Westin Siray Bay, Phuket, Thailand (Rebranding to an RC in 2025)[Master Thread]
Aug 28, 2012, 3:36 am
#181
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: LA County
Programs: AA EXP- 2MM
Posts: 303
staying here right now for a week!
Internet did not work well so they came and gave me my own modem and access point in the room. Awesome service!
Great resort friendly staff, but the taxi service sucks! I would not stay here again. The beach sucks and it's just to much of a hassle to leave the resort.
They bell boys call you and unmarked overpriced taxis and the entire journey they try to take you to expensive seafood restaurants and sell you tours.
I complained and the receptionist apologized about "the taxi mafia" they have operating in this area and that they can not call a regular safe meter taxi like you are used to from everywhere else in Thailand.
They are "waiting for the government" to fix that as if they have no control on what transportation options they offer for their guests.
I'll see if I can catch the GM. This morning he was busy browsing eharmony.com in the lobby.
Internet did not work well so they came and gave me my own modem and access point in the room. Awesome service!
Great resort friendly staff, but the taxi service sucks! I would not stay here again. The beach sucks and it's just to much of a hassle to leave the resort.
They bell boys call you and unmarked overpriced taxis and the entire journey they try to take you to expensive seafood restaurants and sell you tours.
I complained and the receptionist apologized about "the taxi mafia" they have operating in this area and that they can not call a regular safe meter taxi like you are used to from everywhere else in Thailand.
They are "waiting for the government" to fix that as if they have no control on what transportation options they offer for their guests.
I'll see if I can catch the GM. This morning he was busy browsing eharmony.com in the lobby.
Aug 28, 2012, 4:38 am
#182
formerly known as 2lovelife
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: ORF : UA_Premier_Gold4Life, Bonvoy_titanium, Accor_Plat
Posts: 6,952
staying here right now for a week!
Internet did not work well so they came and gave me my own modem and access point in the room. Awesome service!
Great resort friendly staff, but the taxi service sucks! I would not stay here again. The beach sucks and it's just to much of a hassle to leave the resort.
They bell boys call you and unmarked overpriced taxis and the entire journey they try to take you to expensive seafood restaurants and sell you tours.
I complained and the receptionist apologized about "the taxi mafia" they have operating in this area and that they can not call a regular safe meter taxi like you are used to from everywhere else in Thailand.
They are "waiting for the government" to fix that as if they have no control on what transportation options they offer for their guests.
I'll see if I can catch the GM. This morning he was busy browsing eharmony.com in the lobby.
Internet did not work well so they came and gave me my own modem and access point in the room. Awesome service!
Great resort friendly staff, but the taxi service sucks! I would not stay here again. The beach sucks and it's just to much of a hassle to leave the resort.
They bell boys call you and unmarked overpriced taxis and the entire journey they try to take you to expensive seafood restaurants and sell you tours.
I complained and the receptionist apologized about "the taxi mafia" they have operating in this area and that they can not call a regular safe meter taxi like you are used to from everywhere else in Thailand.
They are "waiting for the government" to fix that as if they have no control on what transportation options they offer for their guests.
I'll see if I can catch the GM. This morning he was busy browsing eharmony.com in the lobby.
Aug 28, 2012, 7:32 am
#183
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: TG Plat , AF Lifetime Plat, SPG Plat
Posts: 915
Too much money involved here.
Sep 13, 2012, 8:38 am
#185
formerly known as 2lovelife
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: ORF : UA_Premier_Gold4Life, Bonvoy_titanium, Accor_Plat
Posts: 6,952
Don't pay too much attention to the trolls and fear mongers regarding the taxi mafia. All they are are unlicensed private cars. They overcharge for their services with impunity and they refuse to be regulated by anyone but themselves.
What does it mean to the typical traveller? Nothing. You will be overcharged (or not) when you want to come and go to the hotel. But, that's the end of the bad news.
They figure, if you can toss away $100 - $200 per night on a room, you can afford $20 - 30 on taxi fare to run errands or sightsee. And they're right...
(never mind the ethics of paying so much for a room, when they pay their staff peanuts).Don't worry. If you take the taxis, just pay their fees. And enjoy your vacation.
Sep 29, 2012, 7:15 pm
#186
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: PDX, PVR, NHA
Programs: SPG plat 75, HH Gold
Posts: 262
seanthepilot, I seem to be following you around on Thailand threads. I'd have preferred to stay at Le Meridien Khao Lak Oct 14 - Nov 1, but it looks like all but their lowest level rooms are unavailble and no opportunity for Plat suite upgrades. So I've switched my focus to W Siray. We seldom eat in hotel restaurants, so the question is: if we have a rental car are there (local authentic) eateries within a 15-30 min drive? Thanks!
Oct 3, 2012, 10:58 pm
#187
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Toronto, Canada
Programs: Liftime Titanium Elite Marriott
Posts: 1,752
I stayed here for four days last week. I would say that it was a great experience and I would return to this property. One kind of cool thing that I have not seen before is that the GM has a desk in the lobby. So he is in the mix with the rest of the front desk team.
Pros
Amenity points - plat SPG
20% discount card for food and drinks excl. alcohol
Happy hour - unlimited drinks for two - plat SPG
Suite upgrade - plat SPG
Excellent buffet breakfast for two - plat SPG
Free internet - plat SPG
Kids club - kids can be left there
Cons
Wifi internet was spotty in my room and around the property.
Transportation - The lack of consistent pricing makes every trip out of the hotel a pain. You basically end up keeping the cards of every person that you use and call 4 people to find the best price. The prices vary largely.
