Private pool or shared pool in Phuket: which to choose

«With a pool» is near-universal in Phuket — 90% of complexes and every villa have one. The real question is which kind of pool you need.

The shared condo pool

Included with any decent complex from ~1,200 THB/night studios. Good condos run 20–40-metre pools with kids' zones, sometimes on rooftops. Downsides: other people, opening hours (usually 7:00–20:00), and high-season crowds at the loungers.

The private villa pool

Your own water, no schedule, no strangers — from 4,000–5,000 THB/night booked direct. Nuances:

• Cleaning (1–2 visits/week) should be included — confirm it
• The pool pump feeds on electricity: budget via the utilities guide
• With toddlers, check for a shallow zone or fence — villa pools run deep (1.2–1.8 m) and unfenced by default

Reading the listings

• «Pool access» — a ground-floor unit opening onto the shared pool, not a private pool
• «Jacuzzi» on a balcony is not a pool, however the photo is framed
• Photos of the complex pool ≠ photos of your unit — ask for a video of the actual apartment

Pool type is visible in every card of the catalogue. The bigger fork — villa or condo — decides this one automatically.