Westin Siray Bay, Phuket, Thailand (Rebranding to an RC in 2025)[Master Thread]
Aug 9, 2011, 8:21 am
#151
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Here there everywhere
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, BA Silver, Aegean Gold, Aeroplan 25k, AA EXP
Posts: 2,829
Does the hotel provide any rubber ducks that are resistant to water, as I may also go to that property to engage in tanning activities whilst in the water.
Aug 9, 2011, 8:51 am
#152
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Manchester, England
Programs: Bonvoy LT Plat, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, BMI Gold (RIP)
Posts: 8,024
Not sure on the answer, but it is probably best asked in the relevant property master thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...er-thread.html
I'm there in a couple of weeks, so will try to find out for you. As a married man though, the days of non-aquatic activities are long past
I'll see what I can find out if nobody has an answer before hand.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...er-thread.html
I'm there in a couple of weeks, so will try to find out for you. As a married man though, the days of non-aquatic activities are long past
I'll see what I can find out if nobody has an answer before hand.
Aug 9, 2011, 12:28 pm
#153
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Programs: UA-1k, 1mm, Marriott-LT Platinum, Hertz-Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,355
While I didn't stay in a sala pool villa(as I think they are called), I remember that they did have some secluded units especially ones toward far end of the property with the great views but those might be higher level suites.
This property has great views from every room and I recall being able to oversee some pools, and I think some of these are not standalone and share a wall with a unit next door. I can't remember the layout of those type rooms but someone will help.
This property has great views from every room and I recall being able to oversee some pools, and I think some of these are not standalone and share a wall with a unit next door. I can't remember the layout of those type rooms but someone will help.
Aug 13, 2011, 12:08 am
#155
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP (OWE), VA PLAT, EY GLD, SPG PLAT, Hyatt DIA, Hilton DIA, Hertz PC
Posts: 8,527
The One Bedroom Sala Pool villas are rather secluded, however on thee edge of the pool people from above can see. We, and others, were able to sunbath without speedos without offending others...
Sep 30, 2011, 7:50 pm
#156
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SCL
Programs: UA 1K, LATAM Comodoro, SPG PLT, WOH Globalist, *G, OW Emerald
Posts: 369
Just finished a 3 night stay. This is a brief review:
Location: From the airport is about 30-40min ride, which will cost 600B (one way)on a Toyota Camry (hired at the airport). You can also hire the return, since it can cost you more if hired at the hotel. The hotel is located near Phuket town, but it is necessay to go by car. The shuttle bus runs kind of every hour (you must reserve it) and will cost 50B/person/one way. The other option is to take the taxi, which cost 300B (quite high if you consider is a 10min ride).
The town offers some local food, groceries.
Checkin: Greeted with a kind of lemonade and cold wet towel. I booked a Superior room with pool access (these are the rooms that share a private pool, 2 rooms for 1 small pool). Although being SPG Plat, got NO upgrade
and they wanted to downgrade me to a regular superior room. Had to discuss for a while and finally I got what I booked. Bad start and sour taste. Was transported to the room in a golf cart.
Room: The room was a normal king size (nothing impressive, of course is an entry level room) with its own balcony and 2 chairs by the semi-private pool. Overlooking the bay (far view is nice), but the beach view is awful.
No pool towels in the room, although we had a pool. So if needed had to go all the way up the hill to the Splash pool or down to the Horizon pool.
Bathroom was ...just a bathroom.
Hotel: the setup is nice, staff attentive but not trained to an Asian level property you expect. Beach is as many reported here...unswimmable. Also very dirty, they have a staff of two everyday picking up the rubbish that arrives overnight. The pools are nice but small grounds. Many Chinese and Korean groups or couples, not Japanese at all (at least during my stay).
Food: Breakfast was tough to get a table from 9am~. Once there was a line of 8+ people waiting. The day we ate at 7am was ok. Food selection and quality was decent. Nothing impressive. The juices were kind of artificially sweetened and many dishes were kept empty for quite a while (had to wait almost 30min for the hash browns). No icecream anymore as reported earlier. Room service was ok, not slow as reported and quality in-line with breakfast experience.
Spa: booked one signature treatment for my wife and an 80min massage for me. It is a nice Spa, but nothing impressive. I guess you get what you pay, so no complains but wouldn't come to the hotel because of the spa. No waiting room or sauna/mist room to enjoy prior your massage, you just get to the massage room. It's just an unimpressive spa with western rates.
SPG Plat Happy hour: everyday at the Splash bar 6-7pm (kind of short), was a nice amenity. The staff is very attentive, view is nice and drinks good. Be careful to use the Plat menu and not the regular, or you will be charged.
One very negative point was that after the spa was going back to the room to relax and found 2 guys sitting on our balcony, eating and drinking. They were apparently the guys next door that found nothing better than use the neighbors balcony. I ask the front desk if the balconies are public use or belong to the room. They said is part of the room and should be private. After a while we managed to put the guys back to their side, but it was not easy. Avoid shared pool rooms!
