Phuket Airport luggage storage

About Phuket Airport 

Thailand's largest island, Phuket is one of the premier island destinations in Asia, and an ideal getaway for honeymooners and adventurers. With miles upon miles of sandy beaches dotted with luxury resorts and delightful fishing villages, it’s no mistake that travelers from around the globe have discovered Phuket. The Andaman Sea’s magnificent swimming conditions and crystal clear waters make for the perfect beach getaway, especially in some of the more secluded areas and exclusive resorts.

Elsewhere, the nightlife at resorts and nightclubs gives the island a party vibe. Phuket City is absolutely worth exploring, with a fascinating corner of Thai culture on display. For outdoorsy types, the dense jungles and mountains of the island’s interior offer a plethora of epic hiking challenges. There are also temples and shrines, most notably the iconic Big Buddha, throughout the island for deeper cultural experiences. Phuket City's Old Town showcases its unique history with colorful Sino-Portuguese buildings, and history buffs can take a deep dive into the colonial elements while also enjoying Thailand’s cultivation of its own identity. 

The vast majority of travelers arrive on the island at Phuket International Airport (HKT), which offers direct flights from around the world, especially Australia and other parts of Asia. Most Americans may have to take a connecting flight, but once you’ve arrived at Phuket Airport, the travel experience is a breeze. Even with the limited infrastructure, Phuket Airport is well-connected through taxis and buses to popular beaches like Patong, Karon, and Kata.

Depending on whether you’re flying direct or connecting through Bangkok, you'll travel through one of the airport’s two terminals, with Terminal 1 handling international flights, and Terminal 2 taking in domestic flights. It’s situated about 20 miles north of Phuket Town in the northwest corner of the island. It may seem secluded and small, but Phuket Airport is actually the second busiest in Thailand and a major air hub.

Can you store luggage at Phuket Airport?

The Phuket Airport luggage storage facilities are operated by the police counter near the information desk. It only costs about $3 per day, which is about as affordable a luggage drop as you can get. With airport luggage storage, you won’t have to worry about inconvenient opening hours at Phuket Airport, which is open 24/7. The major downside is that you won’t have access to your items, and Phuket is situated further out from the city center, and even further from many of the beachside resorts. 

Is there public transportation in Phuket? 

There isn’t that much built-up infrastructure on the island, as it’s fairly secluded from Thailand’s more modern cities. No train stations or subways are serving Phuket City, and the official bus network isn’t as well-connected as other places in Asia. Phuket does have the Songthaews, which are converted pickup trucks with benches in the back that serve as shared taxis. While this may appear to be ramshackle and random, they actually operate on set routes and are viewed as city buses in a way.

The iconic Tuk-tuks are definitely an option! These three-wheeled vehicles zip around the city and are essentially much more charming and entertaining than a taxi. These options are generally safe and efficient, but certainly not as regulated or reliable as public transportation in Europe and other parts of Asia. Motorbike taxis are especially ill-advised (especially if you have luggage). It’s never a bad idea to take a cautious approach to transportation when visiting Phuket.  

What are the best luggage services in Phuket? 

If you don't want to carry your heavy bags around Central Phuket or the beach, you can drop the bags off for a few hours at a luggage storage service. You can always drop a bag off at the concierge before hotel check-in, but this can be inconvenient if it’s situated further away from any sightseeing or hiking. Most museums and temples will not have any form of baggage storage, so this is hardly an option. Your best bet would be a proper luggage storage service like Bounce. 

How does Bounce work? 

Bounce’s extensive network of luggage storage facilities is created by partnering with local shops and businesses, which provides the most convenient locations and a local touch. Bounce vets each location to ensure quality and security and offers BounceShield Protection. With the Bounce mobile app, you’ll be able to use the search function to find the most convenient location in Phuket, Thailand, and just about anywhere else. You can even book online before visiting Phuket or even on the go. Bounce also offers 24/7 customer support from a dedicated team, which is highly useful in unfamiliar time zones like Thailand. 

