| Thailand has, over the past few years, seen a | | | | Thani. Free airport transfers were arranged from |
| large increase in the number of private villas | | | | the airport, which is accessible via a 50 minute |
| available for holiday rent. Here we investigate the | | | | flight from Bangkok on Thai Airways, or budget |
| villa market, and make our recommendations as | | | | airlines Nok Air or Air Asia. |
| to how to find and book a villa, and where to | | | | In contrast to more mainstream locations, our |
| stay on your next holiday. | | | | stay here allowed us to discover and experience |
| These alternatives to hotel or resort | | | | the real Thailand, off the beaten tourist track. |
| accommodation often offer exceptional quality | | | | The villa's architecture was traditionally Thai: an |
| and high standards, but a number of very second | | | | impressive wooden staircase led up to the raised |
| rate properties are also broadly advertised on the | | | | and enclosed wooden deck, where our delightful |
| internet and in some cases offer no more than a | | | | private swimming pool was located, with bucolic |
| room in a tired condominium in a poor location: it is | | | | views of the surrounding countryside and the |
| important for the holidaymaker to know how to | | | | evening sunsets. The steeply pitched roofs made |
| find an appropriate villa, and to understand the | | | | of terracotta tiles gave the house an almost |
| pricing structures generally in place, in order to be | | | | temple like appearance. A raised and covered |
| sure of securing an enjoyable, clean and properly | | | | "sala" here offered protection from the strong |
| serviced villa at the right price. | | | | midday sun and became our favourite spot, with |
| It is perfectly possible to rent your own villa in | | | | its views over the pool. |
| Thailand for your holiday and to enjoy not only | | | | Accessible from the deck in two separate |
| superior accommodation, but also a plethora of | | | | buildings were the two bedrooms (each |
| services, at rates that in fact make such a holiday | | | | air-conditioned), as well as the living and dining |
| the sensible alternative to booking a room - or | | | | room and kitchens. The master bedroom had a |
| indeed, for those with friends and family, a | | | | sturdy teak four-poster, king sized bed, with a |
| number of rooms - in a resort. | | | | cotton duvet and feather pillows, a large adjoining |
| | | | bathroom and WC and an outside garden shower. |
| Why Thailand?Thailand is a perfect destination for | | | | The second bedroom had a queen sized four |
| those who wish to rent their own house or villa, | | | | poster, again with a spacious adjoining bathroom / |
| for a number of reasons: | | | | WC. |
| - the Thais are widely recognized as a welcoming, | | | | The main air-conditioned building housed a dining |
| smiling people | | | | room with a dining table and seating for six, a |
| - The kingdom's cuisine is world-renowned; whilst | | | | living room with comfortable sofas and views |
| most visitors will know the famous dishes such as | | | | onto the pool deck, and a sunken area decorated |
| Tom Yam Kung, the variety of cuisines and | | | | with futons for lounging in front of the large |
| regional specialties is great, and even a serious | | | | screen LCD television (complete with a separate |
| glutton would have trouble trying to experience | | | | high-end home theatre system and international |
| the exhaustive array of Thai food dishes in just | | | | satellite channels). Leading off from this area |
| one stay. | | | | (behind sliding wooden panels) was an additional |
| - Thailand is a shopper's paradise, offering unique | | | | WC, and a fully equipped Western kitchen (with |
| silks, handcrafted furniture and a plethora of | | | | built in microwave, oven etc), that in turn led out |
| exotic items at a fraction of the cost of such | | | | to a stainless steel Thai kitchen. |
| goods in the West. Clothes, leather goods and | | | | We must confess that this all looked very |
| decorative items are often at the top of the | | | | user-friendly, but that we never used the kitchens |
| visitor's shopping list. | | | | - with the exception of helping ourselves to a few |
| - Thailand offers exceptional value for money: | | | | iced beers from the refrigerator! As the owner is |
| even five star hotels cost a fraction of what they | | | | a former chef, he prepares all his guests' meals |
| do not only in the West but even in other Asian | | | | throughout their stay, varying the spiciness or |
| capitals such as Hong Kong or Singapore. | | | | composition of these to his guests' tastes. We |
| - Thailand welcomes millions of visitors to its | | | | were delighted to be shown around the gardens |
| shores annually, and personal safety is generally | | | | to collect a number of herbs and spices, which we |
| excellent. Any reported crimes tend to be minor, | | | | were then shown how to spirit into deliciously |
| involving jewellery scams and the like, but the | | | | fresh and tangy Northeastern dishes. We tried the |
| more experienced traveler is hardly likely to fall | | | | classics too: Thai food certainly is mouth-watering, |
| for these. Most visitors will feel infinitely safer in | | | | and staying at a villa like this where all meals are |
