Bang Tao In/out Transport

[yohanes8188]

Hi,

I will be staying in Laguna - Bang Tao Beach.

Could someone advise me how to get around to Phuket Town or Patong Beach and back to Laguna by songthaew - as I want to experience the local transport mode.

Thanks....

[thaigerd]

From Laguna to Patong or Phuket Town I would recommend to rent a small car or Jeep.

Low and rainy season now should not be to expensive and you avoid the tuk-tuks.

Gerd

[chinthee]

I agree, avoid the Tuk Tuks, though if you want a real "authentic" experience I would suggest taking the "chicken buses." Those are the larger open air buses the locals use. You might enjoy that. Just as your hotel how to do it, you'll need to be dropped outside Laguna to catch one I believe.

[yohanes8188]

From Laguna to Patong or Phuket Town I would recommend to rent a small car or Jeep.

Low and rainy season now should not be to expensive and you avoid the tuk-tuks.

Gerd

Gerd, Thanks.

I will be there in Aug, I assume it is still low season.

I don't have international driving licence, can I rent a car ? Some info I received, only possible for me to rent motorbike. What is your take ?

And, still in order for me to aviod tuk-tuks, how can I go from Bang Tao to the rental shop.

Thanks.

[yohanes8188]

I agree, avoid the Tuk Tuks, though if you want a real "authentic" experience I would suggest taking the "chicken buses." Those are the larger open air buses the locals use. You might enjoy that. Just as your hotel how to do it, you'll need to be dropped outside Laguna to catch one I believe.

is the open aired bus safe for tourist ?

[LivinginKata]

You can rent a car or motor bike with no driving licence, they just want your passport as security. But if you get stopped by the police and don't have an International Driving permit you will be fined EACH time your are stopped, and your insurance might be void.

[chinthee]

I agree, avoid the Tuk Tuks, though if you want a real "authentic" experience I would suggest taking the "chicken buses." Those are the larger open air buses the locals use. You might enjoy that. Just as your hotel how to do it, you'll need to be dropped outside Laguna to catch one I believe.

is the open aired bus safe for tourist ?

Yes, very safe. I've heard tourists really enjoy that. Kids might like it too. I see a number of farangs on the buses and they're very cheap.

[yohanes8188]

You can rent a car or motor bike with no driving licence, they just want your passport as security. But if you get stopped by the police and don't have an International Driving permit you will be fined EACH time your are stopped, and your insurance might be void.

How much typically I have to pay for EACH stop ?

[Sir Burr]

You can rent a car or motor bike with no driving licence, they just want your passport as security. But if you get stopped by the police and don't have an International Driving permit you will be fined EACH time your are stopped, and your insurance might be void.

How much typically I have to pay for EACH stop ?

It's 300 Bt. Though when you get fined, you will get a receipt. If you get pulled over again on the same day, you show the receipt and won't be fined again. The receipt is a license to not have a license for a day.

[chinthee]

You can rent a car or motor bike with no driving licence, they just want your passport as security. But if you get stopped by the police and don't have an International Driving permit you will be fined EACH time your are stopped, and your insurance might be void.

How much typically I have to pay for EACH stop ?

It's 300 Bt. Though when you get fined, you will get a receipt. If you get pulled over again on the same day, you show the receipt and won't be fined again. The receipt is a license to not have a license for a day.

I guess I'll be the one to stretch this thread out to ridiculous. One last point, OP, you will have a much bigger chance of getting stopped on a motorbike than car. Probably very little chance of being stopped in a car. So, you may factor that in.

[Sir Burr]

^

Yeah.......what he said.

[geriatrickid]

Please do not drive without the appropriate license. In the event of a collision involving bodily injury, your insurance will be void. You will face a large bill and may be detained as a flight risk. Invest the small amount of funds in your home country (usually the local auto association does it) and drive somewhat worry free.

The highway code does not recognize an infraction receipt as a "temporary" license. An infraction is allowed to be levied for each and every driving infraction. If in doubt consult the code or legal counsel.

What you will pay in "fines" will be more than the cost of the license.

[jdinasia]

or he could stick with the original solution he had .....

the local busses are cheap ....there is a route from Kamala through Bangtao ... to Phukettown. It ends where the route to Patong starts.

The busses only run during the day and are crowded at the times schools let out etc.

take a taxi or a tuktuk back from Patong (don't pay more than 300 for a tuk tuk or 400 for a taxi)

[yohanes8188]

or he could stick with the original solution he had .....

the local busses are cheap ....there is a route from Kamala through Bangtao ... to Phukettown. It ends where the route to Patong starts.

The busses only run during the day and are crowded at the times schools let out etc.

take a taxi or a tuktuk back from Patong (don't pay more than 300 for a tuk tuk or 400 for a taxi)

All,

Thanks for the inputs.

I will go with Gerd's suggestion to rent a car.

I got a quote from www.ninecarrent.com for Honda Jazz. with full comprehensive insurance. total rental fare of 1,050 baht/day with zero deductible in case of car damage or 900 baht/day with excess max 5000 baht for car damage. Good deal ?

[Ping]

Well the OP originally asked the songthaew routes (or 'chicken buses' as Chinthee puts it). I disagree about not being pulled over in a car. I drive a car and whenever I have passed the random checkpoints (as opposed to the permanent ones), I have been pulled over more times than I have been waved through. The police will only require you to show either your home licence or your International Driver's Permit (IDP), but you MUST have an IDP for insurance purposes. If you don't have one, either get one or DON'T RENT!

(Edit: my typing skills are going downhill!)

[Kimera]

Please do not drive without the appropriate license. In the event of a collision involving bodily injury, your insurance will be void. You will face a large bill and may be detained as a flight risk. Invest the small amount of funds in your home country (usually the local auto association does it) and drive somewhat worry free.

The highway code does not recognize an infraction receipt as a "temporary" license. An infraction is allowed to be levied for each and every driving infraction. If in doubt consult the code or legal counsel.

What you will pay in "fines" will be more than the cost of the license.

Well said! Not sure where you are but the IDL in the UK costs £7.50 for 1 year from the AA, most other countries have similar! It's the way to go

[Slinky]

Yep International driving licenses are easy to get in the UK. I got one from my local post office just by showing my UK license.

I've been renting a car from PMP Car Hire for the last 6 months and I have never been stopped by the police, but its nice to have peace of mind. I searched for a car rental agency through the Phuket Gazette and PMP were the cheapest at 16,000 per month during high season for a brand new car, and discounts during low season.

Hope this helps. PMP are located near the airport but deliver cars to anywhere on the island, free of charge.

Phone: (66) 087 264 6808

E-mail: [email protected]

[email protected]

URL: www.pmpagent.com