Guide to Getting Around in Phuket Thailand

There are many ways to get around in Phuket and there are some very cheap options and some not so cheap. As a first timer to Phuket, it is important to know which form of transport is a rip off and which is good value for money. For those who like to be independent, then driving in Phuket or riding a motor bike can be arranged but I wouldn't recommend riding a motor bike in the busy areas of Phuket as it is very dangerous and if you have an accident, it's always your fault.


Tuk Tuk:
A tuk tuk is a Thai version of a taxi. These small compact van type taxis, are everywhere in Phuket. They park outside the most crowded areas and ask or harass, any tourist that walks past for a lift. Tuk tuks are the most expensive way to get around in Phuket as the Tuk Tuk drivers, love to elevate their prices. It is recommended to avoid tuk tuks in Phuket whenever possible, to avoid getting ripped off. If you have no other way of getting to your destination, then see if you can negotiate the price down a bit before you leave, but you can't push your luck too much, as the drivers have been known to get violent.

Taxis: 
Normal car taxis are also available here and you will literary see hundreds of them all competing for you business as soon as you step out of the airport, which can be a bit overwhelming at first. They are also around all the tourist hot spots. If you get a taxi form the airport, try to get a driver in a uniform, as there are other dodgy drivers there that are not registered to be a taxi driver and are doing it illegally and are just downright dangerous drivers.

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Motorbike Taxi: 
A much cheaper way to get around and much more dangerous. You basically get on the back of a motor bike and hang on for your life, especially if you are going down some of the busy streets in Patong. The motorbike taxi drivers usually wear blue vests and don't hassle as much as the Tuk Tuk drivers, unless its 4.00am in the morning and you are walking down Bangla Road where they are all lined up waiting for business.

Buses: 
By far the cheapest way to get around Phuket is by bus. The blue buses, known as Song Thaews, operate between the beaches and Phuket Town. There are no designated bus stops for these buses but you can wave one down.

Hiring a Bike:
 Hiring a bike in Phuket is cheap way to get around, but be careful, the road rules are bent here everyday and its not uncommon to see motorbikes or cars on the wrong side of the road - going around someone or cutting corners. You must wear a helmet here when riding a bike and you really are supposed to have a Thai motorbike licence here when riding one, but no tourist ever gets one. The police pull tourists over all the time, booking them for no helmets so be warned.

Hiring a Car:
Cars can also be hired here, they are much more expensive than a bike, but a lot safer. Most hotels can book you a car for hire and its usually for 24 hours. You are supposed to have a Thai licence to drive a car also.
A local comparison site, CarHirePhuket.com, lets you compare Phuket car rental deals, and generally offers lowest rates.

Walking: 
When walking around Phuket, make sure you are on the lookout when crossing the roads. If you use a crossing here, almost no one stops for you to pass so be prepared to wait.

Catching a Long Tail Boat:
Long tail boats rides are available to take tourists to other beaches in Phuket and you can often be taken to remote islands or beaches which don't get many visitors around Phuket.

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