Baan Yin Dee Boutique Resort

A blissfully quiet little hotel in what can be a rowdy part of Phuket, the Baan Yin Dee is housed in a small collection of traditional Thai buildings on sharp, modern grounds. The entrance is lovely, with stepping stones over a pond stocked with koi fish. Guests check in seated at a desk and are greeted with a cool drink and towel, helping to set the relaxed tone. Thai statues and artwork accent the wall behind the check-in area, and a couple of wicker chairs provide places for guests to perch while checking out the travel brochures. The hotel is especially popular with couples, but it also draws families, groups of friends, and individuals looking for a relaxing place close to the action of Patong Beach. 

This hotel is situated on a hilltop overlooking the Andaman Sea. It's a 10-minute walk or short tuk-tuk ride from the beach and rowdy tourist action down in Patong. Keep in mind that the return is up a steep hill. Phuket town is on the other side of the island, a 25-minute drive from the hotel. Scenic Nai Harn Beach, on the southern end of Phuket, will take about 45 minutes to reach by car. It's about the same distance by road to scenic Sirinat National Park in Phuket's north. Most travelers arrive via Phuket International Airport, a 45-minute drive from the hotel. 

The hotel offers spacious rooms and suites, all decorated in a Boran Thai style with wood floors and plenty of wood accents. The look is a bit dated and dark, with chunky wood furniture and lots of brown and yellow hues. There's not much in the way of art in most rooms, and decorative elements are mostly limited to the patterns in paneling and the traditional silhouettes of the wooden furniture. Some rooms are far sharper than others, and the Presidential Suite is a modern gem, with lots of sleek lines and handsome artwork creating an elegant atmosphere. It also has a separate living room and a kitchenette. Otherwise, all rooms include air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, minibars, electric kettles, and safes plus furnished balconies or terraces with views of the pool or sea. Guests in pool access rooms can step right out to the pool.  Bathrooms are large and high-end, with soaking tubs, separate showers, and granite countertops. Robes, slippers, hairdryers, and the hotel's own brand of toiletries are supplied. 

There aren't a ton of features at this hotel, though what's on offer is generally solid. All meals are served at Rice Restaurant, an open-air space with indoor and outdoor seating and views of the sea. The menu is a mix of Western and Thai cuisine, and while reviews are mostly positive it can be pricey when compared to similar options in town. Live piano music entertains in the evening. Palm trees and tropical plants and flowers accent the lovely four-tiered infinity pool overlooking the sea. Cushioned lounge chairs and umbrellas line the stone deck, and some rooms have direct access to the pool with their own lounge chairs poolside. There is no spa, but massage treatments are available in guest rooms or by the pool. The hotel can arrange all manner of tours and excursions, and a free shuttle runs to Patong Beach. Airport transfers can be arranged and Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. Parking is also available.