a friend asked me to help in planning a trip for their friend who is visiting phuket. ive never been.i need info from someone who has visited phuket. any hotel reccommendations? best way to get around town? activities and or sights to see? is a flight the best travel option from phuket to bankok? any info would be great. thanks!!!

Yes, flight from Bangkok is easiest.

Where to stay? Depends on your friends wishes, Phuket has quite a few coastal town all with a different vibe. From the husstle and bustle of Patong to the quietness of Nai Yang beach, and everything in between.

It might be good to post what time of year they will be here and what their budget is. Perhaps age and what activities they would like to do.

Many hotels, guest houses, etc. and new ones popping up like mushrooms during current rainy season. Check the hotel sites eg. Agoda to get good deal, now is cheapest because also rainiest. Main thing to do is beaches, diving, boat trips, deep-sea fishing, etc. Avoid the tuk-tuks, notorious for rip-offs and under current gov't investigation. Same for jet-skis. Renting motorbikes is popular but also very hazardous. Cheap car rentals probably best and safest, look in Phuket Gazette.

Flying from BKK to HKT best way to arrive but beware of the airport ripoffs, so best book trip inside the terminal at one of several counters ... compare their prices.

Many hotels, guest houses, etc. and new ones popping up like mushrooms during current rainy season. Check the hotel sites eg. Agoda to get good deal, now is cheapest because also rainiest. Main thing to do is beaches, diving, boat trips, deep-sea fishing, etc. Avoid the tuk-tuks, notorious for rip-offs and under current gov't investigation. Same for jet-skis. Renting motorbikes is popular but also very hazardous. Cheap car rentals probably best and safest, look in Phuket Gazette.

Flying from BKK to HKT best way to arrive but beware of the airport ripoffs, so best book trip inside the terminal at one of several counters ... compare their prices.

Agree, but: taxi stands are just outside the terminal, don't book at a stand inside the terminal.

Go to Krabi

Try this hotel:

http://www.booking.com/hotel/th/the-residence-phuket.en-gb.html?aid=369143&label=forum

It has great deals on offer now.

Many hotels, guest houses, etc. and new ones popping up like mushrooms during current rainy season. Check the hotel sites eg. Agoda to get good deal, now is cheapest because also rainiest. Main thing to do is beaches, diving, boat trips, deep-sea fishing, etc. Avoid the tuk-tuks, notorious for rip-offs and under current gov't investigation. Same for jet-skis. Renting motorbikes is popular but also very hazardous. Cheap car rentals probably best and safest, look in Phuket Gazette.

Flying from BKK to HKT best way to arrive but beware of the airport ripoffs, so best book trip inside the terminal at one of several counters ... compare their prices.

Agree, but: taxi stands are just outside the terminal, don't book at a stand inside the terminal.

This is my advice to people coming here for the first time, but without this advice, someone would look at the signage, which says "taxi meter" and they get in and get told a price. They automatically say, "no, turn on meter" which is an appropriate thing to say, as a tourist, but there starts their steep learning curve about transport on Phuket.

People see the signs giving prices for the different forms of transport to the different locations, but they also see the words "taxi meter" and just expect the "meter" will be used.

They have been on Phuket only a matter of minutes and they are already in a minor confrontation over pricing. It's not a good look.

Not everybody coming to Phuket for the first time knows about the dismal transport situation here.

Many hotels, guest houses, etc. and new ones popping up like mushrooms during current rainy season. Check the hotel sites eg. Agoda to get good deal, now is cheapest because also rainiest. Main thing to do is beaches, diving, boat trips, deep-sea fishing, etc. Avoid the tuk-tuks, notorious for rip-offs and under current gov't investigation. Same for jet-skis. Renting motorbikes is popular but also very hazardous. Cheap car rentals probably best and safest, look in Phuket Gazette.

Flying from BKK to HKT best way to arrive but beware of the airport ripoffs, so best book trip inside the terminal at one of several counters ... compare their prices.

