Phuket : book your hotel

Dreamy, palm-lined beaches, warm and welcoming culture, delectable dishes and stays for all price points; is it any wonder we love Phuket? Explore Buddhist temples or take a cooking class, go for a surf or simply stretch out for a Thai massage at a sweet-scented spa.

Phuket's also the jumping-off point for some of the world’s most photo-worthy islands; book a day trip to Khao Phing Kan (aka James Bond Island) or Koh Phi Phi.

Phuket’s nightlife scene centres around Patong and its high-energy Bangla Road, when the nightclubs, restaurants and bars throw open their doors with live music, neon lights, cabaret acts and lots and lots of revellers. Grand Mercure Phuket Patong is a convenient base, while Mövenpick Myth Hotel Patong Phuket is a stylish stay in the Patong area.

But flip the coin, and you’ll discover sophisticated Phuket, home to sultry rooftop bars and Michelin-starred restaurants, high-end hotels, and private island-hopping excursions. Explore what’s on offer at V Villas Phuket or Avista Hideaway Patong Resort & Spa Phuket, close by Freedom Beach and Patong Beach.

Each of its tropical beaches has its own vibe; vibrant Patong is the party beach, and the further north you go on the western coast, the calmer it becomes, from Karon to Kamala. Surfers hit Kalim Beach for the waves, while Panwa, on the southeast coast, is a tranquil alternative; beachfront Pullman Phuket Panwa Beach Resort is a well-placed stay on this side of the island.

Fun and friendly for the wallet, Accor’s three ibis hotels are dotted across Phuket, with affordable double rooms and family suites that sleep up to four. Stay in the heart of the party at ibis Phuket Patong, 10 minutes’ walk from high-energy Bangla Road and five minutes to Patong beach. ibis Styles Phuket City brings the playful colours and design of nearby Phuket Old Town's Sino-Portuguese architecture into its style. Use it as your base for local markets and Rassada Pier, while Phuket’s street food and cute cafes surround ibis Phuket Kata, which is a 10-minute walk to Kata beach.

On a hillside overlooking Ao Yon Bay, the exclusive V Villas Phuket - MGallery Collection defines the best of Phuket luxury. Every one of its 26 pool suites has ocean views and a butler. Start the day with a floating breakfast in your private infinity pool, and farewell it from the AKOYA|Star rooftop lounge. The spacious apartments that comprise Mövenpick Phuket Bangtao are ideal for family groups; set on Bangtao Beach, its seaview pool suites sleep up to five, larger groups enjoy the luxurious three-bedroom jacuzzi penthouse. Don't miss the Mövenpick's signature daily Chocolate Hour.

Love the little touches that scale up your stay? Novotel Phuket Kamala Beach is set on the serene Kamala Beach, with a local restaurant strip and a short hop to Patong. Head up to the rooftop for sundowners overlooking the beach, or drop into the hotel spa for after-sun skincare. To ramp it up a notch, get under Phuket's skin with a stay in Phuket Town. Novotel Phuket City Phokeethra is well-placed for visits to Buddhist temples, street eats and colourful Phuket Old Town. The 180-room hotel is also close by Rassada Pier, for guided excursions to Koh Phi Phi and other islands.

Business can still be done in paradise, with free Wi-Fi, meeting rooms and conference facilities. Grand Mercure Phuket Patong might be only 500 metres from Phuket's busiest beach, but it also has two meeting rooms and a ballroom that together can accommodate up to 250 attendees, backed up with high-speed Wi-Fi, a self-service business centre in-house and nearby golf facilities. Set in the business hub of Phuket Town, Novotel Phuket City Phokeethra has seven meeting rooms including three ballrooms and a supported business centre.

Make memories on a family beach holiday spent on soft, white sand and lazy dips in turquoise waters. In the north of Phuket, beach meets rainforest at Pullman Phuket Arcadia Naithon Beach, which balances the best of both worlds, with kids’ clubs and adults-only zones, and spacious double-double rooms that sleep a family of four. Little travellers love the water scooters, splashpad and Little Ocean kids’ club at Novotel Phuket Kata Avista Resort & Spa, and with fun set-ups for kids in its all-balcony hotel near Kata Beach while Mövenpick Myth Hotel Patong Phuket is in the heart of the action, its two-bedroom family suites kitted out for elegant stays for up to four guests.

A poolside breakfast, date night with room service, a couples massage; what's your idea of a romantic getaway? With its Jivana Spa, swim-up bar and rooftop Michelin-starred restaurant, Avista Grande Karon Resort & Spa ticks all the boxes. Otherwise, take time out in a pool villa at Pullman Phuket Panwa Beach Resort, with views of the Andaman Sea. Its waterfront Tamarind restaurant is one of the island's top restaurants, and with stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking and Hobie cats available at the private beach, it's ideal for adventurous couples ready to go past the fly-and-flop.