11 best Phuket hotels for the ultimate bucket-list trip
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As Thailand's well-established holiday hotspot, Phuket is blessed with a huge variety of places to call home during your visit, from boutique hotels and jungle hideouts to the sprawling big-name blockbusters perched on sugar-cane beaches. Most of the luxury hotels are found dotted around the bays on the west coast, but there's something to draw you in no matter where you pitch up, from the quiet shores of Cape Panwa to the buzzy nightlife of Patong.
Opportunity for fun abounds in Phuket, where warm waters teem with marine life (if you're a keen scuba diver like me, you'll find heaven in its rich coral and clear visibility), and postcard-pretty bays attract keen kayaking tourists in their droves. Book a tour of Phang Nga Bay and its prehistoric limestone caves, also making stops at Koh Phi Phi, James Bond Island and Maya Bay (yes, the one where The Beach was filmed). Don't do as many tourists do and bypass the cultural hub of Phuket town, where rainbow-painted shopfronts line the bustling streets and vendors sell authentic, affordable Thai cuisine.
That being said, Phuket is also a place where those drained from the weight of life come to rest their weary heads. When I first visited the Pearl of the Andaman post-pandemic, I was yearning for a quiet sanctuary – somewhere where my tired mind and body could recuperate – and I'm not sure I could have picked somewhere better. No one will blame you if you spend your time on this diverse island – one of rolling verdant rainforests, powdery white beaches stretching to miles of electric blue sea, and dramatic sea stacks soaring from emerald green waters – simply being. Soaking in the views, the sunshine, the culture, and the enviable laidback way of life. It will do you wonders.
The best hotels in Phuket at a glance:
- Best family-friendly hotel: The Slate
- Best for food-lovers: Rosewood
- Best for taking it easy: Como Point Yamu
- Best for health and wellness: Banyan Tree Veya Phuket
How we chose the best hotels in Phuket:
GLAMOUR's travel guides and hotel reviews are compiled by our well-travelled journalists who have an in-depth knowledge of the destination. Our writers have spent time getting to know the area and have stayed in various types of accommodation, from the grande dame hotels to the lesser-known hidden gems. As a discerning editor who has spent time in Phuket and independently reviewed various hotels, old and new, I'm well-qualified to help you find your perfect stay on the island, depending on your preferences and what you want from your trip.
Ever felt like you “just need to get away”? I swear, this is the place to do it.
After another destination? Book the best luxury hotels in Mauritius, the Riviera Maya, or these *actually* affordable Maldives hotels. Looking for something a little closer to home, but equally warm and sunny? We've selected the very best hotels in Lisbon, Ibiza and Mallorca, too.
Ahead, we've narrowed down the hundreds of places to stay in Phuket to our edit of the very best, in no particular order. All you need to do is check-in.
Best for wellness
Why we love it: The draw at Banyan Tree Veya Phuket, which opened its doors in spring 2022 and has been a firm Phuket favourite since, is undoubtedly the large private pool villas perched on the edge of a peaceful lagoon. Even entry level rooms are ludicrously luxurious, with 14 sqm outdoor pools, open-air bathtubs in the privacy of a walled garden, and traditional Thai interiors with plush Japanese beds.
Away from your villa, if you can bear to leave, wellness is Banyan Tree's raison d'être. The resort offers bespoke programmes catered to your health and wellness needs, and the multi-award-winning spa offers a wide range of traditional and holistic treatments using natural Thai ingredients.
Price per night: from £460.
Address: 33 Cherngtalay 33/27 Srisoonthorn Rd, Tambon Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket 83110, Thailand
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spa? Yes
Best for an A-list stay
Why we love it: The first opening from the now-global leader in haute hospitality, Aman Resorts, Amanpuri has attracted a glittering guest list since first opening its doors in 1988, from royalty looking for a top-secret island retreat to celebrities including Beyonce, Kate Moss and Angelina Jolie. Named after the Sanskrit word for ‘place of peace’, this pioneer of Phuketian hotspots lives up to its name. The renowned Holistic Wellness Centre often features high on lists of the world's best spas – it is certainly one of the very best in Thailand – and boasts 12 treatment rooms, a sea-view gym, infrared sauna and steam room, a muay thai boxing ring and outstanding bespoke spa treatments.
In the 56 villas and pavilions, luxe comfort and ample space marry with traditional Thai design – all soaringly high ceilings, teak beams and Buddhist antiques – and outdoor terraces dotted with sun loungers, sofas and (of course) private swimming pools will undoubtedly be where you spend much of your time here.
