Phuket is a large island known for many of Thailand’s best and most famous beaches, but only a small percentage of its thousand or so hotels are actually on the sand. Even with about 60 five-star hotels in Phuket, more than half of them have large suites and villas perched on hillsides overlooking the sea, but without direct beach access.
So for Phuket visitors who want to stay at a luxury beach resort, we’ve combed through all the finest hotels on the island to create the list below. Each of these resorts is either on the sand itself, or so close that guests can get there in only 1 or 2 minutes on foot. All of these resorts also have wonderful pool areas, and some with private pools at the villas, but those who love the sand and sea prefer a proper beach location, and these are the best of the best.
All of the resorts listed below are:
- On or adjacent to the beach
- Offer good value for money
- Score very high in guest reviews
1 – Six Senses Yao Noi
- High season starting from: US$936 per night
- Low season starting from: US$571 per night
Actually located on a small island just a short ferry ride away from Phuket, the Six Senses Yao Noi Resort is one of the finest hotels in all of Asia. It has 56 private pool villas perched over a private beach, each with stunning views of the sea. Obviously this is not a good choice for those on a budget, but it’s ideal for visitors looking for the best in everything.
Like its other Six Senses resorts in Asia, this one is designed with huge private villas that have an open-air design, with only the large bedroom suite being closed off in the air conditioning. This allows the tropical breezes (and ceiling fans) to keep guests comfortable around the clock. With a private pool for each villa, you could be forgiven for ignoring the beautiful beach below, but it’s there when you need it.
>>More information about the Six Senses Yao Noi
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2 – The Racha Hotel
- High season starting from: US$290 per night
- Low season starting from: US$245 per night
Our second-rated Phuket beach resort is another located on a small island, this one to the south of Phuket. The Racha Hotel has 85 villas, including many with private pools, in a gorgeous complex overlooking a large and sandy beach. Similar to the Six Senses, this is another resort with villas plenty large enough for families, but there are no kids’ facilities so it attracts mainly couples.
The villas are very modern and stylish, and they include such luxury touches as loaded iPods full of music rather than just docking stations. There are 5 restaurants and bars here, as well as yoga, a fitness center, and a luxury spa. Guest reviews here are overwhelmingly positive and many return each year, so if this sounds like it suits you, booking early is advised.
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3 – La Flora Resort Patong
- High season starting from: US$307 per night
- Low season starting from: US$214 per night
Located directly on the beach and in the center of Patong, the La Flora Resort Patong is a modestly-priced 5-star resort in a quiet part of Phuket’s shopping and nightlife center. There are 67 rooms, suites, and villas here, and each of them is just steps from the sand. The larger villas have their own private pool, while most of the others overlook the common lap pools at the heart of the resort.
This is another that may not be a good choice for families with children, but it’s perfect for couples who want to spend days on the beach and their evenings exploring the best restaurants and nightlife that Phuket has to offer. Guest reviews are very good, and low-season room rates are even better value than the good rates in high season.
>>More information about the La Flora Resort Patong
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4 – The Shore at Katathani Resort
- High season starting from: US$743 per night
- Low season starting from: US$404 per night
With a stunning location at the southern end of a quiet beach in south Phuket, the Shore at Katathani Resort has 48 pool villas that are very popular with romantic couples. Each villa is very large and filled with 5-star amenities, but it’s the large sundeck and private pool that steals the show. The beach is just a few steps down from the villas, so it’s easy to go back and forth if you please.
Though it’s a boutique resort, it has a full selection of features including yoga classes, a fitness center, tennis courts, and even golf putting greens. The Serenity Spa on site gets excellent reviews along with the rest of the resort, as does the secluded location that is also conveniently close to nearby restaurants and a short taxi ride to Patong.
>>More information about the The Shore at Katathani Resort
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5 – Renaissance Phuket Resort and Spa
- High season starting from: US$218 per night
- Low season starting from: US$149 per night
A larger resort that is family friendly with very competitive rates, the Renaissance Phuket Resort is adjacent to a quiet section of beach near the north of the island. The Deluxe Rooms are large and modern, with details such as marble bathrooms, and all the other rooms are pool villas ranging from 1 to 3 bedrooms.
