What is the best way to get around in Phuket?

Well it depends a bit on what your priorities are!

Available options include

1. tuk tuk
2. walk
3. local bus
4. motorbike taxi
5. rental motorbike
6. rental car (jeep mainly)

On a cost basis, walking is the cheapest, obviously, but only practical if you only intend to go a kilometer or two (keeping in mind the tropical heat)

Tuk-tuk is a very common mode of transport, and there are certainly hundreds of them operating in all major areas, particularly Patong. Generally they are going to look to charge you a minimum of 100 Baht, to take you anywhere around town, and this will increase if you want to get to a outer end of Patong, and at night, particularly out. We found a minimum of 150 Baht to our hotel at the southern end of town, and could not get one for under 200 baht from Bangla rd area after 10pm (even though it was only 5 or 6 minutes, and 2 or 3 km. This makes for quite expensive transport, unless you are in a group of 4 or more.

Motorbike taxis are going to be about 1/2 the price of tuk tuk, and most trips will be about 50 bht. but you need to ride with your heart in your mouth, and it can be nerve racking!

Vehicle rental is a good option, with motorbike by far the most popular. A decent scooter, about 125cc, to carry two comfortably is going to cost about 250 baht in Patong per day, and maybe 200 in the other centres. You can use these to whip around town, an to explore the coast. The biggest concern with riding your own scooter, is safety. Many tourist motorbike accidents are reported daily, and the renters will want either your passport or a significant deposit to cover any damages you make if/when you fall off!

If riding a scooter make sure

1. you are confident enough, having ridden before
2. don’t drink alcohol
3. wear a helmet (it is law the driver must, but not any passengers)
4. drive and steer predictably
5. don’t ride fast (nothing is far away anyhow)

If you take all of these MUSTS into consideration, I believe Hiring a scooter to get around Patong, is the best way to go!

We stayed at the Mermaid Boutique Inn for two nights, on march 4-5, 2009

The Mermaid Boutique Inn is located at 6/4 Siriret Rd, Patong Beach

Location - a little too far from town to be ideal

Price we paid- 1200 Baht per night ($51.00 AUD) - booked through wotif

General - This hotel is only 12 rooms, and is located in a reasonably new (2 yr old) building close to the busy road between Patong and Karon beaches. It is owned by the same people that own the Phuket Palace hotel, and is at opposite side of that hotels grounds. The big advantage therefore, is that as a guest of the Mermaid Boutique Inn, we got to use the facilities of the Phuket Palace. The major one of these was the swimming pool, that was far above what would normally come with at cheaper hotel. There is a sign at reception saying guests need to pay 200 Baht to use the pool, but we were never charged, In addition, we were also able to use the restaurant of the Phuket Palace, which we did for our complimentary breakfast (although I didn’t think we had paid for breakfast!).

90 

The Inn only ever had a maximum of two staff on at any time, and they were very friendly and helpful. The rooms were clean, of a decent size, and with a small balcony. The bathroom was small but functional.

On the downside, walls of the rooms seem paper thin, and both the outside street noise, and the noise from other guests was annoying. Considering the street is the main thoroughfare between Phuket’s two busiest beaches, the road is busy almost all day and night.

Overall opinion - good value, would stay there again