Phuket Hotels & Travel Guide

Phuket Hotels and Tourist Information

Spectacular scenery, stunning tropical sunsets and warm blue sea awaits you at Asia's most popular beach destination. This fun island provides an unbeatable combination of perfect silky soft white palm-lined beaches, superb hospitality and great value accommodation.
Whether it's world-class diving in the Andaman Sea, golf at international-standard championship courses or exciting eco-adventures in tropical forests, Phuket is a place to extend your horizons. Take an exhilarating speedboat trip to the surrounding islands, or enjoy a serene cruise around mystical Phang Nga Bay

 

 

• Phuket Airport 

   

  What to Expect on Arrival and Leaving Phuket Airport

  Due to the evergrowing number of flights to Phuket, its international airport is going through a major revamp and enlargement that should be completed in 2015. Try to get a window seat if you are flying into Phuket International Airport - the sights are simply unforgettable. Aircraft flying in from the east follow an approach path that's smack-bang right over Phang Nga Bay and its graphic limestone karsts, isolated green islets and multihued fishing boats. At both high and low tide the bay is a mesmerizing kaleidoscope of colours and contours.
  Even though Phuket airport ranks second in the country in terms of passenger and freight volume it is quite a modest affair and within minutes of landing you will be in the terminal. Only a few hundred metres to the west, the Andaman Sea laps up on Mai Khao Beach ('White Wood') and Nai Yang Beach.
  

• Transfers to Your Hotels and Nearby Islands

  Immigration

  During Phuket's high season (December - May), when several flights can land one after the other, queues for immigration can sometimes be a little trying and officials thin on the ground - so be prepared for a wait unless you're willing to elbow all and sundry aside to get to the head of the line (but then again you're probably the same guy who got the window seat).
  On the positive side, Phuket airport's compactness means that it's just a short stroll from immigration and customs to the luggage carousel and the front door.
  

  Getting to Your Hotel

  

  Stress-Free Airport Transfers

  To make the start of your holidays that much easier, here's a tip: If you book your hotel with Asia Web Direct or with Phuket.com you will have the option to reserve your transfer in advance. If you really want to travel in style we have a Mercedes Benz ‘E' Class limousine. Read More...
  
  

  Limousine Taxis

  A limousine service is also on hand, albeit a more expensive option (you can buy tickets for this service on the first floor of the terminal). The silver-grey vehicles are parked en masse directly opposite the terminal's main doors.
  They have a reputation for driving very fast as the quicker they go the more fares they can make in one day. If your knuckles are white after the first few kilometers gently say, 'Cha cha, khrap' - which means 'go slow please'.
  
  

  Taxi Meter

  A well-signed taxi stand is located just outside, to the right of the main building. The taxis are red and yellow and are supposed to use their meters but you will probably have to insist that the driver turns his meter on instead of bargaining and haggling for a price.
  The average fares from the airport are Phuket 400 baht, Patong 550 baht, Kata/Karon 650 baht. NB This charge is for the taxi, not per head. Please note that you will have to pay a fee of 100 baht on top of the taxi-meter fare. The trip will usually take approximately 30 minutes to Phuket, 40 minutes to Patong Beach, and around one hour to Kata Beach and Karon Beach.
  
  

  Phuket Airport Bus

  There is an hourly and inexpensive bus service to Phuket Town from 06:30 to 21:30 but none to the west coast. You can buy tickets (90 baht in large buses and 100 baht in mini-buses) at a counter on the ground floor and the grey-orange-and-black buses marked AIRPORT BUS are to be found outside in the parking lot. This is not a non-stop, express service: buses halt along the way for passengers to embark/disembark. All airport buses go to Phuket Bus Terminal 1, off Phang Nga Road in Phuket Town). Read More...
  
  

  Minivans

  Tickets for minivans are for sale at two counters on the ground floor (Phuket 100 baht, Patong 150 baht, Kata/Karon 180 baht). Minivans sometimes stop off at tour agencies where you will be asked to book a tour from which the driver makes a commission. Minivans take longer than a taxi to deliver you to your hotel as they drop off other passengers at hotels along the way.
  
  

  Car Rental at the Airport

  There are also two car rental counters where you can hire cars from Avis, Alamo, National and Hertz. Please make sure to take along your passport and driving license. Many more companies are located just outside the airport.  Read More...
  
  

  Changing Money

  There are four currency exchanges on the airport's ground floor (and one in the departure hall) but then again they are sometimes under siege by new-arrivals and do not offer the best rates. Better to use one of the airport's many ATM machines (there are seven in a row on the first floor) as the charge for a transaction is minimal. Make sure your card has a 'Cirrus' logo on the back - good for international transactions.
  

  Duty Free On Arrival

  Yes, go for it! Located just after immigration. A tip: wine is expensive in Thailand but local spirits are cheap so it makes sense to go for a litre bottle of red or white.
  

  Disabled People's Facilities

  Phuket Airport has lifts, toilets and telephones adapted to disabled persons' needs as well as designated parking spaces.
  

  SIM Cards & Telephone Services

  SIM cards are for sale at the airport's minimarts and if you go to the International Service Centre on the ground floor there is a kind lady who will set your mobile up for free. There are also mobile phones for rent (on the first floor) and enough payphones for an army of teenagers throughout the premise.
  
  

  Internet

  If you're desperate to send that email off there's an Internet service on the first floor with silly prices - 100 baht, or US$ 3 for up to 15 minutes.
  

Phuket Car Rental Information

Where to Rent a Car in Phuket

One of the best ways to see Phuket and its surrounding scenery is to rent a car. There are many scenic roads, particularly on the island's West Coast. It's fun, easy and best of all - inexpensive. Fabulous limestone mountains are Krabi Province's trademark as well as pristine and secluded beaches while Phang Nga also offers mile after mile of untouched, wave-washed strands.
Rent from a reputable car hire firm and your comfort and safety are guaranteed. You can pre-arrange for a trouble-free car pickup from Phuket International Airport, thus avoiding bargaining for taxis or tuk tuks. This way of getting round the region is highly recommended.
 

 

 

Phuket Healthy Holiday

Phuket Health, Hospitals and Medical Services

Phuket is rapidly emerging as not only a popular holiday resort, but also a centre for health and wellness. The quality of medical care is relatively high, and often available at far lower prices than service of equal standards in other countries. So whether you develop a health problem, or are seeking a specialized treatment, you'll find that the island's health facilities are well equipped to handle most of your needs.
If you come here for a medical procedure, you'll also have a wide range of luxury hotels, spectacular beaches, great restaurants and a host of leisure activities to choose from during your stay. With its long list of attractions, plus first-class medical facilities, spas and holistic services, Phuket is unquestionably a healthy holiday destination.