses |
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By
Air |
Phuket has an international airport;
both regularly schedule and charter flights from around Asia,
Australia and Europe.
Phuket Airport: tel. (076) 327 246, 327 144, 327 230 -7
Thai Airways International operates flights to Phuket daily.
The travel time is 1 hour 20 minutes.
For further information of flight contact :
Thai Airways International : tel. +66 (02) 280 0060, 280 0070, 628
2000
http://www.thaiairways.com
You can fly to Phuket with Bangkok Airways as well, but it is not a
direct flight. Passengers need to transfer at Samui before going to
Phuket. Flights take off for Bangkok-Samui-Phuket every morning and
afternoon.
Bangkok Airways: tel. +66 (076) 225 033 -5
Timetables Thai Airways
Timetables Bangkok Airways |
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By
train |
 A sleeper
train leaves from Hua Lumphong Railway station in Bangkok to Surat
Thani, and then transfer to a bus across to Phuket. This is a
equally gruelling journey, though very scenic.
For further information contact Railway station. |
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Getting around: |
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Jeep
& Car |
| You can find several agencies in Phuket town that
rent Suzuki jeeps. If you rent for a week or more you can get a
little discount. Your best choice in the centre of Phuket town is
Pure Car Rent (tel 076 - 211 002) at 75 Th Rasada. |
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Motorbike |
Along Th Rasada
between Th Phuket and Th Yaowarat or from varios places at the
beaches you can hire motorcycles.
Bigger bikes (over125cc) can be rented at a couple of shops at
Patong and Karon. |
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Bicycle |
The cheapest vehicle you can rent is a
bicycle.
Tropical Trails (tel/fax 076 - 263 239 offers fully supported
half-day and full-day cycle safaris around Phuket as well as on
neighbouring Ko Yao Noi. Phuket Mountainbike Club (tel 076-280 116)
organises mountainbike tours and rentals for half and full-day
journeys as well. |
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Driving safety tips: |
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Renting
the Vehicle |
| Most rental companies will hold you responsible for
any damages occurring while you are renting the vehicle. Make note
on the contract of any dents, scratches or missing parts before you
drive off with the vehicle. If you have never ridden a vehicle
before, do not hesitate to ask for instruction. Make sure everything
on the vehicle is functional. Brake lights and turning signals, low
and height beams should working properly. |
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Wear
a helmet |
 This
point of safety cannot be stressed enough. More deaths occur from
motorcycle accidents due to head injuries than any other cause. If
you do go down on a motorcycle, your head is bound to hit either the
road, a rock or another vehicle before any other part of your body.
Ask your rental agency for an extra helmet if you plan on having a
passenger on the vehicle. |
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Road
Conditions |
Riding a vehicle in any unfamiliar environment can
be risky.
The shoulder of road i.e. the area to the immediate left of the road
can be used as an emergency lane to avoid fast approaching traffic
from behind. Be aware that these areas usually consist of loose
gravel or sand and is sometimes eroded. Be careful when pulling off
the side of the road and on to these shoulder areas. Care must also
be taken driving around turns where gravel sometimes falls of
construction trucks. |
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Right
of Way |
| In many countries, any person or vehicle on a road
or in a lane has the right of way. Such is not the case in Thailand.
Yield at all times to oncoming traffic that may come over into your
lane. Yield at all times to traffic coming from behind by moving
over as far to the left of the lane as possible allowing plenty of
passing room. You may need to, as mentioned before move onto the
shoulder of the road. Use your mirrors. When wanting to pass another
vehicle, use your horn in a polite manner i.e. a short honk will
allow the person in front of you to know where you are. Make sure
your high beam lights are off when approaching traffic at night. |
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General
Tips |
| Keep your eyes on the road ahead, to the right, to
the left and behind at all times. Be aware. Watch for people,
animals and debris on the road. Should you notice a company driver
or hotel limousine service driving recklessly, Make note of the time
and hotel name and phone number and call the General Manager to
report the incident. |
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