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One Bedroom Villa living room

Set on a hilltop overlooking the Laguna Resort complex and the Andaman Sea, Phuket Pavilions is the petite alternative to the island’s mega-resorts. How petite? It has a lobby, a bar, and 30 villas. That’s all. But it’s what Phuket Pavilions doesn’t have that sets it apart. There’s no spa, but you can get a massage. There are no restaurants, but exquisite food is readily available. There isn’t a community pool, but swimming is the centrepiece activity. With accommodation this nice, you wouldn’t want to leave – and there’s no reason to. Everything you need is just a phone call away, and served with a smile … in your villa.

I’m not Sherlock Holmes

One Bedroom Villa infinity pool & view

The clues were there, but it still took me a while to figure out the elegant simplicity of Phuket Pavilions. During check-in, the staff handed me a breakfast checklist and I ticked away – cheese plate, cold cuts, sausage, bacon, fried eggs, waffles, bread basket, coffee, mango juice – wondering if there was a maximum number of dishes I could order. The staff member didn’t flinch, but he did inform me that the music playing in the lobby was not available for purchase. Other guests had asked; he was saving me future heartbreak.

Step one of check-in complete, we jump in the golf cart and begin the ascent to the room. Facing backwards, oblivious to where we were going and distracted by the view, I wasn’t prepared for the severe angle of the incline. Here’s a tip: hang on tight. This is not a place for leisurely Sunday strolls. It is a hill, after all, and a steep one at that.

It’s like being on a home makeover show

Seaview from your bed

Arriving safely at what would be my home for the next 24 hours, staff familiarized me with various features and amenities: the minibar (with full-size bottles of wine chilling in the fridge and Haagen-Dazs ice cream tubs perfectly aligned in the freezer, they can be excused for calling it a Maxi Bar), his-and-hers flip-flops, the oversized bathroom, the marshmallow-soft robes that haven’t been starched into burlap, the sliding glass doors the open from the bedroom directly to the pool.

The walkthrough was better than most; this one was set to music. Every room comes with an iPod preloaded with playlists custom-tailored by DJ Tommy T to get you from morning to night. The funky holiday soundtrack includes a Morning Mix, Poolside Mix, Sunset Mix and more. In truth, it’s something I sorely miss; a Writing Mix or Eating Rice Mix would be welcome additions to my daily routine.

Size isn’t everything; seclusion matters too

Direct access to the pool from the bedroom

It was easy to feel at home in the villa. With 105 square metres (1,130 square feet) of indoor space in the one-bedroom pavilion (three-bedroom villas are three times bigger), there’s an abundance of room and comfortable furnishings are abundant. Add in the ample outdoor living area – with a dining table, shady sala, sun beds with the softest cushions I’ve experienced – and it could take a week to appreciate the villa from every possible vantage point.

Of the 30 villas, 21 are one-bedroom Pool Pavilions and nine are three-bedroom Pool Villas. All have sweeping views, a private pool, and massive walls and climbing vegetation on three sides – the hotel’s website is serious when it says “No tan lines. Total privacy.” Jump, peer, crane your neck – there’s no chance of spotting the guests next door. And that works both ways.

The chances of seeing anyone else – other than staff delivering your food – are slim unless you head to 360, the outdoor bar and lounge on the very top of the hill. The panoramic views are closer to 270 degrees than 360, but it doesn’t matter. The two-level deck is mood-lit, romantic, and enjoys some of Phuket’s best sunsets.

Food tastes better up here

360 Degree Bar & restaurant

The in-villa dining menu isn’t huge, but the food is fantastic. Lunch and dinner selections are limited to about about 45 items, consisting of appetizers (corn crusted baby Phuket squid), soups (lobster bisque), salads, sandwiches, Thai food, pasta, desserts and main courses like sea bass, jumbo prawns, or filet mignon.

If you want to wander further afield for dining, beaches, shopping, or nightlife – that’s no problem. This hotel isn’t in the hostage business. Realizing some guests might want more than poolside delivery (don’t count me among them), Phuket Pavilions operates a complimentary shuttle to the Laguna Properties and Layan Beach in the valley below. There’s no schedule – you call, they drive.

Are you paying attention, Mom and Dad?

This isn’t the place for wild all-night parties (though there is Party Mix on the iPod) or getting friendly with fellow travelers. But if tranquility, personal attention, and a private pool are on your holiday list, Phuket Pavilions is absolute perfection.

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Interview with The Hotel GM

Read the Interview with Mr Frank Dreist, GM of the Phuket Pavilions

Hotel Information and Room Rates

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Photo Gallery of the Hotel