Traveling

By Air By Bus By Car

     Although Phuket is an island, getting here is very straightforward. The majority of tourists arrive through Phuket International Airport. However, you can also get to Phuket by road, rail (in a roundabout way), and of course by sea if you have your own boat.

By Air

     Flying to Phuket is the simplest way of getting here. Phuket is served by an international airport with an increasing number of scheduled and charter flights arriving from Europe and Asia, as well as a dozen daily flights from Bangkok. There are now a number of low-cost airlines providing cheap flights to Phuket from Bangkok , Australia, and even Singapore.  

     Phuket International Airport is situated at the northern end of the island about 45 mins drive from Phuket City. On arrival, you can organize taxis, car rentals or minibuses from the arrival hall. There is an Airport Information Counter located on the first floor should you need any assistance.
Many hotels provide limousines (read modern saloon) to transfer guests who have reservations to their premises. You can make a hotel reservation at the airport. There is also a limousine service that will take you anywhere you want. A trip to Patong should cost around 600 Baht, while Phuket City is about 400 Baht.

By Bus

     Buses from Bangkok take approximately 14 hours. Government buses can be boarded at the Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai) in Thonburi. Prices are very reasonable and it pays to spend a bit more for the more comfortable buses. Private tour companies also operate coaches and minibuses. Many of these can be booked at Khao Sarn rd.  Not all buses are the same. A couple hundred baht more will buy you a lot more comfort. For a more comfortable journey take the VIP buses which have much bigger seats and more legroom. These have 24 seats and cost about 1,050 Baht per person.

By Car

     Hiring a car in Bangkok and driving down to Phuket is a great way to explore Thailand's peninsular. The 867km journey will take 10 hours or more, but it would be a shame not to explore a few of the towns and places of interest along the way. Take Highway 4 from Bangkok, passing through Nakhorn Pathom, Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, Prachuapkhirikan, Chumphon, Ranong and Phang Nga. The highway between Ranong and Phang Nga is quite scenic with forest-covered mountains on one side and the Andaman sea on the other. If you are renting from a local company, make sure that full insurance cover is included. To be covered by insurance, you will need an international or Thai driving licence.