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Overview
| Travel There | Travel
Around | Travel Agents |
General Info | Geography
Import/Export | Population
| Industry | Environment
| Weddings
Communications | Climate
| Important Phone# | Banks
| Property | Car
Hire | Schools
 Once
here, getting around Phuket is case of either doing it the easy
way, or doing it the adventurous way. If staying in one of the island's
epicentres like Patong or Kata, getting around is a breeze. Most
hotels are within close proximity to the beach, entertainment, restaurants,
shopping and activity centres, which makes getting round on foot
the best option. In less populated spots, or if you want to explore
locations around the island, you have the choice of having your
hotel arrange transport in the form of a taxi, hirecar or tuk-tuk,
or taking the local transportation.
Tuk Tuk
For trips of any duration at any
time of day, a tuk tuk or small taxi truck is often the
most efficient. State your destination and agree on the price
before setting off! A trip within a beach area or town shouldn't
cost more than 50 Baht, but for trips further afield, anything
up to 400 Baht can be expected - depending on the distance, the
weather and your bargaining skills!
Song Taew
If heading off to other beaches and sites during the day, you
also have the option of a local songthaew or bus.
The local buses (painted bright blue for easy recognition) will
have their destination written in English on the outside of the
bus and run regularly between the hours of 7.00 am and 6.00pm.
There are no designated bus stops, which means you have to flag
them down in the middle of the street.
In most populated areas, your best chance of catching a bus are
to go to the main thoroughfare - sooner or later one will come
along. In Patong, your best spot for flagging one down is along
Phra Baramee Road outside the tourist police box. In Phuket town,
head for the fresh markets on Ranong Road (opposite Thai airways
office) where you will find Songtaews waiting to go to destinations
all around the island. Standard cost for trips to/from Phuket
Town to/from locations such as Patong, Surin and Kamala are approximately
15-20 Baht, and you shouldn't take one if you are in a hurry to
get where you want to go.
Hire Cars and Motorbikes
Private cars, jeeps and small motorbikes can be hired from most
major hotels, and from private dealers off the street. If you
really want to explore, having your own vehicle is the best way
to go. It's important to check that full insurance coverage is
included and that you have the appropriate licenses at hand in
case of accident. Note that motorcycle hire is extremely risky
as insurance is usually not included - regardless of what you
are told. You don't want to find yourself liable for damages and
medical bills or worse. A Thai or an international car license
is mandatory for the purposes of claiming successfully for insurance
in case of accident with a vehicle.
 For
serious bike enthusiasts, the area around Patong offers lots to
enjoy. Cruise out of the town on smooth roads that bank and curve
around lush green mountains looking out over the Andaman Sea and
visit some of the smaller areas outside the main tourist strip.
There are bike shops in Patong that specialise in road cruisers
and dirt bikes for those who want something more challenging than
the traditional Honda Dream favoured by most tourists and locals
alike. Check out the shops along Rat-U-Thit Road at Patong Beach.
A word of warning - needless to say those who ride motorcycles
should take extreme care when riding the roads in Thailand. Not
only is there an extreme disregard for traffic regulations which
leads to unexpected and dangerous behaviour on the roads, but
during the rainy season, bike riders often come to grief when
damp roads become slippery to ride on due to oil spill build-ups.
It is therefore recommended that the inexperienced rider elect
the safety of a standard vehicle as the means for enjoying touring
around Patong and elsewhere on the island.
Motorcycle Taxis
During the day and night, groups of motorcyclists can be seen
lurking on street corners or cruising the streets wearing coloured
vests and trying to get your attention. These are the motorcycle
taxi drivers who will take you anywhere around town for a fee.
Again the price can vary depending on the distance you want to
travel and your bargaining skills. Not the safest mode of transport
but can be convenient.
Overview
| Travel There | Travel
Around | Travel Agents |
General Info | Geography
Import/Export | Population
| Industry | Environment
| Weddings
Communications | Climate
| Important Phone# | Banks
| Property | Car
Hire | Schools
|
