What’s New In Phuket?

Phuket is a popular getaway with TripAdvisor ranking Nai Harn Beach as Asia’s number six in its Top 10 Beaches in Asia for 2022. A recent TripAdvisor sponsored survey revealed that one in four Singaporean travellers will take a beach trip this year.

Scoot has recently offered flights to Thailand starting from S$65 for flights before 22 March 2022. The airline’s Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) flight from Phuket to Singapore is TR653. Or check out Singapore Airline’s direct flights from Singapore to Phuket.

We hope some of these would provide inspiration for your next journey to Phuket.

Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort

Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort reopened 16 October 2021 after completing a US$10 million extensive makeover of its guest rooms and suites, dining outlets, public areas, recreational facilities and also added a brand-new outdoor events space overlooking the Andaman Sea.

Stay 3 nights and enjoy the fourth night free when you book before 31 March 2023 for stays before 31 March 2023. Enjoy early check-in at 1 pm and late check-out at 2 pm subject to availability.

The 201 guest rooms and suites property with private sea view terraces is located along Phuket’s famous Millionaire’s Mile and Rayee Beach. Brand new Family Rooms have been added to the inventory of rooms offering spacious accommodation that are available with or without bunk beds. A new Camp Hyatt Kids Club offers a range of educational and hands-on activities featuring Phuket’s first vertical playground with marine biology programmes, house reef visits, arts and crafts, interactive games and a vibrant fish aquarium.

New dining options here include all-day dining Pool House Kitchen, Japanese restaurant Mizu serving Teppanyaki favourites, ONE80 Pool bar to enjoy a range of refreshing cocktails and a two-storey soon to open clifftop tapas bar Casa Boho.

Recreational facilities include a 24-hour fitness centre, spa, two infinity pools and an entertainment lounge. A Marine Centre offers diving courses with guided snorkelling and shore walks along the large natural reef in front of the hotel.

For reservations, please contact your travel professional, visit https://bit.ly/hyattphuketsandbox, call the hotel directly at + 66(0) 76 231 234, or email reservations.phuhr@hyatt.com

SAii Laguna Phuket

SAii Laguna Phuket is surrounded by tranquil lagoons on the island’s sunset coast and overlooks Bangtao Beach. Guests can expect a splash-tastic Songkran Festival! The resort is inviting revellers to chill out at its exclusive Pool Party, to be hosted from 12 pm to 5 pm on 13 April. There will be live DJ music, pool games for kids and adults, plus a beer, burger and salad bar buffet, all priced at just THB 399++ per person. Then as the sun sets, guests can head to the sandy shore for a sizzling Beachfront BBQ with live music from 6.30 pm to 9 pm, priced at THB 799++ per adult.
 
Under the Thai Resident Offer, Thai nationals and expats will be offered a sensational Songkran stay including daily breakfast for two people, early check-in and late check-out subject to availability, a 25% F&B discount, and complimentary use of sports facilities and activities, including the kids’ club, tennis court and non-motorised water sports. Guests who stay two nights or longer will also be able to sip sunset cocktails for two people, and Club Room and Suite bookings will benefit from exclusive services at The Club lounge. Rates start from only THB 2,000 net per night! For more information, please visit www.saiiresorts.com/phuket/laguna/offers/rediscover.
 
Overseas guests are also able to join the fun with a Test & Go Package that includes daily breakfast for two, a 25% F&B discount throughout the stay, a free room upgrade subject to availability and a one-way transfer for guests who book a suite. Rates start from THB 3,500++ per night! Visit www.saiiresorts.com/phuket/laguna/offers/test-go.

Club Med Phuket Officially Reopened after Revamp

The vibrant family-centric Club Med Phuket located in the Southern Province of Thailand on Kata Beach spans a total of 16 hectares with amazing beach views in the heart of Phuket’s shopping district. Newly-designed spaces and upgraded entertainment facilities offer families and couples a tropical island paradise getaway. Club Med Phuket is back and ready to welcome guests back to happiness.

The pool, sun deck and bar are new and guests can expect refreshed entertainment including the new Tropical Nomad Lifestyle concept where nature and culture come together. Have fun at the Tropical Pool Party, workshops, local fruits and dishes, and a grooving jungle blowout party at the end of the night.

There is also a revamped Thai Culinary Experience. New signature menu and F&B offerings at The Mamuang’s newly redesigned larger buffet spaces and air-conditioned dining areas. Experience Phuket street food at the new Thai Street food cart during local Thai nights.

