Who takes care of us while we're at the villa?

All the villas, apartments, and condominiums that I list are managed by professionally run local contractors--not the villa owners. This means that there is staff on standby 24 hours to help you if you have any problems and that they're used to dealing with guests, run legitimate businesses, and, well, are professionals.

Who owns these villas/apartments/condominiums?

They are mostly owned individually by private parties. This means that some of the furnishing, TVs, decorations, and other particulars will vary, even between identical "room" types. I try to give a good representation of each room type, but there will be some differences. If that leopard skin rug that you see in the picture will make or break your vacation, send me an email to make sure it's there or not.

Occasionally, a developer will start renting out villas that haven't sold or they'll have a very strict policy on the type of furniture for villas in the rental pool. This will mean that nearly every villa is furnished and decorated identically, but this is the exception rather than the rule.

Are the pictures of the actual villa that you are offering?

The pictures I post are generally of the villa that you will be staying at. Sometimes, where a property has a bunch of identical villas, the pictures will just be of a single representation of that room type. In those cases, please keep in mind that the furniture might be slightly different. Properties often have requirements for the quality and type of furniture, but the individual owners often add their own pieces as well.

Why aren't basic facilities listed in the icons?

All the units we list have air-conditioning, maid service, TVs, and all your other standards services. Writing all that down again and again for each villa just makes it harder to tell what really extraordinary facilities the villa actually has. So, I only list the "wow" things about the unit so if you're looking for something special, you can pick it out easily and don't need to worry about the basics: they all have the basics.

What sort of guarantee do I have that the room/villa will be as presented?

I do my best to give honest assessments of the rooms. I think that overall, the quality of villas on Phuket is good enough that there's no need to exaggerate, as they're so much better than a comparably priced hotel room. I take most of the pictures myself and visit every villa listed, so I'm not taking it on anyone's word that a villa is great.

Why are the villas so much cheaper than comparable hotel rooms?

I think it all comes down to brand names and marketing. People are very happy to pay a large premium for a brand name because of the cachet and security that it offers. If you're only interested in a great apartment or villa, then giving up a name saves you a great deal of money.

What's the refund policy if I change my plans?

The refund policy for each property is set by the owner and is visible on the "booking page" of the site (just click the "book now" button for that particular room). Generally, refund policies are generous for the low seasons and pretty stringent during peaks season.

How can I pay?

I can accept either credit card payments or bank transfers. During low season, many properties are more flexible and will allow payment on arrival--but please check with me first.

Why do you use PayPal?

For credit card payments, I use PayPal. This allows me to offer secure online payments while giving you the added security of never disclosing your credit card information. You also get the security of working through an internationally recognized company.

What's included in the rate?

Generally, only the room and applicable taxes are included. So, if you use the phone or additional services, that won't be included. However, unless you use something that's typically an extra like the mini-bar, spa, or rental cars, you won't need to pay anything else when you leave.

Do you cost any more than booking directly?

We work on a commission basis selling at exactly the same rate you pay going to the villa site directly. In addition to paying the same rate, you get the convenience of paying online, a low pressure sales approach, a larger selection of properties, and honest opinions of the villas.

What's the Difference between "Houses" and "Villas"?

We divided the inventory into two major types: Houses and Villas. Houses are just units that stand alone and are, well, nice houses that would be great for a vacation. Villas are located in a large development that often has public facilities(like a pool or tennis courts) that we wanted to show as well. So, the difference between them is just the presence of public facilities or not.

When shouldn't I book a villa?

A villa or apartment isn't appropriate if you want a vacation where absolutely everything is taken care of. If you just want to get off the plane, arrive at your accommodation, and shut-down for the next week or two, then an independent property probably isn't for you.

When should I book a villa?

If you put a premium on space, privacy, and independence, then a villa or apartment, to differing degrees, offers you value that you'll never get in a resort hotel. You can cook what you like, walk around naked, play the music loud, and generally not bump into the people around you--it's pretty much a luxury house/apartment.