Phuket Airport - infrastructure and layout

A vacation on the picturesque island of Phuket for most tourists begins with the arrival at the second largest Thai airport. Flying is the most popular way to get to the tourist paradise, so Phuket airport is not used to complaining about high passenger traffic.

An inexperienced tourist can easily get lost in a fairly spacious building consisting of three floors and two terminals. Therefore, knowing in advance the location of the terminals, cashiers and other important places, you can not hang around the building in search of a guide, and with pleasure plunge into a fabulous vacation.

Airport location

Phuket Airport is located in the northwest of the island - in the part where there are almost no hotels, beaches and other tourist infrastructure. The main city of the island, Phuket, can be reached in the shortest possible time, as the distance is only 32 kilometers.

Airport on the map in Phuket

Arrival at the airport

Phuket Airport, passing through the arrival arm, welcomes its guests to the baggage claim hall, after visiting which everyone is free to choose their own way to get to the city. Although cases of lost luggage have been decreasing in recent years, you should not panic and get nervous if your luggage is not found, moreover, if your luggage insurance is provided by your insurance company.

To search for lost luggage should apply to a special service at the airport: managers working at the desk will help you to correctly fill out an application, describe lost luggage, and record personal information and information about the place where the tourist is planning to rest.

It is not necessary to wait for the end of the search in the building: after the loss is discovered, the airport services will contact the tourist and deliver the cargo to the destination.

If there are no problems with luggage, and a desire to get to know the airport in Phuket closer is, the traveler can walk on the first floor, visit the numerous souvenir shops and stalls with food (such institutions operate strictly scheduled - from 7:00 to 23:00). Alcohol and tobacco products can be purchased only in specialized duty-free shops.

At the exit you can buy a SIM card of the famous mobile operators of Thailand - True Move and DTAC. Prices for international calls from 3 cents a minute, Internet rates are also very affordable. The SIM card can be recharged in denominations of 100, 300, 500 baht.

As of July 31, 2015, all SIM cards in Thailand must be registered with their operators. SIM cards purchased earlier and not registered by this time are not valid.

Registration is done at the mobile operator's branch or at Big C, Tesco Lotus and 7-Eleven stores. You only need a passport and the procedure takes no more than 5 minutes.

Popular mobile operator packages among tourists:

True Move - 3G Tourist Inter Sim and Dtac - Happy Tourist SIM.

• More information in the article: Internet in Thailand

You can exchange the money you brought with you or withdraw a certain amount from any bank card not only at the airport but also in almost any major shopping and entertainment center. Do not hurry to exchange or withdraw large sums: it will not only protect you from the attacks of local thieves, but also to find a better rate and favorable conditions for withdrawal.

At the exit of the hall, you can notice the counters with free maps of the island and travel guides.

The Russian ruble is not the most popular currency in Thailand, so you can not always and not everywhere to exchange it. And the rate in small shops and money changers, as a rule, is predatory low.

The Phuket airport provides car rental and rental shops on the first floor next to the domestic arrivals hall and the luggage storage area. When renting a car look for current offers from leading companies in Thailand (Hertz, Sixt, Avis, etc.).

If you decide to spend time not only on the beaches, but also in the outskirts of the city is a very profitable way to travel. Of course, if you have an international driver's license and driving experience. The cost of renting a car per day is 25-35 $ for an economy car (Honda Jazz).

The car is returned at the airport in the same place where it is issued to you. That is, in the arrivals area. Usually tourists surrender the car at the airport, and then leave Phuket. To get from the arrival area to the departure area, just go through the metal detector at the entrance to the building, and then use the elevator (located on the left side of the entrance) and go to the floor above.

Departure from the airport

In contrast to the arrival at the airport in Phuket, check-in and departure is on the second floor, which, however, is no less comfortable. For a long time, no one is confused by the metal detector frames, and especially vigilant and fearful they will please: the Thais are watching for security extremely carefully.

Cafes and restaurants, the Internet center, the ubiquitous duty-free and souvenir shops - the halls have everything for the most demanding tourists. Prices for duty-free items are listed in baht, but the payment can be made in any currency or bank card.

Leaving the country tourists should not forget about the VAT refund, which is carried out in this period - before boarding the plane. Having the goods, receipts and completed documents with you, you can go through this procedure extremely quickly.

Airport transportation

Like any airport in the world, the airport in Phuket is connected to all major destinations of interest to tourists. The variety of modes of transportation in Thailand in general and in the city in particular allows you to find the perfect transfer from the airport to the hotel or other necessary place for the tourist.

Travelers can choose from several popular modes of transportation:

City bus

The city bus is the most cost-effective and affordable option for discerning tourists. The fare from the airport to the city is about 90-120 baht, but you can get to other parts of the island only with transfers. Bus stops are located to the left of the arrivals hall on the first level and next to Burger King on the second level.

The first bus leaves for Patong at 8:15 and the last one at 8:45. There are nine trips a day, so if you choose this mode of transportation, you won't have to wait long.

There are also buses from Patong to Phuket Airport. At intervals of an hour and a half. The cost is 120 baht.

Such transport is not suitable for tourists arriving in the country at night.

Minibus

It is also possible to leave Phuket Airport by minibus, which stops near the exit of the international flights hall. This way of getting to Phuket or Patong is attractive due to the speed: the transport is loaded quickly enough.

But the cost of travel here is higher than the bus - under 200 baht, and for a ride to the hotel have to pay about 50 baht more for the driver.

Cab

Cabs are considered a decent option, the fastest and most comfortable, but also quite expensive. Among the most popular cabs are metered cabs: this method is somewhat cheaper, because you pay only for the number of kilometers covered by the meter. But to this sum (on the average to get to Patong on the meter costs 350-450 baht) you should add a fee of 150 baht airport.

Limousine service operates on a fixed fee, systematically replacing the taxi-meter: a trip in such transport will cost at least 700 baht. But you will be provided with an E-class car. Most often it's a Toyota Camry.

Before the trip, be sure to check the price list, the size of the car and the reputation of the transportation company, so as not to get into trouble.

Approximate cost of transfer to the beaches:

• Nai Harn Beach - 900 baht
• Kata Beach, Karon Beach, Rawai Beach - 800 baht
• Patong Beach, Chalong Pier, Cape Panwa - 700 baht
• Phuket Town - 600 baht
• Boot Lagoon, Royal Phuket, Bang Tao, Surin Beach, Kamala Beach - 550 baht
• Layan Beach, Laguna Beach - 500 baht
• Nai Yang Beach, Nai Thorn Beach - 400 baht

Transfer

The easiest way, which will save you a lot of hassle. Upon arrival at the airport, they will meet you, help you with your luggage and take you to the specified place by car. You can order a transfer online through the Internet.

Additional Information

• Information phone: +66 (76) 327-23-06