Travel: Flights to Phuket from London Heathrow (lhr)

Airport

The compact Phuket International Airport (IATA: HKT) (ICAO: VTSP) is located in the north of the island, and is Thailand's second largest hub.

International departure tax is 500 baht (700 baht after 1/1/07), payable in cash (there are several ATMs at the airport). Departure tax for domestic flights is included in the ticket.

Airport transfers

• Limousine (blue) taxis from the airport are expensive, costing 500-600 baht to Patong Beach or Phuket Town

• Metered (yellow) taxis (available outside the car park gates) cost 300+ baht

• Minibus services (basically door-to-door share taxis) charge 100-200 baht per seat. One realworld example is from airport to Chalong to 6 persons was 1100 baht and there was not possibility to lower it easily.

• Airport shuttle bus service (6:30-20:30, every 30 minutes) to Phuket Town bus station costs 52 baht; local buses run from there to all the major beaches until around 18:00

Flights

There are very frequent flights to/from Bangkok as well as direct flights to many other airports in the region, including Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, and direct charters to Europe and Australia in the high season.

Domestic

Several domestic discount airlines fly here, including Air Asia and Nok Air - tickets from Bangkok can cost under 1000 baht one-way if booked well in advance, or around 2000 baht (including taxes) if bought on the day.

Bangkok Airways has a monopoly on direct flights between Phuket and U-Tapao (Pattaya / Sattahip) and Ko Samui.

Destination Air Shuttle offers direct seaplane transfers (some of which operate seasonally) between Phuket and Ko Lanta, Ko Phi Phi, Krabi, Ranong, Trang, the Similan Islands, and other popular Andaman coast destinations.

International

AirAsia has a direct flights from/to Kuala Lumpur.

Tiger Airways and Jetstar Asia Airways provide very affordable tickets from/to Singapore. Other low cost direct connections include Hong Kong, Macao, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta.