Local Tip
Tap a contactless Visa or Mastercard on the Phuket Smart Bus from the airport (a flat 100 baht to Patong, Karon, Kata or Rawai), and change your main sum at Mamy Exchange on the road into town or at SuperRich, not at the terminal.
Where to change money in Phuket
Phuket's licensed changers cluster in Phuket Town and the west-coast resorts, and guides rank them above airport counters and hotel receptions. Each one will ask to see your passport.
- Mamy Exchange, Thepkrasattri Road, Koh Kaew 9/10 Moo 4, on the main road between the airport and Phuket Town. It says it deals in more than 30 currencies and keeps them in stock, so it sells as well as buys.
- SuperRich (orange), Phuket Town A partner branch downtown, next to a local fresh market. SuperRich gives no street address, and its notice of 28 August 2026 says the counter normally closes on Sundays.
- SuperRich, Jungceylon, Patong Phuket101 (updated 30 September 2026) places a SuperRich counter in the Jungceylon mall, and Simba Sea Trips also reports a Patong branch. Neither SuperRich website lists it, so check before a special trip.
Changing money at the airport
Phuket International Airport (HKT) is run by AOT, whose directory lists Kasikornbank exchange counters in international arrivals on Floor 1 (Entrance 1) and Floor 2 (Entrances 2 and 3), all open 24 hours, with Siam Commercial Bank and Bangkok Bank counters in transit areas (listings updated November 2025). Phuket101 rates the airport counters as fair but below town, so get enough for your transfer and the first day here. AOT's arrivals limousine desk lists 650 baht to town and 800 baht to Patong.
ATMs and cards in Phuket
Drawing baht on a UK card costs a flat fee set by whichever bank owns the machine, plus anything your own bank adds. Kasikornbank and Krungsri, whose tariffs date from 22 September and 11 March 2026, charge 250 baht for a Visa card and 350 baht for a Mastercard, so Mastercard holders lose more on each visit and gain most from larger, rarer withdrawals. When an ATM in Patong or Phuket Town suggests converting the sum into sterling, turn it down and take baht, which Wise says nearly always works out cheaper. Phuket101 adds that Thai machines release the notes before the card, so wait for it. Hotels and malls accept cards; market stalls want cash.
Paying for transport in Phuket
The Phuket Smart Bus leaves Exit 3 of the terminal and runs down the west coast via Patong, Karon and Kata to Rawai for a flat 100 baht. Tap a contactless card (Visa, Mastercard or JCB), use Apple Pay or Google Pay, or pay cash; a 24-hour Route 1 pass is 299 baht, and the Dragon Line around the old town is free. For Phuket Town, the orange Airport Bus 8411 also leaves from Exit 3 (turn left); pay the conductor in cash or by Thai QR code, with fares set by distance.
Good to know
- The Smart Bus charges visitors and residents the same fare, so there is no tourist price to haggle over.
- The Foreign Office warns that hire scooters in resort areas are frequently unregistered and not road-legal; check your insurance and licence before you ride.
Key Areas in Phuket
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Exchange bureaux, banks and cash machines, as mapped by OpenStreetMap. The map loads only when you ask for it.
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Phuket travel money FAQ
Where is the best place to exchange money in Phuket?
Guides favour licensed changers in Phuket Town and the resorts over airport and hotel desks. Names that come up are Mamy Exchange on Thepkrasattri Road and SuperRich, with a partner branch downtown and, according to guides, a counter in Jungceylon. Take your passport.
Can I use a UK card on the Phuket Smart Bus?
Yes. The operator accepts contactless cards on the Visa, Mastercard and JCB networks, plus Apple Pay, Google Pay and cash. A ride from the airport to Patong, Karon, Kata or Rawai is a flat 100 baht, and a 24-hour Route 1 pass costs 299 baht.
Is there a currency exchange at Phuket airport?
Yes. AOT lists 24-hour Kasikornbank counters in international arrivals on Floors 1 and 2, plus other bank counters in transit areas. Guides say rates are better in town, so get what you need for the transfer and exchange the rest later.
Checked October 2026. Fees, fares and opening times change, so check locally before relying on them. Sources: Phuket International Airport (AOT) · Phuket Smart Bus · SuperRich Currency Exchange (SuperRich 1965) · Mamy Exchange Phuket · KASIKORNBANK · Bank of Ayudhya (Krungsri)
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