Where am I again?
Region: Southern Thailand> Province: Phuket> Location: Kata Beach

Getting There and Away

Bus

If you're arriving on the bus from Bangkok then you'll be taken to the central bus station in Phuket Town. This is slightly annoying as the bus passes through all the major tourist hot spots to the very south of the island to get to the bus station. If you're staying in one of the main hot spots such as Patong, Karon and Kata then you have three options. One; pay extortionate taxi prices that can see you paying as much as 800B to Patong and 600B to Kata. The second option is a mini bus that can be arranged from one of the travel shops that surround the bus station. Phuket Sunny Travel is one such shop. Open 06.00 – 20.00. T: (089) 267 9987. Ask for Thanat. Prices can vary but don't pay more than 200B to Kata in a mini bus. Lastly, you can hike into Phuket town proper and get a songtheaw out to Kata Beach -- this is the cheapest, slowest means to get to the beach.

The same options apply, if you arrive into Phuket by air. You can get a private taxi from one of the hundreds of eager drivers outside arrivals exit for around 800B to Kata. Alternatively you can go for a mini bus. The mini bus counter is on the right hand side next to the arrivals exit. Expect to be cramped and scared for your life as the mini bus drivers are speed maniacs. Ask to be taken straight to your guesthouse. It isn't out of the ordinary for the drivers to stop at there friends travel shops to try sell you supposed budget deal accommodation. Expect to pay around 300B from the airport to Kata and the same price upon return.

If you're leaving Kata by ferry to Ko Phi Phi, Krabi or Ko Lanta a mini bus is again the best and cheapest option. Most tour operators provide free mini bus service to Raasada pier which is in Phuket Town. The ticket including mini bus pick up from your guesthouse costs 800B. You can buy mini bus tickets and ferry tickets from every hotel, guesthouse and travel shop in the kata area.

If you just want to check out some of the other beaches on Phuket for the day then the best option is to hire a long tail boat from the north end of Kata beach. You can have a great day by heading south to Nai Harn beach and its tiny neighbor Nui Beach for 1,000B for the day. Key word here is barter for the best deal possible.

Tuk yuks roam all over Kata and you never have to wait more than a few minutes for one to roll past beeping at you. If a few minutes is just too long to wait, then the two tuk tuk depots in Kata are smack bang in the middle of Kata Centre and at the southern end of the beach road, opposite the 7-eleven. A one way trip to Patong for the night will cost you 500B, to Karon, the fare will depend on the driver, anywhere between 100 and 300B one way.