All in all considering that we are all busy people and need to enjoy a nice stay, especially when coming to Phuket (enjoy good food, beach/sun, upgraded room (to a suite preferrably if you are Plat) I do not recommend this property. The experience was not worth at all, and I will not return to this property. Even for a MR I would prefer to stay in a property in my town and stay longer at the good property in Phuket (if SPG LM Phuket is much much better).
Location: From the airport is about 30-40min ride, which will cost 600B (one way)on a Toyota Camry (hired at the airport). You can also hire the return, since it can cost you more if hired at the hotel. The hotel is located near Phuket town, but it is necessay to go by car. The shuttle bus runs kind of every hour (you must reserve it) and will cost 50B/person/one way. The other option is to take the taxi, which cost 300B (quite high if you consider is a 10min ride).
The town offers some local food, groceries.
Checkin: Greeted with a kind of lemonade and cold wet towel. I booked a Superior room with pool access (these are the rooms that share a private pool, 2 rooms for 1 small pool). Although being SPG Plat, got NO upgrade
and they wanted to downgrade me to a regular superior room. Had to discuss for a while and finally I got what I booked. Bad start and sour taste. Was transported to the room in a golf cart.Room: The room was a normal king size (nothing impressive, of course is an entry level room
) with its own balcony and 2 chairs by the semi-private pool. Overlooking the bay (far view is nice), but the beach view is awful.No pool towels in the room, although we had a pool. So if needed had to go all the way up the hill to the Splash pool or down to the Horizon pool.
Bathroom was ...just a bathroom.
Hotel: the setup is nice, staff attentive but not trained to an Asian level property you expect. Beach is as many reported here...unswimmable. Also very dirty, they have a staff of two everyday picking up the rubbish that arrives overnight. The pools are nice but small grounds. Many Chinese and Korean groups or couples, not Japanese at all (at least during my stay).
Food: Breakfast was tough to get a table from 9am~. Once there was a line of 8+ people waiting. The day we ate at 7am was ok. Food selection and quality was decent. Nothing impressive. The juices were kind of artificially sweetened and many dishes were kept empty for quite a while (had to wait almost 30min for the hash browns). No icecream anymore as reported earlier. Room service was ok, not slow as reported and quality in-line with breakfast experience.
Spa: booked one signature treatment for my wife and an 80min massage for me. It is a nice Spa, but nothing impressive. I guess you get what you pay, so no complains but wouldn't come to the hotel because of the spa. No waiting room or sauna/mist room to enjoy prior your massage, you just get to the massage room. It's just an unimpressive spa with western rates.
SPG Plat Happy hour: everyday at the Splash bar 6-7pm (kind of short), was a nice amenity. The staff is very attentive, view is nice and drinks good. Be careful to use the Plat menu and not the regular, or you will be charged.
One very negative point was that after the spa was going back to the room to relax and found 2 guys sitting on our balcony, eating and drinking. They were apparently the guys next door that found nothing better than use the neighbors balcony. I ask the front desk if the balconies are public use or belong to the room. They said is part of the room and should be private. After a while we managed to put the guys back to their side, but it was not easy. Avoid shared pool rooms!
All in all considering that we are all busy people and need to enjoy a nice stay, especially when coming to Phuket (enjoy good food, beach/sun, upgraded room (to a suite preferrably if you are Plat) I do not recommend this property. The experience was not worth at all, and I will not return to this property. Even for a MR I would prefer to stay in a property in my town and stay longer at the good property in Phuket (if SPG LM Phuket is much much better).
Oct 22, 2011, 10:55 am
#157
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 23,999
I stayed at the Westin Siray Bay back in August and had a fairly nice stay. As a Platinum I got upgraded to a splash suite. The hotel was a fantastic value at the rate I paid (~3,500THB including tax). The grounds were well maintained, though as mentioned above there's not much of a beach to speak of.
The service on the whole was fine. Nothing spectacular and certainly not "authentic," though given the price was perfectly acceptable. I thought the spa was way overpriced, though.
I wrote a review with dozens of pictures on my blog, which can be found here, for anyone that's interested.
The service on the whole was fine. Nothing spectacular and certainly not "authentic," though given the price was perfectly acceptable. I thought the spa was way overpriced, though.
I wrote a review with dozens of pictures on my blog, which can be found here, for anyone that's interested.
Oct 29, 2011, 8:46 am
#158
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Summit County, CO.
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Ambassador, Hyatt Diamond, American Platinum
Posts: 384
Do not stay here. There are just too many amazing SPG properties in Asia to bother with this one. Just checked in today. So far:
1) no one to greet us or help with luggage on arrival.
2) At 5:30pm, room not ready! Told to wait in lobby. I said the hotel should buy us a drink because room not ready. Escorted to Splash for an early beginning to the Platinum evening drinks.
3) my 82 year old grandmother says "this place is dirty". After she said that I noticed there is definite lack of detailed cleaning
4) A/C did not work
5) views of Phuket town. Not exactly stellar
6) Too Westin-y. I stay at westins 3-5
Nights a week. Need something different on vacation.
