Hey guys,

In BKK we have the convenience of public transportation, however in HKT, we're reliant on private carriers and their subjective rates. This is something I have read up a lot on so far and while my wife and I are looking to stay in Patong, we aren't looking forward to dealing with difficult taxis and tuk tuks. I checked out the car rental option for our 8 days in HKT and that works out to approximately 6500 THB with a economy car from Sixt or a similar rental company for those 8 days. That's 812 THB a day in air conditioned convenience and we would be free to travel all over HKT back and forth, exploring without any hiccups. Obviously this excludes fuel.

I wanted to know from you guys and girls if this is a practical option. We do not want to ride bikes so that's not an option either.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts

Car rental is an option that many are turning to now, however, parking can be a problem.

Parking spaces on the roads across from the main beaches are taken by tuk-tuks and taxis, and they will damage the car if you park there. So, as ridiculous as it sounds, depite having a car, you may have to park some distance from where you would like to go, and still have to walk to your destination.

You would also have to make sure the hotel you are staying at has parking spaces available for guests.

Sorry to say, we really do have a sad situation here when it comes to transportation for tourists, locals and expats.

You have probably picked the best of the options available, but it also comes with some problems.

Car rental is an option that many are turning to now, however, parking can be a problem.

Same as the rest of the world then?

Car rental is an option that many are turning to now, however, parking can be a problem.

Same as the rest of the world then?

No, in Patong it is much worse than most the rest of the world. Though parking on the beach road has gotten a little bit better lately with some of the changes being made by the Army.

Car rental is an option that many are turning to now, however, parking can be a problem.

Same as the rest of the world then?

In developed countries, there are "No Parking" signs and/or signs restricting the amount of time one may park in a particular space.

The vehicle is fined if parking illegally, or over the time limit.

I don't see any of this on the Beach Roads on Phuket. They use the Beach Roads as their own private parking lot, even threatening other drivers with violence and/or damage to their vehicle.

Park in Jungceylon and walk the 500m to the beach...not difficult. Most beach roads in busy tourist towns get full of cars. The problem here is that the thought of walking a few meters is soooo unbearable.

Park in Jungceylon and walk the 500m to the beach...not difficult. Most beach roads in busy tourist towns get full of cars. The problem here is that the thought of walking a few meters is soooo unbearable.

"The problem here is that the thought of walking a few meters is soooo unbearable." - No. The problem here is you have no choice but to walk.

So would it be better to book a car rental then online or to just go up to the kiosks at the airport and negotiate directly with them instead on arrival?

It seems rather unfortunate that the tuk tuk and taxi mafia end up engaging in self mutilation economics.

Last 2 times I've been to Phuket I've hired a Car,much nicer than the rip-offs there. I pre-booked with Budget,about the same cost as you. As you said,very good for touring around,yes sometimes its pain to park but what's new?. And you're your own master

Park in Jungceylon and walk the 500m to the beach...not difficult. Most beach roads in busy tourist towns get full of cars. The problem here is that the thought of walking a few meters is soooo unbearable.

"The problem here is that the thought of walking a few meters is soooo unbearable." - No. The problem here is you have no choice but to walk.

Nearly every beach in Phuket has ample parking directly on it. If not then most have a Songthaew connection, Taxi sala, Hotel or Bike parking.

The only one that really has an issue due it being so busy is Patong.

If that is such an issue and you are incapable of walking 500m then do not rent a car....rent a boat.

Park in Jungceylon and walk the 500m to the beach...not difficult. Most beach roads in busy tourist towns get full of cars. The problem here is that the thought of walking a few meters is soooo unbearable.

"The problem here is that the thought of walking a few meters is soooo unbearable." - No. The problem here is you have no choice but to walk.

Nearly every beach in Phuket has ample parking directly on it. If not then most have a Songthaew connection, Taxi sala, Hotel or Bike parking.

The only one that really has an issue due it being so busy is Patong.

If that is such an issue and you are incapable of walking 500m then do not rent a car....rent a boat.

"Nearly every beach in Phuket has ample parking directly on it" - which is all taken by taxis and tuk-tuks.

"If not then most have a Songthaew connection" - really? Please post prices and availability.

"Taxi sala" - we have another member on another thread saying "hundreds" of taxi salas have been removed. Who to believe.

"Hotel or Bike parking." - some, but not all.

"The only one that really has an issue due it being so busy is Patong" - yes, Patong is more busy than the other beaches, therefore, you would think they would create more parking, or at least enforce what parking that does exist - sadly, they do neither.

"If that is such an issue and you are incapable of walking 500m then do not rent a car....rent a boat." - I'm under 50 and reasonably fit for my age. A 65 year old tourist or expat retiree may have a problem with 500 meters though.

One of my friends who moved to Pattaya has a bad knee. He moved there because he could basically step out from his condo, or a restaurant, or a bar, and straight into a baht bus. He's not a Cheap Charlie, he would get an air conditioned taxi, if they were circulating like the baht buses.

Sure, what's the loss to Phuket for another expat to move away, or tourist to holiday elsewhere, but the numbers are starting to really add up.

Transport is an essential service that is controlled by criminals on Phuket, and as more people need this service, and are being charged ridiculous prices for it, they may move and/or not come back here.

Basically, tourists know something is not right when they are paying more for short trips in a tuk-tuk, than the cost of their hotel room, food and alcohol - and in some cases, these combined.

There was just a tread about this a week or so ago:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/760607-hkt-airport-car-rental/

Park in Jungceylon and walk the 500m to the beach...not difficult. Most beach roads in busy tourist towns get full of cars. The problem here is that the thought of walking a few meters is soooo unbearable.

"The problem here is that the thought of walking a few meters is soooo unbearable." - No. The problem here is you have no choice but to walk.

