Phuket Airport is very important for tourism in Phuket, as the airport of Thailand’s largest island welcomes thousands of passengers every day. As the airport is quite far from the main beaches and the city, check how to get from Phuket Airport to the hotel on the beach or in the city. You can use Phuket Airport transfer, taxi, bus, or stay at hotels near Phuket Airport.
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Phuket International Airport (HKT) is located in the northern part of the island and is 32 kilometers from Phuket Town and about 40 kilometers north of Patong Beach, which is the most popular beach on the island.
Phuket Airport has two terminals: Terminal 1 for international flights and Terminal 2 for domestic flights. Remember to pay attention to this so you could tell your driver correctly, because the two terminals are quite far apart, and you would need to take the airport bus to reach the right terminal.
Phuket Airport to Hotel in Patong, Kata, Karon, Phuket Town
Even if most tourists choose flying to Phuket, there are not many alternatives for transportation, unless you have already booked a private transfer offered by the hotel. For getting from Phuket Airport to Patong, Kata, Karon, or another beach, as well as to the center of Phuket Town, you can choose one of the Phuket Airport transportation options listed below.
Phuket Airport Transfer to Hotel
Booking a private Phuket Airport transfer to the hotel is a better option than taking a Phuket Airport taxi. When using a private transfer, you don't have to go to the pick-up point or to worry about transferring to your accommodation in Phuket, as the driver will pick you up from the airport and drive you directly to your hotel. The most important thing is that you can depart from the airport to your hotel at any time of arrival, and you can book the car that suits your needs the best to travel between places quickly and safely.
For a more comfortable journey, you can enjoy a convenient transfer between Phuket Airport and your hotel by booking your Phuket Airport Transfer online.
Phuket Airport Taxi to Hotel
There are many private taxi companies that operate at the airport and offer fairly high rates. Taxi parking is located just outside Phuket Airport; you will easily notice it as soon as you exit the terminal building.
Getting Phuket Airport Taxi
Taxi prices at Phuket Airport can be crazy high if you do not know how to deal with taxi drivers. Therefore, it is best to book the airport taxi by getting a ticket at the ticket desk in front of the exit. They have prices listed on the board, and you just need to tell the destination, get a ticket, and pay directly to the driver.
Phuket Airport Taxi Fare
Taxi fare for the trip from Phuket Airport to Patong Beach should cost around 600 THB plus an additional airport tax of 100 THB.
Best Alternative to Phuket Airport Taxi
As Phuket Airport taxi drivers are infamous for often overcharging tourists coming to the island, we would highly recommend arriving prepared and pre-booking online a private Phuket Airport transfer for the smooth and worry-free ride from the airport to your hotel in Phuket.
Airport Bus from Phuket Airport to City
Phuket Airport Bus is the most inexpensive but also the slowest way to travel to and from Phuket Airport. The color of the airport bus is bright orange, so it is easily noticeable. This bus connects Phuket Airport with Phuket Bus Terminal, which is located in Phuket Town, and on the way stops at many points. If you want to get to the center of Phuket Town, you should stop at Central/Big C station and from there to take a tuk-tuk, taxi, or just walk to the hotel.
Phuket Airport Bus Timetable
The journey from the airport to the city by Phuket Airport Bus takes nearly 60 minutes. The first bus departs from the airport at 8:30, and the last departure is scheduled at 21:30. The bus leaves from the airport every hour.
Phuket Airport Bus Price
Phuket Airport bus ticket price for a trip to Phuket Town is 100 THB. Bus tickets can be conveniently booked online here: Phuket Airport Bus Tickets.
Should you take the airport bus?
However, this bus is only suitable for those who have booked a hotel in the center of Phuket Town, travel very lightly, and have a clear understanding of the path. If you have booked a hotel on the beach, traveling by Smart Bus might be more practicable.
Phuket Smart Bus from Phuket Airport to Beach
If you are traveling alone and want to spend little, taking the Phuket Smart Bus is another possibility for getting from Phuket Airport to your hotel. Phuket Smart Bus is the cheapest option for getting from the airport to the beaches on the island.
