All you need to know about the land of silk and smiles
Banyan Tree Phuket
This is truly a piece of paradise in Phuket where your own villa is a private oasis in a resort that is teeming with tempting things to do from golf, to a relaxing hour in a upper class spa or just relaxing on a quiet beach. It is expensive but the quality of service and accommodation warrants the money. Traversing around the vast property with its lakes and lush gardens is easy: Within minutes of a call to reception a golf buggy awaits you at your villa. It is not surprising that the resort has won numerous awards as one of the world’s best places to stay.
The villas encircle a saltwater lagoon and beautifully landscaped gardens. Some of the villas come with their own pool and others have two bedrooms. Each villa has a king-size bed, spacious bathroom, minibar, coffee and tea maker, in-villa safe, hairdryer, bathrobes, IDD telephone, color TV, open-air sunken bathtub and private landscaped garden. The open-air bathtubs are huge and take a long time to fill - time enough to enjoy a cocktail in the private sala at the bottom of the garden before bathing. The toiletries include a selection of aromatic oils and lotions. Every day a different local fruit is delivered to your villa with a card that tell
s you everything about the tropical item.
World class restaurants abound but I think the best meal here is a barbecue prepared and cooked at your own villa. Two chefs gently barbecue fish and chicken while you snack on crunchy salads and starters. After serving the meal the chefs vanish leaving behind a plate of assorted deserts and fresh fruit.
Spa: The resort’s massage treatments are based on evolving techniques that have passed through the hands of many generations. Health and beauty remedies make use of aromatic oils, herbs and spices with ancient healing powers. For something less exotic, and cheaper, Thai ladies, not employed by the hotel, offer a massage service on the beach.
Contact details: 33 Moo 4 Srisoonthorn Road Cherngtalay, Thalang, Phuket 83110 Thailand. Tel:
The Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket is loaded with luxury and located in the upmarket Laguna area on the northwest of
Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket
There are 297 spacious rooms and 125 grand villas including one-bedroom lagoon villas, one and two-bedroom island villas, and three and four-bedroom special villas and residences each with their own private swimming pool. Fine food, incredible service in a tropical ambience makes the Sheraton and its neighboring resorts, very much THE place to stay in Phuket. The whole area is very much man-made a la Disney so do not expect to find true Thai life within the vast Laguna complex. The resort has ranked amongst the five best resorts in Asia-Pacific region.
All accommodation is furnished to the highest of Thai standards with lashings of teak and silks. The rooms, always large, are continually updated and all have high-speed Internet access. Linens, bathrobes, slippers and toiletries are of the highest standard – one reason many clients are repeat visitors. Among the amenities are: Views over either the gardens, lagoon pool or ocean, make-up and shaving mirror, hairdryer, in-room safe, daily newspaper, in-room video games, coffee and tea maker , minibar, IDD telephone, satellite TV, iron and ironing board, 24-Hour room service and a fruit basket. The resort also has connecting room and rooms for non-smokers.
This resort has everything from fine dining to elegant shops.
The resort is one of five resorts in the Laguna complex. Complimentary transport throughout Laguna
There is so much going on at this resort – and the others in the Laguna area – that many guests never venture from the area. You can walk along the beach, play golf and stay here a month and never dine at all of the different restaurants and cafés. For those who want to see other parts of Phuket the tour desk can organize everything including car rentals, fishing trips, elephant trekking and even bungee jumping. Contact details: 10 Moo 4, Srisoonthorn Road, Tambol Cherng Talay, Talang,
The Millennium Resort Patong 
It has been a long-time coming but finally the hotels at Patong’s mega shopping Jungceylon complex have been officially opened. The Millennium Resort Patong consists of two wings, the
The property is within walking distance of all the clamor and chaos of Patong. Fortunately, once you have undergone that experience, you can retreat to the peace and quiet of the hotel. It is a five-minute walk to the beach, provided you do not stop at one of the numerous bars on the way, and there are plenty of places to eat both in the Jungceylon complex and nearby. If you have a car, there is plenty of free parking available and you can escape the Patong traffic chaos by taking a side street to the south that will put you in the quieter areas of Karon and Kata within minutes. There are more than 200 shops in the complex including a super Carrefour, a Robinson’s Store a nd a SF Cinema. There is a choi
ce of rooms. Probably my favorite would be the cabana rooms, which have direct pool access via a patio, which has a built-in private Jacuzzi. See the picture on the left.
