Phuket is the big, adventurous island in Thailand. I feel at home there. In my opinion, the destination is one of the most exciting places in Southeast Asia and has a lot to offer holidaymakers and travelers. What makes the island special? And what should you definitely pay attention to on site? I have put together the most important travel information about Phuket for you with the most important facts and figures about the Thai island.
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Phuket is a place like no other. I have spent some of my most beautiful trips there. What sets the island apart are the contrasts - on the one hand, it is extremely lively with a lavish nightlife and holiday resorts full of tourists.
On the other hand, you will still find comparatively quiet places beaches with crystal clear water and lined with palm trees, as you know them from the travel catalogue. There are options here, a Phuket expert once told me. And that's exactly what makes this island so special.
Video – What you need to know before your Phuket vacation
I have picked out a video for you in which you will also receive a lot of travel information that you should know before your trip to Thailand. Thailand is a relatively easy country to travel around. However, you should get as much travel information as possible before your vacation.
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What you should know about Phuket
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Travel information for Phuket
Arrival, best time to travel, security, money and payments and much more
What do I need to know about Phuket? And what do I definitely have to pay attention to? When I visit a travel destination, these are two essential questions that I ask myself in advance. I am convinced that travelers should ask themselves this question before their trip Vacation Be sure to ask on the Thai island. However, my experience is that unfortunately very few people do that. They travel to Thailand without having previously familiarized themselves with the most important travel information and customs in the destination country. And some then experience a rude awakening when they arrive.
That's why I've written my Phuket travel information for you, in which I've put together the most important facts and information about the holiday island - as entertaining and entertaining as possible.
1. Important emergency numbers, websites and addresses, consulate and embassy for your Phuket vacation
Before I give you the most important travel information about Phuket, I have put together the most important emergency numbers and addresses of embassies and consulates so that you can contact them quickly in an emergency. I would recommend that you take a screenshot or write down the information so that you can have it at hand in case of doubt.
emergency numbers
| Service | Emergency number |
|---|---|
| Medical emergencies | 1669 |
| Police | 191 |
| Tourist police | 1155 |
| Fire department | 199 |
Embassy websites and addresses
| message | Address | Opening hours | Contact | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany | 9 South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120 | Monday to Friday from 8.30:11.30 a.m. to XNUMX:XNUMX a.m | Tel.: 02 2879000, 081 8456224 (emergency), Fax: +66 2 285 62 32, Email: Not specified | http://www.bangkok.diplo.de |
| Austrian Embassy Bangkok | No. 14 Soi Nantha-Mozart, Sathorn Soi 1, South Sathorn Road, Thungmahamek, Sathorn, Bangkok 10120 | No specific opening times stated | Tel.: +66/2 105 67 00 (Political Department), +66/2 105 67 10 (Consular/Visa Department), Email: bangkok-ob@bmeia.gv.at | https://www.bmeia.gv.at |
| Embassy of Switzerland | 35 North Wireless road (Thanon Witthayu Nuea), Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand | No specific opening times stated | Tel.: +66 2 674 6900, Fax: +66 2 674 6901, Email: bangkok@eda.admin.ch, ban.visa@eda.admin.ch | https://www.eda.admin.ch/countries/thailand/de/home/vertretungen/botschaft.html |
2. Getting to Phuket – numerous options
You have different options for that Arrival in Phuket. The most common option is to travel to the Thai island on a long-haul flight. For example, you can find direct flights from Frankfurt am Main Airport. Or you can choose a flight with a stopover in the United Arab Emirates, Turkey or Singapore. This has proven to be quite practical.
Flights are significantly cheaper in the off-season
In terms of price, flights in high season are of course the most expensive. I recently started looking for flights for Thailand again - between January and March you can easily reach 1500 euros per person for the outward and return flight. In the off-season – around November – this is much cheaper. However, you then also have to contend with the much worse local weather.
3. Best time to travel to Phuket – When to go to the island?
The best travel time for Phuket is between mid-December and the end of March. I once traveled to Thailand in early December. It rained heavily for the first few days and from December 07th onwards the weather suddenly changed. After that, I didn't see a single drop of rain for the rest of my vacation.
