This is how we did it...

The gorgeous view along our hotel beach

Melanie and I decided it was time to add some adventure to our lives, so since Christopher was off skiing in Switzerland we thought this would be a great opportunity to go to Phuket... by car!  Pretty much all our friends told us we were completely crazy, either because of gangs mugging us in Northern Malaysia or gangs mugging us in Southern Thailand.  Everyone had awful horror stories to relate, although nobody had actually made the trip themselves or knew any mugging victims first hand.  So... we decided we would go for it!

First off, you need to have a good reason to do this because let's face it, the plane fare between KL and Phuket is not exactly expensive, and is mostly offset by the cost of petrol, tolls, hotels en route etc...  Here are a couple of reasons if you need to justify this trip to yourself:

• The countryside in both Northern Malaysia and Southern Thailand is absolutely stunning!  For this alone it's worthwhile.
• You will never really experience either countries until you've seen outside the major cities and tourist spots.  That's the real fun of traveling, right?

We were very lucky to have a friend who does this regularly, and he gave us some very helpful hints that I present (modified with our own experiences) below:

1. Download Waze onto your smartphone. If you already have it you'll understand why.  If not, I promise you won't regret it.
2. Take along your car ownership documents because you'll have to declare your car at Thai customs. If you want to extend your comprehensive insurance to Thailand, you'll need to consult your insurer, but it doesn't cost much.
3. Leave KL early!  The border crossing gets really busy in both directions later on.  I mean... REALLY busy.
4. Depending upon the time, there are restaurants at Changlun where you can get food before crossing the border.  Also, the last petrol stop before the border is on the right after Changlun. Depending on your car, you might get to Phuket on a tankful (we have a Toyota Innova and it took about a tank and a half.  Petrol is about 20% more expensive in Thailand so it's no biggie).
5. Stop at the Malaysian border and get your passport stamped.  It's a drive-thru - all very straightforward.
6. Stop at the Duty Free supermarket. Should be parking around the back even if there is none in front.  Buy goodies for Thailand - booze (not beer) + chocolate!
7. Near the exit to the chocolate shop buy Thail basic car insurance (supposedly compulsory, but we forgot and got away with it!).  Buy currency if you haven't already done so (we used ATM's in Phuket instead).  Pay for the car park ticket at the machines, if you can find one that works - otherwise go to Kaunter P.
8. A short trip up the road, just before the Thai border control, turn left and park round the back.  Then walk back to the immigration kiosk (you might have to go into office to collect the forms first if you don't have spares).  Then complete the car import forms at the nearby 2nd kiosk (if in doubt where, ask!). The car import document that needs to be handed back in on the return journey - failure to do so makes it very expensive the next time round.
9. Once all the formalities are completed, collect your car and drive through the border.  Proceed about 2km and detour right for the customs post. No need to stop, just drive through slowly.
10. Drive along route 4 to Phattalung, then turn left towards Trang.  Every road in south Thailand is called route 4, or a close variation, so you can't go far wrong.  Trust in Waze!
11. Be careful on single carriageway section over hills. Blind corners and hilltops are interesting sometimes.  Route 4 goes through almost every town on the way, and there are traffic lights everywhere.  Very frustrating.
12. We stayed overnight in the Thumrin Thani hotel, Trang. It was surprisingly comfortable, with a nice bar/cafe outside where we had fantastic sashimi, washed down with a few Singha's!  Very reasonable it was too.
13. When you leave Trang, there are several alternative ways to go as they have built new roads.  This is the only place where Waze will let you down because it will suggest you turn left just as you leave the city... but there is no road to the left.  Just follow route 4 to Krabi and you'll be OK.
14. Krabi is an excellent place to stop for coffee/food at Tesco-Lotus.  You have to drive past it about 1 km and do a U-turn.  The Black Canyon coffee shop is fantastic.  Try their Tom Kha Gai - it's the best we've ever had!
15. Eventually, when you cross the bridge onto Phuket island there is a police check point to drive through, but that's no drama.

So you got there in one piece, hopefully having avoided the marauding gangs of muggers on the road!  I'm joking, that's a complete fallacy.  Going back, just follow the steps in reverse.  Anyway, by then you'll be so confident you'll probably have torn up the instructions