What are the best luxury hotels in Phuket?
There are many luxury hotels in Phuket, but some stand above the rest to please the most demanding travellers who dream of an unforgettable holiday in Thailand. A dozen resorts stand out for the excellence of their facilities, location, design and legendary hospitality unique to Thailand. The price is often high, and so are the client’s expectations. In the many years we explored Phuket, we spent many weekends in some of them and here are our favourites. The list keeps growing as we occasionally treat ourselves to a well-deserved luxury resort.
Trisara
Location: near Naithon Beach |
Trisara ranks high in our collection of luxury hotels in Phuket. The villas are large and beautifully decorated in a modern Thai style, and their large infinity pools overlooking the ocean are hard to beat. The restaurants are excellent; one of them even got a Michelin star (the only one to get a star in Phuket so far).
The spa fitness rooms are great. Most importantly, the service is impeccable, friendly and not formal. The hotel is in a remote location on the west coast of Phuket, near Naithon Beach, and benefits from a small but private beach. The price and demand are high, so plan early to book this hotel. Read more
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Sri Panwa
Location: Cape Panwa |
Sri Panwa is a unique luxury resort on the east coast of Phuket. The highlights of the hotel are the immense pool villas overlooking the ocean. People often don’t realize that while the west coast of Phuket has a lot of sandy beaches, the east coast has better views, with islands and limestone rock formations on the far.
In addition to your private infinity pool, the hotel has three large pools, no less than four excellent restaurants, and two bars. Baba Nest rooftop bar is one of the most famous in Thailand because of the amazing 360 panorama it offers. Sri Panwa is known to be a favourite weekend destination for wealthy people from Bangkok. Read more
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The Shore
Location: Kata Noi Beach |
The Shore is a lovely resort in Kata Beach, on the west coast of Phuket. While it started with just a dozen luxurious pool villas, the resort recently doubled in size. The main reason for the success of this hotel is the hillside villas with their infinity pools facing the ocean. The villas are spacious and well-designed, and the entire front offers a panoramic ocean view.
You can walk from your bed to your pool and enjoy lunch, cocktails and dinner with a sunset from your pool sala. The hotel has only one restaurant near the beach, which is more than enough as guests often prefer to enjoy their villas fully. The beach of Kata Noi is worth mentioning as well. Read more
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Banyan Tree Phuket
Location: Bangtao Beach |
Banyan Tree is one of the first true luxury hotels in Phuket that introduced the concept of villas with total privacy. There are many pool villa types to choose from, designed in a traditional Thai style. The five restaurants are superb, and the award-winning spa is recognized as the best on the island. There is even a golf course just across the lobby! Read more
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Intercontinental Phuket
Location: Kamala Beach |
The Intercontinental Phuket Resort is a luxurious hotel situated in Kamala Beach, on the west coast of Phuket Island, overlooking the Andaman Sea. Green hills surround the resort on one side and the bay of Kamala on the other.
Phuket’s rich cultural heritage inspires the resort’s architecture and interiors, and the rooms, suites and pool villas are designed to offer maximum comfort and privacy. Read more
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Sala Phuket
Location: Maikhao Beach |
Sala Phuket is another rare resort that offers large pool villas with total privacy, perfect for honeymoons and romantic holidays. The room layout with the shower and bathtub outdoors is a fun touch. The pool in the villa is very big, which is a plus because not every pool villa in Phuket features such a large pool.
The hotel is almost on the beach, with just a lawn to walk through, and what a beach! Mai Khao is 11 km long, and because this is a national park, you will not be disturbed by vendors or noisy jet skis. Guests can enjoy an excellent spa and two restaurants. Apart from a beach restaurant and a tiny shopping mall, there is not much to do around, but as usual, every tour will pick you up at the hotel if you booked a day trip to Phang Nga or the nearby islands. Read more
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Anantara Layan
Location: Layan Beach |
Booking.com
Anantara Layan is a high-end resort hidden near the island, which you may have seen at the very north of the well-known Bang Tao Beach. The hotel features trendy restaurants, a rooftop, and immense private pool access rooms.
The beach in front of the hotel is not good for swimming, but the main beach of Layan and Bang Tao is nearby. There are a few small beach restaurants nearby, about 2 km south, and they are perfect for enjoying cheap local food and drinks with a sunset.
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Amanpuri
Location: Pansea Beach next to Surin Beach |
Amanpuri has been the most exclusive luxury resort in Phuket for three decades, with a unique location on the superb and private Pansea Beach, just next to Surin. Amanpuri has traditional Thai architecture and iconic black swimming pools, and a famous architect designed the immense boutique.
The beautiful Thai pool villas have also long been a favourite choice for the many international celebrities visiting Phuket, and because of that, it goes without saying that privacy and hospitality are exceptional here.
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JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa
Location: Mai Khao Beach |
Booking.com
JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa is a luxurious retreat on Mai Khao Beach in northern Phuket. Surrounded by tropical greenery and overlooking the sea, it offers an array of amenities for families and couples. Guests can choose from 262 rooms and 15 types featuring garden or partial sea views. The rooms are spacious with modern amenities, including large TVs and well-equipped bathrooms.
Dining options include international cuisines, Thai specialities, and fresh seafood at restaurants like Ginja Taste and The Andaman Grill. The resort also boasts three expansive pools, a fitness centre, and an impressive kids’ club with daily activities. The spa provides a wide range of treatments in luxurious settings, including couples’ rooms.
