Rina Eva
www.rino4ka.ru
Let’s start with the fact that there are three bus stations in Phuket, they are all in Phuket Town but in different locations.
All public transport is divided into three types: small indoor songteo trucks, minibuses and large buses.
Beaches, shopping centres and Sarasin Bridge
The beaches of Phuket can be reached via the songteo. The station offers transportation services to the sea, and it is located on Ranong Rd. The coordinates on Google maps are as follows: - 7.883327, 98.386139.
Songteo runs every half hour from 6/7 am to 4/5pm. The cost varies from B15 to B30 per person. From here, you can ride to the beaches of Bang Tao, Kamala, Karon, Kata, Patong, Nai Harn, Nai Yang, Surin, Panwa, Rawai, as well as to Kathu, Chalong, Thalang, and to the Sarasin Bridge at the north of the island.
It is pretty hard to explain the route that the buses take. For example, the songteo to Patong Beach from Phuket Town passes Central Festival, along Wichitsongkram Rd in Kathu, then turns at the Caltex gas station towards Patong, where it runs along Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Rd, past the Jungceylon shopping mall, and stops in front of Ocean Plaza.
The bus to Kata Beach leaves from a stop near the Kata Beach Resort, then goes along Karon Beach to the circle, turns onto Patak Rd, goes through Chalong Circle, past Villa Market on Chao Fa West Rd, and stops near the weekend market. Then, instead of heading towards Central Festival, it turns towards Phuket Town. All the buses that go to the north, pass Tesco Lotus, Big C and Central Festival.
Movement on songteo can be complicated by the fact that not all have centralised stops and the buses run every half hour. If you’re thinking of going sightseeing, it’s probably better to order a taxi or rent a car. Using the songteo is better if you are planning on going to Phuket Town or to shopping malls.
To the city, the airport, and the neighbouring province
From Terminal 1 on Phang Nga Rd (Google maps coordinates - 7.883726, 98.395720) minibuses serve the southern provinces of Thailand: Phang Nga (Taplamu, Khao Lak, Takuapa), Krabi (Krabi Town, the island of Ko Lanta), Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Haad Yai).
The pink buses drive across Phuket Town, with one route to the airport.
Schedules and fares are specified at the ticket office at the bus station.
Pink buses travel on four routes:
Route 1: BigC – Central Festival – Tesco Lotus – Bangkok Hospital – Phuket Merlin – Rang Hill – Maeluang Rd – Bus Terminal 1 – Hotel Metropole – Robinson – Saphan Hin.
Route 2: Super Cheap - Bus Terminal 2 - Thepkasattri Rd – Terminal for beach routes – Bus Terminal 1 - Expo - Robinson - Metropole Hotel- Park Rama IX - Chao Fa East Rd.
Route 3: Bus Terminal 1 - Mission Hospital - Bus Terminal 2. If you want to save time when travelling from one terminal to another, then choose this pink bus.
Route 4: Saphan Hin - Department of Transportation – Phoonphol Rd - bus to the beach - Yaowarat Rd - Thungkha Rd - City Post Office - Bus Terminal 1 - Rassada Pier - Koh Sireh. This bus is suitable if you want to go to the port where ferries depart for Koh Phi Phi.
To the capital and to almost all provinces
New Terminal 2 (Google maps coordinates - 7.917655, 98.395578) located on Thepkasattri Rd, near Super Cheap. From here, large buses depart to various provinces and cities in Thailand: Phang Nga, Krabi, Surat Thani, Hat Yai, Hua Hin, Bangkok, Chumphon, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Pattaya, Ranong, Trang, Satun and others.
This terminal is also suitable if you want to go to Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Lanta, Khao Lak National Park, Khao Sok and other places, except for the nearest southern provinces.
Bus schedules and fares are specified at the bus station.
From here, regular buses offer up to 41 seats and VIP buses 24 seats. The bus station provides covered car parking. The cost per day for parking cars is B100, B30 for motorbikes.
There are several cafés where you can eat local Thai food, as well as the agency where you can buy tickets for the ferry to Koh Samui and on to Pha Ngan.
Before you think of using public transport in Phuket, make sure you prepare yourself with maps and read all the routes.
And remember, in some cases it is easier to just take a taxi.