Facilities & Services - FAQ

For early arrivals or late departures which do not fit in with our check in and out times, we have a plan in place.

Arrivals
Our driver Jone can meet you at the airport, and take you to a beach club / shopping mall / restaurant / hotel, so that you can pass the time waiting for the villa to be ready for you. Relax and have lunch before your afternoon check in. Jone will then return to pick you up and take you to the villa. If you are all arriving at different times and early, a good idea is to go to one of the hotels near the airport and gather there. Jone will pick you all up together after lunch.

When she meets you at the airport, she can take all your luggage straight to the villa, so make sure you have a day-bag separately, with things you will need for the beach or pool or shopping.

Departure
On departure we can do the same thing in reverse if you have a late flight out of Phuket. You need to check out of the villa by 12 midday. Jone can take you to a beachclub / restaurant / hotel to have lunch, relax and wait for your flight. There are hotels that give day passes, and if you have a long wait it would be worth booking a room or two in advance, so that you will be able to relax and shower before your flight. You also have the option of paying a half day to extend your stay in the villa until your late flight.

There is a mini-bus with driver, available for daily use by the villa guests. You only pay for the fuel.

The bus is used for airport transfers to and from the villa, and is available for our guests’ exclusive use every day of their holiday, except arrival and departure days when we use it for airport transfers for arriving and departing guests. Jone, our driver, will act as your guide, and show where to go and what to see. She has many ideas of lovely places to eat, and things to see.

Normally the bus should be back at the villa latest 9 p.m., though in some circumstances we can go beyond this, for late restaurant visits for example, or to the Fantasea show. Late night Patong visits are not included! Jone can take you there, and give you written instructions for you to give a taxi driver for your return journey. Apart from late night airport transfers, Jone does not work at night. We are very flexible with hours for bus use, but we ask that you are reasonable, and if you use the bus at night, Jone will have time off the next day in the morning. This applies to late night arrivals too.

Delicious Thai meal, free on arrival.

Before your arrival in Phuket, you can buy your groceries and drinks (including alcohol) online, and these will be delivered to the villa on the day of your arrival. I will give you a link to choose what you want, and you send me a list via WhatsApp. We have a private arrangement with a contact in Villa Market who will deal with your order personally, and there is no charge for delivery. If and when you need more drinks or groceries while you are in the villa, just tell Lily what you want, and she will send our contact a WhatsApp message with the list, and arrange for delivery the following day.

Please let us know of any food issues, religious or personal, or any allergies. After you have settled in, you can discuss your food preferences, likes and dislikes, with Lily. She will take your personal taste into consideration when preparing meals for you. Her speciality is Thai cooking, and her tasty dishes will add to your Thai holiday experience. Lily can also prepare many western dishes, and dishes especially for the children.

Lily will prepare a meal for you on your first day free of charge, so you can relax after a long flight. There will be some typical Thai dishes, and something that children will enjoy as well.

Apart from the welcome meal, food and drink are not included in the rental price, as with any self-catering villa. But Lily can help you to shop, and will prepare your meals for you. Unlike most villas, which charge a 10% to 20% premium for groceries when prepared by staff, our is at cost price. You just discuss with Lily what you would like, and give her the money for the shopping, or do your own shopping online or at the nearest supermarket.

Please see the In House Menu page. This is only intended as a guideline. Lily has many more ideas, and she will enjoy surprising you!

For Thai cooking, the best option would be for Lily to buy the fresh ingredients for you at the local Thai market.

There is an enormous variety of fresh fruit and vegetables, herbs and spices at the local market, and at very reasonable prices. You can accompany Lily to the local market if you like, and make your own choices there.

If you want Lily to shop for you, you need to give her Thai Baht cash for this. She will ask you for an initial amount, and then keep a note of everything she spends, and settle up with you each day.

If your group is larger than 15, and you are eating most of your meals in the villa, Lily may need to hire extra help in the kitchen.

She can get temporary staff at 1000 baht a day per helper. One is enough for a group of say 15 or 16. If the group size is 18 or more she will certainly need two. You pay this direct to Lily in the villa, so she can hire the staff and pay them .

There is a good Tesco supermarket only 10 minutes drive from the villa, as well as smaller stores like 711. Also many larger supermarkets and hypermarkets in the international shopping centres. Jone will take you in the mini-bus. If you would rather not spend your holiday shopping for food, the best is to just discuss with Lily what you need, and order it online from VillaMarket for delivery the following day. Or Lily will shop for you locally.

Lily will tell you where to go for food shopping in Phuket

There is a good Tesco supermarket only 5 minutes drive from the villa, as well as an "upmarket" store a little further away, and many larger supermarkets and hypermarkets in the international shopping centres near Phuket town. Jone will take you in the mini-bus.

For Thai cooking, the best option would be for Lily to buy the fresh ingredients for you at the local Thai market.

Lily will ask you for an initial amount, and then keep a note of everything she spends, and settle up with you each day. As she and Jone have to use their own car for this, we ask you to pay for their fuel too.

The entertainment system at Villa Sanyanga is exceptional.

The Sonos surround sound music system runs with your own devices via bluetooth.

