Phuket is the ultimate flop-and-drop destination, with some epic hotels offering serious bang for your buck. Ocean-facing villas, Michelin-starred restaurants, and sunrise yoga classes are just the beginning.
Whether you want to hole up on an island for a honeymoon or escape to the tropics with the whole family, there is a holiday in Phuket waiting for you. Read on to discover Urban List's pick of the best hotels in Phuket for 2024.
Trisara
60/1 Moo 6, Srisoonthorn Road, Cherngtalay, Thalang District, Phuket
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When Belinda Carlisle crooned Heaven Is a Place on Earth, she was surely talking about Trisara. This slice of paradise has private villas overlooking the Andaman Sea, decked out with pools and ensuites with deep bathtubs. There is also a Michelin-starred restaurant, PRU, where head chef Jimmy Ophorst champions innovative vegetable-led cuisine, and a Mediterranean beachfront diner at Cielo.
Be sure to book in a trip to one of the six treatment rooms at Jara Spa, where offerings include a rose crystal lymphatic package and signature treatments like a cleansing ritual and tension release. As a bonus for families, the Trisara kids’ club is exceptional and has a rotation of classes and activities, such as batik painting, cookie making and junior Thai boxing.
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The Chava Resort
Soi Hat Surin 8, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket
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Headed to Phuket with family and want a stay with space to spread out? The Chava Resort Phuket can deliver. The resort’s two- and four-bedroom residences come kitted out with full kitchens, open-plan living and some even have private plunge pools. Just beyond your front door is a restaurant serving a mix of local and Western flavours by the pool.
Surin Beach is only a five-minute stroll away, where the beach is safe for swimming and restaurants are lined up along the shoreline. If it’s a night in you seek though, in-residence chefs can be arranged for private cooking classes. Massage therapists are available to book too.
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The Slate Phuket
116 Moo 1 Tambol Sakhu, Thalang District, Phuket
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So close to the ocean you can practically taste the salt, The Slate Phuket occupies a pretty stretch along Nai Yang Beach. The Bill Bensley-designed exteriors reflect the island’s tin-mining heritage – picture a labyrinth hotel layout, machine-like art installations and industrial-style light fixtures among a sea of blue textiles.
Take a while to wander the palm-fringed secret gardens before seeking out Michelin Guide-recommended Black Ginger restaurant. A top pick is the Black Ginger Experience, a set menu featuring crispy prawn served on a betel leaf, choo chee pla (fillet fish in red curry) and Thai ceviche with tuna, pomegranate and spicy lime sauce.
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Amatara Wellness Resort
84 Moo 8, Sakdidej Road, Tambon Vichit, Cape Panwa, Phuket
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Fancy disconnecting from reality and reconnecting with mind, body and soul? Amatara Wellness Resort will realign your chakras faster than you can say namaste. This all-inclusive wellness retreat offers tailored programs with an array of activities and workshops. Start your morning with a Pilates workout in the state-of-the-art studio before letting off some steam in the Thai hammam.
Float to the spa for a signature massage or organic facial and emerge ready to enjoy a cocktail or two on the rooftop terrace (because wellness is all about balance, after all). At the end of the day, retreat to your suite or villa for fabulous views and luxurious amenities.
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COMO Point Yamu
225 Moo 7 Pa Klok, Talang, Phuket
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A stay at COMO Point Yamu, a swanky cliffside hotel with views over Phang Nga Bay, is akin to one giant ‘pinch me’ moment. Think cocktails by the infinity pool, whipping up pad Thai at a cooking class and being scrubbed and massaged into pampered oblivion at COMO Shambhala Retreat.
The cherry on top are the clifftop pool villas. Each has a private terrace with plunge pool, sun beds and ocean panoramas. Inside, freestanding bathtubs guarantee relaxation, and a full kitchen and dining area are great for a night in.
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The Pavilions Phuket
31/1 Moo 6, Cherngtalay Thalang, Phuket
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Less hotel and more hideaway, The Pavilions Phuket is a retreat that promises privacy and intimacy. The seclusion is perfect for a honeymoon or anniversary celebration, with the hilltop location, atop one of Phuket’s best viewpoints, doubling as the icing on the (wedding) cake. Days here can be spent padding barefoot between the 60-metre freeform pool and post-paddle snacks at the adjacent Firefly Pool and Restaurant.
Don’t miss 360° Bar at sunset – it's located at the highest point of the resort and offers the best seats in the house for golden hour. Also being served are creative cocktails, happy hour specials, and head-bopping tunes.
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Island Escape By Burasari
94/4 Moo 6, Tambon, Ko Kaeo, Amphur Muang, Phuket
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Just a stone’s throw off the east coast of Phuket is Coconut Island, a secluded paradise home to the five-star Island Escape by Burasari. Leave footprints on the hotel’s sugar-white beach, swim in the adults-only pool and catch up on some reading in an overwater hammock. For those travelling with children, the resort takes care of its younger guests with ziplining and rock climbing at the Treasure Island-inspired playground.
On the accommodation front, the One-Bedroom Reserve Pool Villa is what dreams are made of. The front terrace has a private pool and sunbeds, perfect for whiling away an afternoon, and inside there is a kitchenette where a private on-call chef can cook you up a feast.
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For more great hotel recommendations, check out:
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