By air: Phuket International Airport is situated at the northern end of the island and is a 45-minute drive from most resort areas. It receives more than 15 flights a day from Bangkok on four different airlines, including the new budget carriers, with a flight time of one hour. Other centres in Thailand with direct flights to Phuket include Samui island, Pattaya and Chiang Mai. There are also international flights to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hong Kong as well as charter flights from London and some European cities. The airport can get busy but is well equipped. By road: it’s uncommon for visitors to rent a car in Bangkok and drive the 800kms or more to Phuket, but its an easy 90-minute drive from Krabi on highway four which runs north all the way to Bangkok. Phuket is attached to the mainland via a short causeway and good dual carriageway roads run the length of the island, as well as northwards to Khao Lak. Drivers should be wary of reckless driving by locals and ill discipline with road rules. By bus: there is almost one bus every hour leaving from Bangkok’s Southern bus terminal, taking up to 12 hours. VIP buses are economically priced and comfortable, with ‘aggressive air-conditioning’, on board movies and a hostess serving snacks. By rail: train is far less popular, as there is no rail service directly to Phuket and you have to alight at Phun Phin station near Surat Thani on the east side of the isthmus. Tickets are sold by agents and include a 90-minute bus transfer. The advantage of the train is the comfortable sleepers for overnight journeys. It also continues on to and returns from Butterworth on the Malaysian border. By ferry: link Phuket with the islands of Phi Phi, Koh Yao (yai and noi) and the Krabi coastline. The main ferry terminal is not entirely comfortable for long waits, situated on Koh Siray - a peninsula of land east of Phuket town. From here ferries leave at 9.00 for Ao Nang in Krabi, and return from Ao Nang at 15.00. It’s a three-hour journey and additional services run in the high season. | 
