Frequently Asked Questions

Thailand Retreats is the trading name of Thailand Retreats Limited established in 2001 and for 17 years has provided villa rental opportunities to travellers wishing to holiday on the beach resorts of southern Thailand.  

The authenticity of this can be provided with company registration documents and a statement by our bankers (HSBC) confirming that we have been valued clients of the bank for the same number of years.

Booking a holiday is an exciting time - a chance to meet new people, discover new places and escape routine and by booking with ourselves then you will be able to relax a little earlier safe in the knowledge that you have booked with a travel company you can trust.

Thailand Retreats is recognised as one of the most reputable companies offering luxury villa accommodation in Thailand. Just ask the owners/property owners – we have met them and seen the villas personally and they appreciate the quality bookings we are able to provide for them having answered many questions asked by guests prior to arrival with our first hand knowledge of the villas. The feedback we have had from our guests states that they booked with us due to our speedy customer service and our knowledge of the villas and locations by our staff in the UK office and Koh Samui.

Further benefit is our membership of ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents) as we are governed by their Code of Conduct to ensure that the villas in Thailand that we market for holiday rental are as described on our website . Our membership number is Y2460 and we can be identified by clicking on the following link https://abta.com/find-a-member

Thailand Retreats is there for you 24/7 with offices in Jersey ( registered office), UK and Koh Samui, Thailand and offers you, your family and friends a true Thailand villa experience: more space, more comfort, more informality, more privacy, and more personal service. Our online payment allows for settlement in GBP or USD as well as bank transfer in either currency

There are a number of other villa rental companies who state they have been operating in Thailand for many years - but we were one of the first so we know otherwise and the reputation of a villa rental company is a priority.

A luxury villa holiday in Thailand is not always all about discovery and exploration as many would travel to Thailand to do just that.

Thailand is also about giving rest and rejuvenation back to yourself and escape the world for a while with the amazing feel of spiritualism around you.

Thailand offers a beautiful country covering many cultures, delicious and healthy food and great service - the people themselves cannot do enough for you.

Our Thailand villa rental rates are extremely attractive when compared with elsewhere in the world for similar high quality accommodation.

The reputation of the quality of the service provided by Thai people is world-renowned and you will always be greeted with a smile. “Amazing Thailand - the land of smiles”

We have made every effort to ensure the Thailand Retreats website is as quick & easy to use as possible while still maintaining a wealth of information.

Although Thailand Retreats has one of the biggest selection of Holiday Villas in Thailand (and growing every week), it is not very useful if people can't find what they want.

The only way to offer the largest selection of Thailand villas is to arrange them in a way that allows our valued visitors a quick and easy way to find what they're looking for. This is why we have developed an easy to use and powerful search system that gives the control to YOU. Now you can view the villas YOU want to see, in the order YOU want them, rather than just showing the villas we think you want to see.

Search by destination, location, type of villa or the number of bedrooms to find your perfect Thailand holiday villa.

If you have an idea of the type of your requirements you have for your Thailand vacation villa why not check out our Villa Collections on the home page where we make suggestions under certain categories to assist.

Finally - Do give us a call or an email. We will be happy to guide you in selecting the right villa for your next holiday in Thailand. We will also answer whatever questions you might have, just to make sure that you have the best experience possible.

The majority of the villas work on a flexible day check with a minimum stay of usually of 3 nights however less nights may be available on request.  If the dates are free they are bookable however the minimum rental period for a private villa in peak periods may range from 5 - 7 nights and this information wil be provided on the availability confirmation. Discounts are provided by some villa owners/villa managers for stays over 7  or 10 nights in the intermediate and high season dates.

Arrival Requirements:

Many of our luxury villas have a fridge stocking service for your arrival and provide a list for you to choose items to be at your villa as you arrive and we send this to you once your villa accommodation is confirmed. These may include, soft drinks, fruit juices and some beer, coffee and tea, eggs and bread etc. for your first breakfast and any other specially requested items. Please note however that some self catering villas already have a welcome pack of the basics and other villas have services where breakfast is included in the rental.

If the villa includes a chef service and a meal is required on arrival day then menus previously forwarded to you would need to be returned with choices well in advance.

Once you are Here:

The cost of eating out is reasonable in Thailand, especially if you wish to enjoy Thai food. All locations have restaurants that offer international cuisine. There is a Tesco Lotus supermarket or similar close to the destinations featured by Thailand Retreats where a wide range of imported food is available, as well as beverages, toiletries, etc. So you don't need to bring anything with you unless you do have some obvious special requirements.

