Phuket - Thailand

It is a long story on how we got to Phuket after crossing overland from Cambodia:

Poipet border ( Cambodia ) > cross over to Thailand > Bangkok > Phuket.
**overland crossing is granted 14days visa while 30days for those arriving via air.

So how we did it ? Below is the answer.....

Note : Sequence and information might be outdated. Please check before you travel.

For more information:

Bangkok train system:

1. http://www.bangkokmetro.co.th/ticket.aspx?Menu=13&Lang=En (fare)

2. http://www.thaiwaysmagazine.com/bangkok_map/bangkok_skytrain_metro_map.html

3. http://bangkok.sawadee.com/mrta.htm

4. http://www.urbanrail.net/as/bang/bangkok.htm

http://www.pacificislandtravel.com/asia/thailand/train/train_intro.html

 Blogs on Thailand  crossing

http://cambodiacalling.blogspot.com/2008/08/taxibus-from-siem-reap-to-bangkok.html

http://www.thaioasis.com/ga/womentraveltips.php 

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=2083844

Phuket itinerary cost.

29^th August 2011 (Monday )11am

From Thai Border – Phuket Accomodation.

LOCATION	TRANSPORTATION	DURATION	FARE(Baht)	Per pax	RM
Border to Aranyaprathet Bus Terminal	TukTuk	20-30mins	60 (3ppl)	20
Aranyaprathet to Bangkok -Northern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit Terminal)	Bus	6hrs	160(pax)	160
(a) BKK to Dong Muang Airport (b) BKK to Dong Maung Airport	Bus Taxi	1 hour	35 (pax) 120(3ppl)	35 40
BKK to Phuket	Flight	1hour	999(pax) 1600(Ista)	999 1600(Ista)
TOTAL				(a) 1214       1815(Ista) (b) 1309       1910(Ista)	(a) 121.40        181.50(Ista) (b) 130.90        191.00(Ista)

NOTE 

So from Aranyaprathet, you need to make sure you get a bus that will take you to the Northern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit Terminal) or to Rangsit. If got direct bus to airport can get that, but I think those buses only at certain time which is usually in the morning/afternoon (2 buses a day) so we cant take that.

Some ppl said we can ask the driver to stop us at Dong Muang, or at Rangsit or Mo Chit Terminal.

  buses no and rates from Rangsit.

If no 559, latest bus is at 11pm.

554 and 555 is for airport workers, if we are allowed to take that, then that buses run 24hours

Bus rate is about 35Baht.

If we get down at Mo Chit terminal, most ppl said better take taxi.

Duration is 30min by taxi

Fare: some said it is 120 Baht (including toll). Some said 350Baht

FYI : 3 of us took tuk tuk from Thailand border to the Aranyaprathet train station and boarded the train to Bangkok. Duration was around 5 hours or so. We arrived Bangkok train station after sunset on the same day.

                         48 baht / pax : Train Aranyaprathet - Bangkok

                                                           Aranyaprathet Train Station

             In the train :   Photo courtesy from Ista (left ) with Jyoti ( right )

We then walked over to Chinatown following a map we gotten somewhere and had our meal before taking another train to Don Muang Airport to board our flight the next morning to Phuket. Yes, we stayed overnight at the Airport.

            20 baht / pax : Train Bangkok to Don Mueng (Airport)

                         Spending a night at Don Mueng Airport

No, we did not carry our backpacks all the way to Chinatown. There is a place where you can store your luggage / bags at this luggage storage area at Bangkok railway for hourly rate / daily rate depending on the size of your bags.

      Photo courtesy of Ista : Having duck noodle soup at Chinatown, Bangkok

We boarded Nok Air ( Bangkok - Phuket : RM99.90 per pax) . We rather fly than having to take bus which will be more than 12 hours ride. We got no time to waste.

                                        Time to board Nok Air Bangkok - Phuket ...Yahooooo !!!!!

30^th August 2011 - Tuesday (DAY 1)

Phuket airport to accommodation.

Desctiption	Cost for 3 heads.	Cost per head
Arrival in Phuket -heading to accommodation	-Taxi(30mins) – 650 – 700baht -Meter taxi(30mins) – 500- 550baht -mini bus(45mins) – 180-200baht -government bus(1hr) – 85baht	Taxi- 700baht / 3 = 234baht Meter taxi – 550baht/3 = 184baht Mini bus – 200baht/head Government bus – 85baht/head

*We took the government bus seeing that it was rather easy to commute and reliable. Most importantly, its CHEAP !

