Best Hotels in Phuket 2012
Last year I blogged the Top 10 Hotels in Phuket, the list being based on TripAdvisor ratings, which can give you (if there are plenty of ratings) a decent idea of quality. Sure there may be occasional odd reviews - some sound like advertising and you hear rumours that some reviews may be written by people connected with a hotel, or by competitors, but if there are enough reviews I think you can see through the fog and figure out what are the best hotels in Phuket. There is some controversy about TripAdvisor now and then. Anyone can log in and leave a review even if they never stayed at the hotel in question. But I think if you have enough reviews, the cream should rise to the top!
This is a new updated list of the Top 10 Phuket Hotels for 2012. For each hotel below there are links for online reservations/rates and availability - I recommend Agoda.com if you want to book a hotel in Phuket. The review links below are also mostly from Agoda where possible - only people who have booked the hotels through Agoda can make a review, and if you check some of the reviews, they tend to be very honest reviews, good and not-so-good, plus points and minus points - combine Agoda reviews with the TripAdvisor reviews for an even wider range of views. OK, here's the new top 10 Phuket hotels for 2012 ...
1. The Baray Villa (Kata Beach)
The Baray Villa - just 14 luxury villas, which are run by the Sawasdee Village Resort, and yet separate from the resort. Villas are 2 floor with huge rooms, jacuzzi, direct pool access, set in tropical gardens, with a spa available. Reviews make the villas sound fantastic! The Sawasdee Village itself is also part of the top 10.
• The Baray Villa on Agoda.com
• Baray Villa Reviews
2. The Shore at Katathani (Kata Noi Beach)
Katathani has been around for years, but The Shore is their new luxury "pool villa" development, opened in 2010. And it sure looks good! Pool villas, some with seaview (note: reviews mention that the view does vary from villa to villa), all with private pools. Very much a couples hotel. I see lots of honeymoon reviews.
• The Shore at Katathani on Agoda.com
• The Shore Reviews
3. Rising Sun Residence (Chalong)
Not your normal beach hotel, Rising Sun Residence has 12 villas in the hills of Chalong overlooking Chalong Temple. There are seven three-bedroom villas, four of these have a private pool and jacuzzi, kitchen and large living room. The five one-bedroom villas are built around a large pool with sun deck and jacuzzi. Long way from the beach, so would suit people who want to explore Phuket and "come home" in the evening. My kind of people!
• Rising Sun Residence on Agoda.com
• Rising Sun Residence Reviews
4. Andara Resort and Villas (Kamala Beach)
A 5 star resort, found overlooking Kamala Beach with luxury villas and a fancy restaurant called "Silk". This is a place to relax and be pampered. All villas have private pools. Note that the resort is not right on the beach - it's on the hillside with great seaviews - but there is a free shuttle to their own private Beach Club.
• Andara Resort & Villas on Agoda.com
• Andara Reviews
5. Villa Zolitude (Chalong)
Another "up in the hills" idea .. and seems to be very popular. Villa Zolitude is between Phuket Town and Chalong. Not near any beaches. Up in the hills, you pass Villa Zolitude if driving up Radar Hill. Certainly quiet up there, away from the crowds by quite a distance. Good idea to have some transport if you stay at this hotel.
• Villa Zolitude on Agoda.com
• Villa Zolitude Reviews
6. Sawasdee Village (Kata Beach)
Sawasdee Village has been around for 20 years and keeps changing to keep up with the latest needs of tourists - scroll back up to number 1 (Baray Villa) which is run by the same people. The original Sawasdee Village is small, quiet and built around gardens and water features. Only about 50 rooms, not a huge resort. I reviewed Sawasdee Village on this blog a few years ago. It was not in the top 10 last year, but has always had a good reputation.
• Sawasdee Village on Agoda.com
• Sawasdee Village Reviews
7. BYD Lofts (Patong Beach)
BYD Lofts is not so much a hotel, it's more like serviced appartments, with a communal rooftop pool, near the center of Patong Beach. There are 1 and 2 bedroom appartments of varying sizes. A good place to stay if you like to be near the center of all the action (that's Patong) but need a quiet place to retire to.
