How to Get Here
Air
Phuket International Airport receives flights from all around Asia, Australia and Europe and flights from Bangkok take a little over an hour. It is a good idea to book your tickets to Phuket early, especially during the November-May high season. When you arrive, our Laguna Phuket Hospitality Centre is located in the Arrivals Hall of the Phuket airport to greet and assist Laguna's guests. The resort is only a 20-minute drive from Phuket International Airport.
Sea
There are no regular ferry services to Phuket from other countries. If you come from abroad by yacht, you must clear Immigration and Customs located at Chalong Bay, on the southern end of Phuket.
Road
Phuket is 885km south of Bangkok and connected to the mainland by a 1200m causeway. Both government-operated buses and private air-conditioned tour coaches regularly make the 14-hour journey between Phuket and Bangkok. Phuket bound buses depart from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal.
Rail
There is no rail service to Phuket itself. The night train from Bangkok (Hua Lumphong Railway Station) to Surat Thani is a long but scenic journey. At Surat Thani you must transfer to a bus to reach Phuket.
Island Transport
Public Transport
From the airport, 'limousines' to Phuket Town or to one of the west coast beaches cost around 400 Baht. The minibus service is about 80 Baht, which can be much slower. There are also the ubiquitous tuk-tuks or open taxis. If you want a tuk-tuk to yourself, expect to pay around 300-1,000 Baht, depending on where you are going. Otherwise, if the vehicle picks up more people along the way, the fare should be somewhere around 20 or 40 Baht.
The route buses, or songthaews, are converted trucks with benches serving as seats. They work regular routes and the destinations are clearly marked in both English and Thai. Fares cost around 20-40 Baht per passenger. Motorcycle taxis are for the stouter of heart, and the fares are to some extent negotiable. You can recognise them by the numbered vests on the drivers.
Car Rentals
You can hire vehicles by the day or by the week. Make sure that insurance cover is offered as the driver is liable for all damage costs in the event of an accident or otherwise.
Ferries
Regular ferry services run between Phuket and the spectacular Phi Phi islands a couple of hours to the east. Tour boats also offer daytrips to the Similan Islands, about 50 miles to the northwest, which are famed for the quality of their diving.
Boat Rentals
You can rent everything from a traditional wooden 'longtail' boat (with driver) to a 30-knot speedboat which will take you to the Similan Islands for diving or snorkelling and back within a day. This is one way to see the Phuket coast from the sea or to visit neighbouring islands. Other ways involve chartering a sailing yacht or booking a place on a live-aboard diveboat.