With your flights booked and your confirmed hotel booking, it’s time to think about how you’ll get from the airport to a comfy bed after a long (and probably fairly uncomfortable) flight. 

Considering Phuket is a relatively small island, you’d be surprised how long the journey could be to your hotel. From a Phuket map, you can see that it is only 48km long and 21km wide. Phuket airport is in the North, Phuket Old Town is in the South East, and most tourist hot spots are found on the coast toward the Island’s Southern end. 

At Phuket Lovin, we’ve got your back. We’ll help ensure you’re comfy and still have plenty of spending money left when you arrive in paradise!

This simple guide will tell you all your options for airport transportation. 

1. Airport Taxi – Effortless, But Expensive 

An airport taxi is the easiest option if you’ve got money to spare. You’ll be greeted by hoards of eager taxi drivers happy to transport you anywhere on the island. Fares at the airport average 600-1500 baht.

2. Hotel Driver – Reliable and Comfortable, Average Prices

The next option is to call your hotel in advance and ask them to send a car. You can expect this will be slightly cheaper than an airport taxi, and usually, the price is added to your hotel bill to pay at the end of your stay. 

Hotel drivers typically have larger, more comfortable vehicles than airport taxis. You’re also likely to receive a higher level of service as they work directly with your hotel. 

4. Transport Apps – Complex, But Cheap 

Next, there are apps like Grab and Bolt. These are cheap, but they can be more hassle than it’s worth.

If you’re arriving on an international flight, don’t bother – you probably won’t have internet when you first arrive, the wifi at the airport can be patchy, and you often need a Thai Sim card to register an account. 

However, it may be worth giving it a try if you’re already familiar with these apps. You may have to walk away from the airport slightly as taxi drivers often restrict pick-up points for Grab and Bolt drivers. Additionally, be prepared to ward off hundreds of airport taxi drivers while waiting for a driver. 

5. Phuket Smart Bus – Cheap, But Long Journey Time 

Finally, the Phuket Smart Bus. This is an excellent option if you want to save money and don’t mind a longer journey time. The Smart Bus runs from 9am to 9pm; the route starts at the airport and travels down to the South of the Island. 

The Smart Bus only costs 100 baht and is definitely the cheapest option. You can read much more detailed instructions about catching the Smart Bus from the airport in this article.

Phuket Airport Transport Made Simple 

This article makes Phuket airport transport made as simple as possible – you’ve got five main options, and your choices should largely depend on whether you value time, convenience, or money. Once you’ve figured that out, your decision will be simple! 

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