Phuket
Phuket Travel Guide
Known as the Pearl of the Andaman, it derived much of its former glory and its enormous wealth from tin production, which in Phuket dates back over 500 year. Today, Phuket is the major tourist attraction of Thailand. The surrounding waters contain much varied marine life, and the town is notable for its Sino-Portuguese architecture. It is a very attractive island.
Phuket hotel indeed act as a 'home away from home' for the global tourists. Among the most popular hotels is JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa - which is like a mythic palace of relaxation, besides the untouched, unspoiled Mai Khao Beach..
Among the Phuket hotel, the Le Meridien Phuket - situated in a secluded bay known as Relax Bay, is truly unique for its accommodation, facilities and services. The Laguna Beach Resort in Bang Tao is a popular family resort among the other Phuket hotel - nestled between a tropical lagoon and the sparkling Andaman Sea, featuring a stunning array of sports & leisure facilities, including a four-acre water park.
Popular among the Phuket hotel in the budget category, Kamala Dreams is perfectly positioned between the bustle of high street seafood restaurants, shopping, night time entertainment, and its own secluded beach. While for the budget Phuket hotels in Patong, Aloha Villa is quite popular with the tourists for the par excellence service it provides to the guests.
With its fine moon-dust beaches, water sports, island hopping opportunities and Thailand's exotically spiced world-renowned food, the place has become all the more popular with the tourists because of the world-class Phuket hotel, along with the wide range of the resorts, bunglows & villas available.
GETTING THERE
Phuket and Ko Samui are both situated roughly halfway between Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand, and Singapore. Thai Airways International, Singapore Airlines and Malaysian Airlines all offer comprehensive flights from the Australia,USA and Europe.
Flying to Phuket is easy. You can connect to Phuket from Bangkok (multiple flights daily), Singapore (Changi Airport is stunning and worth a visit), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysian Airlines has competitive prices) or Hong Kong
If you have booked on an Adventure Cruise starting in the Gulf of Thailand you need to get to Ko Samui. Bangkok Airways offers several flights each day from Bangkok, Singapore and Phuket.
SOUTH-EAST ASIA MAP
VISA
Thailand does not require a visa for tourists staying short periods. On arrival at immigration your passport will be stamped for entry permitted up to 30 days. Passports should be valid for at least 6 months from the date of your arrival in the kingdom.
CURRENCY
The local currency is the Baht. The exchange rate is currently about; 1 USD = 41 Baht, but due to the strong currency fluctuations occurring in South-east Asia this can change quickly. Hotels restaurants and most shops accept major credit cards.
TIMEZONE
Local time is 7 hours ahead of UTC (GMT) throughout the country all year round. Thailand has no daylight savings period.
ELECTRICITY
In Thailand 220 Volts, 50 Hz is standard. On board Ocean Rover we have both 220V / 50Hz and 110V / 60Hz available. The 110V is only available in the camera charging areas. Guest cabins are 220V.
HEALTH
Health services in Thailand are excellent with modern equipped hospitals in all major towns. Most of the country is free of malaria, cholera and other serious diseases. However, it is always prudent to check if your vaccinations are still up to date. Normal precautions with food will keep you out of trouble. Be sure to only drink bottled water.
LANGUAGE
Thai is the official language but nearly all Thais that work in the tourism industry speak some English. Make sure you speak slowly and clearly without too many colloquialisms and people will understand you just fine. Thais believe that the least we can do for our fellow man is to smile and be polite. If you maintain the same attitude during your stay in Thailand, you�ll have a wonderful time.
DRESS CODE
In all the tourist resorts shorts and t-shirts are acceptable attire. At night as well, although "smart-casual" is preferred in the better eating places. Jackets and ties are not required anywhere. Ladies are expected to dress appropriately when visiting temples.
GOVERNMENT
Thailand is a constitutional monarchy led by King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The Royal Family has earned the love and respect of the entire nation and is held in the highest esteem. Visitors to the country are expected to treat the Royal Family with respect.
RELIGION
Nearly all Thais are Buddhists. A small percentage are Muslim (mainly in the south) and some are Christians, Hindus or Confucianists. Tolerance towards religion is symbolized by the fact that the King is the Protector of All Faiths.
TEMPERATURE
Air temperature: 20-35C, always warm, can be very hot and humid, nights often cooler.
Water temperature in the Andaman Sea averages around 27C (about 80F). Very pleasant although sometimes thermoclines occur. The type of wetsuit you need depends on how easily you feel the cold and how many dives per day you make. A thin shorty or skin may be enough for a daytrip but on a live-aboard cruise you are better off with a 3 to 5mm full wetsuit. The Gulf of Thailand has similar water temperatures.
CLIMATE
Thailand's tropical climate is influenced by the southwest and northeast monsoons. There are three seasons: Dry (November through Feb), Hot (March through May) and Rainy (June through October). Diving is possible all year round, but there are about ten days each year when monsoon winds are too strong for safe recreational diving.
Let's have a look at Phuket�s weather from a diver's point of view, starting at the beginning of the tourist / live-aboard season. This is just an attempt to show you a typical year. No guarantees!
| November: | Fair weather, end of SW monsoon, pleasant temperatures. |
| December: | Sunny, not much wind, occasional rainsquall, calm seas. |
| January: | Sunny, windy, clear water, pleasant temperatures. |
| February: | Same as January, but getting warmer. |
| March: | End of NE monsoon, calm seas, some plankton. |
| April & May: | Hot, flat seas, plankton, occasional rainsquall at night. |
| June: | SW monsoon phase 1, strong winds, heavy seas, rain. |
| July & August: | Lull in monsoon, fine weather, regular short rainfall. |
| September: | SW monsoon phase 2; strong winds, heavy seas, rain. |
| October: | Same as September, but improves later in the month. |
Again, this is only an average picture. Obviously, June, September and early October are not the best months to visit Phuket. Some of the advantages of the off-season are the smaller crowds and the lower hotel rates.
Ko Samui and the Gulf of Thailand, being on the east coast, have vastly different weather patterns to Phuket and the Andaman Sea, which are on the west coast. Generally, while Phuket is experiencing it's monsoon season, Ko Samui is experiencing it's high season and vise versa.
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