I visited the Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa recently and stayed in one of the private pool villas (My first!!), of which there are 26, but there are also 150 deluxe rooms, which I also took a look at and will post a pic or two here. You can of course see a lot more photos (51 to be exact) on the Flickr set of the resort.

On the northwest coast of Phuket, north of the airport lies Mai Khao beach, an 11 kilometer stretch of practically deserted tropical beach which is home to a number of luxurious resorts away from the noisy crowds often found on other parts of the island.

Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa opened on March 28th 2010 and was in soft opening mode until its Grand Opening on October 2010.

Location

16 kms north of Phuket International Airport, the Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa is about 20 minutes by taxi (THB 500) or hotel transportation. Opting for the hotel transportation (THB1200) is a good idea for a couple of reasons; Mai Khao beach is quite far from everything on Phuket and public transportation on the island is practically non-existent. Cartels of private taxis are pretty much the only option for getting around Phuket and prices will leave a bad taste in your mouth.

If you do plan on traveling around the island a fair bit, renting your own car could be a good choice economically.

There is a shuttle bus service between the resort and a number of places on Phuket, see below for destinations, prices and timetable.

Rooms

There are 150 deluxe rooms at the Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa, situated on four floors in a “U” shape around the perimeter of the resort. The rooms feature all the standards you would expect from a 5 star resort in the Marriott family, and since it was built recently, they have adhered to the recent trend of the fully glass walled bathroom. All rooms also come with a balcony which overlooks the resort gardens and one of the pools.

Deluxe rooms at The Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa hold 2 adults and 2 children, or up to three adults. There are 14 sets of interconnecting rooms for larger families and a roll-away bed can be requested for an extra charge of THB1600+++ (USD53).

Private Pool Villas

The resort features 21 one bedroom private pool villas, 4 oceanfront pool villas and one 3 bedroom oceanfront pool villa. The photos here and in the Flickr set are of the one bedroom pool villa, in which we stayed.

Upon entering the villa there is the bed and a sofa, both facing glass double doors that open out onto the private pool in the little garden. By the pool there is a pool deck with two deck lounges and a small table between them.

The pool is 1.3 meters deep and has steps around the corner leading to an outdoor shower and another glass door that leads to the bathroom.

The bathroom runs the length of the villa, front to back and is very spacious.

Bathroom

The bathtub in the private pool villas at Renaissance Phuket Resort and Spa is the biggest solid stone bathtub I have ever seen. It’s huge and can easily and comfortably accommodate two people, perhaps even three. It’s like having a second private pool in the villa (O.K, maybe I got carried away there).

Amenities

A nice touch are the bicycles available for free for guests to use in the area. We took a ride around the Mai Khao area visiting other resorts including The JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Sala Phuket Resort, which also has private pool villas. There is also a small shopping complex up the road at Turtle Village near Anantara Phuket Villas where you will find a mini-mart where you can stock up on drinks and snacks if you don’t want to pay mini-bar prices.

There are two pools at the resort, the main pool, measuring 33 meters in length and situated practically on the beach, and the smaller “Kid’s World & Pool” located in the center of the resort complex.

Speaking of kids, babysitting is available for THB214 net (USD7.15 at the time this review was written) per hour and needs to be booked one day in advance.

Dining

Pictured above is Sand Box, a poolside/beachside all day dining spot that turns into a bar and barbeque at night with funky lounge grooves to mellow out to.

Above Sand Box is Takieng, serving classic Thai cuisine with indoor and outdoor seating. The tables on the balcony are popular, so if you want to eat with the sounds of waves gently crashing on the nearby Mai Khao beach, I recommend you make a booking earlier in the day.

The staff at Takieng were very friendly and helpful in helping us choose our food and we were very happy with Kang Masaman Nuea, a tender and mild beef curry with potatoes and peanuts, which melted in my mouth, and the Pla Nueang Manoa, steamed whole fish with lemongrass, lime and chilli dressing.

There was also a nice selection of delicious traditional Thai desserts as well, in which I of course indulged.

Breakfast buffet is served at Loca Vore which has many outdoor tables, some perched over the man made lake in the gardens. Lunch and dinner are also served here.

Shuttle bus service

Renaissance Phuket Resort and Spa provides a shuttle bus service between the resort and three places of interest on the island. Officially a reservation is required one hour prior to departure, however they aren’t going to kick you off if you call 30 minutes before departure.

All shuttles require a minimum of two passengers.