In the months of January to March you can look forward to an average of eight to nine hours of sunshine per day and enjoy pleasantly warm to hot temperatures of 32 to 35 degrees Celsius. Humidity is also lower during this time than other seasons, making the climate more bearable. At night it remains mild at 24 to 26 degrees Celsius, so you don't need warm clothing.
3. Money and payments – withdraw money, pay in cash, etc.
The topic of money and payments is not a big problem on Phuket. On the one hand, you have ATMs practically everywhere where you can withdraw cash with your credit card that is activated for international payments and withdrawals. On the other hand, there is of course still “hard truth” on the island. You can pay with baht and, in some places, international currencies such as euros and dollars.
The currency in Thailand is the baht, which has become stronger in recent years. This means that for one euro you get less baht than before. For example, in December 2019 the exchange rate was only 1 euro to 33 baht, while a few years ago it was 1 euro to 50 baht. This makes a vacation in Thailand more expensive than you might think.
Bring enough cash
You should have enough cash at home and take it with you on vacation to Phuket. You can exchange it for baht at a number of exchange offices on site as needed. The rate is usually better than if you exchanged it in Germany. If possible, I would store excess cash in the safe at your accommodation and always only carry the money that is absolutely necessary - for security reasons, of course.
4. Safety – Is Phuket Vacation Dangerous for Vacationers?
When you're on site in Phuket, the island will feel very safe. I never had the slightest fear or feeling of insecurity on Phuket. On the contrary: the Thais make you feel welcome. I was on the island in the evening in the dark to jog, was out on the party streets and never had to be afraid.
The golden rule is clearly: take care of your valuables. And beware of the taxi mafia in Phuket. Always insist on using a taximeter.
Sascha Tegtmeyer
The golden rule is clearly: take care of your valuables. And beware of the taxi mafia in Phuket. Always insist on using a taximeter. There are also some safety tips that you should keep in mind for Phuket - like your hometown in Europe and any other travel destination in the world.
What does the Foreign Office say about Phuket?
According to the Foreign Office The domestic political situation in Thailand is stable, with the exception of some areas in the south of the country. However, it cannot be ruled out that terrorist attacks or violent crimes will occur, especially in tourist hotspots such as Phuket. Therefore, you should always be vigilant and inform yourself about the current security situation.
Register online in the Crisis preparedness list of the Foreign Office to enable quick contact in an emergency.
The Foreign Office also warns against the monthly full moon parties on beaches, which are associated with alcohol and drug consumption. There have already been fatal incidents and rapes of female tourists.
Be careful of jellyfish in the water
You should also be careful of jellyfish, which increasingly appear in coastal waters during the rainy season. Some species of jellyfish are very poisonous and can cause paralysis and shortness of breath.
5. Hotels and accommodation in Phuket
In Thailand in general and on Phuket in particular you will find an incredibly wide range of accommodation. You can choose from a variety of options for your vacation: from the simplest bungalows for a few euros per day to international hotel chains and luxury resorts, you will find everything to suit your special preferences and budget on Phuket. But I definitely wouldn't make one mistake: book a package holiday to Phuket. If you book Phuket as a package, you will pay a lot more.
For the Thai island, I would recommend that you book the flight first and the accommodation for the first few days. You can find so many beautiful hotels locally, you can book an AirBnB or find them on booking or HolidayCheck* So many great accommodations, often offered at a really attractive price, that this is definitely the best way to go to Phuket. If you book a package holiday and pay 100 to 200 euros per night, you have definitely done something wrong.
However, I strongly recommend taking out travel insurance for the individually booked trip - then you will be on the safe side if the worst comes to the worst.
6. Eating in Phuket
I would fly to Thailand just for the food – really. Eating Thai food every day for two to four weeks is an experience in itself for me. Around Restaurants you really don't have to worry about anything on Phuket. You can find them on every corner. There are also numerous small food stalls. In my experience, external appearance has comparatively little influence on the quality of the food. You won't know whether a restaurant is really good until you've eaten there.
