Southern Thailand Beaches: Getting There

Airports Arriving from Northern America requires transfering from Bangkok's new Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) to the older Don Mueang Airport (DMK), where you can catch domestic flights to Phuket (HKT), Koh Samui (USM), Krabi (KBV), and other towns in the region. Phuket receives charter flights from Asia.

Airlines The globe’s major carriers – among them, Thai Airways, ANA, Northwest, United, and EVA Air – can get you to Bangkok (BKK), though only Thai Airways offers a non-stop flight from New York (JFK). Several low-budget carriers – including Air Asia, Nok Air, and One-Two-Go – offer daily flights from Bangkok to Phuket. Bangkok Airways flies between Phuket and Koh Samui, as well as between Koh Samui and Bangkok.

Flight Times 17 hours nonstop from New York (JFK); around 20 hours to Bangkok from the West Coast (including connecting flight). Add another hour to an hour-and-a-half for transfer to Phuket, Koh Samui, or Krabi.