Visitors to Thailand who hold valid passports or travelling documents
issued by any country included in an officially issued list of eligible
countries, are permitted one-month visa-free visits.
If planning a longer stay, a Tourist Visa valid for 60 days must
be obtained from a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate abroad. Visa
extensions can be applied for at the Immigration Department in Bangkok
or in Phuket.
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 Train
Train lovers can travel from Hualomphong Station in Bangkok to
Surathani Province, and catch a bus from there to Phuket. Travel
to Surathani by train takes approximately 12 hours, with various
classes of seating available ranging in price from 187 Baht to 1040
Baht. Train schedules for the State Railway of Thailand can be found
by contacting
Tel: (02) 220 4334.
Advance tickets are available at all principal stations or the
Bangkok Advance Booking Office. Tel. (02) 225-0300 ext. 5200-3.
For bus timetable and information contact the Surathani Bus Terminal
on 077-200031-3.
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. |