How to get to the city from Phuket Airport 

Tuk-Tuk

Certainly the most amusing way to get around Thailand, these iconic three-wheeled cars zip around Phuket City and even the roads up and down the coast. They are essentially a form of taxi and can be hailed from Phuket Airport. If you’re traveling solo or in a pair, you’ll be able to fit in one, but larger groups will have to opt for a more substantial vehicle. These rides are VERY cheap, with the most expensive fares being about $15 for a ride to Patong Beach. 

Bus

Various bus services operate throughout Phuket, but these are not government-operated and are loosely regulated. That’s not to say they’re unreliable, especially the case with Phuket Smart Bus which runs every hour from the airport to Rawai Beach, Nai Thon Beach, Surin Beach, Kamala Beach, Patong Beach, Karon Beach, and Kata Beach and costs about $5 per ride. 

Taxi and rideshare

There’s a useful taxi stand at the arrivals terminal of Phuket Airport, and there’s staff at the counter that can arrange the fixed fares to your destination and help with any translation. In general, it costs between $15 and $25 to get to most destinations, as these are generally very cheap. 

Hotel shuttle

Most resorts and hotels will offer a shuttle bus or even a private transfer directly from Phuket Airport. Simply check with your accommodations before you travel and they can schedule it. This is especially useful for some of the more remote resorts. 

Rental car

It doesn’t always make sense to rent a car, especially if you’re planning on sticking to your resort for the most part. If you’re looking to pop around to different fishing villages or explore the interior, it only costs about $50 per day to rent a car. It should be noted that driving through the cities can be a challenge due to the frantic nature of Thai traffic. 

Things to do near Phuket Airport 

Big Buddha 

One of the most iconic sites in all of Thailand, this massive golden shrine is dedicated to the big man himself. It's certainly aptly named. In fact, you can literally see Big Buddha from about half the island as it's perched on top of the Nakkerd Hills.

While it's a pilgrimage destination for thousands of travelers every year, casual travelers can admire the iconic statue and sweeping views of the rest of the island. You get to see as far as Kata Bay and the beach near Karon. On a clear day, you'll even see the tiny archipelago comprising the Ao Chalong Channel Islands. With views like this, Buddha certainly is looking down upon all of Phuket.

There will certainly be crowds, so it's best to head there in the morning before the resorts empty and descend upon the plateau. You'll have to drive to the shrine, but you can book a bus tour from your resort. The drive is scenic as you'll be passing through groves of banana trees up the steep hill near the Chalong Circle. 

Patong Beach 

The vast majority of travelers head to the island for its wonderful, beachside resorts. Well, there are easily plenty of options. The most popular is Patong Beach. With ideal conditions for swimming, scuba diving, jet skiing, and parasailing, you'll certainly get to enjoy the wonderful golden sand and crystal-clear waters.

It gets a tad clubby, as scores of Australian twenty-somethings seem to treat Patong Beach as their spring break destination, but it's still a comfortable place to have a family vacation or romantic getaway. The beach is also lined with seafood restaurants, nightclubs, cafés, and other traditional Thai businesses. For a buzzy atmosphere, head to Bangla Road which runs parallel to the beach

Khao Rang 

Khao Rang (or Rang Hill) is one of the highest points on the island and offers stellar views of Phuket City along with the Big Buddha. You'll want to charter a bus or tuk-tuk to get up there because the climb is very steep and driving conditions are difficult for foreigners to navigate. Once you're up there, you can explore Wat Khao Rang, a delightful village lined with cafés and restaurants. There are also local monkeys that seem to make their home in the village as well! You can spend a whole afternoon enjoying the village and going on various hikes to different vantage points.

Luggage storage near Phuket Airport 

Whether you’re heading to this island paradise to explore Phuket City or simply lounge on the beach at your resort, a trip to this corner of Thailand offers something special. If you’re an adventurer, you’ll need to be able to get around, especially if you’re looking to sightsee on travel days. Don’t let the bags get in the way. Phuket’s most reliable luggage storage facilities are all managed through Bounce, and they also happen to come with premium features that make the whole process a breeze. With Bounce taking care of the bags, you’ll be able to enjoy Phuket to the fullest. Heading elsewhere in Thailand? Bounce operates luggage storage spots throughout the country (and the rest of the globe, for that matter).