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The JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa is one of the island's
best known - and most sought after - big-name destinations. Guests
come here to escape - 11 hectares (27 acres) of lush tropical grounds
and miles of beachfront make that not just a possibility, but an
absolute guarantee. Not far from the airport, but not near anything,
this is island seclusion at its finest.
But even the best must work hard to stay at the top, and the JW
Marriott has been busy. Very busy. Some upgrades here, some new
additions there, and the already generous complement of pools, restaurants,
and leisure activities has become the envy of resorts worldwide.
Our favourites of the new, the improved, and the just plain cool:
Proving that sometimes water complements a meal better than wine,
Ginja Taste's tempting Thai cuisine is washed down with striking
sea views. But that's not to discredit the wine. An expert with
an enviable job has done the hard work of sampling each dish and
picking out the perfect wine. The menu draws on the best - sometimes
common, sometimes obscure - from every corner of the country.
Cooking School, as a title, doesn't really do this place justice.
But, until they heed my naming suggestion (The Study of Sumptuous
Sustenance Studio), Cooking School it is. Spacious enough for even
the most wildly flamboyant cooking style, the natural light-filled
teak building has four student cooking stations with room for eight
budding hash slingers. Expert chefs guide you through a labyrinth
of ingredients with programs catering to couples, groups, and families.
The Mandara Spa isn't new. But it has been expanded. Twice. That
kind of popularity is list worthy.
Shrouded in green jungly plants, the massive copper doors of the
new treatment rooms swing open to reveal a serene sanctuary. A cocoon
of comfort with soaring ceilings, picture windows look out on your
private garden tub. Make the most of the surrounds with a massage
employing hot stones or tricks from Japan, Sweden, Bali, and Thailand.
Anything but dreary, Out of the Blue - Drink is cliché only
in name. Outside, oversized loungers and a twinkling water feature
set the ambiance. Indoors, blue is the colour of choice. Bottles,
tiles, chairs - nearly everything - is blue. It's sparse, trendy,
and chic. If your beach vacation requires a dose of urban cool,
this is for you.
Upgrades and additions have put a new face on an afterthought and
transformed the health club into a palace of personal wellness.
The gym is fully stocked. The machines are cutting edge. The staff
is friendly and helpful. And the environment is relaxed. The only
pitfall is the locker rooms. With a large sauna, a whirlpool looking
over a meditation garden, and dressing areas with an arsenal of
complimentary grooming products, you might not make it to the treadmill.
But then, that's what holidays are all about.
JW Marriott Phuket - Hotel Review
A breezy, open-air lobby. A squad of sparkling Mercedes-Benz. A
massive infinity-edge reflection pool. Couches that look suspiciously
like beds. A most gracious welcome. Oh, and I think I see the sea.
The JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa knows how to make a quality
first impression, and maintains that standard throughout the entire
property.
Big enough to tango in, the standard rooms (branded 'Deluxe Sala'
plus a noun, it's the floor number in disguise) are awash in dark
wood and light hues of famous Thai silk; all expected amenities
report for duty. Buildings have three floors; accommodations on
the top two have large balconies while ground floor rooms compensate
with even larger terraces and lower prices. The one-bedroom suites,
of which there are a dozen, are twice as big and twice as nice.
Obsessive house cleaners do an outstanding job of keeping all rooms
glittering.
In the fully stocked health club, the television screens on the
treadmills can't do the hard work for you, but they make the pain
more entertaining. Two tennis courts, a lake trail, and mountain
bike rentals allow calories to be shed outdoors. The spa eases the
aches of the over-zealous or indulgent in treatment rooms that deserve
an award for opulent design. The resort's three pools are responsible
for soaking up untold hours of holiday time; one has a special kids
area, one has a special adults area (up to your bellybutton in water,
drink in hand), and one has a reputation for being the most peaceful.
Dine at a different restaurant every night for six days and sample
cuisine for Italy, Japan, Thailand, and America. For quick and casual,
the deli does the creator of the sandwich proud and serves a mean
high tea too. It's open at all hours; midnight munchies and pre-dawn
cravings beware. Art and science collide with food and drink at
the trendy new beach bar, Out of the Blue - Drink. Two words, one
title: Liquid Chef.
In the end, the resort feels like a luxury village - high-class
yet homely - where thoughtful activities, always friendly staff,
and the knowing nod-and-smile from fellow guests lend a sense of
community. On the north end of the island, you're a world away from
the rest of Phuket - literally and figuratively. But that's exactly
why many make this a permanent part of their yearly calendar.
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