Phuket Thailand - Long-term accommpdation in Patong

FredPheonix · #1 31-08-2005, 17:20

I am moving to Patong in February and was hoping to get some help and tips on how to get an apartment in Patong. I'd like a flat with the following:

Aircondition
Refridgerator
Broadband internet (is a must have)
Furnished
Hot water

These are the bare basics of what the flat should have. As well as this, it should be secure, preferable in 2nd or 3rd floor, look decent (at least) and a tv would be nice. A semi closed off room is ok, but 2 rooms is preferable.

I'd like to get in touch with people that rents out apartments like this - web-pages, phone numbers and so on would be helpful. Also, any general tips from people that have been there / are there / locals would be appreciated. Is it common for electricity to be included in the rent, or is it separate? How much would a flat like this be pr. month, if it's in the city / on the beachfront without too much noise? What are the broadband speeds available in Thailand? And what will it cost to have it installed? Is it "common" that people make special arrangements so say a quiet pub installs broadband for you to use, while you pay for it?

In addition to this, I would like people to try and describe Patong to me, as I've never been there. I've been to Karon Beach, but as I've understood, that's fairly smaller than Patong.

Please help me out, so that I can make my dream come true.

If you have an apartment to rent or have lots of info, you can mail me at skumlegakken@hotmail.com.

THANK YOU!

erik1 · #2 31-08-2005, 17:27

maybe it would be an idea to give an idea how long you want to stay and what prices you are looking for

aussie dollar · #3 31-08-2005, 17:31

try this link local paper with classifieds
http://www.phuketgazette.net/
also look back at previous posts within this section plenty of info sorry short on time so cant find links tonite for you.
by the way welcome to the board

FredPheonix · #4 31-08-2005, 17:33

Yeah - that was a good idea... Sorry...

Anyway, I was planning to arrive in february and leave for christmas in november / december. Obviously, I am looking to spend as little as I can, but I would think around 10k a month (+/-). As I've said, I am not very familiar with the prices of Phuket or Patong, so it is hard for me to approximate how much I would like to spend on a flat. What is more important is that I get what I want rather than the monthly rent. I'd like to get an idea of what the price level is like, and what to expect of "extra" expenses with the flat.

Again - help is gratefully accepted.

LivinLOS · #5 31-08-2005, 18:45

Broadband being already installed is rare.. in fact so rare I doubt you would find it in anything less than full on serviced apartments that run to the high end of costs (40k or so)..

Normal Thai homes having even a tel line is not so easy on short term rents (landlords get stuck with a big bill after you have left).. And in some areas getting a tel line fitted is impossible as the exchanges are overloaded as it is and they physically dont have any more points left in the junction boxes.. My buddy 'sold' his 2 lines for 10k each and he could have got a fair bit more from a guesthouse on Nanai2 that simply had no phone or fax..

Internet runs from about 500 baht for 256/128 as the cheapest option I know of up to 10's of thousands for a service that has minimum service levels.. My 1024/256 package is 1000 baht and thats common with TOT lines.. The service is not that good and expect it to have downtime..

Pairing the harware line and a better ISP like CS Lox info or JI net runs you between 2 - 3k per month.. I thought the speeds were higher but Nickes reply in the other thread seems to be that its not much better than mine..

3 months ago when this TOT gold cyber package was launched it was 400kbps +- and fairly consistant.. now they have signed 1000's of people up and use the same bandwidth and its dropped.. less than 100kbps is the norm now..

My buddy was on a TT&T line and hinet ISP also a cheapie package at 1000 baht per month.. his speeds were a measured 1.1 mbps and consistant 600 - 800.. They only offered this package for a while and my theory is that left only a handful of people in this area on the contention...

A buddy of mine trades online and needs large data connetions.. He has some special arrangements with JI to keep him on a 5:1 contention package, I will find out what he pays..

10k doesnt get a whole lot in the 'apartment' stakes.. stuff around at this price level but not too much..

