LANGUAGE

Thai

CURRENCY

Thai baht

BEST TIME TO VISIT

November to February

NEAREST AIRPORT

Phuket International Airport (HKT)

EMERGENCY HELPLINE NUMBER

911

INTERNET ACCESS

Wi-fi is almost standard in hotels, guesthouses and cafes. Signal strength deteriorates in the upper floors of a multistorey building; request a room near a router if wi-fi is essential. Cellular data networks continue to expand and increase in capability.

VISA

For visitors from most countries, visas are generally not required for stays of up to 30 days.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs oversees immigration and visa issues. There are frequent modifications of visa regulations so check the website or the nearest Thai embassy or consulate for application procedures and costs. The best online monitor is Thaivisa (www.thaivisa.com).

Visa Exemptions & Visa on Arrival

Thailand has visa-exemption and visa-on-arrival agreements with most nations (including European countries, Australia, New Zealand and the USA). Nationals from these countries can enter Thailand at no charge without pre-arranged documentation. Depending on nationality, these citizens are issued a 14- to 90-day visa exemption. Note that for some nationalities, less time (15 days rather than 30 days) is given if arriving by land rather than air. Check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for more details.

Without proof of an onward ticket and sufficient funds for your projected stay, you can be denied entry, but in practice this is a formality that is rarely checked.

HOTEL

Phuket is Thailand’s largest island – about the size of Singapore – and is connected to the mainland by two bridges. Most of the tourist development is concentrated around named beaches on the island’s west coast, like Patong, Kata, Bang Tao, and Surin, all of which offer similar attractions: sunbathing, snorkeling and diving day trips, jet-skiing, shopping, and dining. Patong Beach is the buzzy heart of the island’s beach scene, but it can be too noisy for some. Bangla Road, which is just a few steps from the beach, is packed full of dining and entertainment venues, along with throngs of wandering tourists and expats year-round, and the beach itself can get very crowded.

If you’d rather stay somewhere that still has a vibe but is mellower, try the beaches to the north and south of Patong. Heading north, you’ll find Kamala, Surin, and Bang Tao (in that order). Bang Tao is Phuket’s second longest beach and home to the Laguna Complex, where a number of luxury properties share activity and restaurant amenities.

LUXURY

Andara Resort and Villas

The Chava Resort

COMO Point Yamu

MID-RANGE

Pen Villa Hotel

Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort

BYD Lofts Boutique Hotel and Serviced Apartments

BUDGET

Summer Breeze Inn Hotel

Patong Mansion Hotel

Patong Princess Hotel

COST OF LIVING

Phuket is an island in the south of Thailand, comprising a number of beach and resort areas. It’s now almost as popular as Bangkok for foreign visitors, after rebounding fully after the 2004 tsunami devastation along some beaches. Taken as a whole, Phuket is also the most expensive part of Thailand for visitors. There are definitely some affordable options, especially for those who are willing to stay a bit inland, but the deluxe resorts in Phuket are definitely expensive compared to anywhere else in Southeast Asia. The high season is from December through March, and there are so many resorts that competition keeps prices reasonable. Once you have a room it’s possible to enjoy yourself and not spend much more, as budget food and drink options are available not far from most hotels, but if you want to snorkel or scuba dive or sail, it’s going to cost you. If you are on a backpacker budget then you’ll find the cheapest options in Phuket Town rather than along the beaches, but it also means riding buses back and forth each day, which takes some of the fun out of visiting a resort island.