Agree, but: taxi stands are just outside the terminal, don't book at a stand inside the terminal.

This is my advice to people coming here for the first time, but without this advice, someone would look at the signage, which says "taxi meter" and they get in and get told a price. They automatically say, "no, turn on meter" which is an appropriate thing to say, as a tourist, but there starts their steep learning curve about transport on Phuket.

People see the signs giving prices for the different forms of transport to the different locations, but they also see the words "taxi meter" and just expect the "meter" will be used.

They have been on Phuket only a matter of minutes and they are already in a minor confrontation over pricing. It's not a good look.

Not everybody coming to Phuket for the first time knows about the dismal transport situation here.

He is aksing, 'where to stay and what to do'.

Many hotels, guest houses, etc. and new ones popping up like mushrooms during current rainy season. Check the hotel sites eg. Agoda to get good deal, now is cheapest because also rainiest. Main thing to do is beaches, diving, boat trips, deep-sea fishing, etc. Avoid the tuk-tuks, notorious for rip-offs and under current gov't investigation. Same for jet-skis. Renting motorbikes is popular but also very hazardous. Cheap car rentals probably best and safest, look in Phuket Gazette.

Flying from BKK to HKT best way to arrive but beware of the airport ripoffs, so best book trip inside the terminal at one of several counters ... compare their prices.

Agree, but: taxi stands are just outside the terminal, don't book at a stand inside the terminal.

This is my advice to people coming here for the first time, but without this advice, someone would look at the signage, which says "taxi meter" and they get in and get told a price. They automatically say, "no, turn on meter" which is an appropriate thing to say, as a tourist, but there starts their steep learning curve about transport on Phuket.

People see the signs giving prices for the different forms of transport to the different locations, but they also see the words "taxi meter" and just expect the "meter" will be used.

They have been on Phuket only a matter of minutes and they are already in a minor confrontation over pricing. It's not a good look.

Not everybody coming to Phuket for the first time knows about the dismal transport situation here.

He is aksing, 'where to stay and what to do'.

Agree with you, but the transport mafia there is a real pain to deal with. It's incredibly frustrating to pay 300B only to go 500m. And have to negotiate for everything. Hate to say this, but one reason I don't go there any more. Almost got into a fight over a parking space. I guess it was "reserved" for tuk tuks. None were around, and I was only going to be there for 10 minutes to look at the beach, but was threatened. And this happened several times. Horrible what they allow to happen to tourists.

Many hotels, guest houses, etc. and new ones popping up like mushrooms during current rainy season. Check the hotel sites eg. Agoda to get good deal, now is cheapest because also rainiest. Main thing to do is beaches, diving, boat trips, deep-sea fishing, etc. Avoid the tuk-tuks, notorious for rip-offs and under current gov't investigation. Same for jet-skis. Renting motorbikes is popular but also very hazardous. Cheap car rentals probably best and safest, look in Phuket Gazette.

Flying from BKK to HKT best way to arrive but beware of the airport ripoffs, so best book trip inside the terminal at one of several counters ... compare their prices.

Agree, but: taxi stands are just outside the terminal, don't book at a stand inside the terminal.

This is my advice to people coming here for the first time, but without this advice, someone would look at the signage, which says "taxi meter" and they get in and get told a price. They automatically say, "no, turn on meter" which is an appropriate thing to say, as a tourist, but there starts their steep learning curve about transport on Phuket.

People see the signs giving prices for the different forms of transport to the different locations, but they also see the words "taxi meter" and just expect the "meter" will be used.

They have been on Phuket only a matter of minutes and they are already in a minor confrontation over pricing. It's not a good look.

Not everybody coming to Phuket for the first time knows about the dismal transport situation here.

He is aksing, 'where to stay and what to do'.

Yes, he is, but no point asking those two questions if you can't get there. :) :)