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Phuket’s top 5 remote hotels

International Traveller
Beyond the tourist touts, sleazy bars and backpacker crowds, we reveal the peaceful and party-free parts of the island.

JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa

Where is it?

North-west coast, adjacent to the Sirinath Marine National Park, 15 minutes by car from Phuket international airport.

 

Flanking tranquil Mai Khao Beach, the JW Marriott Phuket offers traditional Thai pavilions and terraces with wraparound balconies sprawled across a tropical oasis.

 

In 2011 Condé Nast Traveller readers voted it one of the top 20 resorts in Asia. Highly recommended is the award-winning Mandara Spa’s signature treatment, the Javanese Lulur ritual (a spice scrub, yoghurt-milk bath and floral oil massage).

 

There are 252 rooms and 13 suites; add six restaurants, including the theatrical Kabuki Japanese dining room, five ‘chill lounges’ plus three enormous pools to the mix, and there’s already enough to indulge guests for days.

 

But it’s the unique in-house activities, particularly for kids in the tricky ‘tweens’ that sets the resort apart from others: circus acrobat and trapeze instruction, traditional dancing, batik painting and Thai cooking classes to name a few.

Details

Rates start from $194 per night for a Deluxe Garden View room. 231 Moo 3, Mai Khao, Talang; jwmarriottphuketresort.com

Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa

Where is it?

The blissfully undeveloped north-west coast, 20 minutes by car from Phuket international airport.

 

The Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa is nestled amongst vibrant gardens on the edge of a palm-fringed 17-kilometre stretch of sand. Its contemporary design is both minimal and luxurious, but in no sense precious.

Tranquil: Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa.
Tranquil: Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa.

The palate of blues and warm oranges complement the local woods, marble and glass used throughout the resort. Surrendering to relaxation, spa pampering and healthy eating is the resort’s mantra.

 

That’s easy in the Ocean Front Pool Villas. Under curved sea turtle carapace roofs are spacious dwellings with up-to-the-minute mod cons opening onto private sun decks with jet-enforced plunge pools.

 

With revived chakras, head barefoot to the sandy-floored poolside bar at sunset before dining aloft in the breezy Takieng restaurant to savour sour and salty Thai delicacies including Yum Pla Duk Foo (crispy sea bass with spicy green mango salad).

Details

Rates start from $153 per night for a Deluxe Guest Room through to $468 per night for an Ocean Front Pool Villa. 555, Moo 3, Mai Khao, Talang; renaissancephuket.com

The Racha

Where is it?

On Racha Yai, a tiny island just off Phuket’s southern tip. It’s a 35-minute speedboat ride from Chalong Bay, which is a 50-minute drive from Phuket international airport.

 

The Racha is a boho-licious playground set on the shores of a pristine beach lapped by luminescent waters. The 85 white-washed low-rise villas have crisp contemporary furnishings and dark wood accents – and some have private plunge pools.

Lobby (and sea) view: The Racha, Phuket.
Lobby (and sea) view: The Racha, Phuket.

The vibe here is one of pared down eco-chic for those seeking a remote island paradise and outdoor adventure. There are ample facilities including tennis and basketball courts, a yoga studio, gymnasium and a dive centre offering explorations off the island’s coral reef fringe teeming with marine life.

 

Wind down in the Anumba Spa, immerse yourself in the beachside pool’s underwater music, and watch movies under the stars. This fantasy island sways to a tranquil beat.

Details

Rates start from $266 per night for a Deluxe Villa. 42/12-13 Moo 5, Rawai, Muang, Koh Racha Yai; theracha.com

Cape Panwa Hotel

Where is it?
South-eastern tip of Phuket, approximately one hour by car from Phuket international airport.

 

Tucked away on a former coconut plantation, the all-white Cape Panwa Hotel exudes a colonial charm. Sea facing suites and pool villas are settled amongst nodding palms and verdant greenery along the silky soft sands of Cape Panwa Beach. The protected alcove is great for swimming, windsurfing, catamaraning and canoeing, whilst snorkelling and scuba diving expeditions are scheduled daily to the reefs off nearby Coral Island.

Island high: Cape Panwa Hotel, Phuket.
Island high: Cape Panwa Hotel, Phuket.

With 11 dining and drinking venues, two swimming pools, fitness centre, day spa, badminton, table tennis and more, there’s plenty to satisfy families.

 

Not to be missed is a beachfront Thai feast in the fairytale-like Sino-Portuguese mansion.

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Details

Rates start from $120 per night for a Superior Room. 27, 27/2, Mu 8, Sakdidej Road, Cape Panwa; capepanwa.com

The Naka Phuket

Where is it?

Central west coast, 40 minutes by car from Phuket international airport.

The Naka, Phuket.
The Naka, Phuket.

The Naka Phuket is an exclusive hideout. Its ultra modern treetop villas with glass façades cantilever down a hillside providing endless panoramas of the Andaman Sea.

 

Discreetly integrated amongst lush vegetation, each is equipped with private pools and an outdoor bath and shower.

 

The resort’s calling card is the accessible private beach at its base, and the picture-postcard outlook is best experienced from the comfort of the rooftop spa or during sunset tipples in the Meka Sky Bar.

 

Though cocooned in a peaceful valley, The Naka is just twenty minutes by car to Phuket Town (if you can peel yourself away from the Olympic-sized infinity pool, and fresh market produce served in any three of the resort’s restaurants).

Details

Still in its ‘soft opening’ stage, the resort is scheduled to be completed by mid 2014.

 

The one-bedroom pool villas start from $955 per night (the two and three bedroom villas are not yet available). 1/18, 1/20 Moo 6 Kamala, Kathu; thenakaphuket.com

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The Sarojin, Khao Lak, Thailand
Phuket

Hotel Review: The Sarojin, Khao Lak, Thailand

If you're looking for an abode to call your own during your stay in Thailand, it can seem a little more than overwhelming.

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5 things every hotel needs for a more restorative stay

    Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
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    Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

    The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

    1. Easy access to good food

    meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20
    Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

    One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

    In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

    In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

    Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

    At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

    While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

    It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

    2. Better sleep options

    Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room
    Sleep deeply with Novotel.

    There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

    For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

    The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

    3. More ways to move

    woman hiking around queenstown new zealand
    Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

    Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

    At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

    Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

    4. Better connections

    Novotel Sharm El Sheikh
    Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

    One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

    Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

    A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

    5. Location is everything

    Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld
    Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

    Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

    All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

    Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

    Phuket’s top 5 remote hotels - International Traveller Magazine