Looking to get out of Australia for a break and am enticed to go to Phuket.
What I am looking for is:
(a) up market resort away from the tourist riff-raff (that's worth a neg. vote!)
(b) no rug rats (another neg vote!)
(c) direct beach access
I/we just need to get away and enjoy ourselves - cost is not the over-riding consideration.
Would really appreciate constructive suggestions
Khao Lak instead /thread
Good call. Was going there a couple of times a year before Covid. Much better than Phuket.
So you actually think you can go overseas and avoid certain kinds of people you consider beneath you?
How far do you think you will go in Phuket with that attitude unless you lock yourself in your room?
Will you ask for bank balances before you talk to people?
Why bother?
I can just see you now not leaving the resort for a week eating pies and venturing as far as the coffee club
I am In Thailand now and no-one likes a snob
Just holiday in your bedroom with a series of mirrors.
What twisted part of you turned OPs post with their wants etc, into something offensive to you and a reflection of their vanity?
OP never said he considers the locals riffraff, just the other tourists. He could consider all local Thai folk from any social class to be his equal for all we know. And what's wrong with not leaving the resort, are expensive Thai resorts not very nice or something? What's wrong with spending your time around pleasant Thai people with good jobs in the resort.
It's pathetic that's why, only sad losers stay cooped up in a resort without actually sampling the country they are visiting (my wife is Thai and I'm writing this from Det Udom so I know what I'm talking about)
Some people aren't looking for a wife when they go on holiday. Relationships are complex and hard work, kind of the opposite of a holiday.
A friend once told me that the Expat Hotel will allow you to bring women back to your room that are not your wife. Apparently some establishments are not ok with this sort of behaviour. Just something to keep in mind.
The term is 'Guest Friendly Hotel'
Either find it on the website or ask the hotel directly.
Sounds like op is taking a partner/wife, and not looking to go for sex tourism. Gross.
Oi Ocker, ya changing it up from Bali?
There's only one deal that Ozbargainers are using in Phuket.
Had unlimited drinks…
They didn't count on an Australian.
But yeah i've stayed on Karon Beach and it was good, clean, white sand, chilled atmosphere, RUSSIANS EVERYWHERE, there's a nice hotel at the very southern end that's quite fancy.
Else booking.com ratings are your friend.
Patong beach was a bit hectic/touristy for my liking
Very few hotels are beachfront on Karon Beach - you have to cross busy Karon Road and/or Karon park to get to the beach. A number of years ago we stayed at the fancy southern end hotel Beyond Resort Karon only because it was beachfront. I thought the sand was quite unclean in that there was lots of micro plastic bits which surprised me - 'cos it's not in the photos. Hopefully they cleaned it up during covid. We spent another time at Laguna (Bang Tao beach) which is an enclave of fancy hotels. Before checking in, make sure you have the phone number of a driver who can get you out and about - otherwise you're a captive audience.
We have been to Phuket twice this year - and very regularly prior to Covid.
You said "upmarket" and that is still a very broad request. Do you want villas with private pools etc or happy with regular hotel/resort-type accommodation? Do you want to stay in a hotel chain that you might have status with? Do you want to do any off-site activities or happy to just laze at the resort all the time?
But let me throw some suggestions out there:-
Twin Palms Phuket
Le Meridian Phuket
We stayed at the novotel patong (Novotel Phuket Resort). Was great as it was just outside town, close enough to the action, far enough away for the peace and quiet.
Check out Laguna Phuket hotel enclave area - we stayed at Dusit Thani (Bang Tao beach).
We have stayed twice at Katathani Resort. found it to be really good. Can book 1/2 or full board. Also luxury escapes sometimes have package deals. Its at the quiet end of the island away from Patong etc. has direct beach access, but kids are allowed so wont meet all your requirements.
https://www.katathani.com/
https://luxuryescapes.com/au/offer/katathani-phuket-beach-re…
if your after no kids alternative we have booked to stay at the The Shore Katathani (https://www.theshorephuket.com/) which is adults only and part of the same hotel group and pretty much next door. They are all villas and most have private pools as room options. .
Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa was sublime. Meets all your criteria.
https://g.page/HiltonPhuketArcadia?share