Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Phuket
The largest island in Thailand, Phuket is attached to the mainland by a few bridges. There
are many cities and towns on Phuket the island and while Phuket town does not have any
beaches it does have the cheapest accommodation. Originally along major shipping routes
betweenIndiaandChina,Phukethasbeenrebornasamajortouristdestinationandhashigh-
er prices than nearby islands to match the growth.
Phuket has the 2nd largest airport in Thailand behind Bangkok. You can get in and around
by bus from major cities like Bangkok, Hat Yai in the south, and Chiang Mai in the north.
While on the island you can get around by tuk-tuk and taxi very easily. Keep an eye out for
taxi drivers charging abnormally high prices for short distances, there have been reports of
a "taxi mafia" which will resort to underhanded tactics to get the most out of tourists, like
destroying local buses and setting up roadblocks. The safest option is to take a metered taxi
particularly if you are heading to Patong or another well known tourist spot on the island.
Patong is known for its nightlife and it is the most popular beach on Phuket with Karon
beach coming in second place.
For short trips around town the fastest option is a motorcycle taxi signified by the brightly
numbered vest. If you are staying for any length of time on Phuket then the most cost ef-
fective way to get around is by renting your own wheels. This is best arranged through your
hotel or accommodation if possible.
If you get bored of the beach and working on your tan there are plenty of water activities to
keep you busy like jet skiing, parasailing, free diving, windsurfing and kite surfing. If you
do decide to rent a jet ski then make sure to get a recommendation from your hotel, there is
a common scam where tourists are falsely charged for damage to jet skis and forced to pay.
There are many Thai and international cuisine options available. Some dishes specific to
Phuket include fried or boiled noodle with pork or chicken, "khanom jin" noodles for break-
fast, and "nam phrik kung siap", a mix of dried chili and shrimp with vegetables. Cashew
nuts and pineapples are grown in Phuket and are available all year.
