If you are flying in or out of Phuket, the government-run airport bus can be a convenient transport option, especially if you are staying in Phuket Town. The route does not include the most popular beach resorts so it won’t be an ideal option for everybody, but it is still a useful service.
The Phuket airport bus starts/terminates at the main Phuket bus station in Phuket Town. Stops en route include the Boat Lagoon, Central Big C and the Pearl Village Hotel. If you are staying at one of the popular beaches like Patong, Kata or Karon it will be more convenient to take a taxi directly to or from the airport rather than take the bus. However, if you are staying in Phuket Town or are a Phuket regular familiar with the island the service is very handy. The one-way fare between Phuket airport and Phuket bus station is currently 85 Baht per person and is payable on the bus. The journey is timetabled to take 1 hour 20 minutes, but in reality it takes about 1 hour. If you are going to the airport you will be dropped off outside the departure terminal. If you are catching the bus from Phuket airport just follow the signs for ‘airport bus’ in the arrivals hall. The buses have 24-seats with plenty of room for luggage inside.
If you are looking at Phuket bus station from the front, the distinctive orange airport buses leave/arrive at the bay in the far left-hand corner (marked ‘airport bus’). If you have a flight to catch I would advise double-checking the bus times in person the day before you travel if you can. On the day I travelled recently, two of the afternoon services out of Phuket bus terminal were cancelled. It didn’t affect me because I was on a morning bus, but it’s always advisable to double-check. Should your bus be cancelled, it’s still easy to get a taxi to/from Phuket bus station and the airport. The airport bus timetable below is from January 2012. More details at www.airportbusphuket.com
Photos © Thaizer
