Foodies
With a selection of dining options as varied as the culture surrounding Phuket, food lovers will enjoy a range of options from local Thai food to Swedish cuisine.

Lovers of Lazing on the Beach
Take in the beautiful scenery as you relax on the beach and enjoy a book or a nice cool drink. With a wide selection of beaches to choose from, you'll have no trouble winding down for a lazy day soaking up the sun. For actual swimming, take a cautious approach, since dangerous rip tides are prevalent on most beaches.

Shoppers
When the currency exchange rate is favorable, as it usually is, Phuket is a perfect place to stock up on all those souvenirs and gifts for your loved ones back home. Don't forget to indulge yourself as well with a wide variety of shops and market options to choose from.

Transfers
Transfers from Phuket International Airport to your hotel are not included with your hotel package, but are available for purchase.

By Bus
Giant, colorful buses called Songtaews traverse the roads between Phuket Town and the main beaches on the western coast; they're only permitted to travel from beach to town and not beach to beach. Leaving when they're full (usually every 30 minutes), Songtaews are a great option for traveling to a single beach destination and cheaper than the beach-to-beach Tuk-Tuk prices.

By Tuk-Tuk
Three-wheeled, open-air taxis called Tuk-Tuks are a main form of transportation in Phuket. Drivers have exclusive rights to transportation from beach to beach and know how to get as much money out of you as they can. At night, prices for a Tuk-Tuk ride go up, sometimes doubling from the daytime prices; if you're traveling on a budget, keep this in mind so you don't get stuck on the beach late at night. Always state your destination and agree on the price for the ride before setting off in a Tuk-Tuk.

By Motorcycle Taxi
Made identifiable by colored vests, motorcycle taxis are good for short trips within town or along Patong Beach. Unless you're looking for a hair-raising experience on switchback roads, don't let a taxi driver talk you into anything but a short trip, and make sure to request a helmet before getting on the motorcycle taxi, or you may be fined for breaking the helmet law.

By Car/Motorcycle
Phuket's roads can be dangerous and unpredictable, with switchbacks, steep and winding roads, and reckless drivers, so renting a car is not recommended in Phuket. The same goes for motorcycles.

You'll have fantastic dining choices in Phuket. The beach areas in the west are packed with small eateries and hotel restaurants. Along the Patong strip, you'll find upscale diners and Asian chains, along with fast-food joints clustered around the beach. And the JungCeylon shopping mall also offers a selection of trendy restaurants in a gargantuan air-conditioned mall.

If you're interested in exploring local cuisine traditions, head to Phuket Town, where you'll find the greatest concentration of traditional eateries. Phuket has a number of dishes different in character and flavor from those of other areas in Thailand. Here is a brief guide: Here are just a few suggestions:

• Kanohm Jin Phuket - Noodles served with a fiery curry sauce, eaten as a breakfast food—comes with an array of fresh vegetables and boiled eggs that are mixed in at the table.
• Lo Bah - Fried sausages served with fried tofu and spicy, sweet and sour sauce.
• Mee Hokkian - Yellow egg noodles stir-fried with leafy green vegetables in soy sauce, usually with pork or chicken.
• Mee Sua - Breakfast noodles served with the boiled rice dishes Khao Tohm or Johk.
• Oh Aew - An iced sweet made of flour, banana, and a little seaweed.
• Oh Tao - Oysters fried with flour, eggs, and taro root.

Check out a few of these exciting restaurants:

Nightlife
Patong is the center of nightlife on the island, with plenty of bars, nightclubs, karaoke lounges, and adults-only shows that are open all night. For a more sedate experience, check out the mesmerizing Thai dance shows at many of the hotels, or one of the options below:

Phuket is cheap and affordable, depending on where you decide to shop. From upscale venues to street markets, Phuket is the ideal place for a bit of retail therapy and to come away with those perfect items to show for it. Pearls, batiks, and pewter ware are Phuket's best-known products. Tailors have shops everywhere; labor costs are inexpensive so a handmade suit is an attractive purchase. Tailors supply the cloth, or you can select your own from one of the many cloth merchants in Phuket Town.

Thao Thepasattri-Thao Sri Suntorn Festival
March. This event is more for locals, but tourists are encouraged to join in the celebrations, too. One of the largest festivals on the island, sports and culture are celebrated at the same time during this 2-week long festival. The highlight of the festival is a historical, open-air show that tells the story of 2 heroic Thai sisters who raised a defense against the Burmese troops over 200 years ago. Sample the local cuisine and shop at the many displays throughout the festival.

Thai New Year (Songkran Festival)
April. This festival celebrates the traditional Thai New Year. Locals sprinkle water on each other's hands as an act of wishing them good luck. Join the locals in visiting temples and reverently sprinkling water on Buddha images. Or, find a spot to watch the impish children use this tradition as an excuse for water fights; don't be surprised if they splash you, or you get wet from teams of water-throwers that ride around in the backs of trucks.

Por Tor Festival
July/August. Por Tor, meaning "hungry ghosts" in Chinese, is a festival marking the Chinese belief that for 1 month, their ancestors have been released from hell. Special food, flowers, and candles are left as worshipful offerings on ancestors' altars to satiate them. Head to the fresh market on Ranong Road for colorful decorations and enjoy many interesting activities from noon to midnight; make sure to sample local foods from the many stands open during the event.

King's Cup Regatta
December. A week of fun, partying, and sailing is what attracts some of the world's best yachts to Kata Beach in Phuket. First started in 1987 to celebrate King Bhumibol's birthday, contestants still vie for the trophy in a highly competitive race to the finish line.

Beach Safety
Keep an eye out for stinging creatures such as jellyfish and sea urchins, as well as rogue jet skiiers. Rip tides in Phuket also can be very dangerous, especially during the monsoon season. Lifeguard and safety resources might not meet the standards of many travelers. Never swim alone, swim only in designated areas, and if a red flag is flying, do not swim in that area. If in doubt, ask the locals to help you determine if the area is suitable for swimming.

Jet Ski Warnings
Although the Phuket governor pronounced jet skis illegal in 1997, the ban has not always been enforced and some jet skis are now legal only if they've been registered. Renting jet skis, however, exposes tourists to risks of damage-claim scams and extra, unannounced fees.

Etiquette
Etiquette in Thailand is very different than etiquette in the West, so do a little research before you leave for tips on how to behave and react to certain situations (how to show proper respect for the king, movie theater requirements, how to hail a taxi, temple behavior, etc.).

Good to Know