All you need to know about the land of silk and smiles
I have stayed here so many times we feel like it is a second home. The Boathouse is the brainchild of talented Thai artist and architect Mom Luang Tridhosyuth Devakul who conceived the resort as a restaurant with rooms designed for people who prefer not to stay in hotels. They are his words not mine. There are just 38 rooms around a marvelous restaurant all sitting alongside Kata Beach, one of Phuket’s finest expanses of soft sand. The rooms are comfortable, not over luxurious but fully equipped. There are also three extra special suites and two huge pool villas completed in December 2007. Contact details: 182 Koktanod Road, Kata Beach. Telephone: 07633 0015-7, fax 07633 0561. www.boathousephuket.com
The Boathouse
Little touches that I enjoy are the daily arrival in the room of fresh fruit and a daily English language newspaper. On the beach or sitting around the pool expect frequently replenished iced-water, ice cold towels and tid-bits of tropical fruits on wooden spits. The hotel has a magnetic pull. More than a third of its guests are return visitors thanks to a very loyal and friendly staff. My favorite pastime here is an early morning walk on a deserted beach as the sun comes up and returning to a bountiful breakfast buffet with the Andaman Sea gently lapping below. The attraction of the Boathouse is the superb service that is so good you don’t see it, combined with an unbeatable location. The resort’s restaurant, The Boathouse Wine and Grill, probably rates as the top dining spot in Phuket. Every day executive chef Tummanoon Punchun and his army of helpers add a couple of specials
head provided you stay away from some of the really expensive wines. The Boathouse boasts on having the largest wine cellar in Thailand, and probably the largest in Southeast Asia. In case you’re interested in learning some of Chef Tummanoon’s secrets, he conducts Thai cooking classes at weekends. He has also published a very informative cook book. Another plus factor of the Boathouse’s location is that its entrance is on a shopping street that provides a pleasant evening stroll and bargains galore. Also there are numerous good restaurants within easy walking distance. You might not want to eat at The Boathouse every night. It would be bad for your waistline – and wallet. This is quite an expensive place to stay – but worth it. High season rate for a room is 8,500 Baht ($246) plus tax and service charges. If you stay away from high and peak seasons, you’ll find there are bargains and special promotions to be found on their website. The resort’s slogan: Simply the best - and it is hard to disagree with that.
J.W.Marriott Resort and Spa Dining options: Marriott Café is a casual restaurant noted for its buffets at breakfast lunch and dinner. The breakfast buffet offers the normal European favorites as well as Thai, Japanese and Chinese specialties. At lunch it is mainly noodles and stir-fries and in the evening the buffet focuses on gourmet specialties from around the world. The Andaman Grill open for lunch and dinner, is a modern version of a traditional American steakhouse and has wonderful views of MaiKhaoBeach and the AndamanSea. The most reasonably-priced place to eat is the Siam Deli which is open 24 hours and offers a good selection of sandwiches, fresh salads and excellent pastries.
You cannot fail to be impressed when you arrive at this spectacular resort on the northwest coast of
Design and décor throughout are stunning. You can expect to pay $300 a night for sampling of life in this new resort. And if you want one of the spacious suites double that number.
On our first visit here, shortly after its opening, we were offered a discounted rate of $150 since the room count was low. Sadly I doubt that will happen again. Later we spent three weeks in the adjoining MarriottVacationVillage time-share project. The two bedroom apartments there are similarly lush and lavish and we had access to the hotel’s extensive facilities.
There are 10 restaurants and bars and three outdoor pools, one of them pictured above. The property is on an expansive beach which current
ly has no neighboring buildings enabling long walks on deserted sands. Special touches include twice daily visits from housekeeping, a daily newspaper delivered to your room, and Thai ladies – not hotel employees – provide an excellent inexpensive massage on the beach.
All the accommodation has modern Thai décor and ooze quality from beds to baths no matter which of the categories you select. Polished wood floors, rich silk fabrics and oversized bath tubs with separate showers are among the plus points. Other in-room features include Internet access, for a large fee, coffee and tea making facilities, satellite TV, DVD player, minibar, IDD telephones and
The spa and wellness center are impressive and as a result treatments can be expensive. There is a well-equipped business center which can provide translator and secretarial services. There is a florist on site as well as a gift shop, bookstore and newsstand. Car rentals are available and a tour desk provides information on island activities including SCUBA diving excursions, golf and elephant trekking. Popular attraction is the resort’s cooking class. 
