Travel to Patong Beach

By air

Several carriers now fly directly to Phuket's International Airport from locations abroad, making a stopover in Bangkok unnecessary. Particularly in the high tourist season, flights come directly from all over Asia, Australia and Europe.

It is still the trend for many tourists to come through Bangkok however, catching domestic flights via Thai Airways, which run regularly through the day, 7 days a week.

Flight schedules can be found on the Thai Airways web page or by Tel: (02) 232 8000 (Bangkok office); or (076) 327 144 (Phuket office).

Bangkok Airways offers a daily 25-minute flight to and from Koh Samui on the other side of the peninsula.

If travelling from (or to) Krabi, Air Andaman has recently begun operating daily flights between Phuket and Krabi, with schedules dependent on the season and weather conditions.

They also operate a Phuket-Surat Thani flight daily - handy for those who want to take the train from Bangkok and complete the last leg by air (See Train Info below).
Call the Air Andaman Phuket Office: 076-351374, 351375; or Krabi Office: 075-691495 for details.

From the airport, you can travel to Patong by taxi or hired minibus, unless your hotel has arranged transfer for you. A trip to Patong in a shared minibus will cost approximately 100 Baht. If hiring a taxi, expect to pay up to 600 Baht. The trip to Patong takes approximately 40 minutes.

By Road from Bangkok

You can catch a bus from Bangkok to Phuket - which takes about 14 hours. Daily services leave from the Southern Bus Terminal in Thonburi, and there are many private services available from almost any travel agent and hotel tour desk in the city.

For information on bus timetables contact the Southern Bus Terminal on Boromratchchonnani Rd, Bangkok, Tel: (662) 435-1200, 434-7192. On arrival at Phuket, most buses go the Phuket Bus Terminal in Phuket Town, from where you can take a local bus, taxi or Tuk Tuk to Patong.

You can hire a car and drive down to Phuket - the road system is good and well sign-posted. Once you cross the Sarasin Bridge to Phuket Island, head down the main highway and follow the signs that take you on a bypass road to Patong on the west coast of the island, about a 40-minute trip from the bridge.

There are many car hire firms in Bangkok, including international rental companies such as Hertz, Budget and Avis, which offer full insurance. An international driving license is required.

By Sea

Cruise ships call regularly at Patong during the high season. Contact your travel agent for information. For private yachts and boats entering Phuket waters, regulations state that all vessels must report to:

Phuket Port Control Center
2nd Floor Phuket Fishing Lodge Hotel
52/2 Moo 9 Tambon (Sub District) Chalong
Amphoe Muang, Phuket,
Latitude 7o 49' 0" N, Longitude 98o 22' 0" E,
Tel. and Fax. 66 76 381614.