All the accommodation has high-speed Internet access, separate bath and shower, minibar, refrigerator, in-room safe, satellite television, iron and board, hairdryer, DVD player and coffee and tea making facilities. There were attractive deals for the opening at 3,500 Baht a night. How long they will continue will depend on how quickly this resort starts building a meaningful client list. Contact details: Millennium Resort Patong Phuket, 199, Rat-Uthit 200 Pee Road, Patong, Kathu,
The Best Western Allamanda Laguna Phuket
The Allamanda in Phuket became part of the giant Best Western family in 2010. It is hoped that the Best Western marketing will bring more travelers to this resort which is part of the Laguna complex on Phuket’s western shore. The 129 suites here are ideally suited to the longer-stay traveler who likes to be close to the luxury resorts but without having the expense of them.
This property is not on the beach but the reasonably-priced accommodation does have views either over the swimming pool, pictured here, or the Laguna golf course. If you are planning to stay for a month you can get one of these suites for around 2,000 Baht a day along with discounts for the on-site restaurant and lounge. This is considerably lower than the neighboring luxury resorts like the Banyan Tree or the Sheraton.
The kitchenettes will allow some in-room dining which will cut down on restaurant expense and if you want to save money on groceries rent a car and visit Tesco or Big C which will be considerably cheaper than the nearby mini-markets. The on-site Courtyard Café serves an international buffet breakfast, a la
carte Western and Thai dishes and there is also a lobby lounge.
This is a much quieter, and less expensive resort that the other Laguna properties which makes it popular with couples looking for a peaceful budget-priced getaway – but close enough to the action of the bigger hotels. There is a shuttle that links all the resorts and facilities and it stops in front of the hotel.
Contact details: 29 Moo 4 Srisoonthorn Road, Cherngtalay, Phuket 83110. Tel: +66 76 324 359 +66 76 324 359 , Fax: +66 76 324 360. Website www.allamanda.com
SALA Phuket Resort and Spa New addition to the luxury resorts in Phuket is the SALA Phuket Resort and Spa on
This is an expensive resort with only 79 rooms – and 63 three of those have their own swimming pool. There are also two other pools. The one pictured here is close to the beach. The resort has an upmarket beachfront restaurant, lobby spa, gym, library and gift shop. The owners of the resort believe tha
ots specializing in steaks, seafood and Thai specialty dishes.
The spa offers a choice of single and couples treatment rooms, and has a sauna, steam room, gym, and beauty salon. All rooms have open-air bathrooms with outdoor showers and private gardens. In addition to the air conditioning, there are ceiling fans. There is no charge for Internet access – other expensive places charge for this – and you have a large flat screen TV with cable channels, a refrigerator, writing desk, large daybed, and coffee and tea making facilities.
One of the snags with the location is that you are cut off from most of Phuket. It is an expensive cab ride to see other parts of the island. The resort does have a tour desk so you can go sightseeing or, if you are more adventurous, you can always rent a car and enjoy the excitement of driving in Phuket.
Contact details: 333 Moo 3 Mai Khao Beach, Thalang District,
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Sri Panwa Resort
Sri Panwa, an exclusive new resort on the southeastern tip of Phuket, has completed its second phase of development with a new spa and signature restaurant. The Sai Spa and Wellness retreat offers a wide range of treatments from traditional Thai and Swedish massages to facials, invigorating body-wraps, water therapy, aromatherapy, reflexology, yoga, cleansing and exfoliation. Sri Panwa’s stylish new restaurant, Baba dining lounge, commands spectacular sunset views over the
Western dishes range from salads and pastas to ciabatta sandwiches and Angus Beef burgers. From the grill comes a range of seafood, chicken, Australian rib-eye steak, strip loin, pork medallion, duck and lamb chops. Andaman Thai specialties include spicy prawn and chicken soups, spicy Laab minced meat salad, tangy papaya salad and traditional noodle dishes.
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This is a large, lavish resort with its own pristine beach and everything for a family vacation. There are many things to do away from the beach with nice boutiques, good restaurants and not far from the nightlife of Patong. Word of warning when you check-in: Watch out for the baby elephant patrolling the lobby. It is a wonderful welcome from a resort well suited for families and is popular with groups. It is well priced for the quality of the accommodation and location.