It is hard to find many faults with this excellent resort. Some of the dining is not as good as it might be particularly as this is an expensive place to eat. We took some friends here for dinner and had a disappointing and expensive meal. Two nights earlier there was a special wine promotion dinner which was excellent, expensive but well worth the money.
Another snag is that you are cut off from the rest of Phuket. It is over 17 miles to PhuketCity. But if all you want is to be pampered and relax in a tropical haven that really doesn’t matter.
Contact details: 231 Moo 3, Mai Khao.
This piece of paradise on the northwest
terrace with shower. The air-conditioning system is hidden under the rooms to insure the rooms stay quiet and cold. Everything from towels to toiletries is the finest. If you want even more space there are 12 luxury residential villas adjoining the resort which are for rent or sale. The bedrooms are just as huge but you get a full kitchen and full use of the Trisara’s hotel services.Dining here is a culinary delight. Top chefs prepare exceptional dishes. And private dining in your villa is available around the clock. Be it a four-course meal in the middle of the day or a steak sandwich in the middle of the night, there are chefs to cook and it waiters to deliver it. There is a library, spa, beauty salon, gymnasium, tennis courts and of course a beach and swimming pool. Sailing and fishing trips can be organized and tee-times arranged at local golf courses. They have two lobbies – one for arrivals, the second for departing clients. There’s no charge for the 15-minute transfer from the airport. . la
Nice touch was the care to preserve as much of the natural vegetation as possible during construction. Many of the site’s original trees were spared and have been built around. You’ll find them poking through pools and walkways. If there is one drawback it is the number of steps needed to traverse the property. But with so many employees around to help that is not the problem it might at a less affluent resort. Contact details: 60/1 Moo 6, Srisoonthorn Road, Cherngtalay, Talang, Phuket 83110 Thailand Tel:. +66-76-310-100 Fax:. +66-76-310-300. www.trisara.com. .
The Evason Phuket
This 260-room luxury resort on the south of the island is set in 64 acres of lush gardens. It is a perfect spot for honeymooners or families. The resort has a private island,
Service here is, as you would expect, superb. There is always somebody already to help. Most of the employees speak good English and are eager to tell you about things to do and see on the island.
The property has 61 pool villas, one picture on the right, and pool villa suites all with lots of space. The large private pool villas are located on the beachfront and on the islan
d’s gently sloping hillside. The Enclave is a cluster of six hill pool villas ideal for groups or families. All the accommodation has an in-room safe, tea and coffee making facilities, IDD telephone with date line access, a choice of a king-size bed or twin beds, bathrobes, indoor and outdoor showers and a hairdryer. The resort has an express laundry, library and a 24-hour front desk with information on Phuket events and attractions. One of the major attraction of this property, and its sister properties, is the Six Senses Spa. Rates vary widely depending on the time of year and the accommodation selected. The best value for money is the packages offered on the Six Senses website. There have been some recent changes made to the resort to make it more ecologically friendly. You can read about those on the Tourism Updates page on this website.Contact details: 100 Vised Road, Moo 2, Tambol Rawai, Muang District,
Amanpuri Re
sort
The Amanpuri is one of the most expensive places to stay on Phuket with its 40 luxury pavilions set in a coconut plantation above the beach. Amanpuri translates to place of peace, which this certainly is. Noted for incredible service with many more employees than guests, this resort is perfect for peace and quiet and not the noisy nightlife that so many parts of Phuket are famous for.
Pavilions constitute the starting category here as the resort also offers homes. All of Amanpuri’s pavilions are similar in size, layout and design differing only by view and location. All pavilions feature an outdoor sala, a king-size bed, separate bath and shower, refrigerator with fully stocked mini-bar, electronic safe, sound system, IDD services and wireless broadband connections and air-conditioning. The largest of the homes available has five bedrooms, costs $7,350 a night plus service charges and taxes.
Only the very best of Thai personnel get to work here. They are all professional, efficient and of course friendly. Only the top international executives get an opportunity to se
rve at this resort. The Aman Spa is one of the best in
Wellness is the key word. For those affluent people seeking rejuvenation and revitalization this is the spot. As peaceful and tranquil as the resort is, it is still not far by taxi or car to some of the livelier parts of
Contact details: 118 Moo 3 Cherngtalay Road,
Amari Coral Beach Resort
The address says Patong but this luxury resort sits on a headland at the southern end of the beach and enjoys spectacular views away from the nearby concrete clutter. The rooms are of the highest standard all newly renovated. Nice touches here are the choice of swimming pools and highly rated restaurants and longtail boats nearby to take you to a beach other than Patong, which gets very busy. The hotel has 102 superior rooms, 83 deluxe rooms and seven suites.
