Phuket is both an island and a province, the largest in Thailand and the size of Singapore (539 sq.km, 48 km north to south, 21 km east to west), located on the south west coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea and connected to the mainland by the Sarasin Bridge.
The main town is ‘Phuket City’ but everyone calls it Phuket Town
Nightlife is really unique in Phuket, mostly in Patong Beach, but is also very active in Kata Beach and Karon Beach

Phuket is pronounced ‘Pooket’ and the original name was Jungceylon

When to go

Thailand's monsoons arrive around July and last into November (the 'rainy season'). They can be uncomfortably, unpredictably sticky. This is followed by a dry, cool period from November to mid-February, followed by much higher relative temperatures from March to June. By far the best time to visit is from February to March when the weather is kind and the beaches are at their finest.
The peak seasons are August, November, December, February and March, with secondary peak months in January and July. If your main objective is to avoid crowds and to take advantage of discounted rooms and low-season rates, you should consider travelling during the least crowded months (April, May, June, September and October).
On the other hand it's not difficult to leave the crowds behind, even during peak months, if you simply avoid some of the most popular destinations (eg, Chiang Mai and all islands and beaches).
This is also the prime time for diving in terms of visibility and accessibility.

Thailand is five hours ahead of South Africa.

Thailand is five hours ahead of South Africa.

Language

The official language is Thai. English is widely spoken in major cities.

Money

The official currency is the Thai Baht (THB). Credit cards are widely accepted.

Electricity

220V

Tipping

Tipping is not common policy. It's at your discretion.