Phuket Vacation Trip and Hotel Reservations

Hotel Reservations

Phuket is blessed with magnificent coves and bays, powdery, palm-fringed white beaches, sparkling island-dotted seas, sincerely hospitable people, superb accommodations and seafood, delightful turn-of-the-century Sino-Portuguese architecture; numerous sporting and leisure opportunities; a lush tropical landscape – all of which combine to create a delightful ambience for truly memorable holidays.

All the rooms at PhuketVacation.org are tastefully decorated and are spacious. Most of the rooms have their private balconies that are either faced towards the hills or the sea.

Popular Beaches: Patong Beach | Kamala Beach | Karon Beach | Kata Beach | Bang Tao Beach

Getting There

Travel from Bangkok
By Car
From Bangkok, take Highway 4 through Nakhon Pathom, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, thence through Ranong province’s Kra Buri and Kapoe districts, Phang-nga province’s Takua Pa and Takua Thung districts and onto Phuket island across the Thao Thepkasattri Bridge.  The total distance is 862 kilometres.

By Bus
Take the daily bus from the Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal on orommaratchachonnani Road to Phuket. The journey takes 13 hours. For further information, Tel. 0 2894 6122 or visit www.transport.co.th. In addition, there are private bus services; namely, Phuket Central Tour Co., Ltd. Tel. 0 2885 8692-4 (Phuket office Tel : 0 7621 3615, 0 7621 4335 and Phuket Travel Co., Ltd., Tel. 0 2885 9025-6 (Phuket office Tel : 0 7622 2107-9 Phuket Bus Terminal Tel : 0 7621 1977, 0 7621 1480

By Rail
There are no direct train services to Phuket.  Travellers by train must get off at Phun Phin railway station in Surat Thani and continue by regular bus to Phuket.  Please call 1690, 0 2223 7010, 0 2220 4334 or www.railway.co.th for more information.

By Air
There are many airlines operating flights between Bangkok and Phuket  as follows:-
Thai Airways (TG) Tel : 1566 for information or 0 2280 0060, 0 2628 2000 or www.thaiairways.com for reservation.   (Phuket office Tel : 0 7621 1195, 0 7621 2499, 0 7621 2946, 0 7621 6678 Fax : 0 7621 6776)
Bangkok Airways (PG) Tel : 1 771, 0 2265 5678, 0 2265 5555 or www.bangkokair.com
Nok Air  (DD) Tel : 1318, 0 2627 2000  www.nokair.com
Air Asia Airline (FD) Tel : 0 2515 9999 or www.airasia.com
One Two Go Airline Tel : 1126, 0 2229 4260, 0 7635 1238 or www.fly12go.com

Retirement Living

The Island of Phuket is regarded by many as a tropical island paradise and is one of the most beautiful and enchanting islands in Asia. Clear blue waters, countless white sandy beaches and the welcoming Thai people have all helped to develop the Island into one of the worlds leading holiday destinations and a very popuar place to own a second home.

Phuket has a modern international airport with daily direct and connecting flights to Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, Europe and America. The infrastructure is well developed with excellent road networks and reliable transportation.

Many westerners have made Phuket their home. It is impossible to give an exact number but 20,000 is a common estimate. Phuket offers the charms of a tropical island with the amenities of a western country. The cost of living means that ex-pats can have a quality of life that is far higher than they could afford at home.
The country is politically stable compared to many other tropical nations. Yes, there is a history of military coups. However, most of them are bloodless and any conflict invariably takes place in Bangkok. In the rest of the country, life continues as normal. The locals are friendly and tolerant, and visa rules are relatively generous.

All kinds of people settle in Phuket. Many retirees take advantage of Thailand’s retirement visas for over 50s, knowing their pensions will go much further than at home. There are many foreigners working in Phuket - mostly in the tourism sector. Another group is those with visas for supporting Thai spouses and dependants.

There are yet more people who stay in Phuket by doing a visa run every month and have been doing so for years. Many offshore workers make Phuket their home. Their high incomes allow them a great lifestyle in Phuket and they do not need to worry about special visas as they can return to work before their tourist visas expire.

Phuket  Voted One of the World’s TOP FIVE Retirement Destinations!

When you visit Thailand as a Tourist, you will need a Tourists Visa. If it is for a short stay, this is  issued on arrival. However if it is for a longer term, then Tourists will require a Tourists Visa to be issued by a Thai Embassy.
If you are looking to Retire, then Thailand actually encourages retirement, if you are 50 years, or over.

You will however need a “Retirement Visa”, which are issued for 12 months, renewed annually, and are easily obtained here in Phuket. There is a relatively small fee, made by the Thai authorities for these Visas, and IOR Group staff will be pleased to help you with your Visa. We make no additional charge for our service.