If renting a car for your stay Thailand Retreats can advise you of recommended car rental companies to use whose vehicles are in good condition and are provided with adequate insurance and also provide seat belts and baby seats.

When you arrive:

You would have been provided with contact details for your arrival shortly before you leave for your villa holiday and will be met at the airport by the property manager or the villa owner's representatives.

They will escort you to, and show you around your villa, as well as assisting you with the collection of your hire car (with or without a driver) if this has been arranged in advance.

During your stay:

Our website will provide you with comprehensive information about the activities and attractions available for each destination and also in and around the particular area you are staying. In addition the villas will provide an information pack with the same or similar information and the manager’s will be able to assist in booking these attractions and activities.

In addition to the standard service of cleaning and linen change, arrangements can be made for services such as corporate entertaining, cooking of family meals, babysitting and private car drivers.

Thailand Retreats is registered for providing luxury villa accommodation only and are unable to book flights however travel office recommendations will be provided on request.

All information with regard to the non-rental aspect of your stay at the villa is stated in the villa details including the cost of the airport transfer and relative service and taxes.

If the villa includes a chef service in the rental there is the cost of the food plus a shopping fee of 15 – 20% of the market cost. Any additional services requested such pre-requested groceries and special items will also be added to a house account with relative service and tax fees. Personal laundry facilities are not normally included in the rental cost of the villa and a small fee will be charged or if this is not the case information on a nearby laundry service will be provided to you.

Very much so a large majority of Thai people adore children and a babysitting service this can be arranged with the villa management during your stay. However if daycare is required then specialist nanny services are available and can be arranged prior to your arrival as they get booked up very quickly in the busy season. You will find that the large supermarkets (Tesco and Big C) stock most things you need for children including imported baby food and baby pampers.

Our Thailand destinations are now offering increasing activities for children as an alternative to time at the beach and details of these are set out in the activities section of each area within the website.

Once you have chosen your Thailand holiday villa, the first stage is to check availability by completing an enquiry from on the particular villa details page. Should you wish to enquire and check availibility for more than one villa please add them to your wish list and after reviewing your choices just press "Send Enquiry" and all your villa requests will be sent by one click.

We have direct access to the the availabilty calendars of the majority of the villa owners and managers and will confirm availability either immediately or in a very short time from receipt of your enquiry. The online calendars shown on many websites are not always accurate or kept up to date however we are able to provide you with the accurate information. Should you show interest in any of the villas we are in a position to hold your requested dates which will expire in 2- 3 days normally or shorter if the dates are in high demand.  

If the villa calendar is showing not available for your dates the response will be immediate.

If available the details of the booking, total cost and deposit required will be advsed to you by email. Incorporated in this email will be a Booking Link" for each villa providing options to settle the amount of deposit required to secure the villa should you wish to go ahead with the reservation of the villa.

Settlement can be made by bank transfer (GBP/USD) or secure credit card payment including Amex (GBP/USD) and confirmation that the Terms and Conditions have been read is required before continuing to make a payment.

A deposit of between 25 – 50% is required on reservation depending on the villa owner and the balance is due approximately 6 weeks before arrival.

Renting a private villa or apartment in Thailand is great value as expenses for food and drink, snacks, laundry, overseas telephone etc are charged at cost and are therefore much lower compared with a hotel where their inclusion could double or triple your hotel bill!

Calculated on a per bedroom or per person basis there is quite a considerable saving to be realised by renting a private villa in comparison with what you would have to pay for staying in a 4 or 5 star hotel, and a hotel can't even come close to the experience of renting your very own private villa.

Take note that you will not have to wake early and reserve your sun lounger - one has your name on it everyday anytime!

Our Thailand rental rates are extremely attractive when compared with elsewhere in the world for similar high quality accommodation. The reputation of the quality of the service provided by Thai people is world-renowned and you will always be greeted with a smile. “Amazing Thailand - the land of smiles”

Booking a Property is very different from booking a regular hotel room, especially with regard to payments and cancellations. Please do not just tick the box to accept these terms and conditions (as we all typically do!) – do please read the following conditions carefully.

1 GENERAL

Please note that each villa management has their own Terms and Conditions as set out in the villa details of each individual villa on the website that will overide our own Terms & Conditions that are to be taken as a guide only.

