One Bedroom Villa living room
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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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