There is also another big highlight: the food markets. I always feel like I'm in the land of milk and honey there. There you can put together your meal as you wish, have it prepared in front of you and eat right there. You can find everything there - and especially delicious desserts: crepes, ice cream and fruity smoothies for dessert. I'm getting hungry even as I write this.
7. Environment and sustainability
Sustainability is not necessarily a priority on Phuket. If you go to a supermarket and buy a can of Coke, they put it in a plastic bag and give you a plastic straw. What is certainly a nice idea is, from an environmental point of view, a catastrophe. The change to more ecological thinking is slowly beginning. What you can do: Avoid such additional add-ons when shopping. I also recommend taking your own water bottle and thermos with you - either for coffee or cold drinks. Unfortunately, I have found that every effort is just a drop in the ocean.
Take rubbish from the beach and the sea with you
On the other hand, you will often find garbage in nature. The large main beaches are cleaned regularly. But as soon as you go a little more remote, you're sure to find rubbish. It makes sense to take your rubbish with you, especially in the sea when snorkeling and diving, but also on the beaches. The simple reason for this is that animals can no longer eat it and die from it. Otherwise, there is a huge problem with marine litter throughout Southeast Asia.
8. Cultural etiquette
When in Thailand, be sure to follow local customs. There are not many rules that you should definitely follow in Thailand. But these rules are really very important to the Thais.
- Insulting the king carries a maximum penalty and can even be punished with imprisonment. It's best if you don't talk about the monarchy, then you can't do anything wrong.
- Be sure to wear appropriate clothing in temples. Both men and women should keep their shoulders and knees covered. Pants, tops or dresses that are too short should definitely be avoided in temples. If I was unsure whether my outfit was okay, I simply asked someone on site - that creates respect. In addition, shoes are usually removed in the temple.
- Leave the Buddha statues in the temples alone. Don't touch it, don't point at it or take a photo of it. But you are welcome to kneel before them.
- Women are not allowed to have contact with monks.
- Feet are considered dirty in Thailand. You should therefore not touch anyone with your foot or extend your feet too clearly towards them. The head, in turn, is sacred in Thailand. You should not touch anyone there or stroke their head without asking - unless you are expressly allowed to do so.
- Use the Thai Wai greeting. You place your palms together and raise your hands from your chest to your forehead. This shows respect and politeness. You can see exactly how it works in the video below.
Video – This is how the Wai greeting works correctly
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9. Health
I recommend that you definitely take out travel health insurance before your trip to Phuket, which includes transport back home in the event of an emergency. On Phuket there is several hospitals. There is also a German and a Swiss one on the island Doctor, who should perhaps be the first point of contact with their specialist knowledge of local medical care.
The quality of medical care can certainly be debated. When I once had an injury that needed to be treated in the hospital on Phuket, I preferred not to, as long as the illness wasn't too serious. For more serious illnesses, treatment in Singapore or Malaysia may also make sense. The hospitals there are considered to be significantly better.
10. Transport and mobility on the island
You can take a taxi comparatively cheaply on Phuket. However, you should definitely make sure that the taxi driver uses the taximeter. You have to be careful with fixed prices because otherwise the driver will renegotiate at the end of the trip. You can find out more about precautions when taking a taxi in Phuket here. In particular, you should definitely arrange the transfer from the airport to your first accommodation from home before you arrive.
You can then find yourself on site using the Grab app (Android/iOS) or with one scooter move around. However, you should be extremely careful, because the traffic on Phuket is terrible for self-drivers.
11. Activities and experiences
You can experience and do so much on Phuket - that's why I don't want to go into too much detail here, I'd rather focus on mine Phuket travel report in which I have detailed everything you can do on Phuket. On the one hand, you can of course visit a new dream beach like that every day Ya Nui Beach Explore and sunbathe, swim, snorkel or ride around in a kayak or SUP.
On the other hand, you can visit the numerous sights such as Big Buddha Visit by scooter. You will also find numerous waterfalls that are somewhat remote - and where you can even swim. I also found the visit very exciting Elephant Sanctuary – it was one of my highlights on Phuket.
