PHUKET

FLAG

National Day December 5th

(Kings Birthday)

CURRENCY

Currency Baht

VISA

Most travelers don't need a visa and can stay up to 30 days. To be sure check with the Thai embassy in your country. Don't forget to check what the immigration stamps in your passport.

DID-INTERNET-GMT

DID 001

Country Code (66 )

Area Code 76

Internet (th )

GMT +7

WEATHER

ELECTRICITY

220-240V 50HZ

HOTELS

More on Phuket

by (Encyclopedia.com)

FACTS & DATA

Currency: Thai Baht

Location: At the Andaman Coast

Population: 220.000 island wide

People: Thai (80.1%) Chinese (11.8%), Malay (4%), Kmer and Other (4.1%)
Language: Thai, widely English spoken

Area 539 sq km

Major industries: High-Tech, Electronics
Health risks: Good healthcare
Time: GMT +8

Electricity: 220-240V
Road traffic: Left side

Public transport: Good

DIVING

Dive The World Thailand - diving Phuket liveaboards to Similan Islands
Phuket scuba diving in Thailand to Similan Islands, Hin Daeng, Phi Phi Islands, Krabi, Khao Lak and Burma including dive cruise liveaboards, liveaboard safari charters, and PADI courses.

The beautiful Khao Lak Bay at the southern tip of Phuket

PUBLICATIONS

NEWSPAPERS

English

Bangkok Post

Phuket Gazette

The Nation

Benjarong Magazine

EDUCATION

Int'l Schools in Phuket

Tiger Disco

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AIR, Quite a few airlines are flying daily to Phuket as well as plenty of charter airlines. Domestically there are several daily flight to and from Bangkok. ROAD, In addition you can go by bus (14 hours to Bangkok) or your own car. Distance to Bangkok is 862 km. BOAT, Cruiselines stop in Phuket from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur (Port Kelang) and Penang.

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Food & Restaurants

Food Restaurants

Entertainment

By Night Pubs & Bars

Sport

Diving Golf

Travel

Airport Advise Car Rental Hotels Tours Travel Travel Warning

Tourist Service Line 1155 (24 hours) Fire 199, Police 191, Tourist Police 1199 Hospitals Bangkok Phuket Hospital 254 421-9 Patong Hospital 344 225 Phuket Intl Hospital 249 400 Telephone DID Laos, Malaysia 007, other countries 001 Operator 100 Directory 13 Intl Directory 100

Phuket is the largest island located in the Andaman sea. Early mankind goes back as far as 6800B.C. Phuket as we know it today dates back to 1025 A.D. It has been a stop over on the way from India to China and on the way to the Malayan peninsular. In the 16th century during the Ayuthaya period the Dutch made it a trading post. The Burmese have been quite active in this area and were defeated in 1785. Chinese immigrants came in the 19th century and and settled down mainly in the city. You will still today find a strong Chinese community in Phuket town. Due to the proximity to Malaysia you have a sizeable Muslim community as well. The majority of the population are Thai's. Approximate 4 million tourist visit Phuket each year.

Phuket island has approximate 220.000 inhabitants and Phuket town 65.000.

Gosh, Phuket offers so much. It's next to Bali one of the most perfect holiday destination you can dream of. Plenty of waters ports and beaches. Islands which satisfy most adventure divers, sceneries so fantastic that you probably will say " should have taken some more films along".

There are plenty of BEACHES, just to mention the bigger ones:

Phatong, that's where the action is and plenty of restaurants and entertainment. You can sit along the beach road sip a drink or eat a bite while watching human bodies from all over the world. The beach has plenty of (German style) lined up sun chairs to burn your skin.

Karon & Kata Beach, is more quiet. Cultural wise there are a few museums. Phuket Sea Shell Museum and Phuket Rare Stone Museums. Historical site are few. The old town looks like Penang with plenty of shop houses. Wat Chalong and Wat Phra Tong are the the major two temples.

If you like diving, Phuket is just the right place. The water quality is excellent and visibilty up to 35 to 40m. Due to the warm water 28 °C you'll find a wide variety of coral, fish and reef creatures. You will find plenty of diving shops and schools.

Visit on a speed cruiser Phang Nga Bay, known as the James Bond Island. (The Man with the Golden Gun) Phuket’s top tourist destination situated just 21 miles Northeast of Phuket. Book

Pkuket town is worth a visit. The wet market is interesting with it's bustling activities and big varieties of spices and herbs. It offers as well quite good possibilities for shopping and dining.

The Wat Chalong is the most important and biggest Buddhist Temple in Phuket.

Cruise 45 minutes by express boat to visit one of Asia’s most beautiful islands. Fantastic beaches and rock formations, turquoise water with it's marine life makes it the ultimate paradise.

>>>more

The variety of Thai food is tremendous and the influence from the neighbouring countries can be seen and tasted everywhere. Fresh ingredients are a must. Wok cooking guarantees that food wont be overcooked.

Most dishes contain vegetables, fruits and a range of local spices.

Thailand is famous for its seafood. Due to it’s two long coastlines along the southern peninsula, on the Gulf of Thailand and on the Indian Ocean, fishing boats bring in crabs, fish, rock lobsters, giant prawns, scallops, shrimps and squids. All these are often simply steamed, grilled or prepared in various curries.

Thai food is normally associated with chilli ,. Many restaurants however will be happy to use less if you so wish. Following this advise you should try some of the typical Thai dishes, such as thom yam gung ,,, a lemon grass flavoured (sourish) seafood soup. Gaeng khiew wan gai ,, , a green curry with beef or chicken. The Thai cuisine has a lot of delicious salads as starters consisting of salad, vegetable, fruit mostly chopped into small pieces and mixed with lemon or sweet and sour flavours together with either chicken, fish, shrimps or beef and ,.

As Phuket is an international tourist place you will find a wide variety of international cuisine as well.

Thailand has its own beers called SINGHA, KLOSTER and CHAN beer You should as well try the various freshly squeezed fruit juices.

Bars, discos, night clubs and girls. You find it all here. Patong is the main night area. Bangla Road has plenty of girly bars. Rock Hard is quite nice. Some are quite sleazy and watch out for the the tomboys. Quite fun are the transvestite shows. The biggest disco is called Tiger.

Wet Market in Phuket Town

GETTING AROUND

Normal taxis are hardly available. The most common transport are the "tuck-tucks" formerly three wheeled today small mini vans accommodating between 4 to 8 people. Prices vary from Baht 15 to 500 depending on where you want to go. Hotels have travel desks to assist you with your sightseeing and other travel needs.

You can go by bus as well. Most public busses go from Phuket town Ranong Road to various destinations on the island. Fares do range from 10 to 25 Baht.

SHOPPING

In Phuket town you will find a couple of department stores and boutiques. You will find genuine items and normally cheaper than back home. Otherwise it's a lot tingle tangle and copy stuff. When you bargain start with 30% of the offered price. If they scream at you the limit is reached.