The Charm Resort Phuket

In a town that's packed with budget dives and wild resorts, The Charm Resort manages to mostly live up to its name, even if the style here is more sleek and modern than quaint and boutique-inspired. Guests drive up to a covered entrance and climb a few stairs to enter the lobby, where they are greeted with a welcome drink. Inside, the bright and airy lobby features clean lines and contemporary style. Gray sofas and chairs along the side provide places where guests can hang out, and blue pillows and tables add a splash of color. The hotel is suitable for all sorts of leisure travelers, but it's especially popular with couples. Families and groups of friends also make their way here to take advantage of the spacious suites with kitchenettes and pool access. Given its location away from the party-hard areas of town, things here do stay mostly quiet and relaxed. 

The property is located just off the main beach road in Patong and is only one block from the sandy shores of the Andaman Sea. The immediate area, while not tranquil, is less hectic than the center of town, and there are a number of street food options nearby. This hotel is a little far from the main action of Patong, but there are plenty of bars, shops, and convenience stores along the walk to town. Jungceylon Shopping Mall and the nightlife along Bangla Road -- two of Patong's major destinations -- can both be reached in about 15 minutes on foot, or guests can take the hotel's free shuttle or hire a tuk-tuk. Phuket Town is about a 30-minute drive from The Charm, and Phuket International Airport is 50 minutes away. 

Rooms are sleek and fresh, with mostly black and gray color schemes, tile floors, and clean-lined modern black furniture. Contemporary Thai artwork highlights the accent walls. Standard features include flat-screen TVs, minibars, air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and tea/coffee makers. Upgraded rooms add kitchenettes with microwaves, but no stovetops. Balconies or terraces are furnished, and some have nice views of the pool. Pool Access Rooms have direct access to a semi-private pool from their terraces -- it's a long body of water shared by other Pool Access Rooms. Two-level Executive and Family Suites have separate sitting and dining areas as well as jetted tubs on balconies. 

Bathrooms are stylish and modern -- some of the nicer ones in the area on our last visit -- with handsome mosaic tile accents, contemporary rectangular sinks and toilets, and toiletries in pretty eco-friendly containers, as well as some additional toiletries in individual containers. Certain Junior Suites have bathtubs, and all rooms have walk-in showers have rainfall showerheads. Some guests complain that water pressure and temperatures can be a problem in tubs and showers, and a few have noted unpleasant smells coming from the pipes. 

There are a number of features at this large hotel, many of which come in handy given the hotel's distance from the main areas of Patong. Allure Kitchen serves all meals, starting with a breakfast buffet each morning. Lunch and dinner are a la carte, with a menu featuring international and local items -- food gets mostly solid reviews from previous guests. It's a casual, minimalist space with white walls and black and gray tables and chairs. The Sky Bar serves drinks and snacks by the pool, and the open-air Lobby Lounge has its own reflecting pool. 

The lovely rooftop infinity pool has beautiful views of the Andaman Sea -- it's a real stunner and one of the hotel's more popular features. Rows of black lounge chairs topped by red umbrellas line the wooden pool deck, which can get crowded. The bar serves drinks poolside, and there are tables and chairs for dining. 

The fitness center is compact, but sharp and modern, with cardio and weight-training equipment along with free weights and exercise balls. It has floor-to-ceiling windows and views of the hillside. A wall-mounted flat-screen TV helps entertain. The hotel runs a free shuttle to the Jungceylon Shopping Mall, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.