Discover 
Try to get a window seat if you are flying into Phuket International Airport - the sights are simply unforgettable. Aircraft flying in from the east follow an approach path that's smack-bang right over Phang Nga Bay and its graphic limestone karsts, isolated green islets and multihued fishing boats. At both high and low tide the bay is a mesmerizing kaleidoscope of colours and contours.
Even though the airport ranks second in the country in terms of passenger and freight volume it is quite a modest affair and within minutes of landing you will be in the terminal. Only a few hundred metres to the west, the Andaman Sea laps up on Mai Khao Beach ('White Wood') and Nai Yang Beach.
Getting To Your Hotel
As the airport is situated in the north of the island some 40 minutes' drive from Patong Beach, you're going to need some wheels to get to your hotel. If you have not already booked transportation with your hotel, don't worry - you still have several options. All transport options are clearly marked in English and Thai, as are taxi and minivan prices.
Phuket Airport Taxi / Taxi meter
A well-signed taxi stand is located just outside, to the right of the main building. The taxis are red and yellow and are supposed to use their meters but you will probably have to insist that the driver turns his meter on instead of bargaining and haggling for a price. The average fares from the airport are Phuket 400 baht, Patong 550 baht, Kata/Karon 650 baht. NB This charge is for the taxi, not per head. The trip will usually take approximately 30 minutes to Phuket, 40 minutes to Patong Beach, and around one hour to Kata/Karon.
Phuket Airport Limousine / Limousine taxi
A limousine service is also on hand, albeit a more expensive option (you can buy tickets for this service on the first floor of the terminal). The silver-grey vehicles are parked en masse directly opposite the terminal's main doors. They have a reputation for driving very fast as the quicker they go the more fares they can make in one day. If your knuckles are white after the first few kilometers gently say, 'Cha cha, khrap' - which means 'go slow please'.
Immigration Departure Hall at Phuket Airport
During Phuket's high season (December - May), when several flights can land one after the other, queues for immigration can sometimes be a little trying and officials thin on the ground - so be prepared for a wait unless you're willing to elbow all and sundry aside to get to the head of the line (but then again you're probably the same guy who got the window seat).
On the positive side, the airport's compactness means that it's just a short stroll from immigration and customs to the luggage carousel and the front door.Minivan
Tickets for minivans are for sale at two counters on the ground floor (Phuket 100 baht, Patong 150 baht, Kata/Karon 180 baht). Minivans sometimes stop off at tour agencies where you will be asked to book a tour from which the driver makes a commission. Minivans take longer than a taxi to deliver you to your hotel as they drop off other passengers at hotels along the way.