| Thailand than they ever would in equivalent | | | | prepared for you, by a chef who is willing to |
| capitals such as London, Paris, New York etc. | | | | share his secrets, was a boon! |
| Which Thai region should I visit? | | | | We spent a good deal of time just lazing by the |
| The visitor to Thailand today is spoiled for choice, | | | | pool in complete privacy, but also enjoyed a |
| with villas available throughout the kingdom.For | | | | number of excursions with our hosts to |
| shorter stays, we would recommend a single | | | | experience some of the sights and sounds of the |
| destination stay, so that you can avoid the | | | | Northeast. These included a spectacular trip in a |
| hassles of travelling and fully explore your chosen | | | | small wooden boat, across a lake that was |
| location. For longer stays, why not combine a | | | | fundamentally a vast expanse of pink lotus |
| stay in two very different locations, allowing you | | | | flowers, interrupted only by the occasional |
| a greater exposure to the country and its | | | | fisherman or wallowing water buffalo (marriage |
| diversity, whilst taking advantage of its | | | | propositioners, take note!) We also visited a local |
| inexpensive domestic travel networks? (see | | | | museum that seemed to denominate Thailand as |
| below) | | | | the home of the bronze age, and a number of |
| Thailand is generally divided into four main regions. | | | | rowdy, colourful local festivals and wet markets, |
| Bangkok and the central Plains | | | | as well as silk and cobra farms. But our lasting |
| Bangkok is a sprawling metropolis which, despite | | | | impression was one of rural simplicity and |
| its famous gridlocked traffic and teeming streets, | | | | ever-friendly locals, keen to ensure we enjoyed |
| offers a great variety of things to do and to | | | | our stay and sample an unending variety of |
| discover, to those with patience and a will to | | | | indigenous foods and drinks! |
| explore. The restaurants in Bangkok are second | | | | Green Gecko may be booked for stays of 2 |
| to none, whether you seek Thai or foreign | | | | nights or more via their website, where availability |
| cuisines, and its weekend and other markets | | | | and rates may be checked online (from around |
| deserve to be explored, as do many of its lesser | | | | US$280 including all transfers, service and meals.) |
| know temples. A cruise on the Chaophraya river - | | | | Green Gecko |
| perhaps by privately chartered long-tail boat - is | | | | 134 Moo 13 |
| an excellent way of seeing much of the city | | | | Baan Um Jaan |
| without being reduced to tears by the traffic. | | | | Tabol Um Jaan |
| The North | | | | A. Prajak Sinlapakhom |
| The North of the country is home to cities such | | | | Udon Thani |
| as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son. With | | | | 41110 Thailand |
| tropical jungles and hills, the North attracts those | | | | Green Gecko's sister property, Gecko Villa ( |
| looking to go trekking or seek out places of | | | | offers a cheaper three bedroomed alternative to |
| natural beauty. Do try to avoid the larger cities, | | | | those on a tighter budget (from around US$160.) |
| as tourism is so developed here that you run the | | | | |
| risk of simply being "processed" through a number | | | | The Villas at Napasai, Southern ThailandThe villas |
| of popular elephant camps and well-trodden hill | | | | at Napasai are located within the seafront resort |
| tribe treks... | | | | complex on the luxury North coast of the island |
| The Northeast | | | | of Koh Samui, in Thailand's southern province of |
| The Northeast is the largest region of the | | | | Surat Thani. Koh Samui is accessible via Bangkok |
| kingdom, yet has been largely untouched by | | | | Airways from Bangkok, with flights taking |
| tourism. The Northeast (or isan) is the rice-bowl | | | | approximately one hour (depending or aircraft |
| of the country, and is predominantly agricultural, | | | | chosen). |
| producing rice, sugarcane, tapioca, eucalyptus and, | | | | The resort is part of Orient-Express Hotels, |
| increasingly, rubber. Major centres include Khon | | | | Trains and Cruises: as such, both the villa and the |
| Kaen and Udon Thani, and the mighty Mekong | | | | resort were professionally managed, and we |
| river twists along this region's borders. The people | | | | were able to choose between cooking up our |
| here are perhaps the most open and fun-loving in | | | | own Thai meals after a visit to the local markets, |
| the country, perhaps because their lives are | | | | or to simply walk to the resort's excellent Thai |
| based on village traditions where overt | | | | restaurant in the evening. |
| consumerism has been much slower to advance | | | | The villas themselves were located at one end of |
| than in the other booming parts of the nation. | | | | the property, stunningly sandwiched between a |
| Travel to the Northeast is recommended for | | | | steep hillside behind our house and the sea in |
| those looking for a unique experience, to get | | | | front. Each of the villas is tiered down the hillside |
| away from the tourist crowds, and to immerse | | | | to the seafront. We stayed in a two bedroom |
| themselves in something new. | | | | villa, but three bedroom properties were also |
| The South | | | | available. Beyond the two well-appointed |
| The south of Thailand is renowned for its famous | | | | bedrooms, our property had a spacious living and |
