Phuket Guide: Where to Stay, Getting From the Airport, Staying Safe

Base yourself in Patong for nightlife, Kata or Karon for beach days, or Phuket Town for the cheapest beds. From the airport, the Smart Bus costs a flat THB 100. Wherever you swim, follow the warning signs, red flags above all.

Pick your beach first and plan the airport transfer second, because the beaches run along the west coast while the airport sits in the north. Patong suits nightlife, Kata and Karon suit beach days, and the Smart Bus from the airport is a flat THB 100.

Living guides, rent and area-by-area detail are on the sister site Phuket Anchor (opens in a new tab).

Which beach fits you

• Patong is the largest and most popular resort, known for its nightlife.
• Kata is a busy, clean beach with good surf, and Kata Noi is its quieter sister.
• Karon is the second most developed beach after Patong.
• Kamala is a quieter beach north of Patong.
• Rawai is a jumping-off point for local islands, and locals eat on its beach.
• Chalong Bay is the main gateway to the islands off Phuket.
• Phuket Town has the cheapest accommodation.

From the airport to your beach

The cheapest way is the Smart Bus, which runs from the airport to Patong, Karon, Kata and Rawai for a flat THB 100. Look for the pick-up at Entrance 3 of the Domestic terminal. Heading to Phuket Town instead, the 8411 bus is THB 100 as well.

For a set-price car, use the limousine counters. A taxi car to Patong is THB 800 and a Fortuner is THB 1,200, while Phuket Town is THB 650 by taxi car. If you prefer a meter, EVme VIP Taxi works from the Domestic Terminal around the clock and starts from THB 150.

Once you are in town, the Smart Bus from the Bus Terminal to Patong is THB 50. Coming from the capital, compare your options in the Bangkok to Phuket guide.

Rain, red flags and closures

Rain comes from mid-May to mid-October, and the start can slip 1 to 2 weeks either way. On the beach, follow every warning sign, red flags above all, because people have drowned in strong riptides, especially in monsoon season. Jellyfish stings can be fatal, and they come close to shore in the rainy season.

Check dates before a bay trip in August or September. Phang Nga Bay closes Koh Lawa Yai, Ao Khian and Koh Boi Yai from 1 August to 30 September, and Maya Bay and its two neighbouring bays close for the same period. The Similan Islands are closed from 16 May to 14 October. For the month-by-month view, read Best Thai Islands by Month.

Scooters, scams and emergencies

Check the paperwork before you rent a scooter, because bikes for hire in tourist areas are often unregistered and cannot be used legally on a public road. You must wear a helmet, and riding without a valid licence could invalidate your travel insurance. Keep your passport, and do not hand it over as a guarantee to a rental shop.

Save 1155 in your phone, the tourist police hotline for crimes involving tourists. For an emergency, dial 191 for the Royal Thai Police or 1669 for a medical emergency. Phuket International Airport has a Prevention and Assistance in Tourist Fraud Center, tel +66 76 327100.

Tell a tuk-tuk or taxi driver exactly where you are going and decline sight-seeing detours. The tourist police guide and the emergency numbers page have more.

Extending your stay

A tourist extension costs THB 1,900, and you file it at the immigration office covering the area where you live. The main one is the Phuket Immigration Office at 482 Phuket Rd., Talad Yai, Mueang. Its phone is 0 7622 1905.

The office is open Monday to Friday and closed on Saturday, Sunday and national public holidays. For the paperwork around your stay, see how to extend a visa exemption, the address notification form and the stay report.

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Not confirmed: Bangkok to Phuket coach fare: no operator fare is confirmed, so check the operator's counter at the Southern Terminal. Smart Bus first and last departures are on a timetable image, so confirm the last bus at the stop.

Prices, timetables and opening hours change; check with the operator before you travel. See how guides are checked.

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