Page 112 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Phuket

110 ❯❯ Streetsmart

Opening Hours from June to October website with useful
temperatures are milder. information on planning
Stores generally open at Even in September and trips, including reserving
10am and close at 9pm or October, when rainfall is park accommo dations.
10pm. Government offices at its heaviest, Phuket still Several commercial
are open 8:30am–4:30pm, gets plenty of sunshine, websites provide up-to-
but many close for lunch. but this is considered low date reviews of attractions
Tourist attractions tend to season so hotel rates fall. in Phuket. One of the best
open 9am–5pm, unless Loose, breathable of these, Phuket.com, is a
an evening program is on clothing is best, and mine of information about
offer. Banks usually work layering a long-sleeve top the island’s beaches, res-
8:30am–3:30pm, but over a T-shirt is ideal, tau rants, and nightlife. For
mini-branches offering since it also offers good more candid and personal
money exchange are open sun protection. views, Jamie’s Phuket
later. Post offices work Blog and Phuket 101 are
8:30am–4:30pm Monday– Travelers with both written by long-term
Friday and 9am–noon on Disabilities resident expats.
Saturday. On public holi-
days govern ment offices, Thailand is improving Trips and Tours
banks, and post offices wheel chair accessibility,
are closed, but most with many hotels and Both scuba diving and
stores remain open. department stores provid- snorkeling are popular on
ing ramps and elevators. Phuket. Scuba Cat Diving
Time Difference Phuket’s sidewalks, how- offers day excursions and
ever, are not wheelchair- live-aboard boats visiting
Thailand is three hours friendly. What the island popular dive sites, such
behind Australian Eastern lacks in infrastructure for as the Similan Islands.
Standard Time, seven the disabled is made up Cycling trips tour some
hours ahead of GMT, by the helpful nature of of Phuket’s loveliest back
and 11 hours ahead of US the people. Specialized roads, and are a great
Eastern Standard Time. tour agencies cater to way to experience local
Daylight saving time is those with specific needs. life. Amazing Bike Tours
not followed here. Accessible Thailand can Thailand (see p55) offer
provide more information. trips to Khao Lak and
Electrical Appliances Khao Sok National Park.
Sources of Sailing enthusiasts
Electricity in Thailand is Information come here for the annual
220 volts 50 Hz AC. Wall Bay Regatta and King’s
sockets are of the two-pin The Tourism Authority Cup Regatta, but Phuket
variety, and many are of Thailand has a good is a year-round magnet
designed for US-style flat office in Phuket Town, for visitors who want to
prongs as well as Asian- with maps, brochures, explore this lovely region
style round prongs. Irish, and staff who can answer from the water. Charter
Australasian, and British specific queries. Their companies and yacht
devices will need a plug website offers detailed clubs such as Phuket Sail
adaptor; North American information on destina- Tours offer visitors day
devices will need both an tions and events through- trips and overnight tours.
adaptor and a converter. out Thailand. You could also explore the
Both can be readily pur- Visitor centers at Khao lagoons of Phang Nga
chased on Phuket. Phra Thaeo Royal Forest Bay by kayak. John Gray’s
and Wildlife Reserve (see Sea Canoe (see p37) runs
Weather pp20–21), Sirinat National trips to aquatic grottoes,
Park (see pp22–3), and and their overnight trips
Winter temperatures Khao Sok National Park include camping out on
peak at 86° F (30° C), (see pp32–5) offer maps, an uninhabited island.
rising as high as 98° F guides, and other useful Other tours explore the
(37° C) in April and May. services. The Department mangrove forests along
During the rainy season of National Parks has a Phuket’s coasts.

Eyewitness Travel – Top 10 series LAYERS PRINTED:
Streetsmart – practical, 8.25pt grid “UK” LAYER
(SourceReport v1.2)
108-111_Top_10_Phuket.indd 110 16/06/2017 13:02
Date 10th June 2015
Size 100mm x 191mm