Club Med Phuket has partnered “Oceans for All” to help breed endangered species of Bamboo Sharks and support the marine biodiversity in Phuket. Bamboo sharks are a harmless breed that feed on invertebrates like crabs and small fish on the reef. They are threatened due to their popularity with fish collectors and exotic food enthusiasts.

Club Med Phuket is dedicated to the conservation of the bamboo sharks and will be taken care of by Gentil Organizers (G.Os). After 4 to 6 months, they will be released into the ocean. This will provide them with a size advantage and give them a better chance of survival in the ocean. 

The Amazing Family Corner is launching in May 2022 and a dedicated space lets guests Play, Quest, Movie, Celebrate and Care. A new MICE Centre is launching in August 2022.

Stay in The Lighthouse at The Racha

The Racha was voted 2021 Luxury Eco Resort – Regional Winner: South East Asia, World Luxury Hotel Awards and awarded SHA Extra Plus. The Lighthouse is fifteen metres and five stories high standing out like a beacon amongst the low-rise villas. It underwent full renovations which were completed in end October 2021.

You want to stay here because it has curated spaces designed to delight the senses. Light-filled indoor and outdoor living with outdoor showers, multiple lounging areas, generous terraces and balconies for shared quality time with friends and family.

There are two master bedrooms on the two lower floors equipped with ensuite bathrooms and jacuzzi tubs. On the third and fourth levels, there are additional bedrooms with shared landscaped outdoor bathrooms on the third and ground floors. A scented garden and a spectacular deck lead to a sun-drenched 3.5 m by 8.5 m ozonated pool complete with jacuzzi jets, mood-changing lights and underwater music.

Atop The Lighthouse is a magnificent observation lounge complete with a bespoke circular paramour daybed. Enjoy 360° views of Racha Yai and the Andaman Sea.

V Villas Phuket – MGallery Hotel Collection

At V Villas Phuket MGallery, 19 villas with swimming pools welcome guests into the lush natural setting of the southern tip of this tropical island, offering absolute privacy combined with panoramic ocean views.

55 meters above the sea with a 360° ocean or night sky view, AKOYA|Star Lounge is an otherworldly rooftop bar experience offering signature cocktails, plus a regional tapas menu designed like a culinary road trip.  All to the sound of live music and sets by known musicians and spin-masters. One floor below, Yon|Ocean House serves an all-day menu of European and Thai coastal cuisine with world-class wines. 

Banyan Tree Veya Opens 18 March 2022

Banyan Tree Group has launched the first Banyan Tree Veya with the opening of the well-being centred resort in Phuket on 18 March 2022. The Banyan Tree Veya brand was created in direct response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Guests are able to partake in what the brand calls embodiment therapies based on the group’s proprietary eight pillars of wellbeing.

Veya means ‘to weave’ and provides a safe space to integrate guests’ path to wellbeing. Multidisciplinary wellbeing hosts who are certified in eastern medicine, naturopathy and coaching lead guests around a three-step protocol of awareness, discovery and sustenance. After an assessment against the brand’s codified wellbeing approach, a personalised itinerary is created aligned to each guest’s needs and priorities.

The villas feature organic cotton bed linen, a choice of pillows, black-out curtains, nightly aromatherapy, sleep light and music to provide guests with optimal rest. Guests can engage in wellbeing practices in their own room which are equipped with a wellbeing minibar, yoga mats, sound therapy bowls, exercise stretch bands and more.

Plant-forward cuisine with Asian and Mediterranean influences are available with menu signatures such as bowls, broths and reinterpreted iconic local dishes.

A Wellbeing Centre features Thailand’s first every White Room which offers sensory detox and meditative practice. A traditional herb farm-pharmacy workshop will be opening soon. A journey reflection consultation is offered prior to departure followed by personalised programmes and lifestyle practices to continue their wellbeing journey in their daily lives.

The Slate Phuket’s Refurbished Pearl Shell Suites

Whimsical, art-inspired Resort, The Slate, offers different colour combinations for its newly refurbished one and two-bedroom Pearl Shell Suites. Each has its own distinct palette, as Bill Bensley harnessed the power of colour in his design. Colour psychology is one of the ways that this Design Hotels Collection member delivers a multi-sensory experience.

Pick a colour that represents you. The 132sqm LIME GREEN One Bedroom Pearl Shell Suite is suitable for those seeking a serene retreat. For a romantic getaway, PINK & TURQUOISE work together harmoniously in the One Bedroom Pearl Shell Suite. Sweet and sincere Pink combines with the freshness and vitality of green from turquoise. Get inspiration and calmness in the 232sqm BLUE & WHITE two bedroom duplex Pearl Shell Suites.

