Phuket Thailand - Thinking of a self drive rental car...whats the traffic / parking scene in Patong ?

pinkrain · #1 20-07-2006, 20:16

So we're thinking of getting a rental car, drive around the island. Maybe even off it... whats the traffic like in Phuket / Patong (basecamp).. ?? Will we have parking hassels ? Also i heard Bangla road is closed for traffic...so how does one get to, say, Soi Sansabai...? Or if we decide to stay at Baan Sukhothai, does it mean we cant drive in at nights ??

Also, have any of the board members had any bad experiences with the tourist police ??

LivinLOS · #2 20-07-2006, 20:28

In a word.. Hell !!!

I have a jeep.. Would never think of using it round Patong, congested, slow, no parking, a million motorbikes cutting in and out.. Getting from one side of town to the other in a car is an excercise in frustration..

Hop on a bike and breeze through the traffic..

rapala_fisher · #3 20-07-2006, 20:38

bikes are much much faster and parking lots are everywhere.drive a car in the morning and ride a bike by night.

but my advise.ride a bike at all times.illegal
U-turn anytime.you can feel the fustration when you drive a car there.

pinkrain · #4 20-07-2006, 20:49

Wow... sounds terrible ! so no car. Bike it is...

Is Bangla road pedestrian ? We're at the Yorkshire Inn...we dont need transport or anything to where the action's at... I'm just a little paranoid about the bikes getting nicked..

LivinLOS · #5 20-07-2006, 20:57

your about 50m from Bangla..

More chance of losing your bike than it being nicked.. Done that enough times.. Only person who might nick it is the rental guy the night before your due to leave (you have to buy him a new one.. Scam I have seen)..

sundancekid · #6 20-07-2006, 22:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

More chance of losing your bike than it being nicked.. Done that enough times..

I’ve heard there’s a gang of Thai pranksters in Patong who move your bike across the street and then have a good chuckle when you later on try to find it.

Maybe just rumors, but at least it would go a long way to explain the odd place I’ve found my bike after a night out (and certainly a looong way from where I erm… recalled parking it).

Nautilus · #7 21-07-2006, 06:57

I always rent a jeep when i get to Phuket.

I only use the jeep during day time when i go round the island to other beaches. When i get back to Patong, i will park the jeep at the hotel and walk out instead.

Parking in Patong is a real headache. Didnt know the 1st time, got stuck in the afternoon traffic and it wasnt pretty, the heat and everything. Ouch!!!

LivinLOS · #8 21-07-2006, 07:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by sundancekid

I’ve heard there’s a gang of Thai pranksters in Patong who move your bike across the street and then have a good chuckle when you later on try to find it.

Maybe just rumors, but at least it would go a long way to explain the odd place I’ve found my bike after a night out (and certainly a looong way from where I erm… recalled parking it).

This pranksters are actually being VERY helpful..

Bikes must be parked in different sides of the street alternate days or it gets locked up and chained and you have to go to the police, pay a fine, get a paper, lots of hassle..

By going out of thier way and moving your bike over the road at early hours / dawn if you forgot it.. They save you a police ticket.

Nice huh ?

gregor200 · #9 21-07-2006, 12:46

What time of day you want to go to Patong ?

in summer, during the day, it is easy to find a parking lot on beach road. If not, you can drive up Bangla (open during day), cross the street and park at the end of the small road. There is a parking place, but you have to pay about 50 Baht.

In the evening, chances are good to find a free space at this parking too.

glassmanengland · #10 21-07-2006, 12:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinkrain

Wow... sounds terrible ! so no car. Bike it is...

Is Bangla road pedestrian ? We're at the Yorkshire Inn...we dont need transport or anything to where the action's at... I'm just a little paranoid about the bikes getting nicked..

You are being put off because of the situation in Patong.You are wanting to hire a car to see the Island and thats what you should do, you will have no problems outside of Patong (While I didnt anyway). I went over the bridge into mainland Thailand towards Phang Na and Krabi and lots of dual carriageway and hardly any traffic.
I stayed at Yorkshire Inn and there is parking about 100 meters away at the end of the Soi (40 baht a day) and plenty of parking spaces.

Word of warning ,check the car over for and scratches ,dents before you hire as they could try to hold you responsable on its return (thats another story)

andy50 · #11 21-07-2006, 18:15

bangla is closed at night to traffic and one way daytime, pink-
im in the penthouse of c/summer breeze at the moment and looking down on soi san sabai, its totally quiet
a lot depends on the time of year you are visiting

Sirgezza · #12 22-07-2006, 16:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

This pranksters are actually being VERY helpful..

