Amari Phuket

I have just spent 4 heavenly days at the Amari Phuket Resort. From the second you walk into the lobby, you can tell this is an exceptional place, the staff are super friendly and very very efficient, my checkin was handled quickly and I was soon in my suite “One Bedroom Suite Club Ocean View Balcony, and given access to The Clubhouse Lounge. In my room I had complimentary prosecco and snacks (from the club house) which was a very nice touch. The Views from all over the hotel are amazing and they have their own private beach so you can relax looking out over the Andaman Sea. My clubhouse lounge access allowed me to use the infinity pool, which is spectacular, and you also get free cocktails and delicious snacks during their cocktail hour, a wonderful way to relax after a hard day sunbathing on the beach. The hotel has 3 pools, but the infinity was my favourite one. I cannot wait to go back, and if you are visiting Phuket, this is definitely my number one recommendation. Read less

Well, we’ve just returned from our visit number 5 to the Amari Phuket, and we wish we were still there now. We first came here in January 2015, returned in December, and since then it’s become an annual pilgrimage. However, I believe we’re still relative beginners because some people have been coming back for over ten years. So be warned: come here once and you might find yourself with a life-long addiction! I provided a long review after our first visit and another follow-up after our second time here, so I won’t go through all the descriptive detail again, but here a few supplementary thoughts. We always stay in the older Deluxe Wing, because we like being near the sea and listening to the waves from our balcony at night. The newer Ocean Wing has its own advantages, such as an extensive view and a more modern décor, though we actually prefer the older style ourselves. Both wings have a light, informal feel to them appropriate to a beach resort. The catering is a major attraction for us. The breakfast buffet in the larger sea-level Rim Talay restaurant is one of the most extensive we’ve ever encountered. You could eat something different every day for a week and still not manage to try everything. They cater for visitors from all over the world, so you have the opportunity to try breakfast foods from India, Japan, China, Malaysia as well as Thai and the usual international options. If you are staying in a room with Club Lounge access, you can also have a quieter, more relaxed breakfast there high above the bay . We have tried this occasionally and enjoyed it, but on the whole prefer the greater choice down below. Once every visit we eat at the prestigious La Gritta restaurant. After weeks of touring around SE Asia experiencing the local food, it is always nice to enjoy some traditional Italian fine dining. And another ‘must’ is the weekly seafood buffet in Rim Talay. There is always such a delicious variety on offer that it is impossible to try it all. A particular commendation goes to the chef on the barbecue station, who produces succulent fish, prawns and squid, cooked for just the right amount of time and not grilled until they turn into rubber, as is frequently the case. However, the rooms, the location and the food are not the main attractions for us. What really brings us back again and again is the staff. It’s not unusual for guests returning to a hotel to get a personal welcome when checking in, because it’s flagged up for the reception staff on their monitors. However, every time we come back here we are greeted by staff in every part of the hotel: in the restaurants, by the cleaners, buggy drivers, luggage handlers, security guards. They come up to say hello, welcome back, nice to see you again, etc. It’s such a nice feeling to get a genuine, friendly welcome like this which goes well beyond professional politeness. On our previous visit my wife tripped over and sprained her ankle on our second day here. For the remainder of our week there she was treated with such kindness and care by so many different members of staff: they brought her flowers, visited her in our room, brought her a salve to ease the swelling, brought her a bottle of wine and a plate of food so she didn’t have to go out . . . it was really touching, and their genuine concern helped to overcome the disappointment of her being largely immobile for the majority of our stay. Finally yet another word of praise about Pierre, Amari’s Regional Vice President who is based in this hotel and who seems to be everywhere at once, making sure that things are running smoothly and that everyone is happy. You’ll see him at breakfast, touring the tables notebook in hand, and also up in reception greeting new guests or saying goodbye to departing ones, or round the pool or up in the Clubhouse. Blink and you might miss him! I don’t know where he gets the energy and enthusiasm from, but he provides an example of commitment which the staff gladly respond to. Talk to any of them and they will say how much they admire ‘Mister Pierre’ and how much they like working here. The hotel has an incredibly low turnover of personnel, which is why we have got to know so many of them over our visits. Many other reviewers have made comments along the same lines. You really feel like a valued guest when you stay here, rather than a source of tourist dollars. Now it’s time to start looking forward to visit number 6 . . . Read less

We as a couple read the reviews and decided to book a sea facing room with a balcony. Here is a true experience and would like to share so you can make your decision. The hotel from Phuket airport is 1 hour drive and costs 800TBH. Once you reach the start of this resort, its on the hill. This means that you need to be fit to walk up if you dont have a taxi, scooter or tuk tuk. The result itself is very scenic. Nice views and well kept. It has a lobby, 2 pools, bar etc. The room itself had nice view with a balcony and good aircon. However, the king size bed had 2 single mattresses which we didn’t like.Also, the bathroom is a bit run down and in no way gives a sense of 5 star facility. I will mention bad and good about this resort and you can decide based on these!! The BAD things: 1) You need to walk up hill which is very steep or tuk tuk will charge 200TBH. For going down and up will be 400TBH. If you do this every day for lets say 7 nights, it will cost 2800TBH. The bangla road is 30 minutes walk so not very easy in 35 degrees. Walking up and down is an absolute mission so please remember this before booking. 2) The pools have no lifeguards. We witnessed a couple who almost drowned and also a 3 year old boy who had to be rescued the same evening. Very scary sight. So be informed that it can be dangerous if you slip in the deeper side of the pool and you cannot swim. 3) Our room smelled of sewage for most of the days. The smell was coming from our toilet 4) The bar in the pool area didn’t make good cocktails and costed €5. 5) We enquired at the reception about upgrading to half board and were told to contact Expedia as we booked through them. Not an answer that we expect from a 5 star !! Enquired 2nd day again and was told that it’s not worth to upgrade as it can be quite costly. I felt a bit shocked with such a statement as its not upto the resort to judge our spending power. 6) Food is not very cheap in the resort equals almost the prices in Europe The good things: 1) Scenic views 2) Property kept tidy 3) 80% staff very helpful 4) Towels provided for the pool 5) Beach bag provided and is in every room 6) Buffet breakfast is good 7) Complimentary bus to shopping centre at 10am, 2pm and 6pm. However, you might just use this once during your stay. Need to book your seat in advance though. The verdict: Will we return to Phuket again? Yes Will we return to Amari Phuket? No because the bad points are way too much and we felt that at the end of the day, this place is overhyped and could feel that its all about business rather than the hospitality. Also, resort is on a steep hill and its a mission to go up and down. The sewage smell in the room is a big NO. We stayed in Katathani resort in Kata beach few years ago and this place is nothing in front of that. Please like my review if it has helped you make a decision. Read less