To let guests be fully immersed in The Slate’s whimsical world of art and colour, it has now unveiled a special package: “The Slate Design“. Available for stays in the Pearl Shell Suites, this outstanding offer includes a welcome bottle of bubbly, complimentary minibar items, roundtrip airport transfers, daily breakfast, kids’ and family activities, a 120-minute Coqoon Rebirth Massage for two people, and generous discounts at Coqoon Spa and KRU Precision Wellness. Guests who book a five-night stay will be rewarded with a three-course dinner at Black Ginger, and six-night stays will receive a free seventh night! Rates start from just THB 7,000++ per night.

The Slate Unveils good Vibrations – a Series of Creative Cultural Events

The inaugural two-day multi-sensory festival at The Slate Phuket will be held on 16 and 17 April 2022. The festival will feature an immersive weekend of activities that celebrate authentic Latin American music, fashion, art and cuisine on the pure shores of Phuket. Amazônia will be a celebration of all things South American and memorably Mexican, including upbeat music, great gastronomy, amazing art and plenty of dancing. This would be an alternative splash-free Songkran celebration for travellers to Phuket.

24 hours of lively Latin entertainment and activities, VIBRATIONS kick off just before sunset on 16 April with a live music concert, followed by an acoustic guitar performance and painting session by Trey Hurst, the Bangkok-based visual artist and designer. These events will be hosted on the Coliseum Lawn, a natural amphitheatre where guests can chill on the soft grass and sip cool cocktails, such as caipirinhas, surrounded by swaying palms and sparkling pools.

Guests will enjoy a buffet dinner amid the fragrant tropical gardens with an extensive selection of freshly-cooked dishes, including many authentic delicacies that will transport diners’ taste buds to the vibrant streets of Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires or Mexico City. This will be followed by a live performance by the Amaz nia band and a capoeira dance by Junkyard Theatre – an energetic show combining music, dance and martial arts that will leave all spectators spellbound! This exhilarating evening of art and expression ends in style with a second performance from Amazônia and a live set from DJ Markos,as revellers dance under the stars until midnight.

On Sunday 17 April, be treated to a blissful Sunday brunch from 12pm to 4pm, accompanied by surprise Amazônia performances.

A series of packages are available including a one-night stay in the Pearl Bed Suite on 16 April 2022 plus the VIBRATIONS activities and Saturday night buffet, including selected free flow alcohol from 5.30 pm to 9 pm during the Saturday night buffet is priced at THB15,600 nett for two. Alternatively, a one night stay in a Pearl Bed Suite plus Sunday brunch with selected free-flow alcohol is priced at THB12,800 nett for two. A fully immersive experience including a one-night stay in a Pearl Bed Suite, all activities, Saturday night buffet dinner and Sunday brunch with selected free-flow alcohol beverages during the Saturday night buffet is available at THB21,500 nett for two.

The Saturday night buffet is priced at THB3,800 nett per person including free-flow soft drinks, juices and mocktails, or THB 5,300 nett with a half-bottle of Chandon Brut sparkling wine, free-flow South American cocktails, beers, soft drinks, juices and mocktails. The Sunday brunch is priced at THB3,400 nett per person including free flow soft drinks, juices and mocktails, or THB3900 nett with free-flow wine, sparkling wine, beers, spirits, cocktails, mocktails and soft drinks.

VIBRATIONS will take place at regular intervals throughout the year, with the second edition due to be hosted in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Aleenta Phuket Wellness Retreats and Menu

Aleenta Phuket-Phang Nga Resort & Spa, a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, introduces Nicolas Rasetti as its new Wellness Host. Nico specialises in Mindfulness (Vipassana) and has travelled to India, Nepal, Indonesia and Thailand to study this discipline. Nicolas has designed a range of complimentary group events weekly to invigorate and heal the body and mind. Enjoy the Aleenta Wellness Breakfast for THB750++ per person. He has also developed an Air Recovery Programme to help with all sorts of lung issues. This programme may aid recovery from pneumonia after Covid-19 and strengthen the lungs suffering from asthma. Check out the full retreat menus here.

The hotel recently rolled out vegetarian and All-Day dining that includes a wellness menu by Executive Chef Poungthip “Thip” Sirinan.

Aleenta Phuket-Phang Nga’s beachfront suites and villas offer an “outside living-in” concept. Suites have retractable glass walls, lofts benefit from stunning sea views and villas provide outdoor living areas. Simple, clean lines and natural materials enhance the idyllic ambience.