Often people that “Retire to Phuket”, find that a whole new world opens up to them when they live here. It is the quality of life that is most important, and this warm tropical climate certainly makes doing different things so much easier.There are so many different things that you can do here, and having good weather all the time makes it so much more enjoyable doing them! For instance, say that you would like to learn to sail.

Then there is no better place to learn than right here in Phuket, with the amazingly beautiful  Phang Nga Bay area, and it’s thousands of tropical islands, many of which have deserted white sandy beaches, just waiting to be discovered.

You may wonder if it is too far away here, but don’t worry about that! You will have all of your friends, and family, just queuing up to come and visit you! Your spare bedroom, will be very much in demand! Because the whole place is so perfect, we have yet to meet one person, that does not want to return here. So once you have visitors, do not be too surprised, if they cannot wait to come back again and again.

Fancy seeing some more of the world? Well, from Phuket International Airport, which is around 40 minutes drive away, you can travel to everywhere. Places we recommend  that you might like to visit, include Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. If you fancy seeing cities where east meets west, then  Singapore is only an hour or so away, and Hong Kong around 2 hours. Even if it is a trip  “down under” to Australia, then a flight to Perth is only  about 4/5 hours away. Our friendly Reception Staff will always be there on-site, to assist you with any of your requirements.

How about “out and about” in Phuket? Yes, again we have “on-site” IOR Mini Buses, that will make regular trips to the large Supermarkets, Shopping Centres and Beaches each day. Or you may want to visit some of the amazing Thai markets, and “haggle” over your purchases. Whatever you pay, it will still only be a fraction of western prices. So whether you just want to lie on a beach, and simply do nothing, or you fancy some serious “retail therapy”, in the new Shopping Malls, then Phuket really is, the perfect place to be.

Street Market

Markets are what shopping in Thailand is all about. The street markets in the beach areas sell all kinds of clothing, such as “brand name” t-shirts, DVD movies, watches, along with gift and souvenir items. Remember to compare prices, and bargain hard but with a smile. Ill-tempered bargaining will get you nowhere in Thailand.

Some of the street markets are:
• Patong Beach Road
• Bangla Road (Patong)
• Patak Road (Karon Circle Area)
• Taina Road (Kata)
• Chao Fah Variety (opposite Wat Nakha, Phuket City)
• Phuket Square (Tilok Uthit 2 Rd, Phuket City )
• Cherng Talay market (near Cherng Talay police station)

Shopping in Phuket

If shopping is your thing, Phuket is the place to get your fix. Many of the same items that are sold at Patong and other beach resorts are cheaper in the city.

In the “Old Town” along Montri, Phang Nga, Rassada and Yaowarat roads, are a number of Phuket’s better handicraft, souvenir and antique shops. Walking around this area is also a pleasant opportunity to see some of Phuket’s remaining sino-portuguese architecture in the form of shophouses and a few large houses.

On Ranong road, you can experience the sights and sounds of a Thai fresh market at the Downtown market next to the beach-bus station. Apart from the fruits, vegetables and meats, there are also some basic clothing items for sale.

Shopping in Phuket is not just about roadside stalls and markets, there is also a decent selection of department stores and shopping centres. These shops stock a large range of international brand names as well as some local ones. Quite a few bargains can be found, particularly if there is a sale on.

Central Festival, as well as the newly opened Jungceylon are the newest arrivals on the scene and have taken shopping and entertainment in Phuket to a whole new level. These shopping complexes feature a plethora of shops, restaurants, as well as cinemas and other entertainment. On a smaller scale are the Ocean department stores and Robinsons. These are definitely worth checking out, especially if you are looking for clothes.

Tesco Lotus and Big C, in Phuket City, and Carrefour (part of Jungceylon) in Patong, are Phuket’s hypermarkets. These stock everything you can imagine, from food to footwear, and at very reasonable prices.

Patong

• Ocean Plaza Bangla
•  Jungceylon
•  Patong Department Stores
• Patong Markets & Stalls

Phuket City

• Central Festival Phuket
• Big C Supercentre
• Index Living Mall
• Ocean Shopping Mall
• Phuket Shopping Centre
• Robinsons Department Store
• Tesco Lotus Supercentre

Surin

• The Plaza Surin

Bang Tao

• Canal Village
• Phuket Markets

Spa

Phuket has evolved into a major center for spas and wellness in recent years. Several world-class facilities have been built around the island, and all of the island’s top resorts are scurrying to either expand or develop their own in-house spa services. Many offer a blend of Eastern and Western, classy to modern techniques in a tranquil environment, often at lower prices than spas with similar standards of service and luxury in the West.

