Ayara Hilltops Resort & Spa

Ayara Hilltops is a top class boutique resort on a (yes, you guessed) hill top giving it sweeping views of Surin Beach. The Ayara Hilltops Resort and Spa has 48 luxury suites set in 23 villas, six of which have their own private infinity horizon pool. The ambience of the resort is one of seclusion and relaxation, making it the perfect romantic destination for honeymooners. In fact, the accommodations are so private that you won’t even notice that you’re showering in the open air - each suite has it's own private plunge pool too.

Ayara Hilltops is on my list of the Top 10 Hotels in Phuket, which was made based on Trip Advisor reviews. Ayara was number 9. The list is a year old now, and Ayara is now ranked 3rd on Trip Advisors Best Phuket Hotels list.

• Ayara Hilltops - Last Minute Bookings at LateStays.com
• Ayara Hilltops - Online Booking by Agoda
• Ayara Hilltops - TripAdvisor Reviews

Sugar Palm Resort and Spa (Kata Beach)

It's now "low season".. although the weather has been mostly very good recently, which is normal for the low season. You can read more here : Phuket Weather Blog. Hotels go a bit crazy in low season, prices drop like rocks. Bargains are there to be found. So, I just had a quick look at LateStays... holy price war, Batman!

The Sugar Palm Resort and Spa is at the busier end of Kata, a few minutes walk from the beach, only opened a few years ago. Looks like a nice place, nothing too flash, but has everything you need and Kata is so much nicer than Patong! Oh, and it's low season, right? Room rates start at 800 Baht on LateStays. Damn. Indeed the most expensive rooms (Deluxe Pool Access with breakfast) are just 1700 Baht per night. I will say this only a thousand times. COME TO PHUKET IN THE LOW SEASON!

• Sugar Palm Resort - Last Minute Bookings at LateStays.com
• Sugar Palm Resort - Online Booking by Agoda

Centara Karon Resort

Centara is quite a big group in Phuket. There is the Centara Kata resort, Centara Villas and Centara Karon Resort. The Centara Karon resort is one I have visited several times as we often have customers staying there and they have all told me it's a very nice place and rave about the breakfasts! It's in the main Karon center with lots of restaurants and small shops around, and just a few minutes walk to Karon Beach.

• Centara Karon Resort - Last Minute Bookings at LateStays.com
• Centara Karon Resort - Online Booking by Agoda

Hotels at Kamala Beach

Somehow Kamala beach has remained pretty quiet over the years. Kamala is the next beach to the north of Patong - a long twisting road leads over the mountain to Kamala Bay, or you can reach Kamala from the north via Surin. Either way, Kamala always seems to be miles away from anywhere!

Friends who lived in Kamala can recall the first 7-11 opening and that was only a few years ago. There are very few bars, as Kamala is a muslim area, the beach is quiet and you still find fishermen heading out from the beach. The old way of life has not totally been submerged by tourism. I think I will take a drive over to Kamala soon and do a Kamala blog on Jamie's Phuket.

So, Kamala will suit people who like it quiet, BUT you are only 15 minutes from Patong if you want a night out. There are some good hotels and also some smaller guesthouse type places.

Kamala was hit very hard by the tsunami on December 26th 2004. I had been on the beach in Kamala on December 25th with my family, friends, lots of kids... More about that here: Kamala Temple, and 4 Years Since the Tsunami.

Kamala Beach Hotels

Here's a few hotel options for Kamala...

• Kamala Beach Resort
• Print Kamala Resort
• Thiwa Ratri Resort
• Aquamarine Resort
• The Palms Kamala Beach Hotel

• Kamala Beach Hotels - Late Booking Deals at LateStays.com

Last Minute Phuket Hotels - LateStays.com

If you need a hotel booking in the next few weeks - LateStays.com is the place to look for Phuket, Thailand and many other destinations....

The LateStays website is all about late bookings and last minute bookings. Need a hotel tomorrow, next week? This is the place to look. The website shows availability and lowest poassible prices for hundreds of Phuket Hotels. You can choose to view most popular hotels or look for availability in different parts of Phuket (Patong, Karon, Kata, Phuket Town etc...). It's a very easy to use site. Have a look:

• Phuket Hotels on LateStays.com

The LateStays.com site covers much more than just Phuket. You can book hotels all over Thailand and also in many other countries. Availability and prices are updated daily, so it's easy to see what deals you can find.

So, if you are coming to Phuket or anywhere else in Thailand, or anywhere covered by LateStays, and have not booked in advance, LateStays.com is the place to look. Happy Travels! See you soon!