If budget allows, this immense hotel, occupying a private palm-lined peninsula overlooking the Andaman Sea's rolling blue horizon, is a place that'll stay with you long after you return home.
Price per night: from £1300.
Address: 118, 1 ถนน ศรีสุนทร, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket 83110, Thailand
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spa? Yes
Best for taking it easy
Why we love it: Perched high above Phang Nga Bay and the Andaman Sea, Como Point Yamu is where weary souls come to rest. Chilling out, relaxing, living life in the slow lane – that's what Como's Thai property is all about. And it does it well. From the minute you walk into your room or suite – with its clean, crisp white decor dotted with bright blue furnishings, and postcard-pretty views over Phang Nga Bay, Yamu Bay or the Andaman Sea – you feel at ease.
The property prides itself on its peaceful remote location, with Phuket town a 20-minute drive away in the hotel’s shuttle (£25) and no nearby restaurants, bars or shops. Don't worry, Como Point Yamu is the sort of place you don't want to leave. When you're not snoozing on a sun lounger or taking a dip in the hotel's 100-metre infinity pool, try your hand at kayaking, paddle-boarding, diving, snorkelling, sailing or hiking. Or of course, bliss out at the COMO Shambhala Retreat spa, complete with a sauna and hydro pool, where a range of Asian-inspired massages and treatments help soothe mind and body.
Price per night: from £230.
Address: 225 Pa Klok, Thalang District, Phuket 83110, Thailand
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spa? Yes
Best for families
Why we love it: Designer Bill Bensley has achieved something at The Slate which is unlike anywhere else Phuket. Rather than the typical minimalist, beachy interiors of other resorts, the design here is inspired by the island's tin-mining history. Contemporary industrial décor is artfully married with traditional Thai features and eye-catching water features, spread across the hotel's three expansive pools.
Insta-perfect design aside, The Slate offers an ideal family-friendly retreat: it's just 15 minutes from the airport (no long, tantrum-inducing transfer) and there's plenty to keep the whole tribe busy: a kids' club; spa; cookery school; private pool family villas; and golden-sand Nai Yang Beach just a few steps from your front door.
Don't miss dinner at The Slate's signature Black Ginger, one of Phuket's most notable and awarded restaurants and certainly our best meal of the whole trip.
Price per night: from £170.
Address: 116 Sakhu, Thalang District, Phuket 83110, Thailand
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spa? Yes
Best for foodies
Why we love it: Despite its proximity to the island's buzzy Patong Beach, Rosewood Phuket feel like its very own secluded paradise. Occupying a vast verdant hillside, the hotel's 71 villas each come with the wow-factor expected of a Rosewood property: plush decor, high-end amenities, floor-to-ceiling windows opening onto private terraces – complete with private plunge pool – with sprawling ocean views.
The Asaya Spa is one of the best on the island, but those in-the-know keep coming back to the Rosewood for the hotel's unrivalled dedication to gastronomy, with a quartet of exquisite restaurants offering some of the best dining on Phuket. As well as a must-try Italian restaurant, the standout is award-winning fine-dining eatery Ta Khai – meaning ‘fishing net’ in Thai – where authentic Southern Thai cuisine is expertly whipped up by local chef couple Khun Nun and Khun Yai, using 100% locally-sourced ingredients and just-caught seafood.
Price per night: from £700.
Address: M8/28 Muen-Ngern Road, Patong, Kathu, 83150 Patong Beach, Thailand
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spa? Yes
Best for sustainability
Why we love it: Not technically on Phuket but a 45-minute speedboat away, Six Senses Yao Noi is an idyllic island retreat occupying a quiet, secluded hilltop on Koh Yao Noi. Its 55 expansive villas feel like true tropical hideaways, with sweeping views over the verdant landscape to Phang Nga Bay and each with their own private pool. Even entry-level rooms remind you that you're at a five-star hotel from one of the most prestigious names in hospitality, but if budget allows, splash out on the Ocean Panorama Pool Villas for views that will – no cliché – quite literally take your breath away.
Six Senses spas are known to be some of the very best, and Yao Noi is no exception. Nested within the lush hillside and boasting 10 serene wellness rooms, each wellness programme – each using natural products and incorporating traditional Thai healing practices – will leave you feeling brand new. Six Senses has also become synonymous with sustainability. The resort reduces consumption, uses local produce and supports the surrounding communities and ecosystems through the brand's ‘Earth Lab’ scheme.
For dining, choose between the Hilltop restaurant offering modern western cuisine with, you guessed it, sweeping views of Phang Nga Bay; or international and grill classes at the more relaxed beachfront eatery.
Price per night: from £500.
