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WELCOME TO PARADISE!
It has all the right ingredients; surrounded by clear blue water, its palm fringed beaches are of soft, clean sand, it has a vibrant nightlife and you can enjoy the most wide ranging cuisine – you name it, you can eat it in Phuket. For several years Phuket has topped the polls as a holiday paradise, and in the most recent survey, readers of a top travel magazine voted for it ahead of Bali and Cebu. Add all this to the most welcoming people in the world, and you can see why travellers love it.
Airport Phuket International Airport is situated north of the island, so apart from the luxury hotels around this area, it’s likely you will need to get to the mid-island resorts of Patong, Karon and Kata. By taxi the trip to Surin will take about 30 minutes, to Patong about 40, and Karon and Kata beaches around 50 minutes. The bus to Phuket Town takes one hour. The airport itself is easy to get through, and is small enough to make luggage collection quick and simple. The good news is, that there are currently 21 (twenty one) flights into Phuket from Bangkok alone, and three of these operators are ‘no frills’ airlines. Phuket is also accessible internationally from and to Hong Kong, Singapore, Incheon (S. Korea) and Kuala Lumpur. It’s also possible to island hop from Koh Samui to Phuket, using Bangkok Airways.
Having arrived, there are a number of ways of reaching your resort location. Needless to say, there are plenty of people outside the terminal building offering to help – at a price.
THE CITY
Phuket and its surrounding islands are some of the most beautiful and intriguing in the world. Tall outcrops of limestone rise vertically from the sea, and probably the most famous of these was used as a location for one of the James Bond films. It’s now known as “James Bond Island”, but its real name is Phang-nga. Set just off the west coast of Thailand, in the Andaman Sea, Phuket is about the same size as Singapore. The main town is Phuket Town, but many visitors stay in the beach resorts of Surin, Katu, Karon and the most famous (and busy) Patong. To get from Phuket to Patong takes about 20 minutes. Phuket Town has all the administration offices, bigger business hotels and department stores, whilst the beach resorts cater more to the holiday maker. However, excursions to the islands off Phuket go from the port at Phuket Town.
Shopping Thailand has excellent shopping, both modern malls with all the regular brands, as well as plenty of traditional crafts. The Central Festival in Phuket Town is the biggest shopping centre and has 300 shops, with branded goods, Thai crafts and electronics. Situated on the outskirts of Phuket Town, you will more than likely need a tuk tuk, or taxi to get there.
For traditional Thai crafts, there is an organisation which is government supported called One Tambon, One Product. The idea is to encourage rural and tribal people from the villages to produce traditional goods and take the benefits directly. The store is located at the south end of Patong, behind the Holiday Inn Hotel.
All the resorts have a night market, but the biggest is in Patong. The vendors begin to set up their stalls around 18.30, and then they are open for business until about 23.00. All the best bargains are here: clothes, sports equipment, watches, souvenirs, luggage and some of the best copies you can find.
For designer ceramics this company uses the local clay for their work, and produces some very fine pieces. They are at Baan Kathu, on the outskirts of Phuket Town.
Car/motorbike Rental And Driving In Phuket Traffic in Thailand is on the left side and all the major car rental companies have offices at the airport. An international driving license is required. Expect to pay about 1500 – 2000 Baht a day for a medium sized vehicle. There are enterprising companies immediately outside the arrivals hall with cards offering cars at cheaper rates. Mostly these companies are OK, with rates at about 1000 for a mid-size four door car. Jeeps are available for 700 Baht a day and make sure you see the car before paying, some have been around for a while
When driving in Thailand, beware of motorbikes overtaking on the inside and /or on bends. Drive a little slower and keep an eye on the wing mirrors.
For more details about Phuket please click here
See a complete guide to Phuket
Thailand Traveller's Guide Online
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