The Pavilions Phuket

The Pavilions is an elegant, exclusive, and romantic hotel that’s set away from the entertainment and noise of Phuket's livelier areas. Due to the secluded location, the property is solely aimed at tourists and does not attract business guests. On arrival at the smart entrance, linen-clad staff are on hand with cool towels for those checking in. The lobby is a beautiful space with Buddha statues, fresh flowers, and spectacular views. Golf buggies take guests to their villas, and the hotel even has its own funicular for reaching the top of the hill. The look throughout is breezy and elegant, and has the vibe of a hill station retreat. Ideal for privacy and relaxation, it’s understandably popular with couples -- many guests are honeymooners. Some families with children aged 18 and over do stay here as well. 

The Pavilions is tucked away high in the hills overlooking Layan Beach in Cherngtalay, on the west coast of Phuket Island. Facing the Andaman Sea from around 100 meters (328 feet) above sea level, it offers spectacular views and is very secluded -- the property is surrounded by coconut groves. The road leading to the Pavilions is dotted with private exclusive villas and high-end hotels. Set a mile inland, the hotel is around a 10-minute drive from the beach, a 40-minute drive from notorious Patong Beach, and a 45-minute drive from Phuket town. Phuket International Airport is a 25-minute drive north of the property. 

The 49 luxury pool villas are extremely spacious. Comfortable sofas are set in vast living rooms with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that open onto a secluded sun-deck with its own infinity pool, day bed, and uninterrupted views of the ocean or surrounding countryside. Interiors are sleek and modern, though the look varies between categories. The rooms we visited were done in black, white, and gray, with warm wood accents and pops of color in fun details like throw pillows and vibrant wall art. Carved wood lattice work appears in screens on windows and headboards, adding a dash of local flair. All villas have iPod docks, air-conditioning, free mineral water, flat-screen TVs with satellite channels and DVD players -- there’s also minibars, electric kettles, and toasters. French press pots are a thoughtful touch. Expect luxe details like a villa that has a built-in spa room. Huge bathrooms have a freestanding bath and a large shower cubicle with rainfall showerhead. The look is sleek with gray tiling, dark marble, and black granite in one villa we saw, or vibrant red tiling in the other. 

Guests tend to visit The Pavilions for total relaxation, so don’t expect to find a huge array of activities on-site. There’s an excellent restaurant, the Plantation Club, which was designed by Hong Kong-based Rene Ozorio. It’s a chic and stylish space decorated with hardwoods and soft pastel fabrics. The food is equally elegant -- a range of Thai curries and salads are beautifully presented. An excellent breakfast is served there as well, which includes French cheeses, Italian meats, Scottish salmon, fresh fruit, homemade bread, and omelets. Unfortunately, breakfast is not included with standard room rates. Room service is available. There are two bars at The Pavilions -- one bar and terrace has comfortable sofas in a large, open room, while the fashionable 360° Bar is perched up a lush path at the top of a hill. This outdoor bar attracts locals, expats, and tourists in the know for sunset cocktails and stylishly-presented snacks. The rattan-style seating on the deck offers incredible views. 

The hotel also offers a free shuttle bus to Layan Beach in Sirinat National Park, which is around 10 minutes away. There are restaurants by the beach, and the hotel can also provide a picnic basket. There’s also a small gift shop on-site, a book and DVD library, free car parking, and free Wi-Fi. In-villa spa treatments can be booked and there is a small spa pavilion for out-of-room treatments. The hotel also has a fitness center, but since all villas have pools, there is no communal pool on site.