About Phuket, Thailand

Phuket, Thailand’s largest island is situated off the west coast of Southern Thailand in the Andaman Sea. It is a huge island almost measuring in size to Singapore. Phuket is quite hilly with some of the peaks above 500m. The most beautiful beaches are found on the western coast and the most notable among them are Patong beaches and Karon beaches. The island is also well known for coral gardens which are full of exotic marine life. But unfortunately the corals are fast disappearing due to human pressures and environmental degradations.

The population of Phuket consists mainly of ethnic Thais, Chinese and Malays. Most of the people live around the Phuket city and the Patong beach. Like Bangkok the Thais form a bulk of the population followed by the Chinese.

The main religion in Phuket is Buddhism and Muslims consist of 35% of the population. Despite being a minority in Phuket, it is very surprising that mosques far outnumber the Buddhist wats in Thailand.

It is very important that visitors plan their holidays well so that they can intentionally coincide their holidays with any of the many events scattered across the calendar. The Vegetarian Festival which is held every year in late September is the most spectacular to watch and most popular too.

FAST FACTS

Banks
The working hours of the bank are from 8:30 in the morning to 3:30 in the afternoon. Most banks are located in Phuket town and Patong with some local branches. Most banks have ATM machines which accept major cards. Some of the major banks are Bangkok Bank, Siam Commercial Bank and Thai Farmer’s Bank.

Currency
The United States Dollar is equivalent to 34 THB approximately. However these rates change frequently, so click on www.xe.com for the current exchange rate.

The currency of Thailand is the baht which consists of 100 satang. Copper coins are valued at 25 and 50 satang. Silver coins are in the denominations of 1, 5 and 10 baht. Banknotes are available in 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 baht.

Clothing
Phuket was never known for very formal way of dressing. But they do dress neatly and decently. Women should not sleeveless dresses. The womenfolk usually dress very modestly in public. In fact they swim with their clothes on! Tank tops and shorts are best avoided in this country. While coming to the country make sure to bring you umbrellas, your swimming gear and shorts or any kind of beachwear.

Climate
Phuket has a tropical monsoon climate. It is warm throughout the year. The months of April to May and September to October are the hottest. The latter two months are also the wettest. The weather pattern in Phuket is fairly predictable. The seasons are:

November to February – Cool season

March to early May – Hot season

Mid May to October – Rainy Season

Average temperatures in Phuket


Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
°C 26.9 27.6 28.3 28.5 28.1 28.3 27.8 28.0 27.2 27.1 27.0 26.7 27.6
°F 80.4 81.7 82.9 83.3 82.6 82.9 82.0 82.4 81.0 80.8 80.6 80.1 81.7

Culture and Custom
Phuket culture consists of Chinese festivals, Sino-Portuguese architecture and Malaysian Muslim food. The ethnic and cultural diversity of Phuket is prominent everywhere. Thais, by nature, are great appreciators of beauty and the expressions can be found in the elaborate decorations of the temple and in the intricate movements of Thai dance. Aesthetics is a part of everyday culture. Phuket is also the home of ‘Sea Gypsies’, a vastly nomadic people who have their own tradition and customs. Phuket being a cosmopolitan place, Western habits are tolerated but it is good to show reasonable respect for Thai culture and customs. Phuket is also known for a couple of festivals like Songkran and the enchanting festival of light over Lao Kratong. There are many other small festivals too and also their very own Vegetarian Festival.

Medical Matters
Even though medical treatment is very cheap in Thailand, it is best to take out a medical insurance in your name that will cover all medical expenses. Phuket has two international hospitals – Phuket International Hospital and Bangkok Phuket Hospital. They offer an impressive range of facilities and services. Mission Hospital, a private hospital is definitely cheaper compared to the first two and Vachira Hospital is the main government hospital on the main road.
Almost all hotels have a doctor on call. There are also a large number of medical shops dotting the island.

Telephones
There are only three main telephone companies in Phuket. They are Telephonic Organization of Thailand (TOT), Thai Telephone & Communications (TT&T) and the third is CAT Telecom. While TOT is a state enterprise, TT&T is a joint venture between government and private sector.

PHUKET TRAVEL GUIDE

Phuket enjoys great popularity as a travel destination. The beach is on the west cost and the Phuket town is to the south-east. There are many strong currents on many of the beaches and it is important to pay attention to the warnings posted on the beaches. Though most of the tourists who flock to Phuket are Europeans, it is extremely rude to go nude or topless on the Phuket beaches. It is always wise to respect the local customs and way of life. Of all the beaches in Phuket, Kata beach is ok and Patong beach has lost its popularity somewhat. Other parts of Phuket are doubtless interesting but the beaches in the south have lost its appeal.