1.1 Thailand Retreats is the trading name of Thailand Retreats Limited, whose registered office in St. Saviour, Jersey and has offices in UK and Koh Samui

1.2 Thailand Retreats is contractually bound to consumers to provide luxury villa accommodation on behalf of owner and property managers whose properties are featured on the website www.ThailandRetreats.com

1.3 Accuracy of Information.

Thailand Retreats relies on the information supplied to us by owners and property managers and have been viewed accordingly at the time of accepting the villas for promotion and at regular intervals thereafter.
Although Thailand Retreats makes every effort to ensure that advertised descriptions are correct, it does not own any of the properties and therefore cannot control or prevent changes.
Although changes to properties advertised are infrequent, Thailand Retreats reserves the right to change the description or service of any property at any time, in which case we will endeavor to notify you of all changes before commencement of the booking date, if it is practical to do so.

2 BOOKINGS

2.1 Deposit Payment
An initial deposit of 15 -- 50% (depending on the property manager/owner) of the property rental must be paid to confirm a booking. Settlement can be made by direct bank transfer in GBP, USD, or THB and on-line credit card payment. No contract will exist between you and the Villa Management until receipt of payment by ourselves.  Should the deposit payment not be received within 5 working days and we are unsuccessful in further contact Thailand Retreats will presume that the reservation has been cancelled. Once a deposit has been received the reservation will be confirmed and a receipt of payment sent.

2.2 Balance Payment
Payment of the outstanding balance is due approximately 6 weeks before the arrival date and Thailand Retreats will send out a reminder close to the due date. If the booking is made within 6 weeks of the arrival date, 100% of the cost of the property rental shall be due at the time of booking.

2.3 Exclusions & Additional Charges
Rates do not include baggage handling, gratuities, telephone, fax and telegram charges, car rental, food, soft drinks and/or liquor, personal items and expenses, and any excessive cleaning required upon departure (such as upholstery or rug shampooing, etc) or replacement of breakages. Fair wear and tear accepted. All the above charges are payable by you locally. In some cases there may be a security deposit payable on arrival usually in any of the main currencies. This will be returned to you on departure providing there is no damage to the property. The renter agrees to pay the owner for the cost of repairing or replacing (solely at the owner's discretion) any item of property, or contents at the Villa/Apartment, which is damaged due to negligence or willful default of the renter during the renter's occupation, or which is missing. The person in whose name the booking is made acts on behalf of all other persons named, and becomes responsible to Thailand Retreats for all payments in respect of the booking.

2.4 Currency Fluctuations
The base currency of the villa will be stated in the booking details. Please note that the balance of the rental due in USD/THB and paid in GBP will be invoiced using the prevailing foreign exchange rate of the due date concerned.

3 CANCELLATION CONDITIONS

UPDATE

There are now relaxed cancellation terms for individual villas during the COVID-19 Pandemic for all new bookings and existing bookings at the present time and supercedes the following standard cancellation terms below. Please contact us for further information on your chosen villa. 

It is a condition when booking a villa that all members of the party be coveredby travel insurance.

If it becomes necessary to cancel all or any part of the booking, Thailand Retreats Ltd must be notified in writing (email acceptable). The cancellation will take effect from the day the written confirmation is received.

The following cancellation charges will be applicable depending on when the notification of the cancellation is received in writing. Some villa owners have their own individual Terms and Conditions and if different from our own will be sent to you during the booking process.

30 days or more before arrival date:
Deposit forfeited - but credited for 9 months from the date of the cancellation confirmation. The credit can be used by the client or anyone on their behalf for any reservation at the original villa, during any period .

Within 30 days of arrival date:
All payments are forfeited unless the property can be successfully rebooked for the dates cancelled.

Prime & Peak Seasons ( Chnese New Year, Easter & Christmas and New Year Period)
For any cancellation after the deposit and/or balance payment, all payments are forfeited and a full or partial refund is solely applicable in the event that another reservation is secured covering partially or fully the initial and cancelled reservation.

4 CHANGE OF BOOKING

Thailand Retreats will charge an administration fee of £30 for any change to the booking after a confirmation has been sent. All changes will be subject to approval by the owner/property manager.

5 ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE TIMES

Guest should assume that Check-in time is after 3pm., and checkout time is prior to 11am.

6 REGISTERED GUESTS

Only those persons stipulated on the booking form may reside at the villa as guests and the lead guest must be at least 18 yrs old at check in or will be asked to vacate the property forthwith. Please notify us as soon as possible of any changes. The number of people staying at the villa must not exceed the maximum capacity indicated by you except in the case of infants (under two years old), or unless specifically authorised. Should the owner or the local representative find that the number of people staying at the property exceeds that on the booking form, he may, at the absolute discretion of Thailand Retreats, ask the extra person or persons to vacate the property forthwith. No camping is permitted in the grounds or gardens adjacent to the villas.

