Traveling with my parents and my 22mth old and was looking to stay in a villa. Are there any recommendations? Also, pardon the ignorance but what's the difference between an independent villa vs one in a hotel?

an independent one is one that is privately owned and stands alone by itself on a piece of property...

jamesA can tell you better, but i don't think there are that many stand alone villas unless you want to pay really big bucks..

Thanks. So in terms of facilities, amenities, is it pretty much the same? And given the current economic conditions we live in, would one have greater bargaining power with the independents?

JamesA, any thoughts?

Hi Su Y,

What area in Phuket are you looking at? What amenities and entertainment options do you want to be close to?

There are many private villas available but the majority will be booked through an agent and only the very expensive ones will be beachfront or close to the beach.

Maybe a place like the Allamanda might be worth looking into. It is positioned in the Laguna area and you can use the facilities of several 5 star resorts. The bonus of this place is that they have large, very nice 2 bedroom suites with an enormous self contained living area. The beach is very close and you also have a lagoon and free usage of non-motorised watercraft.....Just a thought.

Some resorts and hotels offer what are termed 'villas'.
These can vary a great deal, some can be nothing more really than a suite, many are cottage / bungalow size. Some are more luxurious than others.
You get the hotel/resort facilities, main pools, restaurants, fitness centers, spa etc etc.

A 'stand alone' villa you would probably have more space but you will not have the hotel style facilities. few available to rent for short term vacations would be in prime positions.

Hotelsresorts can be right on the beach, it would be very hard indeed to find anything at all as a stand-alone on a beach without paying incredible prices, even if you could find.

There are some places that offer appartment/duplex style, often they are either in a romote location or well inland. There are some in the south east in the US$300-400 a night price range but are very much out of the way and you would be very far indeed from other attractions or facilities.

The 'megag risch and famous' who perhaps let's say in the caribbean would stay in 'private villas' tend in Phuket to stay at top places such as Amanpuri, there just are not the numbers or range of vacation villas many people would 'think' there would be. Prime beach land has been taken up years ago. Many villa developments can be well away from the beaches.

So, what really are you looking for ? If yuo are thinking of it as a way to 'save money' I would forget it.

If there are 3 or 4 of you plus the baby and you want to stay together then go for, as Shanek suggested, a 2 bedroom place at a resort hotel. You will get all the benefits of the resort plus items for the baby and such.

Notre that the price difference between rooms and resort villas, in particular if they have a small pool can be huge. Also note some resorts do 'not allow' pool villa use if you have young children ( safety issue thing ).

I think if you tell us your budget + time of year + whether you want absolute beachfront + whether a busy beach area or a quiet beach area that can help to provide specifics.

Before you ask - yes, you can buy all baby supplies readily in Phuket from the malls.

Time of year is very important, what is $ 200 low season can be $600 high season.