Travel tales and tips for getting around in Phuket, Thailand by asiahotels.com

Traveller's Tales: Getting around in Phuket, Thailand

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P Standidge	01 June 2005
Stayed at Horizon Beach Resort Hotel - Phuket, Thailand.
A number of the organised tours e.g. Phi Phi Island were being offered at 40% discount by local travel agents close to the hotel. Please be aware of the large number of taylors close by who are very keen to sell you a suit. I counted about 6 between the hotel and the beach
G Roser	18 May 2005
Stayed at Le Tong Beach Hotel - Phuket, Thailand.
The best way to get around is to hire mopeds. We paid 200bht each for one days use. A great way of exploring the many beaches along the cost.
A Cockburn	29 March 2005
Stayed at Le Tong Beach Hotel - Phuket, Thailand.
High season in Phuket was at around 30% of normal post Tsunami. Diving trips using Dive the World was good value as they sourced the operators and program within constraints of customer and gave discounts. Another excellent cheap way of sight seeing the island is by suzuki small truck at 800Bht/day. Just remember not much fuel is used so don't fill the tank if your only going out for the day.100Bht petrol would probaby do. White water rafting is excellent day option for novices in this activity.
S Heinrich	10 August 2004
Stayed at Thara Patong Beach Resort, Phuket - Phuket, Thailand.
There are a lot of things to do in Patong. You can do tours to James Bond Island, Phi Phi Island and also dive or fishing trips. Most trips have the bad disadvantage that you spend a lot of time at a cashew nut factory and a gems store where you are forced to buy overpriced, low quality stuff. We had a day tour to James Bond Island just 30 min at the island, but 90 min at the shops! You should avoid Sealand Tours, but most others are not much better.
M Babb	21 July 2004
Stayed at Jiva Resort and Spa - Phuket, Thailand.
Kata Beach is the most beautiful beach I've ever been to. Furthermore, Phuket is one the most beautiful destinations in the world. I would also like to inform readers of this site to not be afraid to go to Phuket during the rainy season; especially if you can stay a long time. We did encounter rain two of the five days we were there, but I was told (by reliable sources) that this is a little unusual and that the two days before we had arrived had been beautiful. So that would have made it two out of seven days. That being said, be careful when going on boat excursions during this time. We went to Phi Phi and had to endure a pretty violent storm on our return boat trip to Phuket. Lastly, I would like to mention that the only place to stay is at the Kata Beach Resort. We originally stayed at the Jiva, but checked out after the first night due to its distance from the beach. Fortunately, the Kata Beach Resort had rooms available and were we able to stay the remainder of our trip in a deluxe sea view room. This room was on the second floor and overlooked the pool and the beach. It was fabulous. Ironically, I did not originally book this hotel due to negative comments on this website. These comments may have been old since I was told the hotel was refurbished in September 2003. But, I found the hotel to be beautiful and the staff to be accomodating. I would rate this a 5 star hotel except, as a resort, I thought they would provide more activities and have things like snorkel gear readily available. As a result, I would rate it 4 and 1/2 stars.
J Misako kojima	29 May 2004
Stayed at Kata Thani Hotel and Beach Resort - Phuket, Thailand.
My advice: 1) Be careful taking a taxi affiliated with the hotel. Unless you agree a realistic price don't use them. I had to take a taxi on my last day for 500 baht for a 10 minute round trip. This makes it comparable or more expensive to Tokyo. 2) Hiring a vehicle is much the best way of getting around. 1,300 Baht for the cheapest vehicle (a jeep) for 1 day was I thought very reasonable, and better I thought than the free hotel courtesy bus to Phuket Town which ran once a day at 1pm returnig at4pm. 3) Local Thai restaurants were far better value than the hotel restaurants, typically 1/3 the price and more authentic. There was a good one whose name I forget, about 1 minute walk from the hotel towards the south. Another recommended value for money Thai restaurant in a great location on the beach, is in the southern corner of Kata Beach (not the noisy pub/restaurant next to it). 