* Patong is the main touristy beach strip on Phuket. While the beach itself is nothing to be impressed by – crawling with louty tourists, persistent touts and freelance prostitutes- this is the main commercial hub of the island with many shops, restaurants and bars. I personally am not a fan of the area, but if you are on the island for a number of days, it might be o.k. for a quick visit- especially if you are looking for a Burger King or a Starbucks coffee.

*Central Festival is a huge modern shopping mall in Patong with a huge selection of restaurants, shops, a game center and a cinema. Great place to escape the sun for a day and perhaps keep the kids entertained.

The Bottom Line

Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa on Mai Khao beach is a great addition to Marriott’s lifestyle brand and fits in harmoniously with its quiet environs.

The resort’s target market of couples and families will find the secluded and peaceful area very relaxing, however if you are the type who likes to party, unless you are up for a bit of traveling back and forth, a base closer to the action of Patong might be for you.

Have you stayed at the Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa? What was your experience like? Do you have any photos online that you would like to share?

Read more about and check rates at the Renaissance phuket Resort and Spa.

You might also like:

• JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa
• Ayara Kamala Resort Phuket
• The Adamas Resort & Spa Phuket

Cha Am is a sleepy little resort town on the sunrise coast on the Gulf of Thailand.  Celebrated for years by royalty as a unique get-away spot, Cha Am has come into its own as a resort town to be enjoyed by all as the Thai people flock to Cha Am hotels to get away from the difficulties of modern life and relax.

There are five resorts that really stand out and are worth the Cha Am Experience.  For the best Cha Am hotels, read on.

Yaiya Resort Cha Am

This hotel features eleven bedroom pool villas with either one, two or three rooms.  It also has 23 deluxe rooms and six suites.  The Bedroom Pool villas not only have bedrooms, but large dressing/bathrooms on the lower deck, a lounge room and a private plunge pool with sun deck.  They are all spacious, with the smallest –a one bedroom suite, weighing in at 157m².  The larger ones are great for family size and have more accommodations.  Even the standard rooms have a wonderful view of the Gulf of Thailand and all accommodations come with high speed wireless internet access, rain shower and bathtub, coffee and tea making equipment, LCD TV and DVD player, as well as spa services available on the property.

Veranda Resort and Spa Cha Am

It is directly on the beach front and the resort is set among lush Feng Shui gardens.   Twenty two rooms have king-sized beds as well a day beds on the verandas overlooking the Gulf – perfect for catching the spectacular Cha Am sunrises.  The resort also has a free form swimming pool with artificial beach, sand, bubble jets, slide and many activities available right on the property.

Aleenta Cha Am

Perfect for the person looking for a hideaway.

They have pool suite bungalows with private plunge pools, and ocean view suites that have indoor and outdoor living areas.  Whether you’re with a family or are looking for an adults only getaway, the Aleenta Cha Am has what you need.  There is the child-friendly Frangipani Wing, and then a larger adults only area.  All accommodations include an iPod dock so you can listen to your own music, but also have an iPod in the room pre-loaded with a large selection of music.  They pride themselves on the luxury of the linens with Egyptian cotton sheets and big, fluffy luxury bath towels.  The resort also offers complimentary wireless internet.

Alila Hotel

Cha Am’s first boutique hotel

It offers large rooms with luxurious hideaways, or connected rooms.  The hotel has a tropical feel of relaxation and luxury with large lawns and deep blue pools.  They pride themselves on offering state of the art modern amenities such as home theater systems, iPod docking systems, 42” plasma TV and free wireless access.

The Grand Pacific Sovereign Resort & Spa

It offers fantastic views not only of the Gulf of Thailand but the lush countryside around.  It is close to many attractions, as are all Cha Am hotels, but one does not have to leave the grounds to have a wonderful and relaxing time.  They have an outdoor swimming pool, a spa offering massage, shops, restaurants offering authentic local cuisine, and a range of amenities that are sure to have you reluctant to leave.

These are our top 5 resorts for Cha Am, what do you think? You can find out more about these and plenty of other Cha Am resorts and hotels at ReserveThaiHotels.com

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The Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa was re-branded the Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort in November 2011.

The information on this river side Bangkok resort has been updated and moved to Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort review.

On “the other side” of the Chao Phraya River, a short boat ride away you will find the Bangkok Marriott Resort and Spa. While it is located only 10 or 15 minutes from the heart of Bangkok, it feels like it is a world away with a true resort feeling……….

