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Even though the airport ranks second in the country in terms of
passenger and freight volume it is quite a modest affair and within
minutes of landing you will be in the terminal. As the airport is
situated in the north of the island some 40 minutes' drive from
Patong Beach, you're going to need some wheels to get to your hotel.
Read more...
The best time to visit Phuket is during the cool NE monsoon
season, from November through March (See photo Galleries December and January
in Phuket), when it isn't so humid, and the cool breezes keep
things comfortable. The average temperature is around 75F to 89F
(24C to 32C). Read more...
Getting Around in Phuket is easy. Most of the beach resorts are
small enough to walk around and most hotels are located close to
the beach, restaurants and shopping areas. If you'd rather not walk,
or if your hotel is not on one of the main beaches, your hotel can
arrange for a taxi or tuk tuk. There are also plenty of places to
hire cars or you can take the local bus... Read
more...
One of the best ways to see Phuket is to hire a car and drive around.
There are many scenic roads, particularly on the West Coast. It's
fun, easy and best of all - inexpensive. Here are some car rental
companies, all offer full insurance... Read
more...
Looking for a nice quiet hotel in Phuket or somewhere in heart
of the action? Beach bungalows maybe? Or a hotel that the kids would
love? See our Editor's Guide of Phuket best hotels. Alternatively, see the complete list of all Phuket Hotels or read our monthly hotels reviews.
Under the news stories there are more stories, only in clearer
focus. Take a closer look at Phuket life through our Phuket Focus
and keep a finger on the island's pulse. It's hot and
throbbing. Read more...
Islands are undeniably romantic; the word ‘honeymoon'
conjures up images of a young couple frolicking on endless stretches
of deserted beach. But why wait until the wedding is over to enjoy
paradise? Phuket has an abundance of locations ideally suited for
Thai- or Western-style marriage ceremonies – and not all are
on the beach. Read more...
General Information
Phuket is the largest island in Thailand. At 540 km sq,
it's about the same size as Singapore.
Just over an hour's fight from Bangkok or Singapore,
and with daily connections to most major Asian airports, Phuket
is ideally situated for a short break or a relaxing vacation.
Business Hours - generally 9am to 5pm, weekdays,
and 9am to 12 noon on Saturdays, except Public
Holidays when hours may vary. Shops and local stores open from
10 or 11am to 10pm, daily.
Banking hours - Monday to Friday 8.30am
to 3.30pm. Some branches, including those located in shopping centres,
are open as late as 7-8pm and on Saturdays. Currency exchange booths
are usually open 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. Twenty-four-hour
ATMs are widely available, and most accept cards using international
banking networks such as Cirrus or Plus
Currency is the Thai Baht. Check
out our handy Currency
Converter to find the value in your own currency.
Cameras and Photo Processing - Most major
brands of film and digital memory cards can be bought in Phuket.
Film and digital photo processing is widely available and 2-hour
service is common. Throw-away one-time cameras are widely available,
too.
Electricity - 220 Volts. Several different
plugs and sockets are in use, but two pin flat (US type) or round
(European type) are pretty universal. Adapters can bought at local
stores.
Population
The official census shows 231,206 people living in Phuket. This
figure only includes those registered as resident in Phuket province,
however there is a significant (semi-permanent) work force from
other provinces of Thailand and as many as 35,000 visitors at any
one time. It is therefore likely that the real figures are much
higher. Phuket Town, the main town, has over 60,000 people.
Ethnic composition
- Thai
- Chinese
- Muslim (originally of Malay descent)
- Chao Le (sea nomads)
- European
- Indian and Arabic
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