41/31 Moo 5, Baan Hua Khuan, Kamala, Thailand | (888) 616-5829
Quiet location in the quaint village of Kamala
Luxury villas with private pools, some with kitchens
24-hour butler service
In-room Thai massage and spa treatments
Free five-minute shuttle to Kamala Beach and 20-minute shuttle to Patong Beach
Open-air Thai restaurant (also serving Western dishes)
Free loaner bicycles
Free Wi-Fi throughout
No common pool, spa, or fitness center
Not on the beach
Tucked away in the jungle village of Kamala, the five-pearl Bell Pool Villa Resort Phuket exudes exclusivity from behind the gated walls. Its 16 villas feature secluded gardens, large private pools, and 24-hour butler service. A full range of in-room spa services is available, along with breakfast and poolside barbecues, and privacy is paramount; the al fresco restaurant serves as the only communal space. A free shuttle and bicycles provide easy access to the beach, but those who want a resort on the sand might want to compare rates with The Naka Phuket -- though its location is more isolated.
Scene
Secluded private luxury villas -- but not on the beach
The Bell Pool Villa Resort Phuket is accessed through a gated entrance lined by ancient looking ornamental gongs. The only common area is a two-in-one lobby and restaurant decorated in a theatrical Chinese style with red and black bamboo furniture. The inside has a lacquered sheen and heavy bell-shaped lanterns hung above the bar. A bank of red doors open to an al fresco dining terrace, which in turn flows into a bamboo-lined garden. Most guests in this upscale, private villa resort are vacationing couples.
Location
Off the beach in the village of Kamala
Located in the laid-back village of Kamala, the The Bell Pool Villa Resort Phuket is near just enough essentials – a 7/11, a coffee shop, and a few local restaurants – but far from noisy tourist areas. Kamala Beach he beach is about a five-minute drive away. Phuket Fantasea theme park – a hit with children who are bored of the beach – is less than a 10-minute drive.
Those craving nightlife or more diverse shopping options will need to make the drive to Patong (where there's also a beach), which takes anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes to reach, depending on traffic. Bustling Phuket town is about 45 minutes away, and expect a 40-minute drive to Phuket International Airport.
Rooms
Large one- to four-bedroom villas with private pools
Behind the hotel's jungle covered walls, the 16 one- to four-bedroom villas have their own garden courtyards with private pools as well as poolside dining tables under covered pergolas. Each unit also has its own sala -- a kind of traditional open-air Thai pavilion -- furnished with comfortable lounge chairs. Inside the villas simple but elegant Chinese-inspired decor meshes with a modern open-plan living spaces. Bell-shaped lamps hang from vaulted wood ceilings, with natural wood and red lacquer furnishings throughout. Each unit has a sitting room with a couch and flat-screen TV, while larger units add full kitchens and dining rooms. The bathrooms have large tile walk-in showers as well as separate soaking tubs. Butler service is included.
Features
Open-air restaurant, free bicycles, and area shuttle
The hotel's Zhong Lounge & Restaurant serves contemporary Thai cuisine, with dishes ranging from grilled tiger prawns with fried pineapple rice and lemongrass salad to fusion creations such as a veal ossobuco in massaman curry. Diners with less adventurous tastes can also find pizza, pasta, and burgers. In-villa dining can be arranged indoors or poolside, and guests can arrange lavish private barbecue dinners. Breakfast has Asian and Western options and is served in the villas, but it's not included in room rates. As there's no dedicated spa, massages and other spa services -- including facials, scrubs, and mani-pedis -- are in-room only. Bicycles are free to take around town and the hotel operates regular daily shuttles to Kamala and Patong beaches.