Interested in renting
a motorbike here on Phuket? Well is it the most common way locals and tourists alike
travel around the island. It is very easy to rent motorbikes here, although
different rental shops have differing ideas of what they want from you, with
regards to security for their precious bikes.
Some shops seem to
think it is OK for them to use your passport as security, now this may seem
like a good idea to them, but it is illegal. As stated in most passports, they
are not own by the person pictured in the passport, but they are owned by the
government of the country that the person comes from. They are a legal document
and can be recalled at any time.
I strongly recommend
that you do not leave you passport with anyone for any reason, leave a copy of
it by all means, but if you relinquish your passport, then all sorts of problems
can find you.
You can find motorbikes
of all shapes and sizes for rent and on almost every street in Phuket. From
little twist and go’s to the massive Super bikes and Harley Davidson's, the
choice is yours, as long as you have a license, well almost.
Most shops do not
usually ask you if you have a license, but the police certainly will if they
stop you. And they will stop you, they tend to set up road blocks around the
island to catch those that are not riding correctly, those who do not wear a
helmet or have not paid their tax and insurance.
If everything is in
order, then you will be on your way in no time, however, if there is a problem,
then they can fine you, invariably they do fine you. And you will be whisked
away to the nearest police station to pay the fine, while they hold your keys
for you until you return with your receipt. It’s all well organized so be ready,
come with your license and wear your helmet.
The cost of motorbike
rentals can vary tremendously, depending on what bike you have rented and what
kind of bike you prefer. Normal automatic 100cc bikes can be rented for as
little as 150 baht a day and you can also get great deals for the week and
monthly deals are in place too.
You can rent bigger
bikes too, regardless of what it says on your driving license, the theory being
you pay for what you break. The bigger superbikes vary again from 500 baht a
day well up to 2000 or 3000 thousand baht a day for the old classic bikes.
I would not be doing my job here, if I said
that renting such big machines here on Phuket without adequate experience is a
good idea; the roads can be a dangerous place and in particular somewhere where
you do not know the roads too well. What with the many sharp turns and high cliffs
and small paths, be careful.
If an accident does occur,
then the rider / renter will be held responsible for the bike and will have to
pay to have it fixed or by a new one, it’s that simple.
If the bikes needs a
new tyre or gets a puncture, then it is easily fixed, there are small bike
shops all over the island and they can fix a puncture in minutes and all for a
small fee. If the bike is suffering mechanical problems and they are it is not
your fault, simply take the bike back and the owner will either offer you
another bike or get the one fixed, at no cost to you
.
With regards to
gasoline, there are garages everywhere, there are the usual Shell, Caltex and
Esso garages splattered about, and these are the cheapest and best places to
fuel up, guarantying the best fuel at the best price.
There are also small
shacks about offering fuel at marked up prices they are usually brightly coloured
with a fifty gallon drum by the side of the road and they literally pump the
fuel into your bike at a markup of about twice the price.
You will also see
small shops selling bottles of gasoline, usually in old whisky bottles these again
are greatly marked up and I do not recommend you fill your bike up at one of
these little filling stations, they are to be used in an emergency only, put
enough in to get you to the next legitimate filling station.
So to clarify when
renting a motorbike here in Phuket:
- Take it easy on the
road
- Do not drink and
drive (the hospitals are full of people who drive too fast and drink)
- Wear your helmet
- Do not leave your
passport with the bike shop (photo copy will suffice, if not, go somewhere
else)
- Always carry a little
spare cash in case the police wish to have a chat with you.
- Make sure you have
enough fuel for the trip
- People tend to drive
on both sides of the road here and exit junctions without looking, be aware of
this
Biking can be fun in
Thailand, but, please be careful, enjoy your experience here and look after
yourself!
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