Flights and transfers
Phuket International Airport has many daily direct flights from Europe, Australia, The Middle East and Asia. As well as regular daily services from the main hubs of Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Hong Kong. The transfer from Phuket airport to the Charter base takes approximately 30 to 50 minutes. Our driver will be waiting outside the Phuket airport arrivals gate with a sign with your name on it to meet you and take you to directly to the office at the charter base, or directly to the yacht. You can also arrange for a stop at the supermarket at a small extra fee.
If you have not confirmed your transfer yet, please contact Draco Marine Services directly via email info@dracomarineserrvices.com giving us you flight number and arrival time and the number of people who require a transfer. Booking with Draco Marine Services you get free transport to the base on the day of your charter start and at the end of your charter.
If you wish to organise your own transfer, taxis are available at the airport. There are lots of the airport taxis but at busy times there are often not enough of the meter taxis. We therefore recommend you use our free transfer service.
If you are arriving on Phuket before the start of your charter and staying in a hotel then we recommend you contact us in advance to arrange the handover time as we may be able to board you early and get you away on your first day. We can still transfer you from the airport to your hotel and from your hotel to the charter base. Please note that only 1 trip to your boat and 1 trip after the charter is free
Charter start time
Charters can start on any day at 1400. Clients are welcome to arrive before the official start time so they can have an area briefing and complete their provisioning and whenever possible clients will be boarded early as soon as the yacht is available. The latest time that a yacht can depart is 5pm as it is half an hour to the nearest anchorage and all yachts must be anchored for the night by 5.30pm. If the yacht is not able to leave the marina on the day the charter starts due to late arrival you are welcome to sleep on board.
Out of Hours Arrival Procedures
The Phuket base is open from 0800 to 1730 seven days a week, all year round. If clients are arriving at the base after 1730 then we strongly recommend using our free transfer. They will be met by a member of staff and shown to their yacht. If we have no arrival details or transfer is not booked yet we will put a sign on the office door stating their yacht name, location and also the base managers contact number. The yacht will be lit up and have an information sheet on what is available at the base and the nearby restaurants.
Briefings
The chart brief given on your arrival describes the cruising area and any potential hazards. The yacht briefing introduces you to your yacht and its systems and rigging. They are carried out individually for all clients and each briefing takes about 30 to 45 minutes so allow plenty of time. It is important that all systems and equipment are fully understood. Briefings are mandatory for all clients.
Departing and returning to the marina
The Ao Po Grand marina is all tide access for departures and returns. The latest departure from the marina is 5pm as it is half an hour to the nearest anchorage and all yachts must be anchored for the night by 5.30pm. For this reason we encourage clients to arrive early and we will board them as soon as the yacht is ready and if possible get them out early. It is also advisable to book a flight departure on the afternoon or early evening of the day the charter finishes so you can return to the marina on the morning your charter finishes. We can also arrange a hotel for the night before and after your charter should you wish to explore some of the island. If you are in Thailand before your charter starts, please contact us to be advised of the best time to arrive.
Charter finish time
Charters can finish on any day at 1200 but whenever possible clients will be allowed a late departure. Clients may be need to return the yacht to the marina on the afternoon before their charter finishes if they have booked early flights but whenever possible clients will be able to spend the last night on board at a nearby anchorage and enter the marina on the morning their charter finishes. For this reason we recommend that you do not book a flight out of Phuket on your last day before noon. If you do return on the evening before your charter finishes you are welcome to sleep on board or you can book accommodation at a nearby resort.