7 INSURANCE

It is a condition of the booking that the entire party is covered by comprehensive travel insurance (including cancellation, flight delays, loss and damage to baggage and other property) and health insurance (including evacuation and repatriation coverage). Thailand Retreats is not responsible to you and your party for any and all claims including any accidents related to the use of the property facilities or locally procured third party services such as, watercraft, water sports, jeep or motorbike rental etc. Thailand Retreats will not be responsible for any delay, additional expense or inconvenience caused directly or indirectly by events outside Thailand Retreats' control such as civil disturbances, fires, floods, severe weather, acts of God or acts of any Government.

Covid-19 (updated 15th November 2021)

With the Thailand opening up under schemes for fully vaccinated and non-vaccinated foreign tourists earlier this month the pre-departure PCR tests, arrival test and ATK test after 6/7 days should ensure that all guests receive negative results during their stay. It is recommended that during the 1 or 2 weeks before departure from your country to Thailand that any current rules such as social distancing and mask wearing is followed.

Each Thailand province has it's own rules but should you be unfortunate to be tested positive on arrival or during your stay, the local hospital will collect you from your accommodation where you will undergo tests and receive medical care. A doctor will provide information of the length of stay in hospital on a case by case basis. If travelling with a group the remaining guests are high risk and must self-isolate for 7-10 days.

8 COMPLAINTS

Once a property has been booked and paid for in full, Thailand Retreats will request flight arrival and departure details to pass on to the property manager. Once these have been received we shall provide you with the owner/property manager contact details should you have any travel related problems.
In the unlikely event of a problem with your rental property occurring, whilst you are abroad, you must inform the villa owner or property manager so that the matter can be put right. If the situation cannot be resolved to your satisfaction, at the time, you may contact Thailand Retreats, so that Thailand Retreats is given the opportunity to try to assist. All claims initially must be addressed directly to the property owner/manager and any compensation agreed before guest departure.
Thailand Retreats does not accept responsibility for the breakdown of the supply of water, or electricity, internet conection or of swimming pool filtration systems, though we will use our best endeavors to arrange for any such problems to be solved quickly.
If there are any problems during the rental period, which could not be resolved by dealing directly with the local staff, contact Thailand Retreats immediately and we shall try to rectify the situation.
It is understood that infrastructure, local standards and conditions are often of a less developed nature in a remote resort location than in more urban environments. Thailand Retreats will do as much as can be reasonably expected to rectify any problems that may occur, but cannot be held responsible for any situation that for some reason cannot be avoided.
Any complaints must be notified to Thailand Retreats within 24 hours of the cause of the complaint occurring for us to act and contact the owner/property manager.
If the Villa is vacated before the end of the rental period without prior agreement with Thailand Retreats or the property owner/manager, this may result in the loss of all right to any compensation.

9 CONDUCT & BEHAVIOUR

The lead person who makes the booking is responsible for the correct and appropriate behaviour of the guests staying at the property. Should any member of the party not behave in such a manner Thailand Retreats, owner or property manager may at their absolute discretion ask the offending guest or guests to vacate the property forthwith.

10 STAFF AT THE PROPERTIES

The service of staff is included at some of the properties. Additional services such as those of cooks and/or drivers can usually be sourced. Please give ample notice as soon as possible; especially at peak holiday seasons and we shall try to assist. Thailand Retreats can assume no liability for such contracted staff. The rates for these services will be provided in advance and shall be paid by you as incurred.

11 VALUABLES

All of the villas have a safe and any valuables left at the property are left at one's own risk. Neither Thailand Retreats nor the owners or staff at the property is responsible for any loss or damage to valuables or other property.

12 JURISDICTION

Any contract that is made will be with the acceptance by both parties of these Terms and Conditions, which are governed by the States of Jersey law, and both parties will submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the States of Jersey courts.

13 AGREEMENT

These Terms & Conditions govern all bookings with Thailand Retreats Ltd. Any booking made or order placed by you, whether through the Company's website or otherwise, shall be deemed an offer by you to rent the relevant accommodation subject to these Terms & Conditions. All bookings through our Company and all matters arising from them are subject to the States of Jersey law and to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the States of Jersey.

The person who makes the booking accepts these conditions on behalf of all members of the party and is responsible for all payment due from the party. Booking services with the company are only available to persons who are at least 18 years old. By submitting a booking you warrant and confirm to us that you have read these Terms & Conditions and agree to comply with them.