Why you shouldn’t rent a scooter or motorbike in Patong
Patong is 40 kilometers away from Phuket Airport. If you aim to rent a motorbike for travelling in Patong after arriving by plane, be aware it’s not the best idea.
The reasons why you shouldn’t go and rent one in Patong are first because it’s cheaper to rent at the airport than taking other means of transport like a taxi or a minibus to Patong because the taxi cost to Patong is 900 baht. Remember that taxi costs can increase independently and it’s not the same price in every place.
Second, rental cost plus gasoline cost is also cheaper because going to Patong is just 40 kilometers, using just 1–3 liters of fuel. And you can travel with the surplus fuel. But if you go to Patong by taxi first and then rent a motorbike in Patong, you will spend 900 baht, plus rental and gasoline prices, and you will return that rental motorbike in Patong.
This means you will spend money on another means of transport for returning to the airport. And the most important thing is you may be stuck in a traffic jam, which is usually seen in Phuket. When you’re using a motorbike, it’ll go quicker.
Why you shouldn’t rent a motorbike in Phuket city
Phuket city is the city where tourists typically visit first and it’s not so far from Phuket Airport—just 33 kilometers. If you plan to rent a motorbike in the city for travelling, be aware it’s not a great idea.
You’d be better off renting from the airport because it’s not too far to ride, and it gives you quicker moves on the roads because roads in Phuket are not reliable due to traffic jams. Going 33 kilometers by a motorbike uses 1–3 liters of fuel and you will have enough surplus fuel to travel in the city.
If you come without a motorbike to Phuket, then renting one is better than taking other means of transport like taxi or minibus because those are more expensive. The cost of a taxi to Phuket city from the airport is 650 baht and it can increase independently. Moreover, you can go and stop wherever you want when you have a motorbike.
Should you rent a scooter or motorbike in Kata and Karon?
Kata and Karon are in the southwest part of Phuket.
Karon is north of Kata. They are around 3 kilometers from each other and they are around 50 kilometers from Phuket Airport. The reason you shouldn’t rent a motorbike in Kata or Karon is because if you arrive by plane, renting from the airport is much easier than finding a rental company and it can make your trip cheaper.
You can ride a motorbike to Karon and Kata using just 1–3 liters of fuel and you may have surplus fuel to travel with, too. It is much cheaper than taking a taxi or a minibus because taxi prices are so high. A taxi costs around 850–900 baht from Phuket Airport to Karon or Kata.
Scooter rental in Rawai
Rawai is in the southern coast of Phuket and it is 48 kilometers from Phuket Airport.
Traveling from Phuket Airport to Rawai is a long distance and the traffic on the way to Rawai is so heavy that you may be stuck on the road for hours.
That’s why using motorbikes is the best way to get there. It allows you to travel more quickly. Going to Rawai by taxi and renting a motorbike there costs more money than renting from the airport and riding to Rawai.
Going a long distance like 48 kilometers, if you are able to ride, is a great idea. You shouldn’t take a taxi because it wastes so much money, compared with rental cost that is 200–250 baht and gasoline cost that is 30–35 baht per liter.
For a taxi, the price to Rawai is around 900 baht and it sometimes depends on the drivers.
Motorbikes rental in Surin Beach
Surin Beach is 20 kilometers from Phuket Airport.
If you arrive on Phuket by plane and would like to travel comfortably, avoid heavy traffic, and be able to go or stop at wherever you want, you should travel by motorbike. If you need to rent one, you should rent from the airport because it’s worth it to avoid paying the expensive cost of taxi that is 600 baht from the airport to Surin Beach.
If you rent a motorbike from the airport and ride to Surin Beach, you will spend 200–250 baht for renting and fuel costs 30–35 baht per liter.
That means travelling in Surin Beach, you will pay only for gasoline cost if you rent a motorbike from the airport.
Should you rent a scooter in Kamala Beach?
Kamala beach is 4 kilometers from Surin Beach and 24 kilometers from Phuket Airport.
It can be the next stop after visiting Surin Beach. If you are at the airport after arriving by plane, you shouldn’t take a taxi to Kamala Beach because travelling in Kamala by riding a motorbike is more convenient and so popular. There are many traffic jams in Phuket and so a motorbike saves you time.
It’s just a little trick to save your money by renting a motorbike from the airport and riding to Kamala.
The reasons are that the distance from the airport to Kamala is not too long and it is cheaper than a taxi that costs 700–750 baht. Gasoline costs just 30–35 baht per liter and rental costs just 200–250 baht. It’s so worth it.
Should you rent a motorbike in Chalong?
Chalong is on the east side of Phuket. It is 37 kilometers from Phuket Airport.
It is a long distance. If you are at the airport and trying to figure out how to go to Chalong, taxi is not suggested for going a long distance and especially for travelling in Phuket because of heavy traffic.
Using motorbikes is better. It allows you to move more quickly.
And you should rent from the airport rather than in Chalong if you are at the airport because it is cheaper to ride a motorbike to Chalong, compared with a taxi that costs 750–800 baht from the airport but gasoline costs just 30–35 baht per liter.
Moreover, you can go wherever you want—you just have to buy gasoline.
What about Laguna?
Laguna is in Thalang district, which is 17 kilometers from Phuket Airport. Laguna is also a popular place to visit in Phuket.
Travelling in Laguna by using motorbikes is suggested rather than other means of transport because with motorbikes you can go everywhere in Laguna and other nearby places.
Arriving at the airport by plane, you should rent a motorbike for your trip from the airport and ride to Laguna because it is not too far and it is cheaper than taking a taxi, which costs 500–550 baht to Laguna.
Gasoline costs just 30–35 baht per liter and the rental costs around 200–250 baht. Riding with just one liter of fuel, you can go more than 25 kilometers.
The total cost is so much cheaper than going by taxi and renting a motorbike in Laguna.