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By air
This is perhaps the easiest way to get to Phuket. Domestic airlines
operate several flights daily between Bangkok and Phuket. Some flights
go to Phuket via Samui Island with a 40-minute stopover. List of
operators are as follows:
Phuket Air offers daily flights to Phuket and the journey
takes only 1.20 hours. Call 02 6798999 or visit www.phuketairlines.com
for more details on flights.
Bangkok Airways has daily flights connecting Phuket with
Pattaya and Samui. For more information, contact their Bangkok office
at tel. 66 2265 5678. Reservations can be made at tel. 66 2265 5555.
Alternatively, browse its website at www.bangkokair.com for more
flight details.
Thai Airways International has numerous daily flights servicing
the Bangkok-Phuket route. In addition, they have regular flights
connecting Phuket with Hat Yai, Surat Thani, and Narathiwat Provinces.
For more information, contact their Bangkok office at tel. 02 628
2000 or book your seat online at www.thaiairways.com
One-to-Go by Orient Thai operates a daily flight between
Bangkok and Phuket. The flight time is 1.20 hours. Call 1126 or
visit www.onetwo-go.com for more information.
Air Asia also offers several daily flights connecting Bangkok
and Phuket. The flight time is 1.20 hours. Visit www.airasia.com
or call 02 5159999 for reservations.
Nok Air has several daily flights between Bangkok and Phuket with
a flight time of 1.20 hours. Visit www.nokair.com or call 1318 to
make your reservation.
Destination Air porvides first class seaplane transfers
to and from Phuket Internation Airport to resorts and hotels located
in the Andaman sea. Popular destinations are such as Ko Phi Phi,
Krabi, Ko Lanta. Services commence in July 2006. Contact Bangkok
Office of Destination Air at Tel: 0 2261 5323, Fax: 0 2261 5331
or visit www.destinationair.com
Getting to Phuket from abroad
There are several direct flights between Phuket and international
destinations, e.g. Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Penang, Singapore, and
Sydney.
Dragon Air, Malaysia Airlines, Silk Airand Singapore Airlines also
operate international flights connecting Phuket with other destinations.
Please call airline offices for more details.
Transportation to and from the airport
Phuket International Airport is located approximately 30 kilometers
north of the city, tel. 076 327230. Taxis between Phuket City and
the airport costs approximately 400 baht but the fare to the beach
ranges between 500 baht and 600 baht (The rate may decline now).
Minivans charge approximately 80 baht /person to town, but 120 baht/person
to Patong, Kata and Karon Beaches. Phuket Limousine (tel. 076 248596),
located approximately 1 kilometer west of the city, operates hourly
shuttles to the airport from 6.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m.
By bus
Air-conditioned and non air-conditioned buses leave Bangkok's
Southern Bus Terminal for Phuket several times daily. Trips by air-conditioned
bus, which normally leaves in the evening, take about 13 hours.
Call 0 2434 7192, 0 2435 1199 or visit www.transport.co.th for more
information.
By car
From Bangkok, take Highway No.4 (Phetchakasem Road) through
Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani and Phang-nga
Provinces, then cross the Thep Krasattri Bridge or Sarasin Bridge
to Phuket Island. The total distance is 862 kilometers and the travel
time is approximately 12 hours.
By rail
There is no direct train service to Phuket. Travelers arriving
by train must get off at Phun Phin Railway Station in Surat Thani
Province and continue by regular bus to Phuket. For more information,
call the State Railway of Thailand, 1690, 0 2223 7010, or 0 2223
7020.
By Ferry
During the high season, travelers may opt to get to Phuket from
Ko Phi Phi and Ko Lanta (both are in Krabi Province). Few ports
in Phuket provide this service with fares ranging between 300 bahts
and 500 baht. The trip may take 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on weather
conditions.
Getting around Phuket
Car Rental Service
Motorcycle taxis
It costs approximately 20 baht / person / trip to travel around
Phuket City. Alternatively, motorcycles can be rented from rental
agencies located on Rasada Road or from several operators along
beaches. The cost may vary from 150 baht 300 baht / day, depending
on the number of cylinders.
Songthaeo and Tuk-Tuk
Songthaeos are operated along Ranong Road to several destinations
on the beaches. The cost varies from approximately 20 baht to 25
baht / person / trip. Normally the service is provided from 7.00
a.m. until 5.00 p.m.
Tuk-Tuks can be chartered to the beach however, the rates which
can be negotiated are higher at 200 baht to Patong Beach, 230 baht
to Karon and Kata Beaches and 300 baht to Nai Han and Kamala Beaches.
However, Tuk-Tuks drive around the town at the rate of 20 baht.
Taxi Meter
Visitors can call 076 232157-8 to get a metered taxi that will
take them anywhere in Phuket. The metered fare will include a 20
baht surcharge.
Getting to nearby provinces
By bus
There are regular bus services (VIP, air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned)
to neighboring provinces such as Krabi, Phang-nga, Chumphon, Ko
Samui (bus/boat), Nakhon Si Thammarat, Ranong, Surat Thani, Satun,
Hat Yai, Takua-Pa and Trang. Departures are from the Phuket Bus
Terminal off Phang-nga Road. For more up-to-date schedules and fares,
call Phuket Air-conditioned Bus Station, tel. 0 7621 1977.
Taxis & Vans
There are shared taxi and van services between Phuket and other
nearby provinces. Fares of both are generally around double the
fare of an ordinary bus. The stations of both taxis and minivans
are also on Phang-nga Road.
By air
Some domestic airlines operate flights from Phuket to Surat
Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, Hat Yai and Samui. For more details,
check with your travel agent or the TAT office.
Getting to nearby islands from Phuket
Boats to nearby islands can be found at the following ports:
Rawai Beach
An old local port, it is from here that long-tail boats depart
for nearby islands such as Ko He, Ko Racha Yai, Ko Mai Thon, Ko
Lon, etc. The chartered price depends on the distance.
Ao Chalong
The largest port of Phuket that has all kinds of boats, including
cruisers of tour companies which organize package tours to other
islands.
Ao Makham
Located near Phanwa Cape, the port is only for cruisers and
container ships.
Boat Lagoon Port (Ao Sapam) The port is for traveling boats of tour
companies.
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