Bikes must be parked in different sides of the street alternate days or it gets locked up and chained and you have to go to the police, pay a fine, get a paper, lots of hassle..

By going out of thier way and moving your bike over the road at early hours / dawn if you forgot it.. They save you a police ticket.

Nice huh ?

I know it is Thailand, but why alternate the side of the street where you park your bike? Access to shops?

andy50 · #13 22-07-2006, 18:02

probably to confuse tourists to get more tea money gez

sundancekid · #14 22-07-2006, 19:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by gez

I know it is Thailand, but why alternate the side of the street where you park your bike? Access to shops?

Back home it was because the snow shovel truck could clear both sides of the street after a heavy downfall. I suspect the Thai reasoning would be equally logical… Or?

Thinking about it though, might it be the street cleaners?

geespot · #15 22-07-2006, 19:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by gez

I know it is Thailand, but why alternate the side of the street where you park your bike? Access to shops?

Quite simple really, there is way too much traffic flowing thru the roads, by only allowing parkin on 1 side, it leta the traffic flow easier

U try driving in patong then u will know all about it, a friggin nightmare

For me Phuket is almost as bad as BKK in terms of driving experience

Outside these areas everywhere ive been its been a breeze

if ur gonna drive a m bike or car, ensure u r insured up to the hilt and watch out for drunk drivers especially after 7pm when most of the island is drunk

G

LivinLOS · #16 22-07-2006, 21:06

But why not the same side each day ??

faultytowers · #17 22-07-2006, 21:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

But why not the same side each day ??

Don't know , but I would guess it is because shops/hotels on one side of the street are not "blocked" every day.

Swishtz · #18 22-07-2006, 22:24

I always rent a jeep for the freedom to go around the island, into Phuket City, other beach areas, as Patong can get a bit claustraphobic. At night leave it at the hotel !
Rent from www.budget.co.th proper insurance proper company, you can get discounts going in via the promotions pages and compare, despite it all being on the same site there's different pricing for the same things !

gregor200 · #19 23-07-2006, 23:24

before you book, compare with the prices on www.fti.com, click on Mietwagen, then select Thailand and Phuket.

But you should be able to read German...

hlq2action · #20 25-07-2006, 14:55

I did read somewhere last month there was 16 deaths, most by motorcycle accident only in phuket, so there is around 1 dead every 2 days.

I was thinking about renting a car, but they drive left side like in UK, and with all these motorcycles, i don t want to be responsible of the death of a motorcycle driver.

But did read that tuk tuks are very dangerous too..

alibaba · #21 27-07-2006, 22:08

Parking / no parking on different sides of the streets on alternate days is to make it fair for the busines's situated there.

Dodger · #22 28-07-2006, 14:44

Sorry disagree, parking on opposite sides of the street each day is to stop people leaving their bike/car for more than one day in the same spot, parking is scarce in Patong so it makes it fairer to all to have to move your vehicle and a spot becomes available for someone else.

Would also disagree with the poster who recommended a car during the day and a bike during the night, in my opinion totally the wrong way round, too many drunken drivers at night to consider using my bike but as Sef said a bike in town during the day is much quicker to get about.

To the original poster, I would definately suggest hiring a car for your stay to be able to get around the island and see and partake in all that it has to offer. If you are really worried about driving, taxi hire for a whole day can be negotiated for about 500bhts and he will wait at each destination you choose until you have finished.

Adam · #23 30-07-2006, 21:42

Anybody could share the experience of driving left in Phuket while you are a right-drving habbit in your own country for the 1st time?
I am also thinking of rent a car in Phuket so that I could drive freely to other beaches in the day time (I believe I dare not to drive in the evening in Phuket) but really concerned about the left-driving....

as this is the 1st time

Swishtz · #24 30-07-2006, 21:43

What country are you from ? Depends what you're used to, if used to American driving with wide roads etc, may be a bit of a shock for you !

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam

Anybody could share the experience of driving left in Phuket while you are a right-drving habbit in your own country for the 1st time?
I am also thinking of rent a car in Phuket so that I could drive freely to other beaches in the day time (I believe I dare not to drive in the evening in Phuket) but really concerned about the left-driving....

as this is the 1st time

Adam · #25 30-07-2006, 21:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swishtz

What country are you from ? Depends what you're used to, if used to American driving with wide roads etc, may be a bit of a shock for you !

I am coming from Shanghai, China, which a city also having crowded traffice, not wide street, and right-driving rule.
But I normally avoiding drving to downtown to enjoy the traffic jam

Swishtz · #26 30-07-2006, 21:57

Well then you'll probably get used to it quite quickly