The volume can be adjusted in each individual area, ie. dining room, sala, living room and terrace. The only thing we ask is that you keep the volume of music to a reasonable level during the daytime, and in the evenings keep the music very low, and turn completely off after midnight, so it can't be heard at all by our neighbours.

There are four large screen TVs in the villa, in the Living room, the Master bedroom, the Family room and the Garden suite room 6. These are all smart TVs and each one is set up with Netflix, so you have an endless range of films to watch. All these TVs have their own separate system, and also receive satellite TV channels. The four different areas mean it is possible that different programmes and films can be viewed at the same time in different parts of the villa.

We provide free high-speed internet with wifi to all levels of the villa.

There are individual wifi routers and boosters on every level of the villa, to give good internet coverage wherever you are. Free and unlimited use of wifi.

Mobile Phone

If you have an "unlocked" phone, you can pick up free SIM cards when you arrive at Phuket airport, from a kiosk by the luggage carousel. You can also buy these very cheaply in any 711 store or other places. There is one very close to the villa.

Thai Massage in the Villa

During your holiday you can indulge in a relaxing thai massage. Lily will arrange for a masseuse, or several masseusses, to come to the villa whenever you want.

There is a choice of beautiful places to enjoy your massage - in the sala on the pool terrace, or in the privacy of our private spa areas - either off the Master bathroom, by the jacuzzi, or the Spa Patio of the third bedroom, and many other suitable places.

Yoga Classes in the Villa

We can arrange for a yoga teacher to come to the villa and give classes for anyone who would like this. Please ask for details.

Our staff at Villa Sanyanga will do all in their power to give you a holiday of a lifetime.

Our manager Lily is also the chef, and is well known for her excellent cooking. She has a staff of five under her, including her assistant chef Joy, the villa handyman Jeffrey, our minibus driver Jone, and the two cleaning maids Aoy and Aum.

Click the button to read more and be greeted by some wonderful Thai smiles!

Joy, Jeffrey, Aum and Aoy.

The staff will all give you a lovely welcome when you arrive in the villa. The two maids are responsible for keeping the house clean, doing the laundry, and helping Lily in the kitchen. They both love children and will help you to take care of them. They do not speak English, but you can communicate with them through Lily. Joy is Lilly's assistant in the kitchen, she helps with the catering and cooking, as well as assisting with some of the managerial jobs, and shopping.

We also have a very nice multi-tasking Filipino handyman called Jeffrey, who keeps the villa well maintained, fixes anything that breaks, cleans the terrace, helps Lily in the kitchen, and does shopping. He will help you with carrying heavy luggage up the steps and with anything else that needs moving around in the villa. He has worked in Villa Sanyanga for many years, and is Lily's right hand man. He speaks good English.

Power Catamarans - Sanyati 51ft, Shashani 43ft, and Shibuli 40ft

Our 51 ft catamaran yacht SANYATI and sister ships 43ft SHASHANI and 4 ft. Shibuli are luxury yachts for charter, and we offer a special low price day cruise to guests on holiday in Villa Sanyanga. You can book the date in advance and enjoy a wonderful day out on the water, including snacks and drinks, and a full cooked lunch. You can see many more details of the Catamaran Yachts SANYATI SHASHANI and SHIBULI HERE

Does the Villa have air conditioning?

All bedrooms and living rooms are fully air-conditioned.
In addition, all rooms have large efficient overhead fans, as well as floor fans, to keep the rooms cool, when not using air-con. At night it is very pleasant to leave all bedroom doors and windows open, close the sliding mosquito screens, turn on the overhead fans and floor fans, and enjoy the fresh air.

Is there a Laundry facility?

You can leave your clothes in the laundry basket, and our staff will wash them for you.
They will return it to you clean and folded, but not ironed.

Do you require a Security Deposit?

As is the practice anywhere in the world with a holiday rental, we require a security deposit.
Please give this to Lily in cash, on arrival at the villa. The amount required is written in your Booking Confirmation, normally 500 USD. This can be the equivalent in baht, or any major currency. Lily will keep it in her safe, and return it to you on your departure, providing there has been no damage or breakage.
There is an ATM machine right outside the entrance to the Baan Thai Surin Hill estate, so it is easy to get local currency for your shopping, or for your security deposit.

What is your Policy with Children & Babies?

Children & Babies are very welcome.
We have three baby cots, three high chairs and four car seats as well as a playpen. Lily can arrange baby sitting for you, so you can have a more relaxing holiday when you have young children with you. We also have a pool-protection net fence which can be erected in minutes to give you peace of mind.

If you would like additional baby equipment, please see Phuket Baby Rentals. They deliver to the villa and collect.

For very good information on children's activities in Phuket, please see here for suitable activities by age groups.

Do you Provide Towels?

We provide pool and beach towels as well as bath and hand towels. Also soap, shampoo and shower gel.

What is your Tipping Policy?

As service is not included in the rental price, we would really appreciate it if you could tip the villa staff at the end of your holiday, as long as you are happy with their services.

How do I book Villa Sanyanga?

If you would like to book a holiday in Villa Sanyanga, please ask me first to hold the dates provisionally for you.
Then I will ask for a 25% deposit. The remaining 75% will be due a month before your arrival. We have a very safe cheap and fast method of transferring international funds, that will save you banking and exchange fees.