Is it worth hiring a car in Phuket or is public transport sufficient?

Rent at the airport is easy. But for God's sake get the full insurance!!!!

@Jim ******

hire a car of you can legally drive here.....ie license and if from Overseas an IDP

On Phuket use the phuketsmartbus.com/

Only 100 Baht.

From in front of Domestic Terminal, short walking distance from International terminal.

The buses have aircon, and you are not as cramped as taximinibus with 8-10 passangers.

There is adequate room for your luggage.

Be aware of Taxi, Minibus & tuktuk on Phuket is the most expensive in all of Thailand.

Taxi and Minibusses from the Taxi stand at the airport, will stop at their own travel agency on the route, and try to convince you, that your hotelreservation is canceled, and you need to get a new hotelroom from that travel agency.

Or they try to get you to book tours.

With 8-10 passengers it will easyli delay your transport half an hour or more.

Then easier to use the bus without scams.

Instead you should use the app’s if you want to get a reasonable price or at least use to compare prices.

thephuketnews.com/phuket-airport-limo-co-op-fined-b180k-for-tour-shop-stops-.php

If you decide to hire a car, get an International Drivers Permit before you leave from whatever country you're from. It might be a requirement (or not) from Hire Car companies. Also, I've read that some Thai Police have been known to issue fines if the tourist doesn't have one, along with their Country of origin Drivers License.

I don't know what is available in Phuket, but Grab and Bolt (Apps) might be an option for transport.

If you want to be driven from Bangkok to Phuket, you might want to enquire with GTB Transfer and Travel (photo below)

I used this guy and his team while in Thailand last October. Great service, very good prices compared to other options I found. I used his service to get from Bangkok Airport to Nakhon Sawan, then another trip from that location, I think to Lopburi, then again on a trip within Bangkok. I highly recommend them.

I'm going at the end of November, it's more cost effective to drive to Karon from Bangkok, air fares are ridiculous, cabs to and from the airport is 2000bt hiring a car on the island for a few days works out a lot more than driving, plus we get to see the countryside on the way down.

Hire a car

I always hire a car there, it's not too expensive. Taxis are very expensive in Phuket, you'd soon break even!

Hire a car... All taxi and similar are all rip off. Bolt is an option but maybe, possibly hassle from taxi drivers puts me off a bit....rent a car.