Top 5 Places To Stay In Phuket

Phuket is Thailand’s largest and most popular island. Located just a one-hour flight south of Bangkok, the Andaman Sea island and its idyllic beaches, coves and bays are recognized as one of the country’s best tourist attractions.

While Phuket has plenty of accommodation for the budget traveler, it has also become a magnet for the luxury traveler in recent years because of the ever-growing presence of a string of super-exclusive hotels and resorts.

Here are my top 5 picks of Phuket’s best luxury resorts. Enjoy!

1. The Racha

The Racha, one of Thailand’s premier deluxe island hideaways, is set on a pristine, white beach on Racha Island, which is located 12 miles (20 km) or 35 minutes by speed boat from Phuket’s Chalong Bay.

The island is known for its natural beauty, amazing corals, and stunning marine life. The resort features 85 luxurious villas that range in size and price.

The Lighthouse is one of the world’s most unusual hotel rooms as it is a superb five-story (yes, FIVE stories) villa with a private pool, terrace, sun deck, and observation lounge offering magnificent 360-degree views over Racha Island and the Andaman Sea. It doesn’t get more luxurious than this!

2. Anantara Layan Phuket Resort

Anantara Phuket Layan Resort & Spa is a charming tropical sanctuary in a tranquil bay setting on Phuket’s stunning western coast. The resort opens onto a private stretch of beautiful Layan Beach, where soft white sands are gently lapped by the turquoise waters of the Andaman Sea.

There are 30 rooms, suites, and 47 pool villas in nine uniquely impressive styles, all combining pure indulgence with Anantara’s renowned hospitality. Guests here spend lazy days at the shoreline pool, plunge into a new adventure with thrilling and relaxing water sports, or unwind into signature Anantara Spa journeys.

3. Banyan Tree Phuket

Encircling the sparkling waters of a saltwater lagoon, Banyan Tree Phuket is a tropical fairytale where the roads are lined with palms, the fields are bright with blooms, and the Bang Tao Bay always sparkles in sapphire brilliance.

The hotel is a glorious spread of elegant Thai architecture complemented with every modern amenity imaginable. The hotel is surrounded by Laguna Phuket’s exclusive community, a 400-hectare former abandoned tin mining site that includes 3 km of sandy shores and is home to more than 30 restaurants and bars (with free use of inter-resort transportation by shuttle vehicle or lagoon boat).

4. Six Senses Yao Noi

Six Senses Yao Noi sets the highest benchmark for island resorts living in Southeast Asia. The attention to detail and focus on the unique destination reinforces the Six Senses brand’s commitment to sustainability.

The 56-pool villa accommodations provide generous personal space and present an uncompromised lifestyle. Some villas overlook the striking limestone islands that rise out of the Andaman Sea, providing an idyllic backdrop for days of tranquil indulgence.

Natural materials used in modern architecture, a beautiful island setting, and excellent personal service support the Six Senses philosophy of creating exceptional experiences.

5. Rosewood Phuket

Rosewood Phuket is a tropical beach hideaway at an exquisite location along a 600 m (2000 ft) beachfront at Emerald Bay. Innovative design with subtle Thai influences blends organically into a lush natural landscape, while sun-weathered shores and glistening, crystalline waters help celebrate luxury island living.

Featuring 71 pavilions and villas, the resort offers a secluded island escape and celebration of the brand’s ‘A Sense of Place’ philosophy, taking inspiration from the natural landscape, diverse cultures and unique sensibilities of this distinctive southern isle.