Things to know before visiting Phuket, Thailand

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE PLANNING A HOLIDAY IN PHUKET

Hosted by the Andaman Sea, Phuket is Thailand's largest island and also one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world.

In this article I will only talk about the organizational details, which will help you in planning your vacation in Phuket. If you are interested in the tourist attractions, I have written separate articles about:

• the most beautiful beaches and places to visit in Phuket;

• top excursions from Phuket;

• 7-day itinerary in Phuket;

HOW DO YOU GET TO PHUKET?

The only way to get to Phuket (unless you are already in Thailand, in a location that allows you to travel by other means of transport) is by plane. The island is served by its own airport, which operates both domestic and international flights.

At the time of writing this article, there are both flight options with stopovers and direct flight option from most big cities in the world. To find the best deals, I recommend doing as many simulations as possible, with flexible dates on Skyscanner.

From Europe, there are several flight combination options, as follows:

- flight with Qatar Arways, one of the most popular and easy options to get to Thailand. Only one stopover is required in Doha. There are several flight options per day, so depending on your budget, you can choose how long the stopover should be. If you are looking for the most affordable options, keep in mind that this company usually offers discounts in March.

- flying with Turkish Airlines is another flight alternative (more affordable), but you may find the option with two stopovers, one in Istanbul, one in Bangkok;

- flight with Emirates Airlines - there is the option of flying with a stopover in Dubai;

TRANSPORTATION ON PHUKET ISLAND

We have the following options to move from one point to another on the island:

• rental car; it is the most convenient option and also the option that will give you a lot of flexibility in visiting lots of locations. In order to drive legally and to be covered by health insurance in case of an accident, it is necessary to have an international driving license. The island is quite developed, and the roads are quite good, so I don't see any major difficulties in driving a car in this location. The only challenges would be the fact that you drive on the left side of the road and the multitude of scooters that you have to be careful of.

• renting a scooter is another transportation option. As with a car, you need an international driving license. I have noticed that the police often stop tourists on scooters, so I recommend not to take the risk. Also, if you have never ridden a scooter before, I do not recommend learning in Phuket.

• Bolt, Grab, or taxi; any of these can be a transport option worth considering to get to places where public transport does not operate. We used Bolt most often, and in situations where there is no Bolt in certain locations, we called a taxi, also through the Bolt app. We have also noticed that some drivers try certain methods to get extra money from tourists. For example, if you ordered a ride that costs 200THB in the app, the driver who wants to trick you will send you a message saying that he wants 300THB for the same ride. I recommend that you do not accept such “offers” and look for another driver.

• public transport; it is the cheapest option to get from one location to another and is not as difficult to use as one might think. There are no connections to all locations and beaches on the island, but it can be combined with the Bolt. There are two types of public transport: the Smart Bus, which runs from the airport, south, on the western side (and back) and local bus transport, which runs mostly from west to east, or from Phuket Town to the south.

Source of image ; www,phuketsmartbus,com

• the tuk-tuk; I hesitated to mention this type of transportation, considering that it is not suitable for long distances. It is also only available in popular locations and is more expensive than the Bolt.

WHERE DO YOU STAY IN PHUKET?

Phuket is a fairly large island, so the location of your accommodation is quite important, unless you plan to rent a scooter or car. If you choose to rent one of these, then the location of your accommodation does not matter as much.

The most popular location, where there are both taxi and public transport connections, is Patong. Phuket Town can also be a pretty good option, but there are slightly more complicated connections to the airport and certain beaches.

Of the options listed on Booking, here are the ones that caught my attention:

• Courtyard by Marriott - accommodation unit located in Patong, which has twin or double rooms. It is equipped with 4 outdoor swimming pools, two restaurants, bar, fitness room and parking;

• Novotel Phuket Resort - accommodation unit located in Patong, which has twin, double rooms, or suites for families. It is equipped with an outdoor pool, bar, fitness room and parking;

• Eden Resort - 4-star accommodation unit, located in Patong, which has suites or family rooms that can accommodate up to 4 people. It is equipped with an outdoor pool, restaurant, bar, fitness room and parking;

If you are looking for a slightly more special location, then you can consider Sinae Phuket - SHA Extra Plus. The location is rated 5 stars and has rooms with or without a private pool.