Nearly every beach in Phuket has ample parking directly on it. If not then most have a Songthaew connection, Taxi sala, Hotel or Bike parking.

The only one that really has an issue due it being so busy is Patong.

If that is such an issue and you are incapable of walking 500m then do not rent a car....rent a boat.

"Nearly every beach in Phuket has ample parking directly on it" - which is all taken by taxis and tuk-tuks.

"If not then most have a Songthaew connection" - really? Please post prices and availability.

"Taxi sala" - we have another member on another thread saying "hundreds" of taxi salas have been removed. Who to believe.

"Hotel or Bike parking." - some, but not all.

"The only one that really has an issue due it being so busy is Patong" - yes, Patong is more busy than the other beaches, therefore, you would think they would create more parking, or at least enforce what parking that does exist - sadly, they do neither.

"If that is such an issue and you are incapable of walking 500m then do not rent a car....rent a boat." - I'm under 50 and reasonably fit for my age. A 65 year old tourist or expat retiree may have a problem with 500 meters though.

One of my friends who moved to Pattaya has a bad knee. He moved there because he could basically step out from his condo, or a restaurant, or a bar, and straight into a baht bus. He's not a Cheap Charlie, he would get an air conditioned taxi, if they were circulating like the baht buses.

Sure, what's the loss to Phuket for another expat to move away, or tourist to holiday elsewhere, but the numbers are starting to really add up.

Transport is an essential service that is controlled by criminals on Phuket, and as more people need this service, and are being charged ridiculous prices for it, they may move and/or not come back here.

Basically, tourists know something is not right when they are paying more for short trips in a tuk-tuk, than the cost of their hotel room, food and alcohol - and in some cases, these combined.

"Nearly every beach in Phuket has ample parking directly on it" - which is all taken by taxis and tuk-tuks.

Absolute rubbish

"If not then most have a Songthaew connection" - really? Please post prices and availability.

Ao Chalong: Departs between 08:00 and 17:30, costs 30B.

Karon, Kata and Kata Noi: Departs between 07:30 and 18:00, costs 30B.

Kamala, Surin and Bang Tao: Departs between 07:00 and 17:00, costs 40-50B.

Patong: Departs between 08:00 and 18:00, costs 30B.

Rawai, Nai Harn: Departs between 07:00 and 17:30,costs 35B.

"Taxi sala" - we have another member on another thread saying "hundreds" of taxi salas have been removed. Who to believe.

Believe your eyes

"Hotel or Bike parking." - some, but not all.

@ Peterocket

So, do these songthaews regularly travel along the coast road, between the beaches, do they?

@ Peterocket

So, do these songthaews regularly travel along the coast road, between the beaches, do they?

No they travel to and from the beaches mentioned in my post. Alternatively all beaches can be reached by changing at the bus depot.

@ Peterocket

So, do these songthaews regularly travel along the coast road, between the beaches, do they?

No they travel to and from the beaches mentioned in my post. Alternatively all beaches can be reached by changing at the bus depot.

Sounds very convenient. Maybe the OP doesn't need to hire a car. These songthaews have transport covered for Phuket.

Remember if you hire a car in the airport you will almost certainly need to make a 20,000B deposit, on a credit card, not prepaid, nor debit card!

Remember if you hire a car in the airport you will almost certainly need to make a 20,000B deposit, on a credit card, not prepaid, nor debit card!

A credit card number from Visa will do. As long as you don't damage the car and pay the bill upon return.

@ Peterocket

So, do these songthaews regularly travel along the coast road, between the beaches, do they?

No they travel to and from the beaches mentioned in my post. Alternatively all beaches can be reached by changing at the bus depot.

Sounds very convenient. Maybe the OP doesn't need to hire a car. These songthaews have transport covered for Phuket.

No they don't have it covered for all of Phuket. However for the savvy traveller a combination of Hotel shuttles, Taxis, Songhaews and/or rented car/motorbike can make for a hassle free time on most Phuket beaches. It's a big island (25 times bigger than Pattaya) so public transport is never likely to be ideal here.

@ Peterocket

So, do these songthaews regularly travel along the coast road, between the beaches, do they?

No they travel to and from the beaches mentioned in my post. Alternatively all beaches can be reached by changing at the bus depot.

Sounds very convenient. Maybe the OP doesn't need to hire a car. These songthaews have transport covered for Phuket.

No they don't have it covered for all of Phuket. However for the savvy traveller a combination of Hotel shuttles, Taxis, Songhaews and/or rented car/motorbike can make for a hassle free time on most Phuket beaches. It's a big island (25 times bigger than Pattaya) so public transport is never likely to be ideal here.

"so public transport is never likely to be ideal here." - that's if we ever actually get any public transport.

Remember if you hire a car in the airport you will almost certainly need to make a 20,000B deposit, on a credit card, not prepaid, nor debit card!

I have pre-booked a rental car with Budget Car Hire in Patong but only travel about with a Pre-Paid Travel/Credit Card. Will they accept a credit card from someone who is travelling with me if the booking is in my name.

Thanks for all your input fellas, we've decided to adventure into the rough and tough travel methods of Phuket. If we need a car, we will rent one, but off the cuff, most of the places we want to go are easily accessible.

Remember if you hire a car in the airport you will almost certainly need to make a 20,000B deposit, on a credit card, not prepaid, nor debit card!

I have pre-booked a rental car with Budget Car Hire in Patong but only travel about with a Pre-Paid Travel/Credit Card. Will they accept a credit card from someone who is travelling with me if the booking is in my name.

No. CC must be in drivers name. Way around is to make sure your friend with CC brings a driver's licence, and then you can be a second driver. Most major car hire cos wont charge extra for this. But if you don't have both driver's licence and CC they wont give you the car.