Sun Hill Hotel

The Sun Hill Hotel is relaxed and low-key,  well-kept and tidy, with lots of open air nooks and crannies for hanging out with a book, a beer, or watching the (rare) clouds roll by. There is an authentic Thai feeling, as well as a refreshing simplicity, with little clutter and an abundance of warm Thai wood, Buddhist and Hindu statuary, fountains, and plants. A beautifully painted shrine to Buddha sits on a street-facing balcony, with incense and other offerings. The bar and restaurant are casual, open to the breeze, with pleasant terrace seating. Many guests return to the hotel year after year. Families with kids might want to stay in a more tourist- and family-friendly part of Patong. The Sun Hill area is bar and nightlife-centric, with visitors coming and going at all hours. The pool is tiny, and there is no shade on the pool deck; this isn’t a resort where guests might be tempted to linger in the hotel. 

The Sun Hill Hotel is a 15-minute drive to the center of Patong, half a mile from Patong Beach, on a steep forested hillside overlooking the town. The area is frequented by tourists on long-term visits and travelers intent on experiencing the legendary nightlife of Patong and Phuket. The Sun Hill is off Nanai Road, which is lined with bars. Bring directions, as taxi drivers may have difficulty finding the location. Once there, scooters and taxis wait right outside to take guests to Bangla Road, Jungceylon Shopping center, and other popular sights. The airport is approximately an hour’s drive.

Rooms at the Sun Hill Hotel are simple, spacious, and pleasant with basic, but not cheap-looking wood furniture, tile floors, fresh flowers, and a few artistic Thai accents: vases, wood reliefs, or paintings. Each room has a private balcony with teak furniture. Bathrooms are clean and up-to-date. Studios and Suites have kitchenettes with two burners, dishes, and dining tables, but don't look cluttered. Some rooms include direct pool access. Rooms facing the street get plenty of noise, but interior-facing rooms are quiet. Amenities include flat-screen TVs, minibars, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms have shower/tub combos, and toiletries in wall dispensers. Nonsmoking rooms are available.

The Sun Hill Hotel features a tiny but crystalline saltwater pool with a hot tub on a concrete deck, with a few sunbeds, but nothing poolside in the way of shade. In-room massage is available upon request. The hotel serves breakfast -- American, English, or continental -- until the midafternoon. The restaurant serves Thai and Western food in a peaceful, open air dining room with plenty of Thai woodwork and a pretty terrace. The relaxed, comfortable bar is done in granite, teak and Thai silks, and serves wine, cocktails, mocktails, and fruit smoothies. Wi-Fi is free throughout.