You might also like:

• JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa
• Sukhumvit Park Marriott Bangkok review
• Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa review

From mid-summer (August 15), The Regency Club rooms and facilities at the Hyatt Regency Hua Hin will be unavailable to guests as the hotel will be starting a complete overhaul and renovation of all Regency Club rooms and facilities. The BARAI Spa will be unaffected.

Closing it down in the middle of the summer seems a little strange, but I suppose they need to do this in order to have it ready by the middle of December for the start of the peak season.

From the official press release listed below, it looks like they will be enclosing the balconies on the second and third floor rooms with glass sliding doors to incorporate what until now has been the balcony, into the room. As you can see from the photo below there is a decent sized balcony with a table and two chairs. Rooms on the ground floor had this area enclosed with glass walls, making a kind of sun room, and there was a sofa and chairs there.

It is interesting to note in the press release that once the renovations are complete, Regency Club guests will receive a complimentary 60-minute spa treatment for two people per stay at THE BARAI spa.

Let’s hope they also make some improvements to the food and drink choices available in the Regency Club, which as I remember, in Thailand tend to be quite a disappointment compared to other Hyatt properties in Asia.

From August 15 to December 15, 2010, the Regency Club facility at Hyatt Regency Hua Hin will be closed for a complete and total renovation. During this period, all guestrooms and suites in the Regency Club area, the Regency Club Lounge, Regency Club swimming pool and Regency Club garden area will be unavailable for guest use.

When the renovated Regency Club is unveiled, guests will experience a stunning room designed for the ultimate in comfort and convenience. To bring guests closer to nature, all Regency Club rooms on the ground floor will feature an outdoor patio with on-your-doorstep access to the gardens and swimming pool area. This new Regency Club Garden Room will expand the room size from the current 38 sq. m to roughly 45 sq. m, including the outdoor patio area. The second and third floor rooms will also have the luxury of additional space through an innovatively designed balcony area. This design will include an option to open the large panoramic sliding windows to enjoy fresh air and an outdoor feel or to keep the doors closed feeling the spacious comfort of your own room. This enclosed balcony feel will expand our existing upper floor rooms by 9 sq. m to an actual room size of 38 sq. m.

All this will be complemented by a wide range of standard Regency Club benefits, as well as new, unique and value-added inclusions, namely complimentary Internet connectivity (both wired and Wi-Fi) and a complimentary 60-minute spa treatment for two people per stay in our award-winning THE BARAI spa.

During the renovation period there will be no major disruption to the day-to-day operations of the rest of the hotel’s facilities as the renovation is confined to specific areas in the sprawling resort grounds. The team is committed to ensuring that guest satisfaction, comfort and convenience, as well as delivery of prompt service, remains as top priority during this time. The Presidential Villa and The Barai Suites remain open and available for bookings as normal.

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The 5 star Chedi Hotel Phuket is marketed as one of the few hotels on the island that is actually right on the beach, and what a beautiful beach it is!

The peaceful and secluded Pansea Bay is on the west coast of Phuket and has a wonderful white, sandy beach that invites you in to the warm waters of the Andaman Sea. Although this is a hotel it has a resort feel as each one of the 108 guest ‘rooms’ is actually a detached cottage with traditional thatched roof.

A stay at the Chedi Hotel Phuket is what many visitors have in mind when thinking of a vacation in Thailand! There are both one and two bedroom cottages, some of which are right on the beach while others meander their way up the hillside and give guests wonderful views. Though rustic-looking from the outside, inside the cottages you’ll find all the usual luxuries from a 5 star hotel.

The Chedi Hotel Phuket also offers restaurants and bars, a swimming pool, spa, tennis courts and more, and is only 20 minutes from Patong.

You might also like:

• Sawasdee Village Hotel Phuket
• The Adamas Resort & Spa Phuket
• Ayara Kamala Resort Phuket

The 4 star Sawasdee Village Hotel Phuket feels more like a 5 star hotel with its excellent range of in-room facilities, luxurious accommodation, and beautiful tropical surroundings.

Only 500 meters from Kata Beach and accessible via the hotel’s own free shuttle bus, the Sawasdee Village Hotel Phuket offers the best of both worlds – a quieter location, yet only 10 kilometers to the lively beaches and nightlife of Patong Beach.