All guestrooms are tastefully decorated and have a selection of thoughtful amenities. The deluxe category rooms are larger than the superior rooms and have a bathtub and separate shower. Amenities include a balcony with sea-view, satellite TV with in-house movies, in-room safe, minibar, and a hairdryer. A DVD player is an addition for the deluxe rooms. The spacious suite rooms have both an open balcony and an enclosed sun terrace. Situated right at the beachfront of the property, there is nothing to mar the view of
The hotel’s Sivara Spa is one of the best medium priced spas in Phuket and the treatment salas are set amid tropical forest have stunning views. Well-qualified therapists offer a full range of treatments. Other amentias at the hotel include secretarial services, babysit
ting, a shopping arcade, tour desk, car rental, shuttle bus to
This is a great location with good prices considering the high quality of accommodation, food and service. Many people who live permanently in Phuket come here to dine which is a great recommendation for the restaurant.
Contact details:
Courtyard by Marriott Phuket at Patong Beach
You may have noticed that Patong is not my favorite part of Phuket. However, there are some nice places to stay – and this is one of them. This Marriott opened its door for business in October 2008 and immediately attracted a good mix of visitors.
The 390-room property is on a quieter street at the southern end of Patong. You are within walking distance of the beach, such as it is. Across the street is the hustle and bustle of street stalls and tuk tuk drivers, but you can escape to some quiet on the roof top of the hotel where there is a pool a
nd the Glow Restaurant, open for dinner, and a bar where you can relax and enjoy a cocktail. The property is seven stories high and has great sunset views.
The hotel is well equipped with a kids club that can keep the youngsters busy while ma and pa go shopping. There is a 24-hour fitness center and the front desk can arrange for babysitters and handle currency exchange. The concierge desk can organize tours and get you a tee time at one of the island’s golf courses. Room service operates from 6.30am until 11pm . And if you are hungry after that there are plenty of restaurants within walking distance – and lots of bars too!
The rooms come with satellite television, coffee and tea making facilities, Internet access, a refrigerator, alarm clock, IDD telephone, hairdryer and in the bathrooms, there is a separate tub and shower, and bathrobes and a hairdryer.
Contract details:
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The Phuket Hotels Listed |
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Name of the hotel |
Where to find it |
Prince range |
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Amanpuri Resort |
This page |
Very, very expensive |
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Amari Coral Beach Resort |
This page |
Moderate |
|
Banyan Tree Phuket |
Phuket Hotels 3 |
Very expensive |
|
Best Western Allamanda Laguna |
Phuket Hotels 3 |
Moderate |
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Courtyard by Marriott Patong |
This page |
Moderate |
|
Courtyard by Marriott Surin Beach |
Phuket Hotels 3 | Moderate |
| Courtyard Phuket Kamala Beach | Phuket Hotels 2 | Moderate |
| Evason Phuket | This page | Very expensive |
| Hilton Phuket Arcadia | Phuket Hotels 2 | Moderate |
| Holiday Inn Resort Phuket | Phuket Hotels 2 | Moderate |
| J.W. Marriott Resort and Spa | This page | Very expensive |
| Kata Sun Beach | Phuket Hotels 2 | Budget |
| Le Méridien Phuket Beach | Phuket Hotels 3 | Moderate |
| Outrigger Serenity Terraces Resort | Phuket Hotels 3 | Very expensive |
| Sala Phuket Resort and Spa | Phuket Hotels 3 | Expensive |
| Sheraton Grande Laguna | Phuket Hotels 3 | Expensive |
| Sri Panwa Resort | Phuket Hotels 3 | Expensive |
| The Aspasia |
Phuket Hotels 2 |
Moderate |
| The Boathouse |
This page | Expensive |
| The Indigo Pearl | Phuket Hotels 3 | Expensive |
| The Mangosteen Resort and Spa | Phuket Hotels 2 | Expensive |
| The Millennium Resort Patong | Phuket Hotels 3 | Moderate |
| The Racha | Phuket Hotels 2 | Very, very expensive |
| Trisara | This page | Verry, very expensive |
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Twin Palms |
Phuket Hotels 2 | Expensive |
| Villa Royale | Phuket Hotels 2 | Very, very expensive |
