Cheapest vs Fastest vs Most Reliable: Which Option Wins?
| Mode | Time | Cost | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport Bus 8411 ⭐ | 75-90 min | ฿120 | Basic AC, cramped |
| Shuttle Bus (Klook) | 60-90 min | ฿100 | Shared, decent AC |
| Shared Van (12Go) | 45-60 min | ฿650 | Tight seats, AC iffy |
| Public Taxi | 45 min | ฿800 | Private, AC works |
Bus 8411 wins for budget backpackers. Taxi wins if you land after 8pm or hate waiting. Klook shuttle is sweet spot for solo travelers who booked ahead.
Airport Bus 8411: The Local’s Secret (฿120, 2026 Fares)
This is the bus Thai families take. Leaves from Domestic Terminal every hour starting 6am. Last bus 7:30pm. If you land at International, walk 5min following signs. Ticket booth outside or pay driver ฿120 cash.
Route goes down Thepkrasattri Road with 3-4 stops. Gets to Phuket Bus Terminal 1 in 75-90min depending on traffic. From terminal, grab a tuk-tuk ฿100 to Old Town hotels. No WiFi. Bathroom stop halfway if driver smokes.
Check live schedules on 12Go before you fly in.
Klook Shuttle vs 12Go Minivan: What’s the Real Difference?
Klook shuttle costs ฿100 but you share with 10 strangers. Minivan costs ฿650 and drops you at your exact hotel door. Both leave from Arrivals Hall. Both waste 20min waiting for passengers.
Klook shuttle stops at 3-4 hotels near Sino Inn and Phuket Merlin. You walk the last 500m if your Airbnb isn’t on the route. Minivan driver calls your hotel and confirms drop-off. Worth it for families with 3+ people splitting cost.
Minivan only runs 3x daily (8:30am, 2pm, 8:30pm). Miss it and you’re stuck. Klook has departures every 90min until 9:30pm. Book minivan on 12Go if you want guaranteed seat.
Taxi Scams at Phuket Airport: How to Not Get Ripped Off
Official taxi counter at Exit 3 charges ฿800 metered to Old Town. Touts outside offer ฿600 flat rate. Sounds good until they stop at a gem shop and won’t leave for 30min. Classic scam.
Always use official counter. Insist on meter. Driver says meter broken? Walk away. Real fare is ฿700-800 depending on traffic. Peak hours (4-7pm) add ฿100 in gridlock near Kata-Karon junction.
Late night arrivals after 10pm have 30min taxi queue. Book a private transfer on Kiwitaxi for guaranteed pickup with name sign. Costs ฿900 but zero stress.
Grab vs Metered Taxi: Which is Cheaper in 2026?
Grab isn’t allowed to pick up inside airport grounds. You walk 200m to parking lot and meet driver there. Costs ฿650-750 to Old Town. Metered taxi from official counter costs ฿800. Grab wins if you’re okay with the walk.
Catch: Airport security sometimes chases Grab drivers away. You’ll wait 10min for driver to circle back. Metered taxi leaves immediately. Your call.
Best Option for Families with Kids and Big Luggage
Shared van from 12Go. Costs ฿650 but splits 4 ways (฿162 per person). Door-to-door so no dragging bags through bus terminal. Driver loads everything. Kids get AC and don’t melt.
Bus 8411 is nightmare with stroller and 3 suitcases. Overhead racks too small. You’ll block aisle and get glares from locals going to Krabi.
Late Night Arrivals After 8pm: Your Only Real Options
Bus 8411 stops at 7:30pm. Klook shuttle last departure 9:30pm. Land after that and you’re taking a taxi or pre-booked private transfer.
Taxi queue at midnight is 20min. Fare jumps to ฿900 because drivers know you’re desperate. Book Kiwitaxi transfer before you land. Fixed ฿900, driver waits with sign, zero haggling.
How to Get to Old Phuket Town from Bus Terminal 1
Bus drops you at Terminal 1 on Phang Nga Road. Old Town (Thalang Road, Sino-Portuguese area) is 2km away. Tuk-tuk costs ฿100. Songthaew (red truck) costs ฿30 but you share with 8 people and it leaves when full.
Walk if you’re solo with small bag. Takes 25min. Turn left out of terminal, follow Phang Nga Road south, right on Thalang Road. Google Maps works fine.
45 min
