JW Phuket trip report
Pros
- comp upgrade to poolside suite, not spacious, but convenient
- great buffet bfast included for plat for parents and 2 kids (age 4 & 6)
- got a nice complimentary birthday cake and toy
- beachside massages, pedicures, hair braiding for kids, foot massage, all very cheap and much better view than the spa.
- kids room was awesome, great program, free, can drop kids off anytime and they loved it, all Xmass themed for our week
- Xmass day had a great kids party, and Santa, all included and very thoughtful
- store 5 minute walk away to buy misc. snacks for kids (on the parking level)
- 20% discount w/ Plat card on everything
- great golf round at Blue Canyon, hotel arranged everything (pricey)
- babysitting was easy and professional
- beware, south pool is adults only, main (middle pool) is all kids - a blast, north pool is a mix, but too deep for little kids
- picnicking at sunset was our favorite
- best of all, staff was very pleasant and accommodating, even at full capacity, among the best we've ever experienced (on par with Taj)
Cons
- first meal at Thai restaurant was a bust, lousy service and food, poor lighting, and way pricey
- ate rest of our meals poolside, the cafe, Thai food at Ren (per BKK suggestion, GREAT food)
- best food of all at the ocean-side joints a short walk next to Antara resort next door (north). Drinks were cheap (except wine), food amazing, and the view better than any restaurant at JW
- ocean was a little rough, lots of tiny stinging jellyfish (more annoying than painful)
- no baby elephant
- elephant tour was a 1 hour drive away, very touristy, wouldn't recommend
- boat trip to James Bond Island was purely touristy, only for James Bond diehards, very windy our day so not pleasant at all, wouldn't recommend - would have been better to just lounge at the pool all day
Overall, our best Xmass ever!