• BYD Lofts on Agoda.com
• BYD Lofts Reviews
8. Boomerang Village (Kata / Karon Beach)
I did a review of Boomerang Village on the blog in 2009. A few years ago I was surprised to find it rated so highly, it's quite different to some other hotels - on the hillside behind Kata and Karon Beaches, a good 15 minute walk to the sand, but obviously very popular! I think places like this make up for the off-beach location with a very good personal service, plus it's very quiet - hard to believe you are staying in Thailand's most touristy destination!
• Boomerang Village Booking on Agoda.com
• Boomerang Village Reviews
9. Trisara Resort Villas
Trisara features private pool villas on a private beach just north of Bang Tao beach in the north of Phuket. Another of the "secluded, luxury, amazing views, forget-your-worries" style hotels. Only 39 villas, lots of space. Villas of varying sizes from 2 - 6 bedroom, so can be ideal for families or big get togethers, or weddings. Or just for a relaxing trip for a couple.
• Trisara Booking on Agoda.com
• Trisara Reviews
10. Mom Tri's Villa Royale (Kata Noi Beach)
Mom Tri Devakul was one of Phuket's tourism innovators. His Boathouse hotel was one of Phuket's first five star boutique hotels with a widely acclaimed restaurant and a wine cellar that I hear is still very good. The Villa Royale was built later on land which used to be his home, on the rocky headland overlooking Kata Noi beach. A stairway from the hotel takes you down to the beach and the water. Great views from the rooms and from the restaurant too. It's got a certain touch of class, only has 35 rooms/suites and is often fully booked!
• Villa Royale on Agoda.com
• Villa Royale Reviews
• More about Mom Tri's Villa Royale on Jamie's Phuket
What do you think of the top 10? Maybe you have stayed somewhere else that you thought was amazing? Do add a comment below! The top 10 for 2012 is an interesting mix of old and new resorts, big hotels and small hotels, villas, hillside, beachfront.... Something for everyone, I think. There is a trend in recent years for new luxury resorts and for seaview (not on the beach) villas. Land prices are very high these days in Phuket, so it's hard to think about opening a small hotel or guesthouse. In the last couple of years, new resorts include the new Holiday Inn and the Renaissance Resort which are both at Mai Khao Beach and the new Centara Grand Beach Resort at Karon Beach.
For Phuket hotel bookings, I recommend looking at Agoda.com. As I say, Agoda also has reviews and also has a "rewards" program where you get discounts on future bookings. On the subject of reviews, by all means read them, but do think also about actual hotel features - location, size, room type, price (!), suitability for kids etc.. one person's heaven may be another person's holiday nightmare! Check this little sketch about TripAdvisor by English comedian Michael McIntyre... Any questions about hotels, please do leave a comment or ask on my Jamie's Phuket Facebook Page.
• Top 10 Hotels in Phuket (written in 2011)
• Jamie's Phuket Hotel Recommendations
• Phuket Hotels online @ Agoda.com - Book Here, or at least have a look and check the rates!
This is a new updated list of the Top 10 Phuket Hotels for 2012. For each hotel below there are links for online reservations/rates and availability - I recommend Agoda.com if you want to book a hotel in Phuket. The review links below are also mostly from Agoda where possible - only people who have booked the hotels through Agoda can make a review, and if you check some of the reviews, they tend to be very honest reviews, good and not-so-good, plus points and minus points - combine Agoda reviews with the TripAdvisor reviews for an even wider range of views. OK, here's the new top 10 Phuket hotels for 2012 ...
Top 10 Phuket Hotels 2012
1. The Baray Villa (Kata Beach)
The Baray Villa - just 14 luxury villas, which are run by the Sawasdee Village Resort, and yet separate from the resort. Villas are 2 floor with huge rooms, jacuzzi, direct pool access, set in tropical gardens, with a spa available. Reviews make the villas sound fantastic! The Sawasdee Village itself is also part of the top 10.
• The Baray Villa on Agoda.com
• Baray Villa Reviews
2. The Shore at Katathani (Kata Noi Beach)
Katathani has been around for years, but The Shore is their new luxury "pool villa" development, opened in 2010. And it sure looks good! Pool villas, some with seaview (note: reviews mention that the view does vary from villa to villa), all with private pools. Very much a couples hotel. I see lots of honeymoon reviews.
• The Shore at Katathani on Agoda.com
• The Shore Reviews
3. Rising Sun Residence (Chalong)
Not your normal beach hotel, Rising Sun Residence has 12 villas in the hills of Chalong overlooking Chalong Temple. There are seven three-bedroom villas, four of these have a private pool and jacuzzi, kitchen and large living room. The five one-bedroom villas are built around a large pool with sun deck and jacuzzi. Long way from the beach, so would suit people who want to explore Phuket and "come home" in the evening. My kind of people!
