We’ve been getting a lot of calls an emails recently from concerned locals and tourists wondering if Phuket is safe after the recent air-crash and the wave of attacks directed at foreigners. Is life on Phuket spiraling out of control? Of course not!

I think I gave an unrealistic image of Phuket when I wrote about foreigners being attacked in Phuket. Like any city in the world, Phuket is safe, but it has its own set of rules that you should obey. A lot of the problems people come across could have been avoided with a bit of though.

Don’t piss off tuk tuk drivers

This is fundamental to life in Phuket. Don’t haggle, don’t argue, don’t lose your temper and don’t refuse to pay an already-agreed fare. The tuk tuk drivers are known for being ruthless. We hear too many stories of foreigners being beaten up, but almost always, these attacks are the end product of some dispute. Just last week, a Dutchman was beaten up with planks of wood for, he said, parking in an area reserved for tuk tuks. Foreigners often cause problems by being stubborn.

Avoid riding a motorbike late at night

Unless you know the roads well, don’t ride a motorbike late at night down quiet stretches of road, especially if you’re on your own. Motorbikes are readily available in Phuket, but people often throw all common sense out the window when it comes to riding them. You’ve got more chance of being run off the road by an inexperienced farang rider than you have of being mugged by a biker gang.

Don’t mess with the locals

In places like Patong, many problems are caused by a lack of common sense. Try and avoid using jet skis for a start. It also pays to remember that you’re a long way from home. Situations can become volatile through stubbornness and unwillingness to back down. This is their territory, their rules. Don’t get drunk and act like a yob.

Flying is safe

A lot of people are still worried about flying to Phuket after flight OG269 crash-landed at Phuket International Airport. That was freak event that happens once in a lifetime. It could have happened in any city at any airport. It is safe to fly to Phuket.

Is it safe to travel by boat?

From time to time, we report on cases of boats filled with tourists sinking. It’s important to travel only with reputable boating services, particularly if you’re diving or snorkeling. Research the size of the boat you are going to be traveling on and how many people it will be carrying.

Keep your bags close

If you have to travel with a bag, it’s best to remove all valuables from it. Don’t leave a bag in the front basket of a motorbike while you’re traveling, and keep your bag close to you at all times. Thieves have been known to use knives to cut bag straps.

Don’t resist

If you find yourself in the sticky situation of being mugged or confronted, don’t put up a fight and don’t try and save the day by standing your ground. Acting like a tough guy will get you stabbed or shot. Muggers just want money and they aren’t out to kill anybody, but people make bad situations worse by being difficult. Yes, it sucks if you’re getting robbed of a bunch of pocket change, but it sucks a lot more if you end up dead.

Come to Phuket

You’ve got more chance of being beaten up by a group of drunken foreigners from your own country than you have of being set upon by an angry mob of locals. Phuket is safe if you apply a bit of common sense to how you get around and how you interact with the locals.

Techno’ tags: Thailand, Phuket