GrabTaxi is Phuket`s version of Uber and is extremely convenient. It`s a free mobile app, where you select your pick up and destination, the driver will call to confirm your pick up point and you will be able to track your ride. The app will give you an estimate of the price, but the final price is based on the meter reading.

Motorbike taxis are popular in Phuket, and available virtually all hours of the day and night. Drivers gather in groups on streets, and outside major attractions, wearing brightly colored red and green numbered vests. They can take you anywhere, be sure to negotiate the price before taking a ride.

You can rent motorbikes and scooters in Phuket, which is a great way to cruise around the island and stop off at the many beaches. This can be one of the easiest and quickest ways to get around, with plenty of parking spaces available and prices starting around 200 baht ($6) a day or weekly rentals from around 1200-2000 baht ($35-$58).

Note: Insurance is not normally included in rentals, so make sure you get coverage as this can be a risky way to get around. Do not give up your passport for any reason, you can allow the company to make a copy, but the original document should never leave your possession.

If you are staying in one of the beach areas it is possible to walk to nearby adjoining areas, getting to other destinations will require some form of transport. Walking around Old Town Phuket and the beach areas are feasible.

A boat is a great way to see the surrounding islands and beaches. You will find different rental options at some of the beaches, such as long tail boats and canoes. Sightseeing tours by speedboat to different islands are offered. And the Phuket Ferry service is available to take you to some of the local destinations including Phi Phi Islands, Krabi Town, Koh Lanta and much more.

Rental cars are available at the airport and Phuket is relatively easy to navigate.

Phuket is a large island, and visitors will generally need some form of transportation if they plan on traveling around. Public transportation is quite limited on the island, tuk-tuks, and songthaews can be used to go short distances, but they become uncomfortable on longer journeys. Taxis and Grabtaxi are available but can be hard to find, and tend to ignore their meters and demand flat rates. Buses run several routes however service ends around 6 pm.

The main airport servicing the island is Phuket International Airport. If you have not booked a private transfer through us there are plenty of options to get from the airport to your hotel including taxis, the airport bus, shuttle bus, mini-vans and car rentals.

Taxis are available at the airport, a well posted taxi stand is located just outside the airport, take a right outside of the main entrance doors, the taxis are bright red and yellow. The airport has two forms of taxis, metered taxis (charge by the meter) or airport limousines (which use a fixed price system). There is a 100 baht ($3) airport fee applied to any journey leaving the airport as well as 50 baht ($1.50) AOT (Airports of Thailand) fee, so the 24 mile journey from the airport to Patong beach can cost around 700 baht (about $20).

The Phuket Airport bus service is a fixed service and known to be very reliable. The bus leaves daily from 6:30am – 8:45pm and leaves every 60 – 90 minutes for Phuket town from bus terminal 1, which is left outside the main doors in the arrivals building. The fare is about 100 baht ($3) and the journey takes over an hour. Buses and vans are available with an orange `Airport Bus` logo on them. The main bus terminal is in Phuket town where you can find connecting buses to all the beach destinations. Timetables and prices are posted. For more information you can call, tel. +66(0)864706675.

A shuttle bus has been introduced which links the airport with Patong Beach with no need to change in Phuket town. The service runs daily from 8:15am – 8:45pm and a single ticket will cost about 15 baht (0.45c) the bus runs every 45 minutes and the journey from the airport to Patong takes approximately 90 minutes.

Mini-bus services (shared taxis) are available for door to door service and are a good value running you about 100 – 180 baht per seat ($3 – $5) you will reach your destination much faster than by bus. The mini-bus leaves as soon as it is full and another one is not available until the next plan comes in so be sure to get there quickly if this is the form of transportation you are choosing to get to your hotel.

Public transportation on the island is very limited making taxis and tuk tuks one of the only practical forms for getting around town.

The most common form of transport whilst on the island are Tuk Tuks which are modified mini trucks painted bright red or yellow and can be found outside most major attractions and resorts. A short trip can cost approximately 100 baht ($3). These are only recommended for short distances due to their size as they can be uncomfortable.

A taxi is more comfortable, safer, and often times cheaper than tuk tuks although they can be hard to find. You can order a taxi by phone from your hotel that normally has a list of local taxi companies. The taxis are red and yellow and have a `taxi meter’ sign on top of the vehicle. 50 baht is normally the pickup charge and for the first mile then around 7 baht per 0.62 miles after that.

GrabTaxi (like Uber) is a form of taxi that you book through a mobile app, select your pick up point and destination and get an estimate on the price of your journey. This is the only service of its type that operates in Phuket.

One of the cheapest ways to get around town is by bus, Phuket Town bus terminal 1 is located off Phang Nga Road which features minibuses and links you to major destinations around Thailand. Phuket bus terminal 2 Thepkastri Road features larger buses and also links to major destination. The local bus station is located on Ranong Road in the Old Town which is famous for its markets and links you to all the beaches and is normally operated by pink songthaews. Service on buses is not air conditioned and can be very limited with service ending daily at 6pm.

Although Phuket town is not huge it is a little too big to be covered on foot. However there are several areas you can walk around and explore on foot including the historical streets in town; many of the beach resorts are small enough to walk around and most hotels are located close to the beach, shopping areas, and restaurants.