Pros
Amenity points - plat SPG
20% discount card for food and drinks excl. alcohol
Happy hour - unlimited drinks for two - plat SPG
Suite upgrade - plat SPG
Excellent buffet breakfast for two - plat SPG
Free internet - plat SPG
Kids club - kids can be left there
Cons
Wifi internet was spotty in my room and around the property.
Transportation - The lack of consistent pricing makes every trip out of the hotel a pain. You basically end up keeping the cards of every person that you use and call 4 people to find the best price. The prices vary largely.
Oct 4, 2012, 1:09 am
#188
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: 0°48′24″N 176°36′59″W
Programs: Taiwan is a country.
Posts: 1,206
seanthepilot, I seem to be following you around on Thailand threads. I'd have preferred to stay at Le Meridien Khao Lak Oct 14 - Nov 1, but it looks like all but their lowest level rooms are unavailble and no opportunity for Plat suite upgrades. So I've switched my focus to W Siray. We seldom eat in hotel restaurants, so the question is: if we have a rental car are there (local authentic) eateries within a 15-30 min drive? Thanks!
I rent a car.
Parking is free. Car rentals are cheap, and you can drive to several places close by, or even the other side of the island in perhaps 40 minutes.
If you don't like to drive, or don't like to eat at hotels, this place is NOT for you.
Oct 4, 2012, 1:18 am
#189
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
Actually, we used the hotel car for the few times we left the resort, and specifically requested the same driver. When we return early next year, we will do exactly the same.
The hotel car is new, clean and the driver extremely helpful and attentive. No need to haggle, locate a taxi or deal with a dirty taxi.
The hotel car is new, clean and the driver extremely helpful and attentive. No need to haggle, locate a taxi or deal with a dirty taxi.
Nov 11, 2012, 3:54 pm
#190
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: DL DM, AA PlatPro, Hilton DM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 1,532
We just returned from a 3 night stay.
Overall an excellent property. We were upgraded to an elevation suite, breakfast was absolutely excellent, and the staff were super friendly. Luckily we had already rented a car, so were able to drive to the places we wanted to go.
The main pool is under renovation or having emergency fixes, but we were doing more excursions anyways. They were very nice and let us stay until 5:30PM without an extra charge on the last day (late flight out).
We'll probably try a different location next time just because it did seem a little removed from most of the restaurants, bars, beaches, etc...
Overall an excellent property. We were upgraded to an elevation suite, breakfast was absolutely excellent, and the staff were super friendly. Luckily we had already rented a car, so were able to drive to the places we wanted to go.
The main pool is under renovation or having emergency fixes, but we were doing more excursions anyways. They were very nice and let us stay until 5:30PM without an extra charge on the last day (late flight out).
We'll probably try a different location next time just because it did seem a little removed from most of the restaurants, bars, beaches, etc...
Jan 14, 2013, 11:14 pm
#191
Used to be highman123
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 3,541
I posted a recent review on my blog with tons of pictures. Enjoy!
Westin Siray Bay Resport & Spa Review
Westin Siray Bay Resport & Spa Review
Jan 15, 2013, 1:22 am
#192
Moderator, El Al and Marriott Bonvoy, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: SIN
Programs: SQ*G, Mar LTT, Hyatt Glb, AA LTG, LY, HH, IC, BA, DL, UA SLV
Posts: 12,020
Can you please post the review here? Lots of pictures may be hard to post but the review should be easy. This way when people search for information they will find it. Thanks!
Jan 24, 2013, 8:00 am
#193
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 Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa
21/4 Moo 1 A.Muang Ratsada, TH 83000
RecommendedLiked: LocationServiceFoodAmenitiesRoom
The Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa (0 Photo)
The Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa
Returned to the Westin yesterday for a night stay. On this occasion there was no Meet & Assist at HKT (despite requesting it several times) and the hotel no longer appears to have it's own branded limousine, rather we were picked up by Hello Phuket. Walking out of the arrivals hall it was very difficult locating the Westin representative amongst the crowd.
Check in was swift although the agent didn't recognise me as a Platinum and I had to ask for the benefits (just to ensure they were the same). He gave me a code for the internet which was redundant as I just logged in as usual.
Despite booking the One Bedroom Sala Pool Villa on this occasion, as well as our last stay, the rooms were vastly different. The check in agent made no mention of an upgrade, but on this stay we located on the Prego side of the resort. I have tried to find the room type on the website, and the closest category is the Renewal Villa, except it's is only on bedroom. It has all of the other amenities, and a huge rooftop courtyard which we discovered about 30 mins after we checked in. I may have squealed in excitement
Our first stay was shortly after the property opened, and the build quality of that villa was poor. This villa, however, is quite impeccable. The only slight issue is that the foliage blocks the view from the villa room and pool, but it also provides privacy.
Breakfast is decent, wifi slightly slow, and cocktail hour an absolute pleasure with the live band.
On this stay we intend not to leave the resort, and this villa has absolutely made the stay. Our next stop is the Park Hyatt Maldives and this may well beat that experience.
Last edited by m0hamed; Jan 25, 2013 at 3:56 am
Jul 29, 2013, 8:46 am
#195
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Marriott Bonvoy
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Englandshire
Programs: SPG LT Plat, BA G, BD*LG, MG Blue+ ...
Posts: 16,034
Isn't it a joy when a hotel decides to break free from the carefully cultivated corporate communications guidelines and posts this on its official Facebook page.