Hotel Summary & Guests Score | |
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Booking.com | |
The Beach | Good Beach: very long and quiet but sand is a little more coarse than average, and sea gets deep quickly. No sun loungers nor umbrellas on the beach. |
The Hotel | 5-star resort, |
The Facilities | 6 restaurants (Thai, Italian, steakhouse, Japanese, international), 2 huge pool (one for kids), Kids Club, Spa, Fitness with yoga classes, cooking classes |
What's Around? | Not much around except other luxury resorts and a modern shopping village. |
Who is it for? | Popular with everyone, with a preference for couples and families |
Worth Noticing | The Kids Club is superb and kids love it, the team is truly caring. |
Price | A bit pricey |
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Rosewood Phuket
Location: Patong Beach |
Rosewood Phuket is the only true luxury near Patong Beach. There are, of course, a few 5-star hotels, but Rosewood takes the luxury to a new level. The restaurants are beautiful and serve delicious Thai food. The hotel has direct access to the peaceful Tri Trang Beach and is only 5 km away from busy Patong.
Once you have tried the hotel’s restaurants, you can take a short walk and enjoy a handful of small and cheap restaurants to enjoy the panoramic views nearby.
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COMO Point Yamu
Location: Cape Yamu on the east coast |
COMO Point Yamu is a luxurious resort located at the very end of Cape Yamu on the east coast of Phuket, renowned for its stunning panoramic views of the Andaman Sea and the limestone karsts of Phang Nga Bay in the far. COMO Point Yamu is not a hotel for everyone: it’s a hideaway far from the busy beaches of Phuket that will please those who want to escape from the world.
It is important to be aware that the hotel is far from everything, and there is nothing to do around unless you rent a car or book a tour. Read more about COMO Point Yamu
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Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket
Location: Bangtao Beach |
Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket is a beautiful classic hotel in Bang Tao Beach, in a prime location on the west coast of Phuket Island. The resort has an elegant Thai design, and the rooms are superb; most are just a few steps from the beach. This hideaway is a perfect place to escape frantic city life, relax and enjoy the beauty of the Andaman Sea.
Hotel Summary & Guests Score | |
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Booking.com | |
The Beach | Beautiful immense beach with soft sand and clear water during the high season. |
The Hotel | 5-Star classic hotel |
The Facilities | 1 pool, 3 restaurants, 2 bars. |
What's Around? | The resort is part of a vast complex that includes several large similar hotels. Boat Avenue nearby offers many excellent restaurants. |
Who is it for? | Great for travellers who want o be on the beach and are not interested in nightlife. |
Worth Noticing | Get Ocean View or Beachfront Rooms! They are affordable and the view is great. |
Price | Very reasonable for such a beachfront resort. |
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Renaissance Phuket
Renaissance Phuket Resort and Spa is one of the most luxurious resorts in Mai Khao Beach, an endless unspoiled beach in the northern part of Phuket. Renaissance is the perfect place to escape crowded beaches and tourist frenzy. Despite the common belief that Phuket is a busy island, there are some beautiful beaches you won’t have to share with anyone but your own shadow!
Hotel Summary & Guests Score | |
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Booking.com | |
The Beach | Good Beach: very long and quiet but sand is a little more coarse than average, and sea gets deep quickly. No sun loungers nor umbrellas on the beach. |
The Hotel | 5-star resort, 22 Pool Villas, 4 Ocean Front Pool Villas with private pool 4 suites and 150 Deluxe Rooms. |
The Facilities | 4 restaurants, 1 beautiful spa, 1 large shared pool, great fitness centre |
What's Around? | Not much around except other luxury resorts and a shopping village. Some local restaurants. |
Who is it for? | Great for those in search of peace and long walks on the beach and have little interest in shopping or nightlife |
Worth Noticing | The hotel is near the beach but doesn’t offer real sea view rooms |
Price | Good |
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Luxury hotels on nearby islands
The Racha
Location: Racha Island |
Booking.com
The Racha is a superb island resort blessed with a unique location on the white sands of Koh Racha’s main beach. The hotel consists of many superbly designed large white villas, some with swimming pools. The beach bar offers stunning views of the legendary blue waters of the bay, and there are two restaurants to enjoy.
The island is not very big, so exploring on foot or by bicycle is fun. Diving, snorkelling and kayaking are popular activities, and marine life is everywhere. Getting to Racha from Phuket takes only 20 minutes by using the resort speedboat. Read more
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Six Senses Yao Noi
Location: Koh Yao Noi Island |
Six Senses Yao Noi is a unique luxury resort on the timeless island of Koh Yao Noi, located 30 km east of Phuket island. The resort mostly consists of one or two-bedroom wooden villas with private swimming pools and amazing views of the limestone rock formation of Phang Nga. The restaurants are excellent, and the one at the top offers jaw-dropping panoramic views. Six Senses Yao Noi is very popular and should be booked early. Koh Yao Island is slightly different from Phuket; it is covered with vegetation, rice fields and mangroves.
While there are a few hotels around, the island is not touristy and has a truly Thai atmosphere, with local fishermen communities and markets. The hotel provides a shared speedboat to go from Phuket pier to the hotel, but if you can afford it, a private speedboat is the ultimate luxury, and the ride is beautiful. Read more