Phuket 5 Star Hotel?

[Steff]

Dear All,

I am looking for a 5 Star hotel in Phuket for 5 days in July. It does not have to be guest friendly, (I am bringing a friend and will check in as a couple) but I would like it to be swanky. Also it should be on the beach and have all of the upscale 5 Star amenities like privacy, swimming pool(s), spas, restaurants, easy taxi service, et cetera. I would like it relatively close to the downtown area in Phuket proper. It does not have to be within walking distance however within reasonable taxi distance.

I have searched the net and have found places. However I do not know the lay of the land having never been to Phuket and thus I am searching advice from other BMs. This is an important 5 day vacation for me and my friend and I would like to go all out and make it as special as possible.

Any advice or help would be appreciated.

Thanking you in advance.

Steff

[rxpharm]

I think you need to be a bit more specific - what beach area in Phuket are you thinking about? If you are bringing your own lb - do you intend on visiting lb central Soi Crocodile and C&Ds? If you are then Patong beach would be the place to look for your hotel.

[daveduke007]

The Thara Patong is a very nice place to stay imho, I will stay there again with the g/f next time I visit Phuket

http://www.tharapatong.com/

http://www.agoda.com/asia....rl=http

Its only a short stroll to Bangla Rd and jimbo's Cocktail & Dreams too  

Map here...

http://www.phuket-maps.com/patong.htm

and here

[jimbo34]

La Flora is the one for you my boy.
Diamond Cliff also v good, but not right on the beach and less friendly.

[Steff]

RxPharm,

The point is I do not know the geography so it is difficult for me to nail down a specific area. This is why I am seeking advice. Yes I intend to visit the action scene but it will not be a nightly priority. More importantly is a high end hotel for relaxation and pampering that I can easily leave in the evening to take a taxi to town for restaurants, bars, and shopping. For these 5 days I want to put more importance on the hotel comforts than on the Phuket mongering scene. I am with my lady and want to show her a good time. So I want a class place where we can easily go into town in the evenings.

[daveduke007]

Steff, there is plenty of more info here including the islands like Phi Phi

http://www.phuket-maps.com/

rxpharm is spot on in what he says, its what YOU want that matters, so its "Up to you" in the end

I have given you my recommendation, it fits the bill to all your needs imho, next to the beach, Spa's, very nice seafood restaurant, great rooms , swimmimg pool'S etc

There is even some nice massage girls (lb and gg) outside the Mini-mart on one of the enterances of the Hotel if you fancy a afternoon massage    

[Rocket J. Squirrel]

Steff,

Phuket is an island with a number of villages.  The city of Patong is what we generally refer to here when we discuss Phuket.  The island of Phuket has some of the fanciest and most expensive and exclusive beach resorts in the world.  Those are generally not found in in Patong.  It really is hard to tell what you are looking for as so-called 5 star hotels range in cost from $150 US to probably $10-$15,000 US per night.  My guess is that you would like to be within a 20 minute drive from Bangla road (Patong) and C & D.  So you could also explore nearby Kata and Karon.  Tripadvisor might help here.  Are you bringing a gg or a ladyboy?  If hotel comforts are most important, you might want to consider some of those out of town such as Mom Tri's in Kata (expensive I think).  But you are more isolated there.  Daveduke's suggestion would certainly be more convenient.

If the beach is your thing, some people (including me) have mixed feelings about Patong Beach and choose to go elsewhere.  Kata beach is much nicer imho.

My favorite excursion was a day/evening trip with John Gray Sea Canoe.  They offer a Hongs by Twilight trip that is just fabulous (and romantic)  http://www.johngray-seacanoe.com/tha...-starlight.htm

Have a great trip.

Rocky

[pacman]

Jimbo's choice of La Flora is a good hotel, expensive but will meet your requirements.

I have been asked to recommend a top hotel in Phuket many times & have for a long time given only one answer - the Safari Beach Hotel.

http://www.safaribeachhotel.com/

While it is only 4 star, not 5, before you dismiss it, consider its location. It is one door away from the corner of Beach Road & Soi Bangla. No other good hotel is anywhere near as close.

There are rooms on the water side of Beach Rd that open onto the sand. Across the road, there is a big pool which becomes the centrepiece of the outdoor dining area in the evening. It is all very tropical & I never had any complaints from those I sent there.

When you look at a map of Patong Bay, you'll see many top hotels but what you won't know is just how far they are to Soi Bangla. The Safari Beach will save you having to negotiate with the local taxi mafia & save you hours of walking.

And in the Phuket heat, dropping one star may be a worthwhile compromise.

And if you are going out in the evening, you will finish up at Soi Bangla, everybody does. And do what the other guys suggest & make any booking through www.agoda.com. You will save heaps compared to the rack rate.

[dommy6]

Hi Steff.

Have a look at this one.

http://www.banthaiphuket.com/index.htm

This is right on the beach. My niece and her bf stayed there as well as another lady I have known for years and her partner. They all loved it. My niece raved on for months over it. It is right across the road from the beach in the heart of Patong. Everything is within walking distance. There is also the Holiday Inn a few doors down which is 5 five star.

Also have a look here if you want to keep looking.

http://www.phuket.com/hotel/patong-beach.htm

Steff, I think you have the geographical idea of Phuket and Patong in particular. It is not as big as you think. If you driving 20 minutes to C&D you are way out in the sticks. Patong is probably a 1/10 the size of Pattaya. But I can tell you that C&D is only 20 min walk from the Banthai Beach Resort & Spa.


Cheers.

[Rocket J. Squirrel]

not far from Tootsie Massage

[daveduke007]

(dommy6 @ Jun. 13 2010,04:05) Everything is within walking distance. There is also the Holiday Inn a few doors down which is 5 five star.

 I have stayed at the Holiday Inn too and it was a very enjoyable stay.

I also stayed at the Patong Merlin which was another great stay.

I will add that my stays were pre-tsunami and believe both these hotels were indeed hit by the tsunami which can only mean their facilities will be newer now.

http://www.phuket.holiday-inn.com/

http://www.merlinphuket.com/index2.html

You can get the cheaper rates with agoda as has been said.

I actually used a Travel Agent situated between Sukhumvit Soi's 3 & 5 in Nana BKK.
I got some very very good deals from there which included Flights (for 2 persons) with Thai Airways, accomodation at the above hotels and transfers.

Mind you the exchange rate was over 70baht to £1 in those days   unlike the 45 ish it is now  

Chok dee

[Steff]

Thanks Dave. I appreciate the info. Thanks to everyone else who have contributed also.

[Snick]

It looks like prices are going down, keep checking agoda and latestays.com for prices, I use tripadvisor for reviews

For nightlife there is Patong, but for a quiet vacation I like the Naiharn region. Keep in mind that transportation in Phuket is insanely overpriced, so if you pick a spot you are going to stay there. For example its 600 Baht OW from Naiharn to Patong. Avoid the northern end of Patong, its too far to the fun spots and resteraunts.

Also July is the rainy season, so 1) it Rains, and 2) there is rough surf and an undertow. Supposedly their are life guards on duty. Whether they are competent or awake is another story.

[Steff]

Thanks Snick

[Ivor Biggun]

Holiday Inn, Merlin or Gracelands. Gracelands has the best pool. Outside patong and really upscale- the Boathouse in Kata, bearing in mind kata is dead at the moment, but only a rip-off tuk tuk ride from the 'brght lights' of Patong.