Phuket Airport

By Paula Parker

Guide to Phuket International Airport

Phuket Airport is one of Thailand's busiest airports, with millions of passengers arriving each year.

The airport is located at Mai Khao, about 32 kilometres from Phuket Town on the Northern tip of the island.

Phuket Airport has two large passenger terminals.
Terminal 1 is the international terminal and Terminal 2 is the domestic terminal.

Phuket International Airport can accommodate up to 24 flights an hour, with this amount of flights the airport can get rather busy, especially during peak tourist season.

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Phuket Airport Arrivals

On your arrival you will go through immigration, baggage claim and customs, before heading out to the main arrivals lounge, where you will find last minute Duty Free shopping.

From here you will head out into the main arrivals hall area where you will find currency exchange, ATM's and information counters.

Check the official Phuket Airport Website for a detailed map.

If you are on a later flight and you are not comfortable using airport ATM's it may pay to get some currency exchanged from were you are departing from.

Getting To Your Hotel

Once outside the airport departure hall you will be welcomed by all the local transport operators to get you to where you need to go.
These transport options include:

• Pre arranged airport transfers 
• Airport bus
• Smart Bus
• Limousines
• Local Taxi's
• Red and Yellow Metered taxi's
  
• Grab

You may like to read about your transport options, for travelling around Phuket, before arriving.

Or, if your planning on transiting through Phuket to the Phi Phi Islands here are a few ideas.

If the ferry timetables to Phi Phi don't match up with your flight arrival you may prefer to stay overnight in Phuket Town for easy travel to the Islands the following day. 

For many years we would catch the Yellow and Red Taxi's.
The red and yellow taxi's are metered and will cost you around 500 baht including a 100 baht booking fee. 

If you choose to take one of the local Taxi's that are not metered beware that the driver's may side track you from your original path.

We have more information about why we choose not to use taxis to get to, or from Phuket International Airport again.

If you are on a budget there are buses that run from the airport into Phuket Town.

If you are traveling to the West Coast Beaches, you can catch the Smart Bus.

This bus service runs from Phuket International Airport along the west coast to Rawai, connecting the airport with major tourist areas along the way, including Kamala, Patong, Karon and Kata Beaches. 

The fare for the smart bus is 100 Baht per person, no matter what the distance is.

Amenities at Phuket Airport

Phuket International Airport offers several lounges with comfortable amenities for travelers who want to relax before their long-haul flights.

To keep travelers connected while in transit there is complimentary Wi-Fi available and charging stations.

For the kids there is a playground on level 4. 

There is a good selection of food and drink outlets, Duty Free shopping, a 7 Eleven, and a pharmacy. 

Recommended Arrival Times for Departing Flights

Due to traffic in Phuket, it is advisable that you leave adequate travel time for your journey from your hotel to Phuket Airport for your departing flight from Phuket.

International flights: it is recommended to check in 3 hours before your departure time
Domestic flights: it is recommended to check in 1.5 hours to 2 hours before your departure time

Phuket Airport Departures

The Departure area at Phuket airport is located on the third floor.

When entering into the passenger hall you will see the check in counters.

If you have remembered to keep your VAT receipts, you will be able to claim the VAT refund just before you head into the departure lounge.

Once in the Departure lounge you will find the usual light refreshments, coffee shops, subway, newsagents and Duty Free shops.

If you are prepared to do some research you can find some cheap flights to Phuket with budget airlines like Air Asia to Phuket via KL.

Hotels near Phuket Airport

There are many hotels and resorts located close to Phuket Airport, including budget-friendly hotels, resorts that are will suited for families and beachside resorts that are only 5 minutes by car from the airport.

Staying close to the airport a night or two before your flight gives you more flexibility and takes the stress out of worrying about getting to the airport on time for that early morning flight.

When your looking for a hotel or resort close to Phuket airport check to see if they offer free airport transfers in the room rate.

During our last trip to Phuket, we enjoyed a 3 night stay at the Dewa Phuket Resort and Villas at Nai Yang Beach, before our flight back to Australia.

The Dewa is a 5-star resort which is perfectly situated a short five minute drive from Phuket Airport.

What we loved most about the resort, was the peaceful location.

The rooms were fantastic and provided everything we needed including a super comfortable bed. The swimming pools were wonderful and the staff were friendly and welcoming. 

Travel Information

Tours & Transfers

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