Before you fly to Phuket — what is worth sorting in advance

Phuket is an easy place to travel badly prepared, which is why so much planning advice for it is padding. Most of what you read you can genuinely ignore. There is a short list that matters, though, and it is short enough to deal with in an evening.

1. How you are getting to your hotel

This is the one worth doing properly, because it lands on the worst moment of the trip — the end of a long flight, in a hot building, in a place you do not know, often with tired children. Arranging it in advance turns your first two hours from a problem into a walk to a car.

Give us your flight number when you book and we track the flight. Land three hours late and your driver adjusts; nothing is charged for the wait and there is nothing for you to re-arrange at midnight. Before you travel we send your driver's name, photo, vehicle photo and licence plate, so you know who you are looking for before you have walked through the doors.

2. Your day trip, and which day it lands on

If you want to see Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island, or take the long run over to Krabi, fix that day early. It is the least flexible part of a Phuket trip — it depends on the boat and on the sea — and in high season the good early departures go first.

3. Luggage and how many of you there are

Vehicle size is the thing people underestimate. Four adults with four large suitcases and beach bags is a van, not a car — tell us honestly and the right vehicle turns up instead of everyone squeezing in.

Tell us the number of passengers and the number of bags when you book. One thing we don't provide: child car seats. If you are travelling with young children, bring your own seat or booster.

4. Roughly what you will pay, and how

Our prices are per vehicle rather than per person, so a family of four pays what a solo traveller pays, and fuel, tolls and airport parking are already included. You pay the driver at the end of the ride in cash or by Thai bank transfer — no prepayment, no card details, no deposit held against your trip.

Practically, that means you need some Thai baht on you by the end of your first ride, but not before you land.

5. A phone that works when you arrive

Whatever you arrange, arrange it against a number you can actually be reached on — an eSIM, roaming, or a local SIM once you land. Airport wifi is enough to send a message, and we coordinate over WhatsApp, but a working number makes the last fifty metres of finding each other much simpler.

What you can safely leave until you arrive

• Restaurants — almost nothing needs booking, and the best meals you will have are not the ones you planned.
• Beaches — they are all open, all free, and you can change your mind daily.
• Massages and spas — walk in.
• Most shopping — the markets are not going anywhere.
• Which viewpoint to watch sunset from — ask your driver on the day, they will know what the sky is doing.

How far ahead to book a driver

Twenty-four hours is enough for us to guarantee the vehicle you asked for. In high season, or if you need a van, a few days is more comfortable. Last-minute is usually still fine — message us and we will tell you honestly whether we can cover it rather than accepting and hoping.

We confirm every booking within six hours, and usually much faster during the day in Thailand. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pick-up, so booking early costs you nothing if plans change.