As Thailand’s largest island, Phuket has long been the destination of choice for big international hotel brands looking to set up shop in paradise — and now, it’s the country’s leading area for travellers seeking a little boutique luxury, too.
There has been a lot of development on this island in the Andaman Sea, with plenty of beachfront hotels ready to provide a steady supply of winter sun over the coming months. For a more old-school experience, set sail for Phang Nga Bay to discover a rustic take on five-star hospitality, away from the Patong party boats. Read on to discover the best luxury beach hotels in Phuket…
TRISARA
If food is your premier factor when booking a hotel, Trisara is the luxury beach hotel in Phuket for you. It’s home to the only Michelin-starred restaurant on the island, the peerless Pru, where chef Jimmy Ophorst puts on a nightly spectacle. Diners are first taken to a lounge for local sparkling wine and canapés, before moving upstairs to a seat at the counter (if they’re lucky). The servers or chefs appear before each course with a fun tray of ingredients for a little show and tell of what’s to come on your next plate (bonus points are awarded for guessing what certain mysterious-looking items are). It’s fine-dining with the seriousness left at the door.
The resort is also home to a southern Thai restaurant and Cielo, which seamlessly blends Mediterranean and local flavours. And you can make a food pilgrimage to Jampa at the hotel’s sister property, for a tour of the farm before being seated for a vegetable-focused, fire-cooked lunch.
ROSEWOOD PHUKET
For a five-star hotel on the beach in Phuket, you can’t go wrong with the Rosewood there. It’s across the bay near Patong, so you can access all of the action should you wish — but the resort will do its best to ensure you stay put, with a stellar spa for facials by French-Japanese brand Evidens de Beauté, a Thai restaurant down at the shore offering cookery classes with ‘Auntie’ and ‘Uncle’ (the local couple who run Ta Khai), and rooms that swap the classic teak-heavy aesthetic for a brighter, beach-house decor, some of which have their own pools.
As it caters well to both families and an international crowd, there’s also Italian restaurant Red Sauce for pizzas and pastas, and a casual poolside shack dispensing tacos and Thai salads. Mai Bar wouldn’t look out of place in a slick urban setting either — the smart spot is perfect for sundowners by the sand and cocktails after dark.
THE SAROJIN
Technically over the bridge on the mainland in Khao Lak, the Sarojin gets an honorary place on our list of luxury beach hotels in Phuket since you land at the island’s airport to reach it. From there, it’s an hour-long drive over to Phang Nga province and the sleepy village of Khao Lak. It’s the Thailand for nostalgic travellers in search of ‘The Beach’ and a much more authentic Thai experience. The hotel is centred around a garden, lit by lanterns at night, with a path leading straight to the sand. Local experiences on offer nearby include sailing trips to the Similan Islands, one of the premier diving spots on the planet; river cruises past mangroves and ancient banyan trees; and hikes in primary forests.
You won’t have to worry about missing breakfast when out on an early excursion, since it will likely still be going when you get back — the fizz, pastries and brunch plates flow until 6pm.
SIX SENSES YAO NOI
A short speedboat ride away from Phuket’s coastline is Koh Yao Noi, which is where you’ll find a stellar Six Senses outpost. This wholesome resort encourages guests to take their baskets along to the farm each morning, to collect their own eggs for breakfast and call on the chickens, who may be casually enjoying their bespoke jazz soundtrack (it’s very Earth-kind here). Rise early to catch the sun coming up over Phang Nga Bay from the vantage point helpfully supplied by the Hilltop restaurant and communal pool area. Spend the rest of the day making beeswax wraps at the sustainability centre or mixing your own scrub at the spa, before dinner at the authentic Thai restaurant.
It’s one of the unspoken rules of travel that intrepid voyagers who are up for more of a journey are rewarded for their efforts, and that certainly applies here. Although, flight, drive, speedboat, songthaew is actually a pretty flawless combination when executed by Six Senses, and before you know it you’ll be ensconced in your all-wood villa, preferably with a view enhanced by some nearby limestone rock formations.
AMANPURI
Aman’s first and flagship property Amanpuri may be about to turn the grand old age of 37, but you’d never know it, thanks to some heavy-lifting maintenance work that ensures its standalone pavilion suites are fully in the 2020s. The resort is set along the edge of primed-for-sunset Pansai Beach, with a spa, tennis courts, diving school, watersports centre, Muay Thai boxing ring and — naturally — its own speedboat, ready for trips to the Phi Phi or Similan islands.
The resort has four restaurants, with every corner of the globe covered, from Japan to Italy via, of course, Thailand. There are many sundowner spots, too, including the helpfully named Sunset Terrace — with mixology masterclasses on hand to help you recreate your favourite Thai tipple back home.
COMO POINT YAMU
For incredible views out across to the iconic limestone karsts of Phang Nga Bay, make Como Point Yamu your Phuket pit-stop. The vast open-air entrance hall, which frames the beautiful backdrop in every direction, ensures your stay starts spectacularly. The cosmopolitan resort is home to high-ceilinged suites that have an Italian flavour, with white and turquoise tiles importing a little Caprese glamour. As with other Como hotels around the world, there’s an excellent spa, with yoga classes for guests to join most mornings.
Down at the main pool, it’s almost always cocktail o’clock. After sundowners, you can either head to La Sirena for Italian and international plates, or to the resort’s Thai restaurant. Or hop in a cab to Phuket’s old town — a 40 minute drive — to see the colourful Sino-Portuguese shophouses and take your pick of its highly acclaimed but deceptively simple-looking restaurants.
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