The best hotels in Phuket
From coastal retreats to jungle hideouts, private beaches to personal butlers, muay Thai trainers to twin pools – Thailand's largest island and longest-standing holiday hotspot has hotel options aplenty, but picking the right one can be a daunting task. Phuket is blessed with more than thirty different bays and beaches, and while they all score top marks in terms of postcard prettiness, their vibes (and therefore, their hotel line-ups) vary widely.
Most of the holiday action happens around the bays on its western coast, from the laid-back Nai Harn and Rawai beaches in the coral-fringed deep south to the seemingly endless stretch of crowd-free sand of Mai Khao on the island's north. In between, there's naughty nightlife around Patong, family fun around Kamala, and an inspired restaurant scene around the expat hub of Bang Tao. Cross the island's jungle-cloaked heart for a culture fix in Phuket Town, where smart cafes and next-gen cocktail bars blow new life into the Sino-Portuguese warehouses lining its oldest streets. Nearby, the quiet and craggy coastline of Cape Panwa delivers eye-popping views over the island-dotted Phang Nga Bay.
We've narrowed down the hundreds of places to stay to a tight edit of our favourite Phuket hotels – in no particular order.
Amanpuri
Despite its age, Amanpuri still tops the list as one of the best hotels in Thailand, as spectacular as it was when it opened on a coconut grove on Phuket’s west coast back in 1988. It was the first name in a collection that would go on to change the parameters of luxury travel and hotel design; coming here has become a rite of passage for Aman junkies far and wide. And for good reason: from the midnight-blue pool at the entrance to the dramatic staircase leading down to the semi-private beach, architect Ed Tuttle (a creative force for the group) made a timeless classic. Each of the 40 polished teakwood pavilions is a miniature Thai temple of indulgence, a world of crisp linen, fresh orchids and spa-like bathrooms that take up almost half its floor space. All come with sala-covered sundecks, some with private pools. Its Holistic Wellness Centre, the first of its kind within the Aman group, veers way beyond the usual spa trappings and offers medical services that include IV nutrient infusions and cryotherapy. See the full Amanpuri spa review.
Address: Amanpuri, Pansea Beach Cherngtalay, Thalang District, Phuket 83110, Thailand
Keemala
Look for Phuket inspiration on Instagram, and you’re guaranteed to come across Keemala, a highly photogenic hotel pitched in the Kamala rainforest on the island’s west coast. Its hillside retreats range from glamorous safari tents to two-storey tree houses and come with private pools and adjoining sundecks (book the Bird’s Nest Pool Villas if you’re after extra space). The interiors meld safari chic with jungle dwellings – teakwood walls, stone-carved bathtubs and fabrics in earthy tones. If you manage to leave your cocoon, the nearest beach is a 10-minute drive away, but Keemala’s expert Mala Spa and health-focused Mala Restaurant (opt for the southern Thai specialities) provide just as many opportunities to up ther feel-good factor.
Address: Keemala, 10/88 Nakasud Rd, Kamala, Kathu, Kathu District, Phuket, Thailand
Trisara
One of the best – and priciest – places to bed down in Phuket is Trisara, an ultra-luxe hotel set on its own cape on the north-west side of the island. Its 39 secluded villas are as pretty as they are spacious, designed in a modern Thai style and each kitted out with ocean-view terraces, infinity pool and butlers on call. Trisara’s remote location means it’s far away from any tourist sights, but there’s little reason to leave: there’s a gorgeous sunbed-lined pool for lounging and laps, as well as a powdery white beach only guests have access to. The Jara spa combines sensational ocean views with soothing Thai massage treatments, and there are three excellent restaurants for palm-shaded beachfront dining, including the Michelin-starred Pru and famous barbecues at Seafood by Trisara.
Address: Tisara, หมู่ที่ 6 60/1 ถนน ศรีสุนทร Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket 83110, Thailand
The Surin
Sharing the same beach and architect – the late Ed Tuttle – as Amanpuri next door, this long-standing classic on Phuket's west coast has garnered a loyal following for its well-priced rooms and outstanding service. The dramatic Thai-inspired Lomtalay restaurant and sweeping granite staircases leading up to it have Tuttle's fingerprints all over it, as does the lounger-lined hexagonal swimming pool clad in chalkboard-black anthracite. Rooms, on the contrary, are bright and breezy affairs with palettes of white and grey warmed up with touches of gemstone-hued silk. All are open to ocean-facing lounge decks, some come with private plunge pools. Another perk: cream-coloured Pansea Beach is one of Phuket's prettiest and is hard to reach for non-hotel guests, leaving it blissfully empty of tourist crowds.
