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The Best Western Resort and Spa on Bangtao Beach, Phuket, offers a comfortable holiday area for your relaxing break, just 25 mins from the airport.
When you stay at a Best western hotel, you're usually booking for the assurance of knowing what you're in for - affordable comfort, and very reliably. Booking online can be a risky task, I remember finding amazing seaside huts in beautiful Goa at an outrageously cheap price for a large group of my friends, but on arrival watched my friends faces drop as we realised I had actually booked us all in for a week's stay at crumbling huts - hidden from the ocean, with bring-your-own-lock, and the toilets...may as well have been buckets. We actually ended up having an amazing time, bonding over the situation and spending more time outdoors than sleeping. But the experiece definitely made me aware online photography is not always to be trusted. So I knew, when checking in to The Best Western Premier Bangtoa Beach that I was staying at a brand name - which a good reputation for an economically cheery stay.
This Best Western is actually a resort and spa - even better. A bright blue lagoon laden with several cute dolphin statues lets kids splash in the pool, while adults chill on surrounding sun beds. Facing the lagoon are tropical palm trees bordering a large block of suites, where guests can dine on room service from their balcony, enjoying the holiday atmosphere. The beach is directly in front of the resort, so if you fancy a swim in the ocean or some sand castle action it's simply a five step stroll past the restaurant - where a full continental buffet breakfast begins every day. If sunbathing isn't your style, there is a library with books, magazines and newspapers, or fitness equipment at the gym. The spa offers a fine menu of massages and pampering.
The rooms here are clean and colourful. My room had thick orange curtains, perfect for stopping the early morning sun waking me up. A modern fridge stocked with mini bar treats, large kingsize bed, desk for working (if you must) and table and chair dining set create a fine room for any short break. A complimentary fruit basket greeted me, with several aqua bottles too. The bathroom is simple, but clean and modern with a western flushing toilet, yay! Room service is available, and I recommend the chocolate mousse. What I don't recommend is indulging in too much (be warned - it's that good, you'll want to!)
A stay at The Best Western Resort and Spa on Bangtao Beach won't set you back an arm an a leg like some of the luxury hotels can, (but watch the extra's) and lets you enjoy your Phuket holiday in a setting that is just what the doctor ordered.
Andara Resort Villas is Phukets' hottest new luxe villa stay, a chic urban hotel infused with subtle contemporary Asian flavours and ultra-exclusive Hollywood luxury. Guaranteed: you won't want to leave.
Located near beautiful Kamala Beach, along a strip known as the ‘Millionaires Row' area, glamorous homes and hotels cascade mountainside towards the bay, as fashioned by Europe's Monaco or the south of France. The Andara is the newest arrival, and boasts 26 deluxe pool villas with 37 divine pool suites, each facing the bay with dramatic ocean and mountain views.
To get there, a fancy air-conditioned transfer car collected me with chilled refresher towel, ice water and a soundtrack of trendy Buddha Bar beats to listen to on the way to the Resort. Adorned with exquisitely chic Asian infused décor, the hotel foyer is just begging for a glossy magazine photo shoot. Magnificent gold buddha statues tower ceiling-high, lit up with trendy and charismatic ambience to decorate the walls. A stylish boutique garment store and deluxe winery featuring acclaimed vino in a modern and elegant setting complement the grand entrance.
A futurist bespoke buggy will take you up the hill to your suite or villa, I was staying in a Pool Suite, and my expectations were beyond astounded when I entered the outrageously large abode. Before me lay an LA condo that belonged to a Hollywood star, had I died and woken up famous, and was there a divorced Brad Pitt waiting for me in the next room? This suit is so spacious I could play football in it, so LA g-l-a-m-o-r-o-u-s I forgot I was in Thailand, and with my own infinity pool and panoramic views, massive divine and dreamy bed, flat screen home theatre, and ipod docking station - just so heavenly. I had to check this wasn't really a villa.
Being escorted to view the Villa area, I imagined it couldn't get much better. How wrong I was. Perched on top of the world, or so it seems when you sit on the fancy platform lounge setting, by a double sized private infinity pool, you can't help think you could be sitting in a trendy music video right about now. Basically the villa area is a magnificent mansion, with elaborate decor. A personal chef and housekeeper are on call around the clock for those lucky enough to stay here. With it's 6 bedroom, I imagine these special people would be a large wedding group, someone of royal status, or someone of great fame - complete with their entourage troupe.
The staff at Andara are all very helpful and exceptionally qualified at their job. Hand selected from the best of the existing hotels in Phuket, it shows. As close to two weeks prior to my visit Feb 2010, the dazzling premiere party was held, where Andaras' general manager, Andew Whitaker, graciously included invites to the finest of his competing hotels. Many declined, in protest to loss of their favourite staff. Well, new staff do have to come from somewhere! Regardless, the party was an overnight success, I can tell from asking anyone in town about the Andara, ‘Oh yes, big party, fireworks and shows.'
In the evening I stroll down to the restaurant. Seated inside or al fresco dining, your gaze wanders past the fountain water feature, past the pool bar, to where you must spend some time later - the resorts main infinity pool area. Stylish black bed-lounges with shading umbrellas are set amongst lush palm trees and purple boganvillea. If you want, a trained masseuse from the Spa can massage you while laying in the serenity here.
