Surin Beach, United States
Beachside location on Bangato Bay
Spacious rooms with room service
Two swimming pools, one for adults only
Small, bright fitness center plus a spa
Free buffet breakfast
Shuttle bus to Patong and Phuket Town (for a fee)
Windsurfing, canoeing, snorkeling, and other water sports
Kids' club and game room
Meeting rooms and event spaces
Hourly fee for Wi-Fi
Dated decor in rooms and common areas
Bar is small
No elevators
Mandatory surcharge for New Year's Eve gala
Ocean beach unsuitable for swimming in low season
The 235-room Best Western Premier
Bangtao Beach Resort & Spa is a large, mid-range, family-friendly chain outpost on
the Bangtao Bay beachfront. The resort lacks an authentic Thai feel, but there
are activities for all ages, including two pools (one is for adults only) and the
location is convenient for sightseeing and exploring the Phuket beach scene. Rooms
are spacious, but plain and somewhat dated, as is much of the property, which
doesn't live up to advertised four-star standards.
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Scene
Basic and predictable -- but large -- chain hotel with activities for all ages
The Best Western is simple, basic, predictable, and slightly dated, but the views are pretty, the pools are large, and the location is prime. It would be indistinguishable from any North American Best Western were it not for a large, flower-bedecked portrait of the King of Thailand at the entrance. The older property is large and basic,
and sometimes crowded, with fierce early-morning competition for poolside lounge chairs. Still, the location is excellent, and there are activities for kids and
adults, including an adult-only quiet pool. The lobby is huge, with high-beamed
ceilings, but little charm or Thai flavor beyond a few carved wall reliefs. The
landscaping is not the lush jungle-like green of many area hotels, and the
beach is rocky, with riptides that make it dangerous for swimmers during the
low season. The dining room is cavernous and lacks intimacy and atmosphere.
Location
On Bangtao Bay beach, near golf and other attractions
The Best Western Premier Bangtao Bay Resort & Spa is located by the beach at Bangtao Bay, also known as Laguna Beach.
There are small shops -- including a 7-Eleven -- just outside the entrance. The beach
at the hotel is rocky and not great for swimming during the low season due to
riptides, but the neighboring beach is sandy and safer. Laguna Phuket Golf Club
is a 10-minute drive, and Phuket FantaSea is 15 minutes by car. Patong
and the nightlife district is 35 minutes from the hotel, and Phuket
Airport is a half-hour drive away.
Rooms
Private balconies, pretty views, whirlpool tubs, and family suites
Rooms at the Best Western are spacious and open feeling, with private balconies with views of the garden or the Andaman Sea. There are seven room types including Junior Suites with whirlpool tubs, and two-bedroom Deluxe Family Suites, all with similar, somewhat dated decor featuring tile
floors (the pattern looks straight out of the 1970s), platform beds, desks, and basic wood furnishings. Amenities include flat-screen
TVs with satellite channels and pay-per-view movies, minibars,
coffeemakers, alarm clocks, and laptop safes. Rooms overlooking the adult-only
pool are quieter. There are no elevators on the property; guests with limited mobility may want to request a room on the ground floor.
Features
Water sports, two swimming pools, spa treatments, and a kids' club
The Best Western offers
a variety of beachside water sports, including kayaking, canoeing, and
windsurfing. There are two pools, including a quiet, adult-only pool with a
pretty palm island in the center. Right past the swimming pool,
is a rocky beach (bring water shoes) that has dangerous rip tides throughout much of the year but is calmer and swimmable during high season. The resort offers babysitting and a kids' club so parents can take a break. The open-air Beach
restaurant serves an international buffet, with nightly themes and a kids' menu. Spa treatments are also available. Wi-Fi is available for an hourly fee.