There’s a Kids Club and an outdoor common pool, but it’s the location on a very pleasant section of Mai Khao Beach that makes this place so special. It’s a luxury member of the Marriott Hotels chain, so you can expect great service at international standards. During high season the room rates are very good for a 5-star beach resort, but during the low season the rates are phenomenal, as they prefer to stay full rather than partly close down as some neighbors do.
>>More information about the Renaissance Phuket Resort and Spa
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6 – Royal Phuket Yacht Club Hotel
- High season starting from: US$273 per night
- Low season starting from: US$179 per night
Another fantastic choice for families, the Royal Phuket Yacht Club Hotel is located on a private beach near the southern tip of the island. It has 110 guest rooms and suites, each with a marvelous sea view. It’s a special location because it’s walking distance from other local shops and restaurants, yet inside it feels secluded and private.
There’s a Kids Club and a Kids Pool in addition to the main swimming pool, a fitness center, a water sports center, and even tennis courts. There are two restaurants and a lounge, but again, there are other good choices close by. Guest reviews here are consistently excellent, and many people love this resort so much that they return each year, so booking early is advised.
>>More information about the Royal Phuket Yacht Club Hotel
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7 – Indigo Pearl Hotel
- High season starting from: US$290 per night
- Low season starting from: US$148 per night
Adjacent to a quiet beach in northern Phuket, the Indigo Pearl Hotel has 177 suites and villas in a very family-friendly setting. There are 3 swimming pools, but it’s a short walk to the secluded section of beach out front, so it’s the best of both worlds. There are 6 restaurants as well as 24-hour room service, and a Kids Club among the other child-friendly features.
Even the smallest suites here are large, and well suited to longer stays, and many of the larger rooms have their own pool or spa. Guest reviews are very strong with almost no complaints of any size, which is unusual for a larger resort like this. Rooms rates in high season are very reasonable for a 5-star beach resort with so much to offer, and in off season they are even better.
>>More information about the Indigo Pearl Hotel
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8 – B-Lay Tong Phuket, MGallery Collection
- High season starting from: US$182 per night
- Low season starting from: US$104 per night
Another resort in Patong, this one in the quiet north end of town, just across a small road from a big sandy beach, the B-Lay Tong Phuket Resort is a great choice in the lower price range among 5-star resorts. The 123 rooms and suites range from Deluxe up to the Presidential Suite, all with 5-star comforts. The location in a quiet part of Patong means that the crazy nightlife the town is known for is a long walk or short taxi ride away, while the area itself is calm around the clock.
Fans of nightlife are in luck here anyway, since it has its own nightclub, in addition to several restaurants and lounges. There’s a main pool in the center, but with the beach just steps away it is often ignored. Considering the room rates, which are great even in high season, this is fantastic value among beachfront resorts anywhere in Phuket.
>>More information about the B-Lay Tong Phuket, MGallery Collection
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9- Boathouse by Montara
- High season starting from: US$313 per night
- Low season starting from: US$182 per night
Located in the prime Kata area and close to nightlife, shows, restaurants, brand name shops and other attractions, the Boathouse By Montara resort is perfect for those who want a room close to everything. For the beach enthusiasts, all you’ll have to do is walk a few steps and you’re in paradise with a long stretch of beach and ocean to play in. There are also 3 other beaches nearby if you choose to venture out and explore a bit.
Some of the on-site resort features include cooking classes, a pool to lounge at, a spa featuring different treatments and massages, shops and even a wedding center for when you’re ready to take that leap of faith. Each room varies from the next with 7 different ones to choose from, making 38 different villas in total, each offering a different view. They also range in size, which in turn causes room prices to either rise or fall, which is great for budget travelers and those with a looser budget as you should have no problem finding which room is just right for you..
>>>More information about the Boathouse by Montara Resort
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