NATIONAL Car Rental at Phuket International Airport

National Car Rental at Phuket Airport has its own counter in the arrivals hall. The team can be contacted 24 hours a day on tel +66 76 328 388 and bookings can be made using the form above.

Although the island has plenty of taxis, TukTuks and Red Trucks that take tourists from their resort hotels to some of the attractions on the island, hiring a car at Phuket Airport provides far greater flexibility and privacy. The National Car Rental fleet at Phuket Airport offers a wide choice that should suit every taste and budget.

National is one of several hire car companies at Phuket Airport.

Most tourist attractions are located within a fairly short drive of the resorts. For example, Tiger Kingdom is situated just 15 minutes from Karon Beach, in Kathu District. The first Tiger Kingdom opened at Chiang Mai in March 2008, followed by the Phuket sanctuary in July 2013. These popular sanctuaries aim to help tigers in captivity, but also hopes to inspire visitors to learn more about these magnificent cats and so help protect the animals in the wild in future. Tiger Kingdom is located at 118/88 Moo7 Kathu. The last admission is at 5.30 pm.

The sanctuary is open from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm every day, tel +66 76 323 311, www.tigerkingdom.com/phuket.

Phuket's Big Buddha guards the island from the lofty heights of Mount Nagakerd that lies between Kata and Chalong. Offering amazing 360-degree panoramic views, the 45-meter tall, 25.45 meter wide Lord Buddha statue was constructed in 2004. The facing of white jade Burmese marble that covers the concrete structure weighs some 135 tons per 2,500 sqms!

You could take a TukTuk up the winding, 6-km long road up to the monument, but it's so much better to arrive in a comfortable rental car. For when you get there, you still have to climb a flight of steep stairs to get face to feet with the statue. Mornings are best, as it's far less crowded then. Big Buddha is located in Mueang District, en route to Chalong (tel +66 81 891 3827, www.phuket-big-buddha.com). Entry is free.