Best Luxury Hotels in Phuket

Trisara Phuket is one of the most luxurious and private five-pearl properties in Phuket. Guests are met at the airport by an SUV and shuttled to the stylish resort, complete with a private sandy beach, infinity-edge swimming pool, three restaurants, and gorgeous accommodations with private pools and views of the Andaman Sea. There's a private boathouse and a popular Jazz Brunch on Sundays. Prices are high, but freebies include airport transportation, a breakfast buffet, chocolates, and Wi-Fi. For honeymooners and families who can afford it, Trisara is hard to beat.

Andara Resort and Villas is one of the most expensive five-pearl options in Phuket, but with the high price tag comes over-the-top extras like private chefs and access to a customized yacht. Well-heeled guests choose from luxury villas or suites; most of them have gorgeous private pools and sweeping views of the Andaman Sea. It would be easy to spend an entire vacation holed up in the villas, which get stocked with guests' favorite foods, and a private chef comes to prepare customized meals. Other great features are the relaxing spa, infinity-edge swimming pool, and Silk restaurant found in the common areas. One caveat: the beach is about a 10-minute walk (or quick buggy ride) from the hotel.

The five-pearl Pullman Phuket Arcadia Resort is alone in its class in this part of Phuket. Accessed via a single, windy road that also leads to Naithon Beach and a national park, the hotel is far from any other properties. The Pullman is about a 10-minute drive from Phuket International Airport, but it takes at least 45 minutes to get to the tourist activities in Phuket Town. Both families and couples adore this hotel for its gorgeous design details, extra-comfortable rooms, and infinity-edge pool overlooking the Andaman Sea. There are six on-site bars and restaurants, a luxe spa, and a fun kids' club. The natural beach is stunning, but the water can get a little rough at certain times of the year, and steep steps to the beach may be difficult for little ones to traverse. Staff is available to drive guests around the resort in small buggies. Rates are generally low for all this luxury, and include Wi-Fi and airport transfers.

Regent Phuket Cape Panwa is a five-pearl property overlooking the Panwa Cape on Phuket's quiet southern end. With a breathtaking infinity-edge pool overlooking the Andaman Sea, a private sandy beach, and tricked-out villas and rooms, the Regent Phuket is an ideal spot for couples and families seeking a luxurious tropical vacation with all the trimmings. Fun extras include iPad tablets in the rooms, a full spa and salon, and a free breakfast buffet. Those who would prefer to explore Thailand may not appreciate the semi-isolated location; expect a 20-minute drive to Phuket Town and 45 minutes to the airport.

Paresa means "heaven" in Thai, and with a staff that refers to themselves as angels, panoramic views of the Andaman Sea over Millionaires Mile, and private luxury villas -- to some guests, Paresa is truly a five-pearl piece of (expensive) heaven on earth. At night, the infinity-edge pool is lit up with hundreds of twinkling LED lights. Two on-site restaurants and a cooking school offer gourmet fare. The location on a cliff means privacy (and those uninterrupted views), but the tradeoff is a remote neighborhood and no direct beach access; the resort works around that problem with a free hourly shuttle to town and Kamala Beach. Kiddos are welcome but there isn't much for them to do.

It's pretty difficult to beat the wow factor found at The Naka Island, A Luxury Collection Resort & Spa Phuket. Guests arrive at the small, tropical island via a five-minute speedboat ride from Phuket. The five-pearl property consists of 67 private villas with private courtyards that boast plunge pools and giant outdoor soaking tubs. Naka Spa is one of the best in Thailand; it includes an ice room and warm Watsu pool. A private sand beach, a gorgeous two-tiered swimming pool, and three on-site restaurantsare convenient and necessary features, as there isn't much else on the island besides natural jungles and a small Muslim fishing village. One oddity is that the grounds aren't very well maintained and look patchy in many areas. Overall, this is an excellent choice for those who want a quiet tropical beach vacation with all the trimmings and no crowds -- but expect to pay high prices (by Thailand standards).

Built in 2012, the 224-room Phuket Panwa Beachfront Resort is a sleek, five-pearl property with stylish and contemporary decor. The location is on the remote side, with little to do in the area (and taxis can be expensive) but there are two quality restaurants on-site. Minimal rooms are modern and appealing with furnished balconies; some lovely suites have pool access. The beach may be a let-down, as it’s on the slim side and not especially impressive, but the two pools here surrounded by tropical gardens are stunning. It’s worth noting that having a “captive audience” means prices for food, drinks, and spa services are quite high. Many previous guests have also reported that as the majority of the staff do not speak any English, communication can be a challenge.

JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa is one of the most luxurious resorts (with a price tag to match) in Phuket. The tropical grounds and friendly service are almost impeccable. A location near Phuket International Airport is convenient for flights, but less so for those who want to explore Phuket. There are three upscale swimming pools, a luxe spa, and 12 distinct restaurants and bars. Contemporary rooms include balconies and mini-fridges, while the Villa has a private pool. Downsides are that the beach isn't suitable for swimming and past guests have reported that kids have a run of the place.

Banyan Tree Phuket is one of the larger five-pearl resorts in Phuket, with over 100 guest villas on sprawling garden grounds that can be difficult to navigate. Manmade lagoons and the Andaman Sea provide beautiful water views. Villas are spacious and include luxurious details like private outdoor spaces with hot tubs or pools, designer furniture, and pillow menus. Features here are more akin to what you'd find at an all-inclusive in the Caribbean than what's usually on offer in Thailand: cooking lessons, boat rides, a kids' club, several restaurants, a sandy beach, a freeform pool, yoga, a golf course, bikes, and even ababy elephant for photo opps. Downsides include high prices and an often red-flag beach during low season.

Anantara Phuket Villas is a five-pearl property with gorgeous villas; all come with lovely private pools. It was designed by renowned architect Bill Bensley, and his high attention to stylish detail shows throughout the Sino Portuguese property: intricately carved wood, open-air buildings, reflection pools, and pagoda-style structures can be found here. Though Anantara has everything its competitors have -- a luxe spa, free breakfast buffet, cooking school, and free bikes -- the one major flaw here is the tiny, red flag beach. For those who care more about swimming pools than sand, the Anantara is a great choice; it has one of the most spectacular pools in Phuket.

The Racha is a five-pearl eco-chic resort on the small island of Racha Yai in the Andaman Sea. It's a 35-minute boat ride from Phuket to get there, and there's a charge for the transfer. Once guests arrive at the island they're greeted with the sight of white-washed villas built with clean lines, in harmony with the natural surroundings of the tropical landscape and water. The villas are clean and comfortable; some have private pools and spacious outdoor bathrooms. Recreation facilities are top-notch: ATVs, water toys, tennis courts, a spa, and more are all on offer. Be warned, though: The stunning sandy beach is a hot spot for tourist boats from Phuket and is overrun with day trippers often, making it not exactly ideal for those who want a romantic and quiet tropical vacation.

The 48-room luxury Ayara Hilltops Resort and Spa is an adult-only resort built on the steep slope of Surin Hill, in northwest Phuket. Thanks to its hillside location and lush, jungle-like landscaping, there are unobstructed and spectacular views throughout -- especially the sunsets over the Andaman Sea on the horizon. Each room is a spacious, private villa with luxe features including outdoor showers and deep soaking tubs. However, rooms lack Wi-Fi (though they do have wired Internet) and the resort's removed location away from the action in Phuket may deter some from staying here.