7) hard to get a buggie for transport around resort
8) physical property already feels a bit worn and it's not very old
On the pluses: upgraded to a 2 story suite, nice platinum happy hour drinks 6-7pm, free breakfast and good food in Prego.
1) no one to greet us or help with luggage on arrival.
2) At 5:30pm, room not ready! Told to wait in lobby. I said the hotel should buy us a drink because room not ready. Escorted to Splash for an early beginning to the Platinum evening drinks.
3) my 82 year old grandmother says "this place is dirty". After she said that I noticed there is definite lack of detailed cleaning
4) A/C did not work
5) views of Phuket town. Not exactly stellar
6) Too Westin-y. I stay at westins 3-5
Nights a week. Need something different on vacation.
7) hard to get a buggie for transport around resort
8) physical property already feels a bit worn and it's not very old
On the pluses: upgraded to a 2 story suite, nice platinum happy hour drinks 6-7pm, free breakfast and good food in Prego.
Oct 29, 2011, 6:27 pm
#160
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: SEA(sia)
Posts: 5,181
Even if you do not enjoy Patong, it's not a reason to be on 'the other side' of the island. The LM is just a couple of miles from Patong, and yet its surrounded by green hills and feels very secluded.
Oct 30, 2011, 12:16 pm
#161
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,687
Oct 31, 2011, 11:51 pm
#162
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Toronto YYZ UA-1K 1MM,QFgold
Programs: Royal Ambassador/ SPG Platinum 75/Marriott gold
Posts: 14,283
just checked in, and upgraded to a jr suite. So far everything is great, here for a few days. Love the view. More info later.
Nov 10, 2011, 6:50 am
#163
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Warwickshire, England
Posts: 616
Stayed here for 2 nights last week. Platinum upgrade was to a Siray Bay suite which I was very happy with. Minor niggles were that the wired internet didn't work and the downstairs lights kept tripping the fusebox and needed resetting by an engineer, but otherwise a very pleasant stay.
These might be helpful:
Resort Map + Platinum Benefits + Shuttle Schedule
These might be helpful:
Resort Map + Platinum Benefits + Shuttle Schedule
Last edited by MKB; Nov 10, 2011 at 7:04 am
Nov 10, 2011, 8:14 am
#164
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: BKK
Programs: World of Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Bonvoy LTP; IHG Plat
Posts: 2,234
we need more spg properties in phuket!!! just 3 choices today is not enough lol.
i think this place (westin siray bay) is getting worse in every aspects, personally.
i truly wish st.regis and w retreat opened its doors on this island, it would be great!!!
i think this place (westin siray bay) is getting worse in every aspects, personally.
i truly wish st.regis and w retreat opened its doors on this island, it would be great!!!
Dec 2, 2011, 9:51 pm
#165
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE, SPG Platinum, Fairmont Platinum
Posts: 12
I stayed here for one night at the end of November after leaving Le Meridien Chiang Mai and before heading to Koh Phi Phi. Our room wasn't ready when we arrived (around 4 or 5pm) so we were told to go to the bar and get a drink. We ordered an alcoholic drink and then were told only non alcohol. It was a bit of a surprise considering we just came from Chiang Mai where we were impressed that we didn't have to pay for drinks there (during happy hour) but we paid anyways. We ate at the Thai buffet that evening and the food was pretty good and the selection was quite diverse however it was typical canadian/american prices. I think I spent more here in one night than I did for half my trip in Chiang Mai lol. We had a drink after dinner near the outdoor bar and noticed a sewage like smell while we were outside. I also agree with previous posters about the beach not looking very nice and I was surprised to see people swimming in the water because there's no way I would go in the water.
I used the gym the following morning and it had a few treadmills and some free weights. The view from the gym was amazing though!
Free buffet breakfast for two and the selection was diverse and a lot of both Thai and American style cuisine.
I'm currently at the Le Meridien Phuket (I'll write a review as well) and I know I was trying to figure out which hotel to stay at before my trip so I'm glad that in the end I was able to stay at both. If I came back to Phuket I would stay at Le Meridien because of the beautiful private beach, location (close to the other beaches and far enough from Patong but close enough to go for drinks or dinner instead of staying at the resort), platinum amenities (breakfast is in a private area which is nice and quiet and only for other platinum guests) and it has a great gym.
I used the gym the following morning and it had a few treadmills and some free weights. The view from the gym was amazing though!
Free buffet breakfast for two and the selection was diverse and a lot of both Thai and American style cuisine.
I'm currently at the Le Meridien Phuket (I'll write a review as well) and I know I was trying to figure out which hotel to stay at before my trip so I'm glad that in the end I was able to stay at both. If I came back to Phuket I would stay at Le Meridien because of the beautiful private beach, location (close to the other beaches and far enough from Patong but close enough to go for drinks or dinner instead of staying at the resort), platinum amenities (breakfast is in a private area which is nice and quiet and only for other platinum guests) and it has a great gym.