How much will it cost to rent a car in Phuket or other places in Thailand? The material will help you to take a car from the airport, in the center of the island and other places, make an independent trip along the coast, stay in a place you like, take photos, enjoy the beauty to the fullest from your vacation.
In the south of the Kingdom of Thailand, on the Indian Ocean side, there is the tropical island of Phuket. Recently, it has become one of the most popular resorts in the country. Landscapes, exotic beauty, warm sea all year round, an abundance of entertainment for children and adults, affordable prices for tours and good service attract tourists from all over the world.
The area of the island is 543 km2, all of it is covered with beauty. Most of the excursions show the main attractions, and this is just not a large part of the region.
To spend an active vacation, to see Phuket as much as possible and feel it from the inside, it is most convenient to rent a car. So you will gain freedom of action and be able to visit any attraction at a convenient time for you. It will be possible to see places that most tourists do not know about, to visit small villages, wild beaches and real jungles.
When traveling by car on your own, you can not be afraid of getting burnt or getting caught in the rain, in the car you are always protected. In addition, it is safer to drive a car than a bike, the traffic on the roads is quite busy. Read about the weather in Phuket in a separate article.
If you have turned 21 and have a driving license, it is possible to rent a vehicle, then finding a vehicle is not difficult. About how much the rental costs, where is it better to take a car in Phuket, what documents are required, the condition of the roads, as well as all the features, we will consider in detail below.
What documents are needed to rent a car?
To get a car rental in Phuket, you must provide an international driver's license that is more than a year old, attach a copy to them. You will also need to present your passport and leave a copy.
Some rental shops may agree to issue vehicles under a regular license. But in order not to spoil the planned vacation, take care of the availability of international rights.
The deposit is a bank card with funds which will be enough to cover the franchise. The card must be in the name of the driver. The number and a copy of the card must also be presented.
The deductible amount is blocked on the card. When you return the car, the money is also returned. Usually the amount is between 10,000 and 30,000 baht.
After the end of the lease period, the vehicle is rented with the same amount of gasoline with which you took it, or the difference is paid. As a rule, car rental in Thailand and other countries means a full tank.
Be carefull! At the time of the transfer of the car, carefully inspect it for damage, if any, take pictures of them in order to avoid misunderstandings when returning the car. Be sure to show all chips, cracks, dents and scratches to the manager in order to record in the vehicle inspection report.
Here is an example of an act of one of the companies on the island:
Prices for car rental in Phuket
Car rental in Phuket is calculated for a day. If you want to rent a car for a few hours, the payment is still 24 hours in advance. It is necessary to return the car on time; in case of a delay, you will have to pay an additional day.
The rental price depends on several main factors: rental period (the more days, the cheaper); car model and class.
During the tourist season, from November to March, prices increase significantly.
The cost of renting a car in Phuket starts on average from 900 baht to 2500 baht per day.
For example:
- small car type Mitsubishi mirage - 900-1100 baht / day;
- medium size car Toyota Vios, Honda Jazz - 1100-1300 baht / day;
- large cars - from 1500 baht / day;
- SUVs type Toyota Fortuner - from 2000 baht / day.
If you take a car for 10 days, then the price for every 24 hours will decrease by 100 baht, for 20 days - a discount of 150 baht, if for a whole month, then the total amount will decrease by approximately 10,000.
Traffic rules on the roads
The quality of the main roads in Phuket is good, especially along the coastline. Going deeper into the island, you can find poor coverage, but in general the roads are excellent. There are often serpentines, you need to be careful, especially in rainy weather.
Please note that renting a car in Thailand can be complicated due to left-hand traffic, you don't get used to this driving style right away. A car with an automatic transmission will help you to quickly rebuild and behave more confidently in unfamiliar places.
Renting a car in Phuket obliges tourists to familiarize themselves with the country's traffic rules:
- if you come across a curb with a white and red color, do not park near it, otherwise the car will be taken by a tow truck;
- it is forbidden to drive while drunk, fines can be very serious;
- exceeding the speed of 60 km / h in populated areas is prohibited, outside the city no more than 80 km / h.
Where can I rent a car in Phuket?
It is best to think about renting a vehicle in advance. On special sites you can book a car. To do this, you must fill out a form where you indicate your data. Then choose a car, the necessary accessories (child seat) and submit an application.
- You can book a car in Thailand on Economybookings ⇒
You will receive a confirmation, which must be printed out for presentation to the rental company.
Carefully read the terms of the lease, depending on the company, they may differ.
If you decide to travel by car on your own already on the island, then car rental in Phuket is also possible, for example, right at the airport or other places. Small agencies are located along Patong and Karon beaches. Here you can bypass several companies at once and choose the best option. It is convenient that by renting a car upon arrival, you can significantly reduce the price, here they always bargain well and speak Russian.
On the streets near Patong Beach, rental prices are minimal, even cheaper can be found in the city.
What to see in Phuket, where to go?
Where to go in Thailand with a rented car is better to think in advance so as not to waste time. The choice of attractions is huge, traveling by car you can see much more than with excursions.
1. There are three waterfalls on the island, the highest and most picturesque - Bang Pae... There is also a rehabilitation center for gibbons.
2. Traveling by car, visit the most beautiful viewpoints. One of them Cape Promtep... A very romantic place with beautiful sunsets. Going down to the bottom along a steep path, you find yourself on a ledge that goes straight into the sea.
3. You can look at the city from the site on Cape Panwa, it offers a beautiful view of southern Phuket.
4. Yanui Beach located near Cape Promtep. It is not big, tourists are extremely rare on it. Surrounded by green hills, it is quite secluded, getting here you enjoy the silence, which can only be disturbed by the sound of the surf.
5. By car there is a possibility go to villages, which are located in the interior of the island. It is here that there is a real Thai flavor: houses are covered with palm leaves, barefoot kids with coconuts in their hands, local women selling pineapples and mangoes from their garden.
6. Night market also inherent in a special Asian flavor. You should definitely visit it.The market has everything, but the most impressive is the Thai cuisine - fried insects, outlandish fruits, grilled seafood, national dishes, delicious desserts that combine incompatible products.
Reviews of tourists about car rental in Phuket
Judging by the reviews, car rental is very convenient on the island, Phuket provides an opportunity to choose a car for every taste and budget. If you are traveling with a company, then this is not only a comfortable way to travel, but also obvious savings.
Vacationers often blame the Thais for the slowness and incomprehensible driving style. On the roads, you need to be extremely careful.
Please note that violating traffic rules will not have to pay a small fine, so study a few basic traffic rules in advance.
A common route for tourists from Russia in Phuket is a trip along the coast with small delays for swimming in the sea. Young people rent cars in Thailand in most cases in the evening - go to the observation decks or be in a romantic setting on the night beach.
