Phuket Bot: the island's map

You have just landed in Phuket. Where is a decent market, where do you change money at a good rate, and which beach is unsafe to swim at today? A newcomer with no local friends has to find all this by trial and error. Phuket Bot gathers the answers in one chat. 🌴

The bot is the keeper of the "people's map of Phuket" (called Phoogle). Residents and visitors fill that map in themselves, marking tasty, useful and interesting places.

What the bot can do

• /weather. Current weather on the island.
• /rates. Currency buying rates at various exchange spots.
• /alert. Add a danger to the map, such as a pothole on a road.
• /point. Mark a good place on the map: a cafe, market, beach or service.
• /service. Services available in the bot.
• /help. A hint on how to use the bot.

If the menu offers more commands, for example for tides, emergency numbers or common questions, use them. The list changes as the bot is updated. 🏝️

A map written by locals

The project's main idea is that the best advice comes from a person who has been there. Every point on the map is someone's find. One person found a good laundry, another noticed that a bend gets slippery after rain.

To add a place, send /point and go through the steps the bot offers. Describe it briefly and honestly: what it is, what is good about it, when to go. 📍

Road dangers

The island has many scooters, steep descents and uneven roads. A report about a dangerous stretch through /alert can keep the next driver out of an accident.

• Give the exact place. A street name or a landmark nearby.
• Say what happened. A pothole, sand, an oil spill, a landslide.
• Do not text while riding. Send the report once you have stopped.

If a situation threatens life, do not write to the bot. Call the emergency services. ⚠️

Money and rates

The /rates command helps you estimate where changing currency pays better. Rates differ between exchangers, and on a large sum the gap shows.

Before exchanging, check the fee and terms. A displayed rate can change during the day. Keep receipts and count your money on the spot. 💱

The ecosystem around the bot

The project has a map website, an ads channel, a residents' chat and a channel of common questions. The bot profile lists support contacts and links to these parts.

Ads are placed through the bot, and lost items can be marked with special tags. Be careful with strangers from ads before a deal: do not send a prepayment without a reason. 🔒

Getting started

1. Tap Start and read /help.
2. Look at the map on the project website and find the nearest points.
3. Ask for the weather with /weather before heading to the beach.
4. After your trip, add your own find through /point.

That is how the map grows, and the island becomes easier to live and relax on.