• Rising Sun Residence on Agoda.com
• Rising Sun Residence Reviews
4. Andara Resort and Villas (Kamala Beach)
A 5 star resort, found overlooking Kamala Beach with luxury villas and a fancy restaurant called "Silk". This is a place to relax and be pampered. All villas have private pools. Note that the resort is not right on the beach - it's on the hillside with great seaviews - but there is a free shuttle to their own private Beach Club.
• Andara Resort & Villas on Agoda.com
• Andara Reviews
5. Villa Zolitude (Chalong)
Another "up in the hills" idea .. and seems to be very popular. Villa Zolitude is between Phuket Town and Chalong. Not near any beaches. Up in the hills, you pass Villa Zolitude if driving up Radar Hill. Certainly quiet up there, away from the crowds by quite a distance. Good idea to have some transport if you stay at this hotel.
• Villa Zolitude on Agoda.com
• Villa Zolitude Reviews
6. Sawasdee Village (Kata Beach)
Sawasdee Village has been around for 20 years and keeps changing to keep up with the latest needs of tourists - scroll back up to number 1 (Baray Villa) which is run by the same people. The original Sawasdee Village is small, quiet and built around gardens and water features. Only about 50 rooms, not a huge resort. I reviewed Sawasdee Village on this blog a few years ago. It was not in the top 10 last year, but has always had a good reputation.
• Sawasdee Village on Agoda.com
• Sawasdee Village Reviews
7. BYD Lofts (Patong Beach)
BYD Lofts is not so much a hotel, it's more like serviced appartments, with a communal rooftop pool, near the center of Patong Beach. There are 1 and 2 bedroom appartments of varying sizes. A good place to stay if you like to be near the center of all the action (that's Patong) but need a quiet place to retire to.
• BYD Lofts on Agoda.com
• BYD Lofts Reviews
8. Boomerang Village (Kata / Karon Beach)
I did a review of Boomerang Village on the blog in 2009. A few years ago I was surprised to find it rated so highly, it's quite different to some other hotels - on the hillside behind Kata and Karon Beaches, a good 15 minute walk to the sand, but obviously very popular! I think places like this make up for the off-beach location with a very good personal service, plus it's very quiet - hard to believe you are staying in Thailand's most touristy destination!
• Boomerang Village Booking on Agoda.com
• Boomerang Village Reviews
9. Trisara Resort Villas
Trisara features private pool villas on a private beach just north of Bang Tao beach in the north of Phuket. Another of the "secluded, luxury, amazing views, forget-your-worries" style hotels. Only 39 villas, lots of space. Villas of varying sizes from 2 - 6 bedroom, so can be ideal for families or big get togethers, or weddings. Or just for a relaxing trip for a couple.
• Trisara Booking on Agoda.com
• Trisara Reviews
10. Mom Tri's Villa Royale (Kata Noi Beach)
Mom Tri Devakul was one of Phuket's tourism innovators. His Boathouse hotel was one of Phuket's first five star boutique hotels with a widely acclaimed restaurant and a wine cellar that I hear is still very good. The Villa Royale was built later on land which used to be his home, on the rocky headland overlooking Kata Noi beach. A stairway from the hotel takes you down to the beach and the water. Great views from the rooms and from the restaurant too. It's got a certain touch of class, only has 35 rooms/suites and is often fully booked!
• Villa Royale on Agoda.com
• Villa Royale Reviews
• More about Mom Tri's Villa Royale on Jamie's Phuket
What do you think of the top 10? Maybe you have stayed somewhere else that you thought was amazing? Do add a comment below! The top 10 for 2012 is an interesting mix of old and new resorts, big hotels and small hotels, villas, hillside, beachfront.... Something for everyone, I think. There is a trend in recent years for new luxury resorts and for seaview (not on the beach) villas. Land prices are very high these days in Phuket, so it's hard to think about opening a small hotel or guesthouse. In the last couple of years, new resorts include the new Holiday Inn and the Renaissance Resort which are both at Mai Khao Beach and the new Centara Grand Beach Resort at Karon Beach.
