Banks, Atm's & Credit Cards
by Cathy&Gary
You will not have a problem finding an ATM in Phuket, they are everywhere, (including the airport) and also in most 7/11 shops.
All the ATM'S have instructions in English and the maximum withdrawal per day is 20,000 baht.
Look for stickers displaying Maestro, Cirrus or Plus on the machines and if it's on your card you will not have a problem.
We use Westpac and National Bank and have not found a machine yet that we cannot draw money from.
We use to take travelers cheques with us but now we just use the atm's.
Much more convenient, you will need to take your passport with you to cash cheques.
If you want to go into an actual bank to make a cash withdrawal from a credit card instead of using an atm there is a link below with the addresses of some banks.
http://www.phuket.com/info/banks.htm
CREDIT CARDS
Be extremely careful when using credit cards in Phuket.
Five weeks after we returned home my sister had a call from her bank saying her credit card was used in Malaysia on the weekend.
She only used her card twice in Phuket, once at the duty free shop at Phuket airport and also on checking out of Andaman Beach Suites. She also used it once at the duty free shop in Kuala Lumpur airport.
The card never left her sight each time.
I would recommend not using credit cards at all.
Credit card fraud seems to be on the rise in Phuket.
A little update on this tip, friends who was also with us on this holiday has just found out their credit card has also been used. They also only used their credit card at the same places listed above.
So just be aware that these things can happen and be very careful.
Nowadays it doesn't even matter if the card does not leave your sight as the fraud happens via the telephone line when the card is swiped in front of you.
Less is More
by Jenelle7
Don't overpack because you will find that you will need the extra space in your suitcase, to bring all the stuff you buy, home with you. Less is More. Forget the stiletto's and fancy dresses and suits. All you will need on this holiday is shorts and singlets. It is hot all the time, and when it does rain you dry off in 5 minutes anyway. Definately bring some seasickness tablets if you get seasick, as you may want to take a boat tour.
If your stomach is sensitive you may want to bring some anti diarrhea tablets. Any camera will do. A beach towel and sunscreen are a must if you are going to visit the beach
Koh Pannyi (Sea Gypsie Island).
by keeweechic
The village on Koh Pannyi is inhabited by Chao Nam or Sea Gypsies, who have given up their traditional way of life as sea nomads. The whole of the village (which is mostly Muslim) is built on stilts, with a giant rock monolith guarding its rear. It is the second destination for the tourists, packed on boats to see the James Bond Island, to come and take their lunch. Around midday, up to 3.000 visitors will flood into the small village via tour boats. But as soon as lunch is over and the tourists leave, the community closes up its restaurants and gif shops and returns to the quiet community of fishermen again.
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Best place by far to get your dvd's
by lindyz about Kitty's at Otop Markets
I was told before I first went to Phuket in 2008 that Kittys was the best place to buy dvd's and cd's from. I bought all mine from there and the quality was pretty good, plus the guys there will tell you if they have a title that is a bad copy, it is then your choice if you wish to buy it or not. This time I went to Kittys first and got about 85% of the titles I wanted. The rest were either not out yet or they had them and they were bad copies. Then a few days later we decided to try and get the other ones from a different shop on Beach Road, they told us they were good copies! Went back to the room, played them in the pc and they were all crap, so took them back and exchanged them.
So, what I am trying to tell you is that the best place to buy your dvd's is definitely from Kittys, as they will NOT lie to you about the quality of them, their range is extensive and price is good at 60bt each. Kittys has 2 locations - outside Otop Markets which is the one I go to, and they have another store on Beach Road, but I think it is a smaller store. The shopfront is full of the pink merchandise from "Hello Kitty" which is why the shop is called Kittys and you then go through a "secret door" to the air conditioned dvd room out the back!!! 60bt per disc.
Tuk Tuk's around Phuket
by Snipernurse
Hitching rides on Tuk Tuk's are a much more pleasant experience than in contrast with Bangkok. Since many of them were wiped out in the devastating tsunami, they are all new and clean, larger and more comfortable. Always negotiate before agreeing to go anywhere
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My feet
Very funny toilets!
Brett wih his pancake
Tasteless Potato & leek soup 120baht
