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Visitors to Thailand who hold valid passports or travelling documents
issued by a country included in Thailand's official list of eligible
countries, are permitted one-month visa-free visits.
If planning a longer stay, a Tourist Visa valid for 60 days must
be obtained from a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate abroad. Visa
extensions can be applied for at the Immigration Department in Bangkok
or in Phuket.
By air
Several carriers now fly directly to Phuket's International Airport
from locations abroad, making a stopover in Bangkok unnecessary.
Particularly in the high tourist season, flights come directly from
all over Asia, Australia and Europe. Many tourists to come via Bangkok
however, catching domestic flights on Thai Airways, which run regularly
throughout the day, 7 days a week. Flight schedules can be found
on the Thai Airways web
page or by Tel: (02) 232 8000 (Bangkok office); or (076) 327 144
(Phuket office).
Bangkok Airways offers
a daily 25-minute flight to and from Koh Samui on the other side
of the peninsula.
If travelling from (or to) Krabi, Air Andaman has recently begun
operating daily flights between Phuket and Krabi, with schedules
dependent on the season and weather conditions. They also operate
a Phuket-Surat Thani flight daily - handy for those who want to
take the train from Bangkok and complete the last leg by air (See
Train Info below). Call the Air Andaman Phuket Office: 076-351374,
351375; or Krabi Office: 075-691495 for details.
From the airport, you can travel to Kamala by taxi or hired minibus,
unless your hotel has arranged transfer for you. A trip to Kamala
in a shared minibus will cost approximately 100-150 Baht. If hiring
a taxi, expect to pay up to 600 Baht. The trip takes approximately
50 minutes.
By Train
Catch a train from Hualomphong Station in Bangkok to Suratthani,
followed by a bus to Phuket. Bangkok to Suratthani by train takes
approximately 12 hours, with various classes of seating available.
Prices range from 187 to 1040 Baht. Train schedules for the State
Railway of Thailand can be found by contacting Tel: (02) 220
4334. Advance tickets are available at all principal stations or
the Bangkok Advance Booking Office. Tel. (02) 225-0300 ext. 5200-3.
For bus timetable and information contact the Suratthani Bus Terminal
on 077-200031-3 or local travel agencies.
From the Phuket bus terminal simply take a taxi or tuk tuk to Kamala.
Remember to agree a price beforehand.
Overland by Road
From Bangkok to Phuket by bus takes about 14 hours. Daily services
leave from the Southern Bus Terminal in Thonburi, and there are
many private services available from almost any travel agent and
hotel tour desk in the city. For information on bus timetables contact
the Southern Bus Terminal on Boromratchchonnani Rd, Bangkok, Tel:
(662) 435-1200, 434-7192 or a local travel agent. Most services
will bring you directly to the Phuket Bus Terminal in Phuket Town,
from where you can take a local bus, taxi truck or tuk tuk to Kamala.
Negotiate your fare with the taxi or tuk tuk before you set off.
You can hire a car and drive down to Phuket - the road system is
good and well sign-posted and the car hire companies will supply
maps and directions. Once you cross the Sarasin Bridge which connects
the mainland to Phuket Island, head down the main highway and follow
the signs that take you on a bypass road to Patong on the west coast
of the island. Once you've reached Patong, simply head towards the
sea and follow the signs to Kamala Beach which is about 15 minutes
further along the coast. The whole journey from the bridge to Kamala
takes about one hour.
There are many car hire companies in Bangkok, including international
rental companies such as Hertz, Budget and Avis, which offer full
insurance. An international driving licence is required.
By Sea
Cruise and cargo ships come to Phuket from abroad. Contact your
travel agent for information about the many different ships that
stop at Phuket. For private vessels entering Phuket waters, there
are regulations that should be observed which include that all vessels
must report upon entry to:
Phuket Port Control Center
2nd Floor Phuket Fishing Lodge Hotel
52/2 Moo 9 Tambon (Sub District) Chalong
Amphoe Muang, Phuket,
Latitude 7o 49' 0" N, Longitude 98o 22' 0" E,
Tel. and Fax. 66 76 381614.
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