Will be visiting Phuket in the second week of April and was looking a doing a day trip to one of the islands. Have been advised that the best way to do this was via speedboat instead of the normal longboat. Any suggestions/feedback on who we should consider using would be appreciated.
Thanks

Just go down to the pier. There will be all kinds of boats there waiting to take people. Bargin hard, or at least know the going rate. Your hotel can arrange this also for an inflated rate. We have done the trip from Krabi in a longtail, but have heard from Phuket a speed boat is the waay to go. It will be rough no matter when you go.

speedboat is more costly but more comfortable too

While I agree you can go to the pier, it’s always nice to have organized something before hand so you can avoid the hard-sell at the pier, and the time spent arranging for the trip when you could be out on the water. The charter company should also be able to arrange transport to and from your hotel to the pier. Finally, you can communicate by e-mail before the trip in order to custom-make your itin rather than doing it on the fly at the pier with a possible language and other issues (“oh it costs more if you want to go <i>there</i>….”).

Try the company below. I have used them for day charters, and would recco them, and I believe others on this site have used them as well. Not cheap, but reliable and nice boats and service.

Limestone Adventures
Phuket Boat Lagoon
Thepkrasattri Road Koh Kaew
Muang, Phuket
Tel:66-76-273-328
Fax:66-76-239-559
e-mail: [email protected]
website: http://www.limestoneadventures.com

I know that John Gray’s sea canoes in Phuket seems to get good reccos here. He runs kayak trips in the area. I have not used them, but see http://www.johngray-seacanoe.com/. If you are not interested in kayaking, he may be able to offer some charter reccos as well.

A safe and reputable company with insurance included, I have used:
http://www.powersnorkel.com/tour1.html
http://www.powersnorkel.com/tour.html

[email protected]

Thank you all for your responses and insights. As first time visitors to Bangkok and Phuket it is much appreciated.

I bought tours at hotel and I'm really happy with it. Trip to Khai island, Phiphi island, elephant trekking... Everybody book with the same itinerary but turned out the I got a very good price , so bargain even if you book with a travel agent. Travel by speed boat is better. Before the group (about 8 persons) left the harbor, they took picture of us, and after we came back, they show us our pic in a very lovely dish, and I bought it with a cheap price 160THB (they did the same when I got the elephant trekking tour, but it's 800THB for the pic)