Getting to Kata Beach, Phuket (HKT)
Fly direct into Phuket International Airport from Australia (Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne) and England (Heathrow, Gatwick). From Ireland and across the USA, one stop flights are available through several airports. Hubs include Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok.
You might like to take advantage of a stopover in Bangkok for a couple of nights, or wherever else you are flying through. Taking advantage of a stopover or a connecting flight can often be cheaper than a direct flight.
Airport to Kata Beach
Kata Beach is on the south-west of the island, roughly 45 minutes to an hour from the airport depending on traffic. The easy options:
- Pre-booked hotel transfer: the simplest, ask your hotel when you book.
- Airport taxi: fixed-price counters inside the terminal.
- Grab: Thailand's version of Uber, works from the airport pickup zone.
Expect somewhere around 800 to 1,200 baht for the trip.
Entry requirements
Entry rules for Australians visiting Thailand change from time to time, including visa arrangements, arrival cards and the like. Rather than trust anything written here months in advance, please check the current requirements yourself in the weeks before you fly:
Start with Smartraveller's Thailand page. It's the Australian Government's official advice and always current.
For non-Australians, please check your visa requirements with the Thai Embassy in your country a few weeks prior to departure.
Make sure your passport has at least six months' validity from your date of entry. That one never changes.
Travel Insurance – Don't leave home without it!
Thailand has good quality health care and services for tourists, provided you have travel insurance. It is advisable if you want to do any adventure sports, scuba dive or hire a car to get around. Any last-minute cancellations are also usually covered by travel insurance and so for a small fee, be covered and be safe.