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HOW TO GET AROUND PHUKET
Getting around Phuket is relatively easy, as the island is served by many private and public transport options. Most of the resort areas are small enough to walk around, with popular resorts and hotels located close to the beach, restaurants and shopping areas. If your hotel isn't on one of the main beaches, taxis or tuk-tuks are some of the best ways to get around.
If you prefer exploring Phuket on your own, there are plenty of places to hire cars or motorcycles. You can also take the local bus. Songtaew refers to blue open-air buses that run between Phuket Town and the main resorts, while air-conditioned minibuses service the Phuket Town area.
1. TUK TUKS
Tuk-tuks are fine for short distances, but their small size makes them rather uncomfortable for rides longer than 30 minutes. These motorised rickshaws can be rather expensive, especially in the main resorts like Patong. A 5-minute trip can cost from 100 baht, so state your destination and agree on the price before setting off. Trips further afield, beyond the immediate beach area can cost from 400 baht – depending on the distance, weather, and your bargaining skills
2. TAXIS
For transfers from Phuket International Airport, there's only 1 authorised 'limousine' service with fixed fares. Expect to pay 100–200 baht for a shared minibus or up to 500 baht for a private taxi, depending on your destination.
There are metred taxis just outside the airport terminal, as well as tourist areas like Patong and Phuket Town. Fares start from 50 baht for the first 2 km and 8 baht per additional km. For longer distances, your taxi may charge a flat rate. A 100-baht surcharge will be levied if departing from the airport.
Air-conditioned car taxis can be hired at all the main resort areas and in Phuket Town. Rates are similar to tuk-tuks, so it's a good idea to bargain your fare in advance. Many of these are being converted into metered taxis in an island-wide drive to improve the transport system.
Ordinary metered taxis are surprisingly difficult to find in Phuket. If you're thinking of flagging down a passing cab, you'll be waiting for rather a long time. Once you've flagged down a taxi, you will need to explain where you wish to go. Most taxi drivers speak English and can easily find their way to major attractions and resorts. Make sure they turn the meter on before setting off. Some taxis operating with private firms don't use meters. Instead, they'll offer a flat rate before departure. You may be able to bargain down a little, but the fare will be pricier than metered taxis.
A convenient way to hail a taxi in Phuket is by downloading the Grab app into your mobile phone. Grab is an extremely convenient means of getting a metered taxi to come to you instead of waiting for 1 on the road. The app lets you choose your pickup point and destination, which nearby cabs will bid for the job. The driver might also call you to confirm the pickup point. A realtime map helps you track their whereabouts.
The app gives you a price estimate, which is generally accurate, but the final fare will be decided by the meter. A bonus to using this service is that you can precisely select your destination, which means you don’t need to direct the driver if it is a more obscure location. If you have a large group with lots of luggage, Grab also offers services by limousines and SUVs. Prices vary depending on the vehicle's size and model.
3. LOCAL BUS 'SONGTAEW'
Songtaew is Thailand's term for local open-air buses. Painted in bright blue for easy recognition, these buses have destinations written in English on the outside for your convenience. There are no designated bus stops in Phuket, so you can flag one down from the roadside.
Songtaew runs regularly between 7am to 6pm. You'll have a better chance of catching a bus if you're in the main part of an area. In Patong, local buses often pass the main beach road, just outside the tourist police box. If you're in Phuket Town, head for the market on Ranong Road to find song taews waiting for passengers. A trip between Phuket Town and locations such as Patong, Surin and Kamala costs around 15–20 baht.
4. AIRPORT BUS
Phuket's airport buses run on a set route, stopping at several bus stops between the main Phuket City Bus Terminal 1 and Phuket International Airport.
5. MOTORBIKE RENTALS
Driving around Phuket on a motorbike is convenient, but also extremely risky as insurance is usually not included. If you have an accident, you may be liable for damages and medical bills. You must carry a Thai or an international motorbike licence to make a successful insurance claim in case of an accident.
110 CC Hondas and big bikes are the most common types of motorcycles for hire in Phuket. Some bike shops along Rat-U-Thit Road in Patong specialise in road cruisers and dirt bikes.
You must be very careful when driving on the roads in Thailand. Most drivers have extreme disregard for traffic regulations, which often leads to unexpected and dangerous behaviour on the roads. During the rainy season, bike riders often come to grief due to slippery roads on the island.
6. MOTORBIKE TAXIS
Motorbike taxis are excellent for short distances. They're also available at virtually all hours of the day and night. Look out for motorbike taxi stands – groups of motorcyclists in red or green vests are often parked on street corners, outside convenience or department stores. Do negotiate the price before you get on a motorbike taxi in Phuket. Fares depend on the distance and your bargaining skills.
7. INTER-PROVINCIAL BUS
The Phuket Terminal 2 on Thepkasatri Road handles buses coming to and from the island. As you enter the large building, you can find counters selling tickets to places like Krabi, Koh Lanta, and Khao Lak. Take your time to compare prices as tickets to the same destination vary by season, bus company, and seat.
Location: Thepkasattri Road, Ratsada, Muang, Phuket 83000
8. RASSADA PIER
Rassada Pier is the main dock for boats and ferries travelling to and from islands off the coast of Phuket, including Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, and Krabi. Located on the west coast of the island, this ferry pier is a little over 4 km southeast of Phuket Town. It's an hour-long drive to reach Rassada Pier from Phuket International Airport.
Rassada Pier is busiest in the morning, with hundreds of day-trippers heading for Phang Nga Bay. You'll find private yachts, speedboats, and ferries offering transfers to surrounding islands. The first ferries usually leave for Krabi and Koh Lanta at 8am. If you want to stock up on snacks before your trip, there are a couple of food stalls and a snack shop close to the pier.
Location: Ratsada, Muang, Phuket 83000, Thailand
9. ROYAL PHUKET MARINA
Royal Phuket Marina (RPM) is Thailand's first world-class luxury lifestyle marina and stands on over 30 hectares of prime land, right next to Phuket Boat Lagoon in Koh Kaew. With 350 berths for yachts of up to 35 metres long and 400 luxury waterfront villas, penthouses and condominiums, the marina ranks among Asia's premier boating hubs.
It's Asia's most sophisticated and high-tech yachting infrastructure and the island's only marina with a boat lock, non-tidal deepwater basin and private moorings on the doorstep of residences. More than half of Royal Phuket Marina is devoted to leisure and shopping facilities set amid landscaped parks and gardens.
Location: 68 Thepkasattri Rd, Koh Kaew, Muang, Phuket 83000, Thailand
10. PHUKET INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Phuket airport is very convenient for international travelers who just want to hit the beach and avoid the congestion of Bangkok. You can expect to pay a little more for flights direct to Phuket compared to Bangkok, but if you’re short on time it is probably worth it. The third busiest airport in Thailand, it’s relatively small but has many transport options to get you to your accommodation including car hire services. Unfortunately, like elsewhere on the island the taxi/tuk tuk fares are grossly inflated but you can get a shared minibus or the Phuket Smart Bus to save yourself quite a lot of money.
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