There’s a total of 54 rooms at this Phuket hotel including the 40 comfortable Deluxe Garden Rooms with either a pool or garden view, plus there are 14 ultra luxurious villas for guests who really want to indulge themselves! Every room comes with some great features including a computer with free internet access, DVD and CD player, cable TV, fridge and fully stocked mini-bar, and more.

The swimming pool is a real feature; surrounded by lush vegetation and with great architecture it is quite stunning.For dining there are two restaurants and bars and guests can take part in Thai cooking classes while staying at the Sawasdee Village Hotel Phuket.

You might also like:

• The Tamarind Village Hotel
• The Chedi Hotel, Phuket
• Ayara Kamala Resort Phuket

The Chava Resort Phuket sets itself apart from other Phuket accommodation because this resort offers only spacious apartments. The 5 star accommodation at the The Chava Resort is modern and comfortable and is the perfect choice for families, couples, and business travelers as the apartments range from 2 bedrooms up to 4 bedrooms.

Guests can enjoy private plunge pools with some apartments and beautiful views with others, while all apartments at The Chava Resort Phuket are furnished and decorated to a high standard. A good range of in-room amenities include a well equipped kitchen, LCD TVs, DVD players, and more, and resort wide there’s an attractive swimming pool always with plenty of sun loungers in which to sit back and enjoy the Thai sunshine.

Surin Beach is only 150 meters distant when the crystal clear waters and brilliant white sand calls, and despite the quieter location The Chava Resort is still within reach of numerous attractions.

You might also like:

• The Adamas Resort & Spa Phuket
• Ayara Kamala Resort Phuket
• JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa

The Adamas Resort and Spa Phuket is a 5 star resort situated on the northwest, and less developed, side of Phuket. The beachside location on the Nai Yang Beach and Bay is an idyllic setting for couples and families looking to enjoy the best of Thailand’s beaches but without the crowds.

The range of rooms at the Adamas Resort and Spa Phuket include Luxury Rooms and Luxury Suites, some with direct pool access, plus luxurious Beachside Villas with pools. Just steps from the soft sand of Nai Yang Beach these villas offer the ultimate in privacy and luxury.

The resort also features swimming pools, a spa and wellness center, and facilities for meetings, conferences and banquets, plus several dining opportunities. Phuket International Airport is convenient at only ten minutes drive while the lively towns of Phuket and Patong are about 40 minutes away.

Read more about Adamas Resort & Spa Phuket

You might also like:

• Ayara Kamala Resort Phuket
• Millennium Resort Phuket
• JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa

Situated in the center of Patong on Thailand’s top island destination, Phuket, the 5 star Millennium Resort Patong Phuket is ideally situated to enjoy this lively town.

There are two wings at the Millennium Resort Patong, both of which have very different appeals. For guests who want to experience the vibrant nightlife and more of this town, the Beachside Wing of the resort is your best choice. This modern and chic wing of the hotel features comfortable rooms with all the essentials. On the Lakeside Wing rooms and furnished in a more elegant style, providing an oasis of calm on this lakeside setting yet still within the middle of Patong.

There are several different room sizes and styles but the Cabana Rooms really stand out from the crowd with their Jacuzzis, private terrace and direct access into one of two of the resort swimming pools.

The Millennium Resort Patong also features five restaurants and bars, a fitness center, gym, and business and conference facilities. It is just 500 meters from Patong Beach and adjacent to Jungceylon shopping center.

You might also like:

• The Adamas Resort & Spa Phuket
• Katathani Phuket Beach Resort
• Ayara Kamala Resort Phuket

From the moment you arrive at the Ayara Kamala Resort Phuket you realize that this small resort is different to the norm. Set on a hillside overlooking the Andaman Sea and Kamala Bay provides many rooms with beautiful sea views, and guests can enjoy rooms or villas with private pools or make use of the resort swimming pool or private beach.

With only 27 guest rooms the key here is personal service, and though small, the Ayara Kamala Resort Phuket still offers a range of services and level of luxury that you would expect from a 5 star hotel. There’s a restaurant serving both Thai and International Cuisine that benefits from sea views; and a spa and wellness center with fitness center, sauna and tennis courts.

The quiet location is ideal for couples especially those on honeymoons, yet Patong Beach and Phuket International Airport are both around 30 minutes distant.

For a detailed description, more photos and reservations, visit Ayara Kamala Resort at ReserveThaiHotels.com

You might also like:

• Sala Phuket Resort & Spa
• The Adamas Resort & Spa Phuket
• The Chava Resort, Phuket