| beaches and seaside resorts, such as Phuket, | | | | dining room with its own kitchen, a maid's room, |
| Krabi and Koh Samui. Some of the country's | | | | and, at the ground level, a private swimming pool |
| most expensive holiday villas are found here. | | | | and "chill-out" area. The main living room was well |
| Travellers should be aware of the security issues | | | | furnished and had a DVD player, satellite TV, and |
| in the south of the country and avoid journeys to | | | | charming sea view balcony, where we spent |
| the southernmost provinces: your local | | | | most evenings. |
| government's website will post updated advisories | | | | The island of Koh Samui is a major international |
| with travel recommendations and warnings. | | | | tourism hub and as such plenty of activities are |
| The vacation villa market | | | | available for the guest, from exploring waterfalls, |
| Holiday villas in Thailand tend to fall into one of | | | | to elephant rides, paintball, sea sports, diving, |
| two categories. They are either privately owned, | | | | fishing, golf etc. The hotel also offers boating |
| self-contained homes, or villa units forming part of | | | | activities, Thai cooking classes, tennis courts, a |
| a resort complex. These are quite different | | | | fitness centre and a spa. |
| propositions! | | | | We booked online at the hotel's own internet site, |
| Resort Villas | | | | taking advantage of a special offer. Rates for a |
| The resort-centred villa essentially comprises a | | | | two bedroom villa are seasonal and start at |
| resort's superior room inventory, and will be | | | | around US$850 per night, including complimentary |
| priced accordingly. In many cases, these villas will | | | | American breakfast. |
| have been professionally designed by the hotel | | | | Napasai |
| designer itself, and then sold to a third party | | | | 65/10 Baan Tai |
| buyer, who in turn joins the letting pool operated | | | | Maenam |
| by the developer to provide a return on | | | | Koh Samui |
| investment on the villa buyer's acquisition. | | | | Surat Thani 84330 |
| The advantage here is that the villa occupants will | | | | Thailand Tel: (66-77) 42 92 00 |
| generally be able to avail themselves of the | | | | Fax: (66-77) 42 92 01 [ |
| additional facilities or services provided by the | | | | Finding your Thai Villa on the internetChoosing an |
| resort, albeit at resort prices. The disadvantage is | | | | appropriate holiday villa on the internet is easy |
| that, for those seeking a more genuine | | | | using Google, Yahoo, MSN etc. Remember: |
| experience, they will find themselves simply a | | | | - Play with your search terms: use more specific |
| guests within a resort complex, and considered as | | | | words to help you drill down to receive a more |
| additional - if well-paying "keys". | | | | "targeted" property. "Rural villa with pool Thailand" |
| Private stand-alone villas | | | | or "seafront Samui private villa" will give a more |
| Private villas are generally second homes owned | | | | specific set of results than will the generic |
| by individuals, located on an individually-held land | | | | "Thailand Villa", and will be less likely to return a |
| plot. | | | | listings site. |
| These may be rented "as is", with the guests | | | | - Where possible, book directly with the property |
| picking up the keys at the start of the trip and | | | | owner rather than via a listings site - in all likelihood |
| returning them at the end, either with or without | | | | such a listings site will be charging a commission |
| a cleaning or security deposit. Alternatively, the | | | | on top of the normal rate. |
| villa may have its own staff, generally living off | | | | - Don't be afraid to ask for references. |
| property but available throughout your stay to | | | | - Travel in the off season, and book early. Book |
| take care of cleaning, laundry, cooking or local | | | | ahead, as when a standalone villa is booked - it is |
| visits etc. | | | | booked! |
| Whether you choose a resort villa or privately | | | | - Make sure the property you choose has a |
| held property, you should expect to pay a partial | | | | telephone and address listed. |
| deposit at the time of booking, either by credit | | | | - Travel somewhere different! What makes a |
| card guarantee or by a wire transfer. | | | | stay in a private villa memorable is the way it can |
| Tried and Tested | | | | take you out of the tourist centres to enjoy a |
| We tried a number of villa vacations in Thailand, | | | | more authentic holiday. |
| and below highlight one resort villa and one private | | | | Thailand's Airlines |
| villa - each offering an exceptional holiday but | | | | Thailand's flag carrier offers numerous domestic |
| altogether different experiences. | | | | flights, but travelers "in the know" will turn to the |
| Green Gecko, Northeast Thailand | | | | local discount airlines. These offer frequent flights |
| Green Gecko is a privately owned villa located on | | | | at a fraction of the price and in relative comfort. |
| a large country estate, surrounded by woodlands, | | | | Try Nok Air or Air Asia. Koh Samui is served by |
| plantations and rice paddies in the heart of | | | | the "boutique airline" Bangkok Air. |
| Thailand's rural northeast, near a town called Udon | | | | |