LateStays.com - Thailand Hotel Links

• Phuket Hotels
• Phang Nga - Khao Lak Hotels
• Chiang Mai Hotels
• Bangkok Hotels
• Krabi Hotels
• Hotels all over Thailand

Thavorn Palm Beach Resort

Thavorn Palm Beach Resort is a place I see almost daily, one of the largest resorts in Karon, yet has a secluded feel when you are inside, with lots of lush green foliage, and pools and water everywhere. A great resort to relax, and when you step outside, Karon beach is right there in front of you. There are over 200 rooms, but it somehow does not feel crowded, with no less than 5 pools and several restaurants including the well known Old Siam.

Thavorn Palm Beach Resort Online Booking...

• Thavorn Palm Beach Resort - Late Booking Deals at LateStays.com
• Thavorn Palm Beach Resort - Online Booking by Agoda

Crazy low season prices by the way!!!

Burasari Resort, Patong Beach, Phuket

Burasari always seems to be popular, especially now in the low season with great deals to keep the resort full year round. I used to go sometimes for their great lunchtime buffets when I was working in Patong, and now they have Keith Floyd's restaurant too. Holy cow! It's not far from the beach, retains a slightly intimate feel, it's not too big. Now I'm not a big fan of Patong, but have to admit there are some nice hotels, and Burasari is one of them.

Burasari Online Booking...

• Burasari Resort - Last Minute Bookings at LateStays.com
• Burasari Resort - Online Booking by Agoda

Kata Beach Hotels

Kata beach is a gently curving little beach, about a mile from end to end, with plenty of shade, a quiet beach road (the traffic mostly stays on a back road), and a picturesque island (Koh Pu) just offshore. Kata is developed, sure, but less than Patong, and it still retains a quiet feel.

You can find cheap guesthouses here, small hotels and big resorts.



Kata Beach recommended hotels and resorts

• Mom Tri's Boathouse
• Kata Beach Resort & Spa
• Sawasdee Village
• Mom Tri's Villa Royale
• Peach Hill Hotel and Resort
• Marina Phuket Hotel
• Kata Palm Resort

You can find more hotel options here : Phuket Hotels.

Some more Phuket hotel recommendations on my Phuket Blog:

• Phuket Hotel recommendations on Jamie's Phuket

Karon Beach Hotels

A few Karon Beach hotels that I can recommend.

For an overview of Karon Beach, see Jamie's Phuket : Karon Beach.

Karon has everything from backpacker dorms to 5 star resorts. Just 8km from Patong, it has a far more relaxed and peaceful feeling. The beach is long and open and there are no resorts built right on the beach except a couple right at the south end. Karon beach is ideal for quiet and ideal if you want to be close to the "madness" of Patong but not in it!



Karon Beach recommended hotels...

• Karon Beach Resort
• Hilton Phuket Arcadia Beach Resort
• Horizon Beach Resort and Spa
• Andaman Seaview Hotel
• Centara Villas
• Pacific Club and Spa
• Movenpick Resort
• Old Phuket Hotel

You can find more here : Phuket Hotels.

Some more Phuket hotel recommendations on my Phuket Blog:

• Phuket Hotel recommendations on Jamie's Phuket

A few hotels in Patong Beach

Not that I am a big fan of Patong, but since it's the most developed beach, you can certainly find some good hotels and resorts in Patong. Below you can find links to a few good ones - click on the hotel names for more hotel information, prices and reservations.

• Millenium Resort
• Avantika Boutique Hotel
• Banthai Beach Resort
• Duangjitt Resort
• Burasari Hotel
• The Yorkshire Inn
• Seaview Patong Hotel
• Club Bamboo Hotel

That'll do - Patong has so many hotels it's hard to choose. You can find more here : Phuket Hotels.

Some more Phuket hotel recommendations on my Phuket Blog:

• Phuket Hotel recommendations on Jamie's Phuket

Allamanda Laguna Phuket

Allamanda Laguna is part of the luxury Bang Tao Laguna complex also including Sheraton Grande, Dusit, Laguna Beach Resort and the Banyan Tree. Bang Tao Beach is quiet, far from the busier tourist beaches, but not too far! It's a great area to relax and get away from it all. Allamanda Laguna has all the facilities and there's even a golf course next door!

• Allamanda Laguna Resort - Last Minute Bookings at LateStays.com
• Allamanda Laguna Resort - Online Booking by Agoda

Amora Resort (Bang Tao Beach)

The Amora Phuket resort, formerly called Rydges Beach Resort, is a 4 star beachfront resort at Bang Tao Beach. A great spot if you like peace and quiet, but not too far from busier beaches, so you can head out for the evening and return to the tranquility of Bang Tao. This is a NICE place to stay!!

• Amora Resort - Last Minute Bookings at LateStays.com
• Amora Resort - Online Booking by Agoda