You might try getting your name down at Wet willies and Marcels apartments.. 13k for a single bed and wireless internet provided from downstairs.. a good wireless NIC (or expernal antenna) might work from your apartment..

FredPheonix · #6 31-08-2005, 20:41

Thanks - not that I know what half of those things mean (TOT, TT&T, CS Lox, JI etc.)...

Anyway - from what I understand, there are ways to get broadband and at a decent price and speed. As you might underestand, I work over the internet (playing poker for a living), so I need a stable and good line. If it is wireless, that's superb - I find that even better. So where is this place with the wireless? As I have stated previously, it is more important for me to find the apartment I want / need, rather than the rent. What I would like, however is that everything (i.e. electricity, internet, water etc.) is included in the rent. Saves me the hassle...

So again, if you know about places that offers these things, give me a mailadress or a web page, and I will contact them from there... Thank you.

P.S.
Sorry about the hole byte-bit thing...

LivinLOS · #7 31-08-2005, 21:24

TOT and TT&T are telco operators.. they both provide landlines.. CS Loxinfo and JI net are both ISP's..

Depends what you mean by stable and good at a fair price.. Mine drops out most days for short periods.. Its hit and miss.. Doesnt seem much better with any of the services.. I used to pay up to 7k per month plus badnwidth fees (one month 15k) for IPStar service.. droped out when cloud cover or storms got to heavy.. ping times in excess of 1000ms were the norm.. But at that time there simply was no ADSL here..

Wireless will only be provided if there is someone running a local ADSL point and wireless node.. Nicke runs one at the MTB bar.. Starbucks has one and a few private people have them (I run one around my house).. Theres no 'wireless internet access packages' that you can buy if you discount GPRS through your GSM cellphone..

Sorry to p1ss on your parade but websites for these apartments and things are few and far between.. Quite simply Thailand is not at that level of sophistication. There is one woman specializing in the rental market (I will find her link) but again houses with ADSL already in them, in Patong, etc is a very small subset..

Really it will be find a apartment or house that can 100% certain get a phone line or already has one.. Apply for ADSL, get it all working.. Budget >1 month min (might be done in 7 days but usually 1 - 2 months if line needs installation.. some people have been waiting 2 years for a phone line).. At the very least it will give you an eye opener in Thai beaurocracy and service

...

LivinLOS · #8 31-08-2005, 21:27

http://www.houseinphuket.com/ Contact Welta and tell her you need a aparyment / house and phone line..

See what she can do..

FredPheonix · #9 31-08-2005, 21:47

Found one, but what does it mean when it says "in an ADSL area"? does it mean that you CAN get ADSL in that area, but will sort it out yourself?

Thanks again.

FredPheonix · #10 04-09-2005, 18:01

By the way - do you bargain over accommodation? I mean, you bargain over everything else, as far as I've understood, so I guess it's a legitimate question. What would a decent place cost a month (including electricity, internet and all sorts)? Just give me an indication of what I can expect to pay for a place to live...

Geir · #11 04-09-2005, 18:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by FredPheonix

By the way - do you bargain over accommodation? I mean, you bargain over everything else, as far as I've understood, so I guess it's a legitimate question. What would a decent place cost a month (including electricity, internet and all sorts)? Just give me an indication of what I can expect to pay for a place to live...

If you pay 15k you will have plenty of opertuneties(at least if you are happy with a big room with all the fasileties you ask for) I would recomend you to rent a hotelroom for the first days, and then have a look around until you find something you like. If you pm me, I know of a place with ADSL speed 256 for a price like that, mybe cheaper.

Geir

FredPheonix · #12 04-09-2005, 19:47

Thanks for that info. Where are you from anyway? I'd like a place with:

Broadband
Furnished
Refridgerator
Shower (hotwater)
Aircondition

I'd like the place to be secure, as I will bring some valuable items. TV with English channels would be nice, but is no demand. Expenses such as electricity, water and broadband should be included in the monthly rent, and it should be located in Patong or Karon.

If you know of anything, please contact me pr PM or mail, preferably with pictures and an address.

Fredrick.