Phuket Thailand

rufus123 · #1 10-09-2005, 19:49

As I would like to see a bit of the island and maybe Karon and Kata by night, is it worthwhile hiring a car? What are the pitfalls if any? Can any of you recommend a reliable hire car company?
May I also say that I find this forum a really great source of information. I will be in Patong on 22nd and would like to meet up with any posters and share a beer.
Thanks
Ron

gregor200 · #2 10-09-2005, 21:09

as of my experience, i always book at budget near airport. get a honda jazz/city for about 1000 baht a day included insurance. easy to driving to me because it has automatic and aircon. stayed at kata. normally go the road to chalong and then turn right to kata. on the traffic light in kata i go down left, so i am in the center of kata beach.

a honda jazz regular rate is about 1600, but i talk then down by email to 1000 baht before I arrive.

domifletch · #3 10-09-2005, 21:17

I have already used AP Car rent, close to the airport. Cheap price, but I think the insurance is only for low damaged risks, so better to avoid any accident. Not the newest cars but good enough to have fun and safer than a motorbike, especially if you want to drive around the island as I did (Nai Harn-Phuket Town-Nai Town, then back via Surin-Kamala-Patong-Karon-Kata)

It was 500 bath/day for a Suzuki Carabian. The car probably drinks more than me but gazoline is not so expensive in Phuket (17 bath/liter if I remember well)

muffdiver · #4 10-09-2005, 22:05

gasoline is around 27 bath pr. liter

domifletch · #5 10-09-2005, 22:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by muffdiver

gasoline is around 27 bath pr. liter

Sh!t... The price is increasing everywhere... I was not sure about it last Feb, but it was cheaper, although it grew up of 15% in 3 weeks

IRISH JONNY · #6 10-09-2005, 22:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by muffdiver

gasoline is around 27 bath pr. liter

65 BAHT PER LITER IN IRELAND................
MAN WE ARE BEING SCREWED BIG TIME.............
IJ

muffdiver · #7 10-09-2005, 23:04

and upp here it's 78 bath a liter

Allybabba22 · #8 10-09-2005, 23:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by IRISH JONNY

65 BAHT PER LITER IN IRELAND................
MAN WE ARE BEING SCREWED BIG TIME.............
IJ

Yeah up here it ranges between 60-68Baht per litre and rising all the time, thank fu*k I dont drive

Caerphilly · #9 11-09-2005, 00:03

http://www.andamancarrent.com/car.htm

http://phuketindex.com/phuketcarrent/index.htm

http://www.braun-rentacar.com/

My limited driving experience was day time only and had no real problems with my simple suzuki jeep at dusk and night-time a different sort of driving is required as jeep headlights are rubbish and lots of scooters and locals driving around with no lights!!!

so I became a day time explorer only but was worth getting around particularly to nai han and nai yang

domifletch · #10 11-09-2005, 01:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caerphilly

http://www.andamancarrent.com/car.htm

http://phuketindex.com/phuketcarrent/index.htm

http://www.braun-rentacar.com/

My limited driving experience was day time only and had no real problems with my simple suzuki jeep at dusk and night-time a different sort of driving is required as jeep headlights are rubbish and lots of scooters and locals driving around with no lights!!!

so I became a day time explorer only but was worth getting around particularly to nai han and nai yang

I am neither a specialist, just had this experience 3 weeks, but it was less difficult than I thought. I just avoided to drive drunk from Patong to Nai Harn and did prefered to rent a room in Patong after too many beers.

I really thought that to drive left would have been more difficult, but I haven't killed anybody

and I felt safer than on a motorbike.

dawsey · #11 11-09-2005, 02:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allybabba23

Yeah up here it ranges between 60-68Baht per litre and rising all the time, thank fu*k I dont drive

Try the UK then.

Unleaded between 90p and £1 05 a litre

Thank you HM Customs and Excise

domifletch · #12 11-09-2005, 08:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawsey

Try the UK then.

Unleaded between 90p and £1 05 a litre

Thank you HM Customs and Excise

The world becomes crazy.. Politicians try to make us slave of petrol, but it's too much.
Alternative solutions are born, i.e. mix electric and gazoline morors or colza oil. Colza oil is 0.75€ in Germany, 2.000€ to adapt the warming system... but our sweetie politicians havenot taxed it yet

Nicke · #13 11-09-2005, 14:56

You can also try Budget, www.budget.co.th

I think they also have free delivery to your hotel in Patong or whereever you want to pick it up.

We had a lot of cars on the beach road before tsunami, they were cheap to rent but had no insurance. I would stick to the bigger chains, like Budget or Avis.

Phuket Gazette often have ads with cars for rent on monthly basis, it may be your best option if you look for longer term.

rufus123 · #14 11-09-2005, 17:15

Thanks for the advice all.

tedkarma · #15 12-09-2005, 11:45

I have to support Budget Rent-a-Car.

I use them semi-frequently as I have an older pick-up truck that is not so comfortable for longer drives. Renting a nice car from time to time is a lot cheaper than buying a new one.

About five weeks ago my wife was in an accident (near Thalang) in a Budget car and I have to say they were VERY helpful. The accident wasn't her fault and we've all heard the "Farang pays for everything" story - but Budget was "Johnny on the spot" - got there very quickly and their insurance man was there within 30 minutes. The police were very polite and fair - we paid for nothing.

Budget even made sure that we quickly got a replacement car - which was actually an upgrade and we still paid the lower price.

I started using Budget as I had good luck with them in other countries - and had rented a few pretty lousy cars here on the island from other outfits. Also had a friend ripped-off with the old - "these scratches are new" trick. Budget - never a problem with those issues.

I'm a fan. The accident really sealed the deal - I'll use only them in the future.

Wolf · #16 14-09-2005, 18:02

Why not get a BG with a bike so she can bring you around. What is more exciting than holding on to a BG's warm body and let the other look at you?

Wolf

sanuk21 · #17 15-09-2005, 18:29

Hire a "black taxi"!

Hi Guys I would advise against hiring a car when for 1000 baht a day you can hire a "black taxi". These private cars lurk around most corners in Patong.

There is no petrol to buy! No responsibility in case of an accident! You can sit in the back seat cuddling your teerak drinking a cool beer whilst being chauffered around the island.

If you need the phone number of one of these "black taxis" with english speaking driver just ask.

Chock Dee

LivinLOS · #18 15-09-2005, 18:57

1k a day seems like a great rate... tuk tuk wanted 400 each way to lotus and back from my mate...

stevem · #19 15-09-2005, 19:00

I thought tuk tuk's could be had for B800 for the day.

peakay · #20 15-09-2005, 19:36

Has anyone ever rented jeeps from the guys on the beach? Just wondering are they alright to rent from. Or do they try the "new scratch" thing? Are they insured? What would the average cost be?

dawsey · #21 16-09-2005, 01:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevem

I thought tuk tuk's could be had for B800 for the day.

Thats what I paid for a day hire, tour around the island well worth the money.
But for only 200baht extra,if the black cabs have a/c then its an even better bargain.

swiftdave · #22 16-09-2005, 02:24

When I was there, my Dad hired a cab for about 4 days straight. 650bht per day. Drove him everywhere, stuck around while he shopped. Showed him temples and such. If dad wanted to rest for a while, driver took other calls but kept coming back and waited at the hotel for him.

I barely saw dad for a whole week, but then I was otherwise occupied