Phuket Rental Guide
Why rent a house?
While a hotel room is usually a single bedroom with a bathroom, having your own house offers you a lot more freedom. You can have a living area, dining area, kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms and a garden. The extra living space gives you the opportunity to enjoy a stay in surroundings that are spacious and comfortable as opposed to cramped and restrictive. Another positive aspect of renting a house is the privacy provided to residents. While hotels are a bustling mix of numerous guests and hotel employees surrounded by lobby, corridors, restaurants and more, a holiday rental by nature is much more secluded and private. You can also get much better value accommodation when renting a private house, especially if you are renting for a month or longer!
Location
The first thing you should consider when renting in Phuket, is the location. Phuket is Thailands largest island, and there is considerable distance between north and south, east and west. You may be looking for a place close to schools and shopping malls, or maybe close to your business. Perhaps you want to be in walking distance to the beach? Do you need a central location on the island? Do you want to live in quiet surroundings, or do you want to be in the middle of the bustling nightlife? Will you have a car or bike to be able to take you arround? You may find that properties outside the main tourist areas provide better value without sacrificing the facilities in the surrounding area.
Cost
Search for those properties that fit within your budget, and keep additional costs, such as utilities, in mind as well. In many cases, landlords and property owners will list their "low-end" price, so be sure to ask about all the extras that you may need to pay. For holiday rentals, keep in mind that there are seasonal fluctuations in rental rates here in Phuket. The "low season", from April to October, is when you'll find the lowest prices and best deals as property owners try to fill vacancies during the low season. You'll be paying a great deal more for the same properties during the "high season" which lasts from November to March. And there's also a "peak season" during the New Year period when rates are at their highest. Remember this when you're enquiring about properties as the rates you'll be paying can be highly dependant on the period of your stay.
For long-term rentals, in many cases the longer you stay the better a monthly price you'll be able to negotiate. Of course, you may be required to commit (pre-pay) to a certain period before you can take advantage of these favourable rates.
Don't forget to ask what sort of security deposit you'll be required to pay. In general, this can be a month or two month's rent to be paid in advance and refundable when you vacate the property (less any damages, of course). For long-term rentals where you've been required to pay a deposit, be sure to request an inventory from the landlord. Check this list against the items in the house or apartment to ensure that everything is accounted for and in good working condition. Both you and your landlord should sign the inventory. This extra effort will ensure there are no disputes when you're leaving over damages to items and so on.
Houses and Homes
If you don’t need the services provided by resorts or hotels, renting your private home is a convenient vacation option. The less expensive home rentals are offered in Chalong, Kathu, Nai Harn, Rawai and Phuket City. More expensive hire rates are along Patong’s west coast beaches all the way up to Cherng Talay. Other cheaper options are available on the island’s east coast, not including those located in the popular marina complexes.
Apartments and Condo's
For those who don’t require all the space that houses offer, the smaller condos may be a good choice. Phuket apartments and condominiums come in many different styles and there are plenty to suit each type of traveller’s demand in terms of price, location, design and size. The monthly hire rates for apartments can vary from a few thousand baht for an unfurnished studio all the way up to 50,000 baht for fully furnished penthouses and ocean view condos in luxury resort complexes.
Luxury Villas
First-class accommodation is offered by a selection of rental villas in Phuket. Villas are most appealing for visitors who can afford the high rates and appreciate privacy and luxury.