12. Adventure, wellness and party holidays – who is a holiday on Phuket suitable for?
Holidaymakers with many different preferences get their money's worth on Phuket. I have always enjoyed the island so much because it is so incredibly diverse and there is so much to do. It actually becomes difficult for people who are looking for peace and quiet. You should definitely go deep south to Nai Harn. This is where you are most likely to find peace and quiet on Phuket. Otherwise, Phuket is a rather loud and lively island. It is ideal for anyone who wants some action and Rambazamba on vacation.
Ideal for adventurers and explorers
If you're an adventurer and explorer looking to experience something, Phuket is the right place for you. From here you can also easily get to all other travel destinations in the south of Thailand - such as the picturesque Phang Nga Bay and towards Krabi - such as the beautiful island of Koh Lanta, which is truly a Mecca for adventurers.
Ideal for beach vacationers and beach vacationers
This is probably one of the most important target groups for Phuket – the seaside holidaymakers and beach holidaymakers. Every day I looked at a different beautiful beach on the island and went swimming and swimming there. In this respect, I can only warmly recommend the island Beach vacation . Recommend
Wellness fans will get their money’s worth
Wellness fans will get their money's worth on Phuket because you can find massage parlors everywhere where you can get a massage for a whole hour for ten euros. I had a massage on site for an hour every day. In the end, you can come back from your vacation as relaxed as if you were on the beach. And of course you can also go to wellness hotels and Spa facilities in Phuket
13. Facts and figures about Phuket
Below I have listed some facts and figures about Phuket that you should have heard at least once.
| Name | Koh Phuket (formerly: Thalang) |
| population | 410.211 residents |
| Capital | Mueang Phuket (Phuket Town) |
| waters | Andaman Sea |
| membership | Thailand |
| official language | ภาษาไทย |
| length and width | 48 kilometers to 19 kilometers |
| Area | 543 square kilometer |
| Highest mountain | Mai Thao Sip Song |
| Currency | Thai Baht (THB) |
| time zone | Indochina Time (ICT), UTC +7 |
| Climate & Environment | Tropical |
| Popular Beaches | Patong, Karon, Kata, Kamala, Nai Harn |
| Important economic sectors | Tourism, agriculture, fishing |
| Well-known festivals | Vegetarian Festival, Songkran (Thai New Year), Loy Krathong |
| Public transportation | Tuk-tuks, taxis, buses, scooters |
| International Airport | Phuket International Airport |
| Popular attractions | Big Buddha, Wat Chalong, Phang Nga Bay, Phuket Old Town |
14. Phuket map
15. Phuket alternatives – not just in Thailand
Phuket is a house on its own - so it is difficult to talk about alternatives to this island. However, two places that immediately come to mind are Langkawi in Malaysia and Koh Samui, a little further north in the Gulf of Thailand. Koh Samui is also a very lively Thai island with a lot going on. However, it is smaller than Phuket in every respect and not quite as loud and crowded. This makes it an alternative if you like it lively, but not quite as lively as Phuket.
However, if you are really looking for peace, relaxation and isolation, Langkawi in Malaysia is recommended. There you will find really quiet and relaxed areas where you can really unwind. You can also get from Phuket to Langkawi via a few detours.
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My conclusion
With my Phuket travel information I would like to give you some orientation before you travel to the large, wild and lively island in Thailand for the first time. It is perhaps the most diverse place you can visit in the south of Thailand. But it is also very touristy and not always completely safe - especially if you take a taxi.
If you do your research in advance and get some travel information, you've already taken the first step towards having a really good time there. Because ignorance can lead to mistakes and ultimately ensure that your vacation on Phuket is more stressful and less successful than it could be.
Even though I've been to Phuket several times, I'm still learning something new about the island. In this respect, this Phuket travel information does not claim to be complete and will be continually updated with new information over time.
Have you already been to Phuket or are you planning your first trip to the island? What does Phuket travel information tell you about the island? Share your experiences in the comments.
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