How to Find Hotels in Phuket, Thailand

Thailand typically evokes images of ancient sacred Buddhist shrines covered by vines and hidden deep in lush tropical jungles. It also evokes images of fast-paced, seedy city life in places like Bangkok and Phuket. The real Thailand lies somewhere between these two extremes. It is a land of high culture and high technology, a place that has enchanted visitors for centuries.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A computer with Internet access for making reservations and booking accommodations

Know Your Destination

1. Cash in your dollars for bahts at the currency exchange booth. The baht is the official currency of Thailand.

2. Know that Thailand is mostly flat plains used for growing rice, surrounded by hills, mountains and plateaus on its sides.

3. Prepare for hot, wet weather. No need to bring your winter coat, as Thailand is hot all over and the humidity never lets up. When the annual monsoons come, the humidity can be almost unbearable. Make sure your accommodations in Phuket include air conditioning.

Organize Transportation

4. Travel to Phuket but expect a stopover in Bangkok. Most international flights from all major carriers serve Bangkok, then you'll have to take a domestic flight to Phuket or take a train or car.

5. Ride the train. While the Thai train system is not the fastest in the world, it is still cheap and quite reliable. Most long-distance trains to and from Phuket include dining cars and overnight accommodations.

6. Take the bus. Thailand operates an efficient and affordable bus system between cities and within Phuket, the buses run smoothly and regularly.

Choose Your Lodging

7. Savor the splendor of Thai accommodations. The top hotels in Phuket are some of the finest resorts anywhere. They include world-class restaurants, lounges and nightclubs on top of elegant, luxurious rooms.

8. Choose a mid-range hotel. Don't be fooled by the name, as Phuket accommodations are so upscale that a mid-range hotel will probably be as nice as any high-end hotel in the United States.

9. Stay on a budget. Guesthouses are an affordable, comfortable alternative to the more expensive larger hotels. You will enjoy quiet and solitude at these small lodgings as well.

Be Familiar with Local Information

10. Believe what you hear about Thai beaches. Thailand's reputation for world-class beaches is well earned and you won't be disappointed by the sun, sand and surf you encounter.

11. Get away from the crowded city by staying at a secluded beach bungalow hotel. Prices are reasonable and some have their own private beaches.

Tips & Warnings

• To book accommodations in Phuket, Thailand, call the Tourism Authority of Thailand at 011 ([phone] or visit the link below.
• All phone numbers include the international prefix "011." When calling internationally but not from the United States or Canada, substitute that "011" with "00." All country codes are within parentheses and begin with a "+" sign.
• Contact the U.S. State Department for updated travel warnings before visiting Thailand.

[malindawood]

on 10/15/2007 For more information about best deals from over 300 hotels, resorts and tour packages to Phuket and other destination in Thailand, please visit http://www.circleofasia.com/thailand/phuket/. Also get free tips, advice, and travel guides to Phuket.