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Phuket Thailand- Helpful Hints & Recommendations
We
want to make sure that your holiday to Phuket is as easy and trouble free as possible.
Phuket is generally regarded as being a safe destination, but there are still
precautions that you must take. You
and the Police Thailand
police officers have wide reaching power, so it is best to do as advised by any
policeman whenever they tell you to do something. In Phuket there are many
things that the police can and will stop and check you for. Make sure that
you: - Wear a helmut at all times
when operating a motorbike. Not only is it wise for your health's sake,
but also for your wallet. If you get caught without a helmet, it will mean
a 300 baht ($8.00) fine, an expensive taxi ride to the police department,
not to mention wasted time on your holiday.
- Carry
a valid license when operating a vehicle. Failure to do so will result in
the same actions as the above mentioned.
- Do
not at any time possess illicit substances. Police are cracking down hard
and the penalties are very severe. There are many unannounced roadblocks
where the police will carry out a search for these illicit substances.
Shopping Although
Phuket boasts many great shopping deals, there are also some pitfalls that one
should avoid. Generally it is best to go shopping on your own.
If you have a "Guide or tuk-tuk" driver accompany you,
expect to pay 20%-30% more than if on your own as these "Guides and
tuk-tuk" drivers bring you to specific places for a reason-commission!
Always smile when
bargaining, but be sure to bargain everywhere except in department stores and
restaurants. Health Phuket
is a tropical island, and as such it takes longer to heal than you are probably
used to. The sun here is very strong, make sure that sunscreen is worn at
all times. Coral in the shallow waters off the beach can be very sharp.
It is advised to have some sort of foot and body protection if swimming or snorkeling
in these areas. Phuket
boasts some of Thailand's best hospitals available. The cost of health care is
very reasonable compared to most Western countries. More
Hints & Notices If
you are involved in a moving vehicle accident with a Thai person, you will be
found wrong 90% of the time even if it was not your fault. Thai
motorcyclists quite often ride on the wrong side of the road. Beware! If
you see a red flag on the beach, don't go swimming. There are many dangerous
rip currents in the "low season" and the beaches in Phuket do not have
lifeguards. The
"Full insurance" on cars generally is not full coverage. If involved
in an accident, you're going to pay quite a large sum of deductible. It's
best to go with a bigger name brand of car rental for these purposes. If
you rent a motorbike, there is no insurance. If you get in an accident,
you're liable for yourself, your motorbike and probably the other person and their
motorbike. Some travel insurance might be a wise purchase before you come
on holiday. Tuk-tuk
drivers usually will not negotiate much. Their original price is out of
line, so you will be able to bargain some, but not much. By comparison,
the air-conditioned metered taxis in Bangkok are much cheaper than these open
air "taxis". Summary
Phuket is a great place to
visit. No more precaution or care need be taken here than in most
popular tourist destinations. Enjoy your holiday.
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