Help with Phuket Resort
 

My wife and I are looking for a resort in Phuket. The Trisara and Amanpuri are out of our price range. We're looking for something that is both relaxing but also not too far from Patong Beach. We've scoured TripAdvisor only to find that the #1 recommended hotel/resort in Phuket is a Holiday Inn. Really? The JW Marriott looks nice as does the Sheraton, but feel we might be missing out on something better because these are American resorts. We're into luxury but aren't into paying $1k/nt. We're very open to suggestions and would love to hear your recommendations. Thank you!

Just curious, why do you want to be close to Patong Beach ? It is probably the worst as a beach.

We dont necessarily want to be on Patong, just not 30+ minutes away. We heard that being near "town" was a benefit. Perhaps we're wrong.

Has anyone stayed at the Dusit Laguna?

The Holiday in is in Patong, right across from the Beach. Nice pool, renovated rooms, but hardly the best place around.

Patong Beach is OK, about 2.5Km long and probably the busiest beach on the island. I don't mind it, usually walking the 5Km every other day.

I'd recommend the Le Meridian if you want close to Patong, but still isolated. A visually awesome property with nicely (mean not great) appointed rooms, it's less than 5 minutes to Patong by taxi/scooter.

Alternatively, try the Hilton at Karon Beach. If you don't have lounge access, or Hhonors gold, buy a room package that includes breakfast. I love this hotel. Even their small rooms are nice.

All the Laguna properties, Dusit, Sheraton, etc are much farther north. People that stay up that way seem to like it, but it's too isolated for me.

Kata Thani Resort Phuket
 

If you want a nice beach this all depends on the time of year as some beaches are to dangerous to swim in from April through August. I like Kata Thani Resort. You have your own beautiful private beach and 5 swimming pools. No Swimming there in the ocean during the period I mentioned but the pools are great.

Have fun,
Randy

Check out the Amari Coral Beach.

You can walk to the center of Patong Beach in about 15 minutes. Alternatively there are tuk-tuks on hand.

I think all of the rooms have a view of the sea. There are two pools, extremely nice grounds, and you're close to town.

Prices are very reasonable.

Would the Holiday Inn sound more appealing if they still called it a Crowne Plaza?
I stayed there last Sept and loved it, great rooms on the Busakorn wing, breakfast Incl and what a pair of pools, even had kids facilities with a covered pool also if I recall.
Cross the road to the beach.
I am interested to see Seanthepilots recommended properties, as a local he would have a better knowledge of the properties than I do, so these other places would be splendid.

Not sure what you meant by "American" resorts but these properties are not owned by Americans (but also not necessarily Thai), and very often the GM is also not American (but very seldom Thai).

Of the 3 properties that you mentioned, the JW Marriott's design has the most thai-influence and is also generally regarded as one of the best on the island.

Was the HI Patong ever called Crowne Plaza :confused:
(I thought it was the Movenpick in Karon that was formerly branded as Crowne Plaza).

Its certainly a decent hotel but no where near the top 10 in Phuket. I would also not call it a "resort" since it doesnt really feel like one (with hardly any seaview and greenery) but a nice city hotel (its right in the middle of Patong) near the beach. The Busakorn wing is also a long walk from the beach.

One positive aspect of the HI is that its a family resort and apparently they do not allow "unregistered" guests to the rooms.

To sum it all, its a nice hotel in a sleazy neighbourhood.

I think that sometimes people rate hotels higher on tripadvisor on more of a value basis then luxury basis. Perhaps the holiday inn was rated number one because many thought it gave them excellent value and would have given the hotel much lower scores if they had paid 4 seasons prices. That is how I explain the Holiday Inn as number one. And I certainly think I would hold the 4 seasons to much higehr standards.

We were debating this for our honeymoon. In the end we decided to skip Phuket and do Khao Lak, Krabi and Phi-Phi. I just felt we were getting much better places for our money.

Holiday Inn even in the renovated rooms/non busakoran wing are pretty nice. Its a beach hotel with upgraded room furnishings. The Le Meridien is definitely more "resort like" away from hustle and bustle. Like Sean said, the property at Le Meridien is really nice, much nicer than the HI. Le Meridien has to win for best pool area. I didn't get to see the beach, but I imagine its nice. You have to use transportation to go anywhere though from Le M, as at the HI you can walk all up and down Patong.

I liked Patong and normally don't like touristy areas, and it was an interesting walk everyday/night especially with all the different side streets and even on the main road.

Yeh you nailed it. TripAdvisor scores are definitely based on value for dollar vs actual ratings of the hotels. Holiday Inn offers great value.

Unless you are going to stay at the Rayavadee, you may find more properties suited for a honeymoon in Phuket. All the places you mentioned are actually centred around Phuket, and you will find Phuket much more convenient if its your first trip. I also do not think you get much better "value" at these alternative locations, may be fewer choices.

We are going from Dec. 20 to Dec. 30. I am using Starwood points which I value at 2 cents a piece. So basically I have an executive suite at the sheraton krabi for $140 per night, the holiday inn phi phi for $100 per night and the Le Meridien Khao lak for $75 per night. During that week the asking rate at these hotels and others is like $400 per night. The JW In Phuket is like $800 per night after Christmas. I was originally thinking the JW, but CHristmas week killed any attractive rate and I decided an executive suite at sheraton krabi was probably nicer.

Sheraton Krabi - Exec Suite
 

When using points to stay at Sheraton Krabi, how did you get the Exec Suite, did they upgrade you? Please tell us about this hotel, is it far from restaurants, night life, etc.? Thanks.

I'm also a fan of Karon. More quiet than Patong but still easy to get there.

The Hilton is a nice hotel even though the buildings are a bit ugly.
I also liked the former Crowne Plaza (now a Mövenpick).

The JW Marriott is a wonderful property but far away from everything except the airport.