While in Phuket it is very important to keep certain points in mind. These are:

• Do use the wai correctly. A Westerner should never wai first and anyone who is paying for any service is the boss and the bosses don't wai first.
• Do offer and receive anything with your right hand always.
• Do keep both feet on the ground when sitting.
• Do make sure your laundry is your laundry when its returned.
• Do make sure you know a person well before accepting a tempting offer.
• Do sit in the place indicated by your friend.
• Do wai an elderly person.
• Do exercise tolerance, particularly when it comes to order food, pay a bill or waiting for change.
• Do ask for a receipt if you pay for a room/apartment in advance more than a day.
• Do make sure your laundry is your laundry when its returned.
• Don't be upset...Expect it to be done (whatever it is) in a longer time than where you come from.
• Don't lose your temper at all.
• Don't feel let down if you have done a favor for a Thai and he does not seem to bodily express his thanks.
• Don't hug a Thai to show him your appreciation. In Thailand, a firm 'Thank you very much' is enough. Though your intension is good and clean, he will not like it.
• Don't touch anyone's head for any reason. The head is the most important part of the entire body.
• Don't point with the forefinger at anyone.
• Don't place your feet so that they point towards a person, religious image or picture of the royal family.
• Don't step over any part of another person.
• Don't walk into someone's house with footwear on.
• Don't step on the door threshold.
• Do not wear shoes inside a temple where Buddha images are kept.
• Don't keep your valuables in a hotel safe deposit box.
• Don't leave your postcards to the hotel reception; they will probably never reach the destination. To be safe, go to the post office or post them into the public mailbox yourself.

The local time of Thailand is 7 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. [GMT +7]

WHEN TO GO

The tourist season in Phuket is from November to April, when the hotel prices are the highest. So if want to be alone in Phuket, it is best to avoid these months. However, the weather is also nice during these months. You will also have an opportunity to explore the island in its entirety.

WHERE TO GO

‘Pearl of the South’ or Phuket is one of the favored destinations in the world. It is a hot tourist spot nowadays. However, sightseeing is not restricted to beaches only. The island has a number of museums which tells you about the history of Phuket. The Talang Sea Shell museum has a huge store of sea shells. You can also visit the Two Heroine’s Memorial in Phuket which tells you vivid details about the tribe- Sea Gypsies.

The nightlife in Phuket is not restricted to sleazy nightlife or the raunchiest late night parties. It has Music Clubs for those who love Music and theaters where you can see authentic traditional dramas. Fun is always there in Phuket and you can see movies also at any of the various cinema halls. Phuket is also known for its excellent cuisine and traditional hospitality.

NIGHTLIFE

If you are not satisfied after a fulfilling day in Phuket then you can surely look forward to the nightlife that Phuket has to offer. Nearly all the tourist places have a bar but if you are hoping for a lively atmosphere then you must head to Patong or Karon. Patong is also famous form nightclubs and discos.

Patong is a place where you can plethora of beer bars, clubs and live music. The nightlife here is bit raucous in nature. Karon, on the other hand, offers a smaller range of bars and nightspots.

EVENTS

The festivals in Phuket are many and it seems that there is a festival for almost every race, every religion and every faith.

Thao Thep Krasatri- Thao Sri Suntorn Festival: It is celebrated on the 13th of March every year in memory of the two ladies who led the defense of the island against the Burmese in 1785.

Songkran Festival: Celebrated in April it marks the advent of the Thai New Year.

Turtle Releasing Festival: It is part of the Thai New Year celebrations. The celebrations include releasing of turtles in to the sea at beaches in the north of the island.


FAQ

Is Pattaya a safe place to travel to?
Safety in Phuket should not be a concern at all. There are minimal risks to a traveler and that can be easily avoided if you are a little cautious. While in the beach keep your eyes open for the red flags. Even if the flags are not there, do check the conditions carefully before jumping into the water. On the other hand, pick pocketing and theft is not a major problem but it does happen from time to time.

Can I drink the tap water?
Everyone says you can, but residents still tend to avoid drinking it where possible. As long as you're not drinking gallons of it, you should live to tell the story.

Are credit cards accepted?
Yes, but not everywhere. Cheap to medium-priced guesthouses and most cheap restaurants will not accept credit cards. Pretty much everywhere else does.

Should I tip?
The answer is not easy. First you can tip on tourist places like hotels, restaurants, bars etc. Secondly you can tip taxi drivers only if he has given an outstanding service.

How much money do I need?
It is very difficult to answer this question as it varies from person to person. But usually you need a minimum of 200 baht per day to survive in this beach town.

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