All the 470 rooms have handcrafted teakwood furniture, rich Thai silk fabrics and traditional artwork and balconies that that offer view of the lush garden, the
The resort has recruited some excellent young Thai staff who are everywhere to help and assist. Sometimes their English is not the best but their friendly attitude makes up for that.
There are numerous a
ctivities to enjoy, including two lagoon-size swimming pools, four tennis courts, a pair of air-conditioned squash courts, a world-class spa, and a variety of land and water sports facilities along the resort's secluded beach where you can learn to windsurf of sail or go snorkeling. The resort’s 10 restaurants and bars offer a wide variety of dining experience from around the globe. There is a jogging circuit around the hotel and a rock-climbing wall. Golfers can practice their swing under the helpful eye of the golf pro at the driving range. The resort also offers darts, mini-golf and bocce ball. A number of board games are available in the Similan Lounge. The resort can host business seminars or elaborate weddings with six fully equipped function rooms. Other amenities offered by the resort include 24-hour room service, a shuttle bus service to Patong, babysitting service, the Penguin Kids Club, currency exchange, laundry and dry cleaning, travel and limousine service, barber and beauty salon, florist, newsstand, gift shop, outdoor whirlpools, business center and car rental services. Great prices and amenities make this an ideal vacation choice. When the hotel is full the breakfast buffet area tends to get busy. Either eat early or pay a little more to have breakfast served in the room. The resort tends to be a little isolated but with so much going on clients may not want to leave the hotel. If they do tuk-tuks, the Phuket pickup truck taxies into nearby Patong are not expensive.
29 Soi Karon Nui, Tambon Karon Amphur Muang Phuket, 83100,
The Indigo
Near the airport, but off the flight path this 277-room resort adjoins the national park and has easy access to
The resort is a combination of rooms, villas, suites and pool pavilions. All are fully equipped with the facilities expected at a five-star resort.
Resort activities include a luxury spa, tennis, golf, diving, surfing, swimming, cooking classes and shopping. The eight food and beverage outlets from Thai at Black Ginger and tapas served al fresco in Rebar to modern European fare at Tin Mine, and the signature fine dining restaurant Rivet Grill. The property has a large conference pavilion that can accommodate 900 guests. Normal price for a suite is $200 a night, but check their website for special deals and packages. They have introduced a special low season promotion. If it rains a lot – you get a free night. More details on that on the Tourism Updates page on this website. Contact details:
Courtyard by Marriott Phuket at Surin Beach
There is something a little decadent about Surin Beach. It is a little more upmarket than some of Phuket’s beaches and there are no permanent buildings along the shore, which gives it a more spacious feeling.
This is the latest hotel in the area and it has 256 luxury rooms fully equipped with satellite television, in-room safe, a work desk with ergonomic chair, refrigerator, pullout sofa bed, iron and ironing board, coffee and tea making facilities, bathrobes, IDD telephone with voicemail and speaker phone, alarm clock and a hairdryer.
The hotel has a swimming pool, is close to the beac
h, a fitness center with complimentary fitness classes and a kids club. The on-site MoMo Café is open throughout the day and the MoMo2 Go has a full range of snacks, sandwiches and beverages. There are plenty of places to eat nearby including the Catch Beach Club, which is open for dinner and the Silk Restaurant and Bar which is open for lunch and dinner.
Other hotel services include room service from 6.30am until 11pm, copy and fax machines available for guest use, a babysitting service, a concierge desk and a gift shop and newsstand.
Contact details: 106/27 Moo 3, Cherngtalay, Talang, Phuket, 83110 Thailand. Tel: 07638 3300, fax 07638 3303. www.marriott.com
The Outrigger Serenity Terraces Resort
This luxury beachfront resort opened in April 2009 on 
xpensive penthouse suites have their own swimming pools.
The amenities include butler service, a total spa and wellness center, 24-hour front desk offering personalized limousine tours and several dining opportunities including an up-market restaurant, room service and specially prepared picnics on the beach as the picture shows. There is a fully equipped sports gym and a beachfront clubhouse with a large infinity swimming pool.
Contact details: 14 Moo 5 Viset Road,