You can receive a Thai traditional massage costing as little as 250-300 baht, or indulge in a pampering spa treatment program for 7,000 baht or more. There is something here to suite all tastes and budgets. The more basic facilities may be little more than a shop house with a row of chairs or daybeds for giving massages and facial treatments, and there are numerous other places all the way up to a full-service spa such as spas in 5-star hotels/resorts, where a sensational range of treatments are provided in an elegant setting. Phuket combines all choice of spa services – Day spa, Spas in hotels/resorts, Medical spas and Spa destinations, with top level of services.

Surin Islands Diving Site

Depth: 25 - 30 meter

3 Only five islands make up this national marine park just south of the Myanmar border and 53 kilometers from mainland Thailand.

If you fancy getting lost in an island paradise, you could do no better. The small group of islands contains dozens of beautiful coves and bays, and is choked with thick jungle.

The waters around Ko Surin are said to have the most diverse coral in all of Thailand, and seem to attract stranger species of marine life; divers and snorkellers may catch sight of the ghost pipe fish and frog fish.

Richelieu Rock

Richelieu Rock is, it is generally agreed, a world-class dive site. The submerged rock whose tips are just visible at low tide, is 18 kilometers east of Ko Surin and home to the widest diversity of sea life. It is the playground for schools of whale sharks which are so friendly they often pose for photographs.

How to get there

The best way is by boat from Phuket with a number of Phuket-based dive and cruise operators running short and long excursions.

Best time to visit

The main tourist and diving season is between December and April.

Facilities

On Ko Sunn Nua, there are park restaurant. Longtail boats and snorkelling equipment available for rent. No shops.

Similan Islands Diving Site

Depth: Various

This national park in Phang-nga Province 100 kilometers northwest of Phuket consists of nine desert islands whose natural beauty and incredible underwater vistas make them possibly the most loved dive sites in the Andaman Sea. The Similans boast 25 world-class dive venues. They are famous for their dazzling marine life, warm, clear water and mild sea conditions.

Visibility is usually between 18 and 25 meters and at times exceeds 40 meters. There is a huge variety of wildlife under the water, with sites on the west of the islands open to the sea, and sites on the east fringed with hard coral. Larger marine animals that inhabit the waters around the Similans include whale sharks and cow-tail rays.

Several sites feature giant coral bommies, covered with soft corals and sea fans rising dramatically from the bottom. Out of the water, the virgin beaches and the flora and fauna beyond are breathtaking.

Ko Bon & Ko Tachai

Despite the reputation of the the Similans, some pros argue that for sheer excitement, you can’t beat Ko Bon. Divers to this small island 20 kilometers north of the largest Similan should, as they negotiate the vertical walls, be prepared for close encounters with leopard sharks. Here the corals come in unique rich hues; blue, yellow and turquoise. Ko Bon is also renowned for its high number of manta rays, especially at the end of the season in April and May.

A further 25 kilometers north of Ko Bon is Ko Tachai, with a stunning pristine beach straight out of fairytale imaginations. Ko Tachai is famous for its large sea creatures. Divers and snorkellers can expect to see whale sharks, leopard sharks and nurse sharks, as well as rays and hawksbill turtles. The waters around the island are teeming with all kinds of tropical fish and coral.

How to get there

By boat from Phuket with regular sailings provided by numerous tour and dive operators. One-day excursion and longer tours are available. Tours last from five to 14 days. The longer tours for divers usually include Mu Ko Surin National Park and the much distant Myanmar hanks.

Best time to visit

• December to April is the main tourist season with good weather.
• Island cruising is best between November and April. Great care should be taken in anchoring onlv on a sandy beach bottom to avoid coral damage.

Koh Racha Noi Diving Site

Further south is Koh Racha Noi, a smaller island that also offers some good dive spots. There are two submerged pinnacles on each end of the island that are teeming with marine life. The southern pinnacle offers underwater boulders and scenery similar to that seen in the Similans, often with visibility to match. Big schools of hunting jacks and barracuda are common and if the season is right you may sp
ot a manta ray. There are also a couple of shallower spots around the island for the more inexperienced diver.

Depth: 5-35m
Visibility: 5-25m
Currents: can be strong
Getting there: 90 mins.
Best month: Dec – Mar

Koh Racha Yai

Koh Racha Yai (also spelled Raya or Raja) is the larger of the two islands south of Phuket. The better diving is off the east coast where good drifts can be done along the hard coral walls. Many species of coral can be spotted here with staghorn predominating in many places.

The island often attracts some bigger visitors such as barracuda and the odd reef shark as well as the usual array of reef inhabitants. There are several interesting places to dive around Koh Racha Yai including Lucy’s Reef where you may come across stonefish and catfish and Marla’s Mystery, a wreck that is now home to morays, groupers and lionfish.

Depth: 5-30m
Visibility: 5-25m
Currents: Can be strong
Getting there: 90mins
Best months: Dec-Mar