Hotel Licence

Why hotel licensing matters for short villa stays

Thailand's Hotel Act generally regulates paid temporary accommodation. Accommodation offered only on a monthly-payment basis or longer is outside the Act's definition of a hotel. The law also provides for prescribed exemptions, including certain small properties that have completed the required notification.

For private-villa stays shorter than 30 days, guests should therefore check that the operator has the appropriate hotel licence or a legally applicable exemption. Publishing the property's licence information helps guests make that check before booking.

• How to verify a Phuket villa before booking direct
• Services, costs and licensing when renting a Phuket villa
• Thailand Hotel Act — Department of Provincial Administration
• 2023 accommodation exemption regulation — Royal Gazette