For Phuket hotel bookings, I recommend looking at Agoda.com. As I say, Agoda also has reviews and also has a "rewards" program where you get discounts on future bookings. On the subject of reviews, by all means read them, but do think also about actual hotel features - location, size, room type, price (!), suitability for kids etc.. one person's heaven may be another person's holiday nightmare! Check this little sketch about TripAdvisor by English comedian Michael McIntyre... Any questions about hotels, please do leave a comment or ask on my Jamie's Phuket Facebook Page.
• Top 10 Hotels in Phuket (written in 2011)
• Jamie's Phuket Hotel Recommendations
• Phuket Hotels online @ Agoda.com - Book Here, or at least have a look and check the rates!
Best Hotels in Phuket 2012 | Jamie's Phuket Blog
Comments on Best Hotels in Phuket 2012
Please do add your comment or ask a question!
I stayed at the Boomerang Village Resort December 2011 . The place is fantastic, the grounds are well kept the rooms are very clean and very tidy and the personal service was great. The restaurant Café del Sol is a little cramped but the view and the food and the ambience make up for it . The pool is alittle on the small side but big enough to enjoy a refreshing swim and a cool drink . The walk up the hill is a bit of a killer. I would have no problem recommending The Boomerang Village to anyone.
Jamie - Hi there - I wanted to reach out to you as I have a question. I am planning to visit Phuket from late April onwards. Wanted to know how hot it gets. Heard that its quite hot and may be wet. But what does that mean on the ground?
Thanks,
PN
Well... it's always hot here. April can be very hot, 35 degree C or more, but late April, well thats end of the season. Weather is anyone's guess. Can be sunny, rainy, windy, calm, clear, thundery. Mixed bag, nothing to soil your trousers about. Hot, sometimes dry, sometimes wet. Latest Phuket weather on the Phuket Weather Blog :)
We were just here doing some hotel research. Andara is beautiful. Off the top of my head... the Paresa, Amanpuri, The Surin, and Sri Panwa are missing from this list.
I actually have quite a few reviews on Tripadvisor but I don't think their "Best Hotels" lists are accurate as they don't categorize their hotels by star rating. For example, a 3 star hotel could be rated #1 over a 5 star hotel just because the 3 star hotel had a lot more positive ratings (due to the sheer number of guests).
Btw, Pizza Italy moved their location to the market across the street (about 200 metres away). We searched a good 30 mins for them and almost gave up! Luckily we found the original building and asked some neighbours where they went.
Hi Shockr,
Agreed, the list can't be perfect, but the top 10 on TA is a good place to start. As I see the list today, Sri Panwa is number 12 and Paresa is 15th, with The Surin in top 50. Amanpuri is I am sure also top class, but has been overtaken by newer resorts. I like to see a mix of hotel types in the top 10.
Re: Pizza, I better take a drive along Nanai road and check, not been there for quite a long time.
I stayed at Mom Tri's a couple of years ago. While a bit pricier than I would normally pay (it was a special occasion), it was well worth it. Gorgeous room, lovely staff and a most fascinating hotel.
Interesting list. I'm not familiar with at least five of them. That's more to try out eventually :)
Hi Jamie, Great list full of beautiful hotels!
Have you got any recommendations for those of us on a bit more of a budget? Close to the beach preferably!
Thanks!
If you check all the Phuket hotels on Agoda you'll find every kind of budget. One low budget guesthouse I recommend is Pineapple Guesthouse in Karon. It's listed on Agoda too!
I stayed at Cape Panwa in December 2011 with my husband and it was fantastic. Our room was stunning, jacuzzi, living room, bar room, dressing room, the works! I would totally recommend the hotel to anyone. Quite expensive on drinks but worth it for a special occasion and amazing restaurants just over the hill, we hardly ate in the hotel the local places were that good!
Hi Bex,
Yes the Cape Panwa Hotel is a good one for sure. I like the Panwa area, nice and quiet!
Hey Jamie
I am helping my brother book his 1st trip to phuket,(Dec 12) he is coming with a mate and they are mid 30's and nice and respectable guys can you recommend a fun 4-5 star hotel in patong or kata thats not full of honeymooners.
Thank Vikky
`hi jamie, any reccomendation for hotel in phuket town? i've always stayed at patong beach thinking of getting a change this trip, but it seems like after browsing through agoda, phuket town's hotel are pretty old and run down...
Hi Karen,
Try Hotels in Phuket Town on this blog, or more (with lots of reviews) on Agoda.com.