Weekend Getaway from Bangkok: Phuket

If your Bangkok condo has you feeling claustrophobic and you’re looking for some fresh air and sunshine, there’s no reason why you can’t travel to Phuket, the biggest island in Thailand in as little time as a few hours. One of the great things about Thailand is that it’s so easy to get around the country on a whim, as well as on a dime and getting to Phuket is no exception.

How to Travel from Bangkok to Phuket:

Getting There Fast, by Air: Of course there’s always the time involved in getting to the airport, and depending on what time you leave home in Bangkok that will determine what the best route is for you. It is highly recommended that you take the Sky Train for as much of your route as possible, since the traffic is Bangkok is consistently bad yet unpredictable.  Take the BTS to Phaya Thai and connect directly to the Airport Rail Link (if going to Suvarnabhumi/ BKK) or to Mo Chit and catch an inexpensive taxi or bus (if going to Don Muang/DMK).

Between the two airports, you will literally have dozens of options when to fly every day, many of them at budget prices.

Getting There Cheaply, by Land: If you’re really looking for budget travel, it’s quite easy to take a bus from Bangkok to Phuket. At less than $25 per ride, you can leave Bangkok at 9pm and arrive in Phuket at 9am, with a full day ahead of you on the island. For this type of travel, we recommend considering taking a sleeping pill. If you think it may not be possible to sleep on the bus, you can take a sleeper train to Surat Thani with a full bed and turndown service for about $40, however you’ll still need to take a four-hour bus ride to Phuket so the entire journey will take about the same amount of time or longer than it would to take the direct bus.

Getting Around: We happen to have an entire blog post about how to get around Thailand. Learn how to take a TukTuk, Songtheaw or even a taxi.

What to Do in Phuket:

With a landmass only slightly smaller than Singapore, it would be a challenge to see all of Phuket in just a few days. It is home to dozens beautiful beaches, a historical town, temples, a thumping nightlife, and many islands to explore on day trips.

Phuket Beaches: If you’re looking for a quiet beach that’s filled with nature, Laem Ka Beach is located on the most southern tip and is a bit difficult to find, so remains mostly secluded. For something more energetic, Patong beach is full of a backpacker crowd from tourists who stay on the busiest street on the island, Bangla Road in Patong. For something in the middle, Surin Beach has lovely mountains surrounding it but offers all sorts of water activities, a plethora of beach chairs and umbrellas, water-side restaurants and people-watching all day.

Phuket Old Town: Phuket became economically important to Thailand in the late 1600’s when the Dutch, English and French realized that it was a hotbed for mining tin. When so many westerners came over to participate in the mining, they left behind much western influence which is still clearly seen in the architecture of Phuket today. This is a charming area to walk around and view the colourful facades, decorative columns and window frames. When you’re hungry, tired or simply too hot, stop into one of the small shops and restaurants for a bite or cold drink.

Phuket Temple Touring: There are close to 30 temples on Phuket, many dating back to a hundred years ago or more. Among them includes the splendid Wat Claong, located about 8 km south of Phuket City. Between seven in the morning and five in the afternoon tourists can visit this beautiful temple, covered in gold and decorated with many paintings of Buddah images to learn about Thailand’s most popular religion. This breezy temple is a peaceful place to get out of the sun or rain, depending on what season you visit Phuket.

While not exactly a temple, Phuket’s Big Buddah is an impressive and landmark that’s worthwhile of a visit if you’re looking for a cultural sightseeing activity. Sitting 45 metres above land, between Chalong and Kata, Big Buddah also offers the most impressive views of the island, especially at sunset.

Phuket Night Life: If you’re looking for night life in Thailand, Phuket is always mentioned as one of the busiest and best locations for a wild night out. Bang La Road in Patong is especially well known for night life as it is filled with booze-drinking, bucket-carrying, bar-hopping tourists from all over the world every day of the week. Walking down the street will pass you by flashing neon lights, go-go dancers,  ladyboy cabaret and ping-pong shows and street entertainers. When you’re tired of the bar and club scene, Patong beach is at the end of the road and is often a place where small fireworks are lit throughout the night.

Island Hopping From Phuket: There are many small islands that surround Phuket and are easily reachable by private boat or even a ferry, depending on the island. For a day trip, hiring a private boat to take you around Phang Nga may be the best option, so you can boat around at your leisure, spending time at the island you deem most beautiful and moving on from ones that don’t necessarily strike a chord.  The most famous place within this bay is James Bond Island, named after the movie that was filmed there. The most famous island off of Phuket is Koh Phi Phi, which is reachable by ferry in less than two hours. This island is a destination in and of itself however and deserves at least one overnight stay.

Have you ever visited Phuket? Or are you lucky enough to have a Phuket condo of your own? Leave comments with suggestions and tips below!