| Ever increasing numbers of people today seek | | | | When we said we loved Thai food, we were |
| more fulfilling holidays at more attractive rates. | | | | delighted to be taken off around the grounds to |
| The days of booking holidays at a local travel | | | | pick our own herbs and spices - including strange |
| agent and disappearing on a package tour are | | | | plants that we had never considered using in the |
| dwindling, as vacationers turn to the internet to | | | | pot - before being shown how to make genuine |
| seek alternatives, and to research their | | | | Thai and Northeaster dishes. The owners seemed |
| destinations more precisely. | | | | genuinely pleased to be able to impart their |
| Whilst sales distribution methods are changing, so | | | | knowledge and love of food - and we were |
| too are the products offered to holiday makers. | | | | equally happy to have this cooking lesson provided |
| The anodyne hotel is being seen as less and less | | | | at no cost! |
| attractive in comparison with more individual | | | | The property was fully serviced and the rate we |
| offerings: rather than wishing to be identified by | | | | paid covered all our meals and even generous |
| name in a hotel, experienced travelers wish to be | | | | quantities of cool beer and fresh fruit juices. And |
| the only guest at a property. Renting a private | | | | as we were there in the mango season, we were |
| house, or even home-swapping across the globe, | | | | encouraged to simply help ourselves to the fresh |
| is becoming more and more common as visitors | | | | fruit straight from the trees... |
| seek authenticity, privacy, independence, and | | | | It was rare to find a house deep in the Thai |
| originality whilst on holiday. And if such a stay also | | | | countryside, and truly off the beaten tourist |
| offers the possibility of direct interaction with the | | | | track, that offered every comfort for a relaxing |
| locals and costs less than a hotel stay, the | | | | stay in the real Thailand. The Visitors' Book was |
| attractions are manifold. | | | | full of glowing comments and the many repeat |
| Some countries have cottoned on to this | | | | guests bore testimony to the visitors' enjoyment |
| evolution in travel more quickly than others. In | | | | of their stays, not only because of the property |
| Indonesia for example, private villas have long | | | | itself but because of the genuine welcome they |
| been offered for weekly rent in Bali, and other | | | | received. |
| destinations such as the Caribbean have also | | | | Villa Rental Sites Finding a suitable holiday home on |
| proposed private villa rentals for many years. | | | | the web is a relatively easy process via Google, |
| However, private villa rentals in these destinations | | | | Yahoo, MSN etc. Bear the following in mind: |
| have often been considered the sole domain of | | | | - Try to book directly with the property site. |
| the super rich. | | | | Searches tend to list global villa rental sites that |
| In Thailand though, whilst the evolution has been | | | | generally take a commission on your stay, making |
| slow, more and more properties are now available | | | | it more expensive, and in some cases try to |
| for direct rent from their owners on a daily or | | | | prevent you from contacting the owners directly. |
| weekly basis. Thailand's real estate boom has | | | | - Look for an individual property rather than a |
| helped develop the number of villas and holiday | | | | house in a villa development. The latter are often |
| homes available. It is in general a pity that these | | | | managed by hotel groups and simply glorified hotel |
| properties still tend to be huddled together in the | | | | rooms - at hotel rates! |
| mass tourism markets of Pattaya, Phuket, and | | | | - Travel in the off season, but book early. Better |
| Koh Samui, which somewhat defeats the original | | | | rates can generally be found for travel out of the |
| attractions of an independent holiday home. | | | | tourist seasons, but do make sure you book |
| However, looking more closely, it is not difficult to | | | | ahead, as when a standalone villa is booked, it is |
| narrow down one's search and to locate private | | | | booked! |
| properties for rent at highly attractive rates in | | | | - Make sure the property you choose has a |
| original destinations. And in accordance with the | | | | telephone and address listed. |
| Thais' legendary hospitality, these villas are even | | | | - Travel somewhere new! Much of the fun of |
| occasionally rented out more as if friends - rather | | | | your own holiday house is the way it can take |
| than paying guests - were being accommodated: | | | | you out of the tourist centres to enjoy a more |
| meals are cooked for you, transport arranged, | | | | authentic holiday. |
| and invitations made to local ceremonies or | | | | Discount Airlines Thailand's flag carrier offers |
| festivals. In short, the Thais have realized that, | | | | numerous domestic flights, but savvy travelers |
| whilst some guests may prefer privacy, others | | | | will turn to the local discount airlines. These offer |
| seek a genuine interaction at the local level with | | | | frequent flights at a fraction of the price and in |
| the country's inhabitants, as they seek a | | | | relative comfort. Try Nok Air ( or Air Asia ( |
| memorable local experience instead of a | | | | Rent before you buyMany people rent properties |
| manufactured stay. | | | | before buying, so that they can experience the |
| Our exploration of Thailand's holiday home rentals | | | | lifestyle and assess the market place and explore |
| led us to several very different properties, and | | | | various areas of the country to see where they'd |
| clearly, whilst the supply is not huge, the | | | | most like to settle. |
| attractions of these homes, the hospitality of the | | | | With the overall cost of living some 50 per cent |
| Thais, the zing of the delicious food and the | | | | less than in the UK - petrol is currently 35p a litre |
| promise of sun all make these properties a | | | | and eating out is cheaper than eating in - whether |
| marvelous holiday alternative. Below, you will find | | | | it is investors in buy-to-let opportunities or retirees |
| our tips for successful holiday home stays in the | | | | and émigrés, the number of Brits |
| Kingdom of Thailand. | | | | opting for this part of the Far East is only going |
| Gecko Villa We particularly enjoyed our stay at | | | | to grow. |
| the bizarrely named "Gecko Villa". From the | | | | Visas Most nationals do not need a visa to enter |
| outset, their comprehensive website ( Gecko Villa | | | | Thailand unless they are planning on staying longer |
| ) gave full details of the property, with numerous | | | | than 30 days. Sixty-day tourist visas are available |
| photographs and an online availability checker. Our | | | | at Thai embassies overseas. Once in Thailand, this |
| email reservation was responded to rapidly, and | | | | visa can be extended for another 30 days, |
| helpful suggestions made about getting to the | | | | provided that you apply before the original expiry |
| destination. | | | | date. |
| Upon arrival we were met at the airport by the | | | | If you wish to stay longer there are a range of |
| smiling owners and driven to the large house that | | | | visa options available. The Thai government is |
| was set in the middle of emerald rice paddies, | | | | pretty lenient on property buyers with |
| sugar cane plantations and woodlands. The | | | | well-stocked bank accounts. Retirement visas are |
| property was set on extensive grounds | | | | also available to people over 55 who can prove |
| guaranteeing privacy by our own pool, and the | | | | that they have sufficient funds to survive. The |
| bedrooms and facilities all lived up to or surpassed | | | | Thai Immigration Department currently cites |
| what we had seen described on the internet. The | | | | 40,000 baht (£615) as the minimum monthly |
| kitchen showed up our own kitchen at home, and | | | | income needed, and you will need to have |
| the shower garden in the master bedroom was a | | | | 200,000 baht (£3,000) in your bank account |
| delightful touch. | | | | at all times. |