When I first travelled to Phuket, I was grateful for the small room in a hotel that was some walking distance to the nearest beach. I enjoyed the beaches, affordable prices, delicious Thai food, and the holiday ambience. My thought process was that what I saved on my simple accommodation could be spent on more enjoyable activities that Phuket had to offer.
Now, I return to find resorts on almost any beach with sand, luxuriously appointed rooms and suites, every global culinary style offered, and endless activities, from themed attractions to village cycling tours.
Of all the Thai resort islands, Phuket is best known for relaxing in the sun and its exuberant nightlife. With many beaches, extensive accommodation options, delicious seafood, and championship golf courses, it’s easy to see why the island is so popular.
Phuket luxury villa living
Brand-loyal travellers won’t be disappointed with the accommodation options in Phuket, with most international resort brands represented here. Some even have more than one property on the island, so it’s important to direct taxi drivers to the right property you are staying in.
I realised this when I was deciding on my Phuket villa-cation. Anantara Layan Phuket Resort and Anantara Mai Khao Phuket are both located on the more popular west coast, with Anantara Layan about halfway down the coast and Anantara Mai Khao near the top of the northwestern coastline.
Both of these luxurious properties offer a variety of accommodations, with villas being the preferred and more expensive option. However, these villas also offer the most privacy, and I can easily appreciate how they appeal to families and honeymooners.
Layan in the sun
I checked into a pool villa at the Anantara Layan with nothing special in mind apart from lying around in the sun. My private plunge pool was the perfect place to relax, as it was located on the ground level, with privacy guaranteed by high walls and lush tropical vegetation.
The 78-room Anantara Layan Phuket Resort is a lush hillside and seaside resort overlooking the scenic but shallow Layan Beach. It adjoins Layan Residences by Anantara, a boutique collection of 15 large and private pool villas, and Avadina Hills by Anantara, 11 luxury residences featuring Japanese-inspired design.
The resort fronts a shallow, U-shaped cove, which is quite tidal and not ideal for low-tide swimming. This wasn’t an issue, as most guests enjoyed frolicking in the pool.
Those travelling with large families, many friends, or endless funds can choose one of several residences, one with seven bedrooms and an infinity pool overlooking the coast.
Unlike many villa guests, I became restless after swimming, sleeping, reading, and watching television, so I ventured out. There are two pools in this spacious resort, with one overlooking the beach and the other tucked away on the hillside. Buggies are available to negotiate the hillside assets.
For those who want to get energetic, there’s a Thai boxing ring with instructors on hand. There’s also a climbing wall and chef-led Spice Spoons Thai cooking classes, which are popular for their hands-on preparation of several classic Thai dishes.
Wining & dining
Anantara Layan’s new Beach House has several dining options: Breeze, Rooftop, and Age, plus the occasional pop-up from leading restaurants in the country. The breakfast buffet served on the first floor includes a free flow of sparkling wine as well as live stations with chefs cooking dishes upon request.
It wasn’t hard for me to gravitate toward the open-air Rooftop Bar, which, not surprisingly, is located on the top floor. While I only stuck around briefly after dark, the staff told me they had a stargazing telescope. My interests were more cocktail-gazing, and I left the selection in the capable hands of Ann, a mixologist who uses numerous grown-on-premises botanicals in her creations.
After enjoying a few beverages, it was time to head back to make the most of my private villa while enjoying some in-villa dining. I was impressed with the minimalist and magical lighting illuminating the garden pathways leading to the villas.
Dining by Design is an Anantara initiative enabling villa guests to dine in while staff prepare and serve. You should definitely check this luxury amenity out!
Magnificent Mai Khao
Relocating further north, I checked into Anantara Mai Khao, an all-villa property where I was determined to fully indulge in all I could from my one-bedroom villa with a private plunge pool.
Anantara Mai Khao is an exclusive all-pool villa property and one of Phuket’s northernmost properties. It’s a 20-minute taxi ride from the airport, although the resort can arrange transfers to and from the resort for a fee.
My one-bedroom villa was huge, with a large outdoor area that included a comfortable sala pavilion and a spacious lounge stacked with an abundance of pillows. Sun lounges are located beneath an umbrella. The pool has turquoise tiles, and a spacious outdoor bathtub is positioned at the side of the pool.
The villa’s interiors have three different areas: the bedroom/living, a walk-in closet, and a very spacious bathroom. Honey-coloured timber flooring extends throughout, except for the terrazzo in the bathroom.
Choosing to do little else but read, swim, sleep, and watch a little television, my villa was perfect. When I ventured out for meals, I mostly chose to move around in a buggy, as the grounds are quite spacious.
On other occasions, I took a stroll to admire the detail in the plants, the occasional bird, and to take in the solitude. In doing so, I realised that resorts like Anantara Mai Khao are not really places to meet people, as you rarely see other guests.
Serving cuisine and recreation
The resort’s signature restaurant, Sea.Fire.Salt., located along the beachfront, specialises in Thai-inspired dishes, especially seafood. La Sala is an all-day dining outlet where a superior breakfast buffet is offered along with Thai and Indian cuisines. Interestingly, sparkling Prosecco was not served at this Anantara breakfast. The Tree House, positioned above La Sala, serves inspirational cocktails.
Anantara is known for its experiential activities, including Spice Spoons cooking classes with in-town market visits. The resort also offers ecologically inspired activities and excursions. Among the options are explorations of nearby rainforests, caves, islands and waterfalls. The spa offers an extensive selection of treatments and therapies.
Quick Phuket travel tips
The Thai island of Phuket is just a short flight from Kuala Lumpur, and holidaymakers can travel there for an extended weekend as well as longer, more leisurely breaks. Both Anantara properties offer villas oozing contemporary chic but with reminders that they are located in Thailand.
Thai time is one hour behind Malaysian time. The monsoon season could affect outdoor activities from May to October. During this period, hotel prices drop, so if you can stand a little rain, the off-season is a great time for bargain hunters to visit. However, don’t expect any bargains during the peak November to February season.
*All images are courtesy of David Bowden.