Source of image: www,booking,com

HEALTH AND SAFETY RISKS

Below is a list of safety and health issues that you should keep in mind:

• there are no mandatory vaccines to enter Thailand, but preventive vaccinations against hepatitis A and B, yellow fever, typhoid fever, or tetanus can be done;

• many of the dangerous diseases can be caused by viruses transmitted by mosquitoes. I recommend using protective creams and solutions, especially in the evening. The most recommended solutions are those from local pharmacies, or even local supermarkets;

• I recommend using water shoes on any beach. There are worms living in the fine sand that can get into people's feet. If you are facing this problem, contact your local pharmacy, which has special antibiotics for this type of worm;

• don't leave the country without a travel insurance, especially in a country outside Europe, where the health risks are much higher;

• avoid walking or hiking on paths with dense vegetation. The dangers for such activities are represented especially by venomous snakes, but also by certain insects;

• among the most common health problems you can encounter is food poisoning. You have every chance of avoiding such problems if you choose to dine only in locations that inspire you with confidence in terms of hygiene. If you want extra prevention, you can brush your teeth only with bottled water, and two weeks before your trip, you can take probiotics.

• the monkeys are also a danger. Their bite is extremely dangerous, and most medical insurance policies do not cover the costs of treatment in this case.

WHEN TO VISIT AND HOW LONG TO STAY IN PHUKET?

In terms of weather, Thailand has three seasons, all warm, but with some differences. From November to March is the dry season, when the average temperature is 30 degrees, and rainfall is low. From April to June, the slightly warmer season begins, when the average temperature is 40 degrees. During this period, there may be a little more rain, which will increase the humidity and make the air difficult to breathe. From July to October is the rainy season, when torrential rains can be the order of the day. During this period there is an increased risk of hurricanes. Obviously, with climate change in recent years, there may be exceptions.

Thus, the best time to visit Phuket would be during the dry season, from November to March.

Also, during the Chinese New Year period, the island becomes extremely crowded, and reasonably priced accommodations are a bit harder to find. Many Chinese citizens choose Thailand as a location to celebrate the transition between years.

How long to stay in Phuket?

To enjoy the location, but also the day trips to other islands, I recommend having a minimum of 7 days. However, to make the trip from Romania worthwhile and to see as many places on the island as possible without rushing, it would be ideal to have 14 days available.

OTHER INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PHUKET:

• most countries have up to 60 days visa on arrival;

• for most payments you will need 95% cash. The local currency is the Baht (THB). You can choose to either have euros or dollars in cash to exchange at local exchange offices, or you can withdraw THB directly from your card. I noticed that most ATMs have a standard fee of 220 THB, regardless of the amount withdrawn. It is recommended to withdraw larger amounts. Also, card payments fees are quite pricey.

• if you purchase goods and services from stores that provide you with a tax receipt based on your passport, you can take back the VAT value. This can be done at airport offices, which are located near the check-in counters.

• to have internet, we bought a sim card at the airport. They activated it for us on the spot, and the internet worked very well. I paid 400THB for the unlimited package;

• most of the beautiful beaches are located on the western side of the island, so it is recommended to keep this in mind when choosing the location of your accommodation unit;

• Phuket is surrounded by many islands and islets that you can take boat trips to. Although there are many places where you can purchase such trips, I recommend purchasing them from Get your guide, because it offers the advantage of reviews and you have a better chance of choosing the right tour organizers.

• if you are looking for clubs, lively areas and party locations, the most suitable are Patong and Phuket Town;

• most restaurants with a view, where you can also admire the sunset, are located in the Kata area;

• among the most popular traditional Thai dishes are: pad thai in various forms, tom yum in various forms and khao soi. As a dessert, the most popular is mango sticky rice.

• exotic fruits are very aromatic and taste much better than those we buy from supermarkets in Europe;

• when you go shopping, keep in mind that you will find the highest prices in Phuket Town;

• in locations where prices are not displayed, it is recommended to negotiate;

  
  

CONCLUSIONS

We chose Phuket as our first destination in Asia because it is very touristy and popular. Although we normally like places that are not crowded, this time we made an exception. The plan was to not have too much of a culture shock and it worked. What we didn't expect was to like it so much and want to come back to enjoy the location more.

In conclusion, it is a very crowded location, but this does not detract from the beauty and zen atmosphere of the place. If you have the opportunity to come here, I am convinced that you will like it.

Don't forget the links to the posts about places to visit, beaches, and the 7-day itinerary, which I left at the beginning of the article.

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