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Special Thai Project - Phuket

About the location

Resting in the turquoise water of the Andaman Sea, off the southwest coast of Thailand lays Phuket the largest isle in the Thai archipelago. Phuket fulfills the fantasies of even the most jaded international traveler with its sylvan beaches, picturesque resort complexes that embody luxury and leisure, a breathtakingly beautiful coastline, fascinating coral gardens and a bounty of sea life. To be precise, Phuket stores all that are considered enthralling in beach destinations across the globe.

Located approximately 862 kilometers south of Bangkok, Phuket is often dubbed as the pearl of the Andaman. Its geo-diversity and aesthetic exuberance, natural opulence and cultural extravagance contribute towards making Phuket the South’s wealthiest, busiest and most visited island and province. The province of Phuket covers an area of approximately 543 square kilometers. Phuket is flanked by the Andaman Sea on three sides and is sprinkled with some of the best diving sites. Seventy per cent of Phuket’s expanse is covered with mountains extended from north to south, while the rest 30 per cent being planes draping the central and eastern parts of the island.

Phuket is blessed with magnificent coves and bays, palm-fringed powdery white beaches, sparkling island-dotted seas, sincerely hospitable people, superb accommodations and seafood, delightful turn-of-the-century Sino-Portuguese architecture; numerous sporting and leisure opportunities; a lush tropical landscape, all of which combine to create a delightful ambience for truly memorable holidays.

As you stretch out on a lounge chair sipping your favorite fruit drink, as your eyes wander off to a distant frame dotted with palms on the crescent beach and as warm sun rubs your skin, Phuket slowly seeps into your senses. The white sand beaches and the breeze loaded with cooling water crystals can transport you to a mythical tropical paradise.

Parents and children, beach bums and barflies, newlyweds and 90-year-olds: Phuket has everything you’re looking for. It accommodates every budget, and promises to deliver a smile-filled holiday in the exotic surrounds of one of the planet’s most exciting island getaways.

Traveling to Phuket is a cakewalk as the island can be easily accessed by air, bus, car and train. The Phuket International Airport receives the major bulk of foreign visitors who arrive in scheduled and charter flights from Europe and Asia and in hoards from Bangkok. Low cost flights are available in plenty from Bangkok and Singapore.

By bus, it is a 14-hour drive to Phuket from Bangkok. Government buses are also available at reasonable prices besides coaches and minibuses that are run by private tours companies. However, driving down the glassy roads to Phuket in a hired car is undoubtedly a better way to explore peninsular Thailand, breaking at any interesting Thai towns along the way. The 867km-stretch can ideally be covered in 10 hours.

There isn’t any direct rail link between Bangkok and Phuket. But is possible to travel on tracks till Surat Thani and then avail a connecting bus to Phuket. The trains in Thailand are slow, cheap yet comfortable.

Getting around in Phuket or traversing the roads and highways of Phuket has to be a careful affair as the Thais are an ardent displayers of an array of driving skills that are better suited for racing tracks. Precisely, the roads are accident prone but not for the cautious travelers. The regular vehicles for commuting are motorbikes, buses, taxis and tuk-tuks.

The Tropical monsoon conditions keep Phuket wet and warm throughout the year. April through May are the hottest months whereas September and early October experiences frequent and heavy showers. The best months for visit can thus be marked from November through March when the level of sultriness dips to give way to cool and comfortable breeze from the North East. The average temperature stays around 75ºF to 89ºF (24ºC to 32ºC).

The internet services in Phuket are relatively basic and comparatively costly. Though the costs shows a downward trend, the connection speeds is yet to get faster. Phuket currently have 5 types of internet access - Dial-up 56k, ADSL broadband, Leased line, GPRS (mobile phone) and Satellite Broadband. Telephone lines in Phuket are available to foreigners against a valid work permit, a long-stay non-immigrant visa or a residence permit.

Phuket has two international standard hospitals - Phuket International Hospital and Bangkok Phuket Hospital, which are both located on the edge of Phuket City. Both hospitals offer an impressive range of facilities and services, and are staffed to deal with foreign patients. As the concept of medical tourism surfaces in Thailand, the number of medical tourist and foreign patient see a forward surge. The inexpensive hospitals include Mission Hospital, Vachira Hospital, Patong-Kathu Hospital. The names that identify larger infrastructure and better service in the Phuket City are Bangkok Phuket Hospital, Patong Hospital, Phuket International Hospital, Thalang Government Hospital.

The population of Phuket is an ethnic combination of Thai, Chinese, Muslims of Malay descent, Chao Le or sea nomads, Europeans, Indians and Arabic. The business hours in Phuket generally stretches between 9am and 5pm on weekdays and 9am to 12noon on Saturdays excepting on public holidays. Shops and merchants operate from 10 or 11 am and are at your disposal till about 10pm, daily.

The local currency of Phuket is the Thai Baht. Banking here starts from 8.30 am and the branches are open for public transactions till 3.30 pm, from Monday till Friday. However, a few branches operate as late as 7or 8pm and on Saturdays as well. The ATMs compensate the restricted banking hours, accepting cards using international banking networks like Cirrus or Plus. Currency exchange booths are conveniently open for the tourists for 12 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Phuket now has shopping opportunities to satisfy all but the most fanatical shopaholic. Shoppers can splurge to the fullest in Phuket, choosing from a whole range of ceramics, Batik clothes, Bird’s nests, Gems and Jewelry and Seashells. Ranging from the roadside stalls and markets to the shopping centers and departmental stores – handicrafts, textiles, gems & jewelries, antiques, clothing are available at best bargains.

A visit to a Thai beach destination like Phuket naturally accompanies culinary quests that are bound to end up in delightful discoveries. Phuket's restaurants, eateries and sea food joints brim over with aroma, taste and ambience. However it is important to be adequately informed about the eateries to avoid losing out the opportunity of a fine dining to a disastrous diet. Phuket is abounding with Western, International, British, Chinese, French, German, Indian, Irish, Italian, Latin American, Mediterranean, Mexican restaurants besides the Thai and Seafood joints.

There is also a bunch-full of bars that suit most pockets and palates. The list would be an array of genres including Beers Bars, Go-go Bars, Live Music Pubs and Pool and Sports Bars. If the sea and beaches are not intoxicating enough, the bars and pubs of Phuket are there for the travelers to completely unwind.

The list of must-visits is unending like the ceaseless source of energy that Phuket bustles with. The multi-hued festivals of Phuket depict the cultural richness of the island. The Chao Lay Boat Floating Festival, the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta, the Seafood Festival exemplifies how life in the island is strongly attached to the sea and how significant the sea is in sustaining the socio-economic vitality of the island. Tourists here are also captivated by the festivals like – Tourist Season Opening Festival, Phuket Travel Fair, Turtle Release Fair and the Laguna Phuket Triathlon.

Phuket caters to a diverse range of travelers with contrasting choices and interests. There is no dearth of entertainment and occupation as you can let yourself loose on a shopping spree or shuttle across beaches in search of delightful cuisine or exciting night life.