Phuket Airport (HKT) to Patong and the beaches
Two buses leave the airport in opposite directions. The orange one goes to Phuket Town; the Smart Bus goes down the west coast to Patong, Karon, Kata and Rawai for a flat 100 baht.
- Phuket Smart Bus is 100 THB flat from the airport to Patong, Karon, Kata or Rawai, however far you go.
- Tap any contactless Visa, Mastercard or JCB on board. No app, no ticket office; cash and Thai QR also work.
- There is no separate tourist fare, which the operator states outright. The same 100 THB applies to everyone.
- The orange Airport Bus 8411 goes to Phuket Town instead, not to the beaches, with fares by distance and a last departure around 21.00.
- The minibus counter charges 800 THB to Patong, 650 THB to Phuket Town, 900 THB to Rawai and 1,000 THB to Kata.
- Patong by Smart Bus is 100 THB and by minibus 800 THB. That is the whole decision.
Which bus goes where
- This is the mistake to avoid at Phuket. The airport is in the far north of the island and the two public buses leave in opposite directions. Phuket Town is south east; Patong, Karon and Kata are south west, down the coast.
- Phuket Smart Bus is the west-coast one: Airport, Bann Khian, Cherngtalay, Surin Beach, Kamala, Patong, Karon, Kata, Rawai.
- Airport Bus route 8411, the orange one, goes to Phuket Town. It picks up at exit 3, turn left and follow the signs to the public transport parking area, and runs 08.00 to 21.00. Fares are worked out by distance and you buy on board, cash or QR.
The Smart Bus fare
- 100 THB flat, airport to any stop down to Rawai.
- Pay by tapping a contactless Visa, Mastercard or JCB card on board. Apple Pay and Google Pay work too. There is no app to download and no ticket to buy first.
- Cash and Thai QR or PromptPay are also accepted, and the operator asks for exact change.
- Children under 6 travel free with a paying adult.
- The operator states there is no foreigner or tourist fare. That is worth noting in Thailand, where the 20 baht rail cap in Bangkok is restricted to Thai ID holders.
The other Smart Bus routes
- Bus Terminal 2 to Patong Beach is 50 THB flat, useful if you are arriving in Phuket by coach rather than by air.
- The Dragon Line city shuttle is free.
Taxis and minibuses
- The minibus and limousine counter publishes fixed prices: Phuket Town 650 THB, Patong Beach 800 THB, Rawai Beach 900 THB, Kata Beach 1,000 THB.
- Those are per vehicle, so for four people with luggage arriving at midnight the maths is different. For one or two people in daylight, the Smart Bus is the answer.
Onward to the islands
- Ferries to Phi Phi, Krabi, Koh Lanta and Koh Yao leave from Rassada Pier, on the Phuket Town side, not from anywhere near the airport.
- Book the boat before you land in high season through 12Go, the ferry operator or your hotel. Sailings are timed to the morning and early afternoon and the last one goes long before the evening flights arrive.
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