Transportation Tools in Phuket

There is no convenient public transit system in Phuket, not for tourist anyway.

Taxi:
Taxi probably is the best transportation tool for tourist. The taxi fare is reasonable, unless you are staying in those hotels in Mai Kao Beach, northern part of the Phuket island. The taxi fare from airport to Mai Kao beach is around 500 Baht, while one way fare from Mai Kao beach to Patong beach is between 700-900 Baht.

Mini Buses.
Mini buses are available to transport people between some of the beaches, i.e. Kata beach, Karon beach and Patong beach. These are the most popular beaches in town and you would find exciting nightlife in these areas. The fare is cheap and the local Thai are using this system too.

Hiring a Car.
Hiring a car is a good option, if you are planning to cover all the sightseeing points in the island. The rental cost, including insurance, is around 1000 Baht (33USD) a day. The gasoline is relatively expensive and it costs 2,500-3,000 Baht for a week of driving. Driving is easy on the island, as there is only one main highway, running north and south. The local streets, however, are quite narrow. With bikes parking on both sides of the street, it makes the street much narrower for the needed space for two-way traffic. Thailand inherits the British driving system and people drive on the left side of the road. You, however, need to watch for the restless bikers in the street, as they may not observe any traffic system.

Hiring Motor Bike
If you are an adventurous biker, you may want to hire a bike to get around in the island. The cost is cheap and it is only 300 Baht (10USD).