The wait for my food to arrive wasn't long. Most people assume I'm vegetarian when ordering tofu, but I just really like the taste - and have a high standard of how it should be served. Boy, was I glad I ordered the silken tofu at the restauant called Silk. Infused with soft Thai flavours on a bed of white rice the tofu felt like err - silk, melting in my mouth. I ordered it the next day. I am dreaming of it now. Damn it, can I go back please? For dessert I recommend the indulgently rich chocolate mousse, just divine. Silk was famous in it's own right in Phuket before relocating within Andara. Cuisine is Thai or western, whatever you fancy. At the rear is a trendy urban bar, coloured with a fine coctail selection.
If you're like me and easily eat too much food, there's a fancy new fitness centre to work it off the next morning. This gym is so large you may ask if they have relocated a Fitness First studio to the grounds. Shiny new state of the art cardio equipment and weights stand, perfect for slogging away the calories. Daily activity classes are held, only I can't decide between morning yoga or stretching. Lazing-by-my-private-infinity-pool is the class I choose, it's a new one! A stay at the Andara Resort Villas in Phuket is an unforgettable experience, which I recommend to anyone and everyone - you will like it here.
Dewa Phuket Resort and Spa is a boutique style hotel located so close to the airport you won't think twice about stopping for a quick rehydration spa treatment and luxury slumber – pre or post a long flight...
For holidaymakers, Phuket is an idyllic island-paradise destination, a perfect place to spend a well-earned holiday chilling out. The last thing you want to feel on a holiday like this is jetlagged or dehydrated, particularly if your flight movements involve uncomfortable o’clock hours in the morning. What you need to combat this is a bit of osmosis therapy like soaking in your own private pool, or circulation stimulation from an expert masseuse, and a good night's slumber somewhere near the airport. Enter The Dewa Phuket.
On arrival to the villa style reception from the airport literally 5 convenient minutes away (which means transfers are flexible), friendly staff greet you with their famous Thai smiles and present a refreshing iced Rosella tea and cool scented washcloth.
The Resort is a combination of deluxe resident apartments, and luxury holiday villas - there are actually 34 villas, complete with own private plunge pool, flat screen TV with multiple channels, thermostatic air-con, outdoor lounge and table setting in a serenity garden landscape. Soaking in water at sunset is encouraged with a mammoth bathing tub and shower setting (outdoors and completely secluded.) The ultra-mod interior décor features a large cushioned couch to chill out on and the most comfortable four-poster bed with deluxe feather pillows and surround transparent drapings, in which you will find yourself waking to the sounds of the ocean nearby.
The Spa gives each guest a private setting for their treatment.
Continental breakfast includes sumptuous healthy treats to energise for the day ahead, and a gym and lap pool are handy in case you eat too much! If you forget your phone charger or adapter no worries, the hotel can help, and if you fancy a DVD there are free movies to select from. Services available are baby sitting, Extra activities on offer are everything from cooking classes, yoga, mountain biking, fruit carving, snorkelling or diving to cooking classes, scheduled in with the market day to ensure you are cooking with the freshest products.
My Verdict: Best luxury stay before the holiday really begins. Also a great pre-flight prep before that long flight home.
Andakira Hotel is located amidst the hustle and bustle of Patong Beach in Phuket, where a nightlife of beeping mopeds and chaotic streets tailored to tourism are very mainstream, so this shiny new urban hotel stands out from the crowd for the simple fact that it is well, brand new and shiny!
Entering the hip-décor foyer to the sound of surround water features, you can rest on the ultra modern couches for check in. Your Superior room will have you comfortable in air conditioning, in a clinically clean suite with modern western toilet and shower, looking out over Patong's red-tile-roofed town towards the tropical mountain greenery that borders the beach village. ‘Anda' actually means sea in Thai, and ‘Kira' means mountain, so when you're standing on the balcony looking at such a magnificent mountain, a name like that makes complete sense for the location of the hotel.
A large TV and wireless internet access and cute balcony are yours to be entertained with - if you don't head up to the infinity lap pool or jacuzzi and pool bar (where you can also play pool) or have a massage & Spa treatment.
Leave your important belongings in the safe while you take a free shuttle bus to Patong beach for the day, for a spot of swimming and suntanning. Meander through shops, massage parlours and restaurants that keep the Patong tourist town alive, then catch the bus back to the hotel (also free) just be aware of the return bus time, as the last one is early evening.
The restaurant offers daily buffet breakfast for you to start your day with a full belly. It also offers Thai food for sit downs, or you can order room service if you crave Western food. Otherwise, food options just around the corner are at a night bazaar, or extremely modern and fancy shopping mall with high quality restaurant alley - if you're looking to forget that you are in Thailand (it's very tourist orientated) If heading to this mall be sure to stop by the indoor fish tanks to have plank fish nibble at your food for a natural skin exfoliation, 15 minutes for 99 thb, cheap as chips in Thailand. Or for the boys is a massive Muay Thai Boxing Stadium with regular boxing matches, can't miss this hyper-coloured world!
Andakira Hotel is a very clean abode, I'd recommend it as exactly where you should stay if you want to holiday in Thailand during the day, and stay ‘at home' during the night.
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