The buses are equipped with air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and USB connectors for charging gadgets. The entrance and exit of the bus are equipped with a wheelchair ramp, and for security purposes, remote-controlled CCTV cameras are installed in the cabin. Each bus has luggage compartments, which allow passengers to stay in the cabin with proper comfort.
Phuket Smart Bus Timetable
The Phuket Smart Bus schedule is set even if there are some reports online that they wait for the bus to fill up.
According to the officially published schedule of 27 August 2024, departures from Phuket Airport are scheduled from 08:15 to 23:30 with departures scheduled roughly every hour.
Departures in the opposite direction (from Rawai Beach to Phuket Airport) are scheduled from 06:45 to 19:30. There are also 2 earlier bus departures at 05:30 and 06:20 that start the route at Kata Beach instead of Rawai.
Phuket Smart Bus Tickets
You need to buy Phuket Smart Bus tickets directly from the bus driver, as they currently don't have any counter desks inside the airport.
Payment for Phuket Smart Bus tickets can be made in cash or by Thai QR payment.
Phuket Smart Bus Ticket Price
Currently, the Phuket Smart Bus ticket price is fixed at 100 THB and no longer depends on the distance. When traveling alone or as a couple, taking this airport bus is much cheaper than taking a taxi.
Phuket Smart Bus Route
There are 16 stops on the Phuket Smart Bus route. The route runs through all the most famous beach areas of Phuket: Bang Tao, Surin, Kamala, Patong, Karon, Kata, and Rawai.
You can tell the driver the name of the hotel you are staying at, and he will let you know the nearest bus stop, where you should drop off.
However, the bus stop will not necessarily be as near to your hotel as you would wish it to be. Therefore, you might need to take a tuk-tuk or taxi to your hotel, and Phuket tuk-tuk drivers are infamous for ripping off tourists, so at the end your trip from Phuket Airport to the hotel might not be as cheap as you would expect.
If your hotel is not nearby the bus stop, getting a shared transfer by a minivan from Phuket Airport to your hotel might be a better option.
Minivan from Phuket Airport to Hotel
With a shared minivan from Phuket Airport to the hotel, you can enjoy a convenient, comfortable, and hassle-free transfer from the airport to your hotel in Phuket.
When using this service, you can expect the following:
- Guaranteed quality door-to-door service with a professional driver
- Meeting by the airport representative standby to support at the meeting point
- Air-conditioned van transfer service and FREE WIFI
- Choice of time slots so you could choose the one that best matches your arrival time
Phuket Airport minivan tickets can be conveniently booked online here: Phuket Airport Transfer To / From Hotel
Phuket Airport to Khao Lak
If you will be arriving at Phuket International Airport but your hotel is in Khao Lak, which is also a popular holiday destination in the area but not located on Phuket Island, you will need to use private transfer or taxi.
Private airport transfer to Khao Lak can be booked online here: Phuket Airport Private Transfer to/from Khao Lak
Hotels near Phuket Airport
If you will be staying at one of the hotels near Phuket Airport, there's a high chance that a free transfer from Phuket Airport to the hotel will be offered.
Some of the best hotels near Phuket Airport that offer shuttle service:
Phuket Airport Hotel - the closest hotel to Phuket International Airport, which is only 400 meters away but features minimal airport noise.
The Slate, Phuket - a luxury resort perfectly located adjacent to a verdant national park, only a few steps from the serene Nai Yang Beach, local shops, and restaurants, and just a 10-minute drive from Phuket International Airport.
Himaphan Boutique Resort - a boutique resort located a 5-minute drive from Phuket International Airport and a short walk from the peaceful Nai Yang Beach.
Tips
You can enjoy the beauty of Phuket right after arrival without worrying about where to store your luggage. It can be done by booking Phuket Airport Luggage Services, as you can get your luggage delivered from the airport to your accommodation or vice versa by this express same-day or next-day luggage delivery service.
For more information about the facilities found at the airport, check Phuket International Airport.
Take the worry out of your arrival or departure at Phuket Airport and enjoy a VIP immigration service through the airport formalities. Take Phuket Airport VIP Immigration Fast-Track Service that will fast-track you through immigration and hotel transfer.