4) The 1 day "safari" wasn't worth it but my Mum liked it. It involved seeing how they tap rubber trees, how a monkey can pick coconuts, how two young elephants can perform for an audience, how to make a Thai curry, how to prepare a coconut, a cart ride pulled by water buffalo and a 20-30 minute elephant ride. Don't ride an elephant with bare feet because they are infested with mites!! 4) The Chalong bhuddist temple wasn't at all interesting, and I've been to many in Asia. Seeing a pitifully neglected, lame, stray dog infront of the door of the main temple made more of a negative impression than usual when you could see people spending their money on Lotus flower offerings and "fire crackers". 5) If you go diving from May onwards be prepared for high seas. I did not fare well on the longer than expected 1.5-2hr trip to the first dive site!!
G Anaple	15 April 2004
Stayed at Karon Villa Phuket Beach Resort & Spa (Renovation) - Phuket, Thailand.
My main complaint about Phuket is the absurd price of private transportation. From the airport to the hotel was 650 baht, by private taxi. I laughed, knowing it only costs another 200 baht to go by bus, all the way to Bangkok. And, the inter-Island tuk tuks all charge 200 baht to go anywhere, down the beach or 12 kilometers up the coast. I can go from one side of Bangkok to the other for UNDER 200 baht, even in mid-day traffic. So...it bothered me a little. I recommend that anyone coming for an extended stay simply rent a motorbike, and drive yourself wherever you need to go. Or, on an even more practical level, use the public buses, which cost usually 20 baht, to anywhere. And a quick word about the "Thai Boxing" on Phuket: DO NOT go unless you are interested in seeing prepubescent youths slugging it out. This goes for both, the offerings at Patong and Phuket Town. I was sorely disappointed to see children (aged 5 years at Phuket Town!) being knocked unconscience at both venues. No contender was over age 17. Sure, it is grassroots Muey Thai, but far from what it is promoted to be. Lastly, Asian tour groups and Europeans were the only other guests using the Karon Villa during my stay. Be prepared for the gross abuse of Asian culture by the nude sunbathing Europeans. As with all other destinations in Thailand, the Europeans show utter lack of respect for Asian culture by both beach and poolside nudity. Rude by Thai standards, the Europeans do not seem to care. My Thai travel companions were unsettled, but graciously accepting, realizing it was the European money which fueled their economy.
P Hopp	26 March 2004
Stayed at Central Karon Village - Phuket, Thailand.
The hotel is about 40 minutes from the Phuket airport. We suggest using a metered taxi as it was half the price of a hotel shuttle. The hotel is only 5 minutes by taxi or tuk tuk to Patong town if you're looking for some night life. Forget about Patong beach, too many people and boats. The Karon beach is quiet, no boats, and wonderful warm water. There's lots to see and do and don't be afraid to take chances and please bargain. Just use your common sense and enjoy all that Phuket has to offer.
T Chng	21 March 2004
Stayed at Club Bamboo Resort - Phuket, Thailand.
Visited the Patong Beach by motor-bike taxis. Received a full body treatment at a luxurious health spa centre at very affordable prices. (Can't remember the name). The prices of food at restaurants were somewhat pricier than Bangkok and Pattaya. Nevertheless, it was tasty. Did a half day tour to James Bond Island which was good value for money.
J Defelice	14 March 2004
Stayed at Holiday Inn Resort Phuket - Phuket, Thailand.
We went on the Island Hopper for a day trip and it was fantastic and if you're into jewellery visit the Gem Gallery very cheap and very good. We went elephant treking, heaps of shopping, visited the Chalong temple. Just ran out of time as there was more to do and see. The hotel organised all our transport so it made real easy. Just one thing to look out for is the Time Share people, they give you a ticket and say you have won but to claim the prize you have to go to a promotion talk next thing you know you have wasted a couple of hours of your holiday.

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