                 Airport  Bus : Phuket airport to Phuket downtown
   ** we had to get down and get ourselves to Patong Beach via Seongteow ( local pickup truck )

                                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                                                                             

1.      Name : Squareone                                                                                                                                   Rate : 690 baht /night ( 230baht/night/per pax)

Room : Triple (with 2 beds)                                                                                                                                                      

Add : 241/34 Ratuthit Road, Patong Beach, Phuket 83150, Thailand. Tel: +66 76 349 909 – Kwanchanok (reservation officer/Nattiporn (Manager)

**other options incase above is full Som Guesthouse = 260baht/person/night Bodega phuket = 400 baht/per head/per night Crown hostel = 250 baht/per head/per night Thai oriental = 800baht/night/room Little Buddha guest house  = 900baht/room/night/triple bed P.S2 bungalow = 650 -700 baht/room/night

2.    Freshen up/lunch              50 baht-100 baht                                                                         

3.    Bungee Jump                  1650 baht

-includes a t–shirt and bungy certificate.    
                                                                                                                                                               

- 102/1 Soi Kebsap, Sainamyen Rd.

Patong Beach, A. Kathu

Phuket, 83150

Tel/Fax: +66 (0)76 345 185

- Open daily 9.30AM-6.30pm.

    

                                                        Prana doing bungee jumping

 **Please buy your bungee jump package via agent rather than walking in directly to the venue to get cheaper price.

 4.         Radar Hill View Point               200baht/bike/day

To get there, you'll have to go via Chao Fa West Road where there is a gateway-like entrance and a big yellow sign in Thai and a road leading to a temple. Turn down this road and keep going past the temple. Here the road starts to ascend and at times it can be quite steep. If you are confused as to which road to take ask for 'Grom Utu' (which means 'weather station) and point upwards.

5.  Bangla Road Nightlife/ Muay Thai Boxing      Boxing – Free

- walking distance from hotel / continue using bike                                                                                         -  Nightlife – 500baht (estimate)

Note : We did not rent a bike nor went to Radar Hill View Point. Instead, we just chill by the beach.

       Total DAY 1 = With bungy jump -2680 baht / without bungy jump – 1030 baht

31^th August 2011 - Wednesday (DAY 2)

Rise and Shine/breakfast  6am-7.30am – **covered attire for temple visits thorough whole day. Bring extra clothing incase to change.

1Wat Chalong Temple   1200baht  for 5-6hrs tour arranged via our hotel.
  operating hours 7AM-5PM                         

   You should wear trousers or knee length shorts/skirts. You should wear a sleeve shirt. T-shirts are fine but not a singlet.

                                   Wat Chalong Temple

2Big Buddha (Ko Nakkerd)    

                                                                          3 of us at Big Buddha
            

3Phromthep Cape    

          

 



4   Old Phuket Town / Lunch               

Thai Hua Museum - life of the Chinese documented. - 200 baht entrance fee

The Taoist Temple.

Saphan Hin - Chinese fishermen, the Vegetarian Festival, temples and culture.

Shopping in down-town Phuket Town.                                                                                                            

5 Elephant Trekking  : sunset trekking:    1000baht            

       Camp Chang Kalim
Phrabarami Soi 9, Phrabarami Road, Kathu Kalim
Patong Beach, Phuket 83150 Thailand
Contact Person: Cinny 0897296184

        Operating hours : 8am – 6pm

      30mns Jungle and seaview     ( 900 Baht)

      45 mns  Jungle and seaview around Mountain (patong beach) (1,100 Baht)                          depends which one you want??

      1 hrs. Jungle, seaview (Patong Beach) and go to Beach (1,300 Baht)                    

6.      Free and easy at night.                                                                                                                                                       

   Total DAY 2 = 1600 baht

                              Took us a long time to bargain and finally got a good price and good buddy.

1^st September 2011 - Thursday ( DAY 3)

Rise and Shine/breakfast   **Wet suit / swim wear for water activities.

1   Island Hopping : 1200 baht

James bond island

Phi Phi island etc.

      Water activities         -     Expenses depends on activities.

3    Dinner / rest          :   50 -100 baht / pax

Note : We did not do island hopping since it was raining season and not worth the money. Furthermore, we will be doing island hopping in Krabi.  So we skipped this part and did something else.

Total DAY 3 = 1370 baht

                       

Conclusion : GRAND TOTAL PHUKET – 5650baht with bungy /  4000 baht without bungy



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