Address: 56 Moo 5 Tambol Koh Yao Noi, Amphur Koh Yao, Phang Nga 82160, Thailand
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spa? Yes
Best for honeymoons
Why we love it: This sprawling five-star resort is known for its elegant and spacious villas and suites, some with private pools surrounded by high-stone walls, and direct access to the white-sand Layan Beach, where kayaks and paddleboards await.
Unwind at the impressive spa where a variety of rejuvenating treatments are on offer, or if you fancy something a little more energetic, there's plenty of sports facilities and activities to keep you busy, from ziplining to boxing, and for families, there's a well-equipped kids' club.
Anantara Layan Phuket is ideal for couples or honeymooners looking for a peaceful, secluded stay.
Price per night: from £470.
Address: 168 Moo 6, Layan Beach Soi 4 Cherngtalay, Thalang District, Phuket 83110, Thailand
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spa? Yes
Best for quirky accommodation
Why we love it: If you haven't heard of Keemala, chances are you've seen scroll-pausing photos plastered on Instagram. Perched high in the treetops of the Kamala rainforest in island's west coast, this otherworldly resort has made a unique name for itself in Phuket. From multi-storey fairytale treehouses to luxury tents and the property's signature woven ‘bird’s nests,’ all nestled amongst lush greenery with private pools, Keemala is truly for the Phuket traveller seeking something out of the ordinary.
For when you can tear yourself away from your blissful hideaway, the Mala Spa offers traditional healing techniques and Kamala beach is just 10 minutes' away via free shuttle bus.
Price per night: from £400.
Address: 10/88 Moo 6, Kamala, Kathu District, Phuket, 83150 Kamala Beach, Thailand
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spa? Yes
Best value for money
Why we love it: Sala Phuket sits perfectly poised on Mai Khao Beach, a honeyed stretch of tourist-free sand practically made for lazy beach holidays. When you're not sipping a pina colada beach-side, try your hand at beach yoga, bliss out in the award-winning spa (book the signature massage, which combines various soothing styles including traditional Thai and Hawaiian lomi lomi), and try fresh seafood at the poolside restaurant.
Entry-level rooms – comfortable and crisp white – often come in below the £200 mark even in high season, making this one of the decidedly more affordable five-star options on the island. If budget can stretch, it's worth upgrading to a pool villa with luxurious indoor-outdoor bathrooms and your own haven of a private pool.Price per night: from £180.
Address: Sala Phuket Mai Khao Beach Resort, 333, Mai Khao, Thalang District, Phuket 83110, Thailand
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spa? Yes
Best for a secluded retreat
Why we love it: Set on hillside cascading down to a picturesque stretch of private white beach on the island's northwest coast, Trisara has earned a reputation as one of the most luxurious and ultra-glam places to call home on Phuket. The 39 contemporary Thai villas all come with spacious terraces, private pools and panoramic views of the sea.
Here, you truly feel as though you're on a secluded island getaway, with a sense of remoteness occupying the property's glorious 40 acres. There's plenty to occupy your time, from snorkelling and windsurfing during high season to unwinding at the sensational sea-view spa, and of course, trying as many dishes as your time allows at one of Trisara's three acclaimed beachfront restaurants. Pru, the only restaurant on Phuket to hold a Michelin star, serves up exquisite Western-Asian cuisine and prides itself on using local and homegrown ingredients.
Price per night: from £900.
Address: 60/1 Moo 6, Srisoonthorn Road, Choeng Thale, Phuket, 83110
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spa? Yes
Best for glamour
Why we love it: Perched above Cape Panwa on Phuket's southeastern-most point, Sri Panwa is Phuket's hip luxury hangout, where the stylish jet-set come for privacy and glamour. The waterfall swimming pool is enormous and faces the sunset, and there's five restaurants to suit all preferences: the pool club for international fare; sushi at Japenese eatery Baba Iki; delicious Chinese dishes at Baba Chino; Baba Hot Box for famed barbecue food; and the hotel's main restaurant, Baba Soul Food, for Thai cuisine. Don't miss a sundowner at Baba Nest offering postcard-pretty views.
The spa offers a range of relaxing and rejuvenating treatments as well as activities including yoga on a pretty floating deck overlooking the Andaman. But the jewel in Sri Panwa's seriously star-studded crown are the 20 pool suites and 10 penthouses, each boasting an infinity swimming pool.
You'll have a hard time leaving this ultra-luxe haven, but when you can bear to drag yourself away, Phuket Town is just 20 minutes away via minibus.
Price per night: from £280.
Address: 88 Moo 8, Sakdidej Road, Tumbon Vichit, Muang, 83000 Panwa Beach, Thailand
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spa? Yes