Banyan Tree Phuket
The adjoining stretch of Bang Tao beach might not be the most picturesque, and the setting between apartment buildings not the most enticing – but none of that matters after you’ve checked in at one of Banyan Tree’s private pool villas. Somewhat confusingly, the villas – classic Thai affairs with pointed roofs and teakwood floors – are spread over three distinct areas: book the adult-only Spa Sanctuary villas for all-you-can-spa perks, or the DoublePool villas for twin pools and heaps of space. But even the entry-level villas at the main address offer plenty of comforts, with open-air bathtubs, walled gardens and pools long enough for laps.
Address: Banyan Tree Phuket, 33 33/27 ถนน ศรีสุนทร Cherngtalay Thalang District, Phuket 83110, Thailand
Rosewood Phuket
This hotel may be located within eyeshot of Patong Beach, the island's rowdy epicentre, but from the moment you turn up at its monogrammed entrance gates, it feels a world away. Sprawled over a lush hillside dotted with ancient banyan trees and indigenous foliage, its 71 elegant villas and suites feel more like island homes than hotel digs, thanks to their cosy living-room spaces decorated with keepsakes, fresh flowers and coffee-table books. The Asaya spa is one of Rosewood’s best in the region, where serious spa junkies should book themselves into the Asaya Villa, a spacious day-use spa retreat with private watsu pool and Himalayan salt sauna. The four restaurants, providing treats from Italian comfort food to poolside surf and turf, are roomy and relaxed, with Ta Khai (modelled after a Thai fishing village, dishing up authentic Thai plates from open kitchens) being the rightful signature spot. There’s also a seriously good kids’ club – wooden toys, educational activities, the works – making it a great stay for the whole family. Read our full spa review of Rosewood Phuket.
Address: Rosewood Phuket, 88/28 Muen-Ngern Road Patong Kathu Phuket 83150, Thailand
COMO Point Yamu
There are only a few hotels of note on Phuket’s sunrise-facing east coast, with COMO Point Yamu being the brightest of the bunch – and in our opinion one of the best hotels in all of Thailand. Set on the tip of Cape Yamu, this wellness-focused place balances out its straight-lined design with inherently Thai touches (gorgeous Buddhist artworks among them) and a pinch of Mediterranean flair courtesy of Italian designer Paola Navone. Rooms are sleek, done up in crisp whites and electric-blue hues, and have fabulous views over Phang Nga Bay. There is no direct beach access, but COMO's swish beach club, set on a semi-private islet some 20 minutes away, more than makes up for that – as does the brilliant 330ft pool.
Address: COMO Point Yamu, 225 Moo 7, Talang, Paklok,, Phuket 83110, Thailand
Sala Phuket
Homegrown hotels generally play second fiddle to the big-brand-name digs on Phuket, but SALA Phuket is a notable exception. Don’t let its location near the airport turn you off – noise from planes is minimal, and wonderfully deserted Mai Khao beach on its doorstep is one of the island's prettiest. There are a handful of balcony suites, but the pool villas are the ones to book. Each is a white-washed sanctuary accentuated by shades of taupe, grey and Portuguese-tiled, open-air bathrooms that reference the island’s trade history. The SALA Spa has a great reputation, as does the restaurant – order the fragrant beef-cheek curry with mushrooms and betel leaves.
Address: Sala Phuket, 333 Moo 3 Mai Khao Beach, Thalang District, Phuket 83110, Thailand
Six Senses Koh Yao Noi
Technically not on Phuket, but a 45-minute speedboat trip away on go-slow Koh Yao Noi, Six Senses Yao Noi delivers big on the ultimate bamboo-hut-in-the-jungle fantasy. The 56 villas, hidden on the jungled slopes and bays of the island's sunrise-facing east coast, are thatched-roof tropical hideouts with bed posts from sun-bleached driftwood and expansive indoor-outdoor lounges from reclaimed teak. The vibe is Jungle Book-chic, but that doesn't mean you'll be roughing it: even the entry-level villas come with private pools, and the all-natural spa is fitted with all the bells and whistles (think: juice bar, smart tech wellness screenings and a blend-your-own-massage oil alchemy lab), and there's an all-day ice cream counter doling out jackfruit- basil-lime- and mango-flavoured scoops. And this being Six Senses, a brand with sustainability embedded into its DNA, everything is as green as it gets – staff are happy to show you around the resort's organic farm and recycling centre.
V Villas Phuket
With just 19 villas cantilevered on the hills above Ao Yon bay on Phuket's southeastern tip, this straight-lined and high-ceilinged retreat is a bijou hideaway that's big on service and views. Each of its sun-flooded villas, some with multiple bedrooms, is hugged by a private infinity pool long enough for laps and appointed with a butler on call for boating excursions, spa reservations and floating breakfasts (if that's your jam). The main restaurant, YON Beach House, serves a Thai-European medley of tuna tartare, tiger prawn-topped noodles, and squid ink risotto. And even if you're not sleeping over, the lounge-y, daybed-dotted rooftop bar is worth a stop for the spectacular sunsets alone.