The New Avani+ Mai Khao Phuket Suites & Villas

Avani+ Mai Khao Phuket Suites and Villas offers 70 one, two and three-bedroom suites accentuated with breezy beach tones. The resort is located just 15 minutes from Phuket International Airport. Amenities include a large lagoon swimming pool, fitness centre and kids area. The 30 one to four-bedroom villas are private oases with outdoor living space, a kitchen, laundry and high-tech toys.

AvaniKids is the resort’s club for kids 4 to 12 years old. The young ones can attend pizza making classes, tree planting or visit a turtle sanctuary. They also get to enjoy outdoor fun with a climbing wall, kids yoga and Muay Thai classes.

Claws & Co is a casual-yet-chic seafood shack offering high-quality local seafood with a playful twist. Talad restaurant serves buffet breakfast and dinner. Guests are treated to local street food, high-quality hawker fare in a colourfully decorated market-style space. Mai Khao area’s first Asian-style beer garden Chop Chop offers Thai and Western bites, robata skewers, beer and music.

Check out the opening packages.

All-Day Beach House at Anantara Layan Phuket Resort

Anantara Layan Phuket Resort launched Beach House comprising a three-storey venue that includes Breeze, an all-day poolside sipping and dining area on the ground floor, a fine dining middle floor that houses zuma pop-up and a dazzling top floor area known as Roof Top. It is the perfect spot to visit to chill.

Breeze offers an extensive drinks list and delectable menu with South European influences. Enjoy gourmet pizzas to oysters and caviar paired with Champagne. Enjoy views of Layan’s shoreline while relaxing on the daybeds and sun loungers. A resident and guest DJs, live sax and percussion provides the daily entertainment.

zuma pop-up brings elevated Izakaya dining with small sharing plates to the Layan beachfront with a pop-up serving the renowned restaurant’s trademark take on fresh Japanese flavours.

Roof Top on the third level offers cocktails during sunset or under the stars. Dimly lit tables and cabanas overlook the water with views stretching to the horizon. Welcome the twilight with unique concoctions such as Guantanamera in 2002, a cigar-infused vodka-and-Hennessy cocktail with honey and cinnamon notes, or with one of Beach House’s signature gin drinks like the house-distilled Origin by Anantara.

Call +66 2 365 9110 for reservations.

HOMM Bliss Southbeach Patong

Banyan Tree Group debut the HOMM concept in January this year in Phuket. HOMM Bliss Southbeach Patong is a 71-room contemporary beachfront property offering stylish and wallet-friendly accommodations.

The newly refurbished guestrooms boast contemporary beach-inspired accommodations bathed in natural light, with 39 rooms featuring sea-facing private balconies and terraces or ground-floor plunge pools. Indulgent bath amenities encourage relaxing mornings, while the property’s two outdoor pools, beachfront access and proximity to top tourist attractions provide for exciting afternoons in Phuket. Culinary offerings include quick bites and grab n’ go snacks, like HOMM’s signature breakfast buns from Seagulls on Southbeach, or all-day dining at Rice Bowl, best known for authentic Thai cuisine.

HOMM is one of five new brands within Banyan Tree Group’s growing ecosystem of concepts that provides a sensible lifestyle and globally diverse experiences while embodying the feeling of home. Ideal for families, couples and business executives alike, guests will find ease in reliable services, signature facilities, communal dining options and well-designed, price-friendly accommodations elevated by the purpose-led, sustainable tourism standards Banyan Tree Group is known for. Through destination-specific, immersive travel experiences and locations in key second-tier cities, travellers can engage in the local culture before heading back to their HOMM-away-from-home.

Carpe Diem Beach Club Phuket

Managing partners Benny De Bellis and Bruche Hanrahan launched Carpe Diem Beach Club Phuket at Bang Tao Beach in Q4 2021. Bang Tao Beach is an 8km stretch of golden sand and is home to well-established hotel brands such as Banyan Tree, Angsana and the Laguna Phuket integrated resort. As with the name, experiences at Carpe Diem are aimed to fulfil guests’ desire for living life to the fullest via a feeling of a sense of place.

Bruce and Benny are both veteran professionals who are passionate about hospitality. Bruce has many years of experience working with ‘Nikki Beach’, a brand internationally acclaimed for its beach clubs. Benny is a familiar face on the Phuket scene, having run establishments such as Catch Beach Club, Siam Supper Club, and Opus One. For the past seven years, he has built his own American-style steakhouse, ‘Benny’s Cocktails & Grill’, providing excellent cocktails, service and food.

The beach club offers full beach service with sunbeds, a fully-fledged restaurant that serves up dishes that Benny loved as a boy growing up in rural Italy and bruce imbibed in his time in southern Spain. Enjoy a Mediterranean experience that is fresh, rustic and modern with daily DJ sessions.