Last year we were lucky enough to spend a week at Le Meridien resort in Phuket.
The resort is about an hour or so by car from Phuket international airport. On a bad day it can take even longer! We had arranged a private transfer with the hotel before arrival and were pleased to easily find our driver as we exited the terminal. The car was very comfortable, clean, and air-conditioned with cool face-towels & complimentary bottled water. Arriving at dusk, the drive was mostly in the dark so we didn't get to see much of the countryside. The traffic was chaotic but the driver managed to get us to the hotel in one piece!
The resort has a security gate entrance and is located on a cove, making it fairly private for resort guests.
On arrival at the hotel we were greeted with a free fruit mocktail while our check-in was processed. We were then whisked away to our room by a friendly porter. We had booked a "junior suite" which was very nice and had a great view out over the swimming pool towards the ocean:
Le Meridien Junior Suite
We had purchased the "half-board" package, which provided for both a full breakfast and either lunch or dinner at one of the resorts restaurants. This turned out to be a great deal and I'd heartily recommend it to anyone who asks! The package entitled us to breakfast at Portofino's each day which included a signature breakfast as well as the usual buffet-type arrangement. We were also to discover that we could have free champagne with breakfast! What a decent way to start the day! Here is the view we had each morning while enjoying breakfast:
The breakfast view
Most days could find me lazing on one of the deckchairs overlooking the ocean. Since being under martial law the Thai government introduced a rule that lounges & umbrellas were only allowed to occupy minimal space beach-side, so these tend to be kept on the grounds of the resort. That was fine with me!
Sunlounges
The food choice at the resort was exceptional and included Japanese, Thai & Italian together with a more westernised buffet-type restaurant that offered live entertainment most nights. There was also wood-fired pizza available near the beach, a more relaxed open-air cafe offering burgers, fries, and other easy meals, as well as another western restaurant serving steaks, etc.
Just outside the resort gates is a little licensed grocery shop, which came in handy for purchasing pre-dinner drinks to have on the balcony!
On our last day there was some type of accident on the main freeway between the resort & the airport. Our driver offered to take us the "back way", which involved driving through many tiny villages & rubber plantations. It was a great way to see parts of Phuket that you don't usually get to see. Thankfully we arrived at the airport with time to spare.
Be prepared for slow queues & humid conditions in the customs hall (even though it is air-conditioned). Remember to keep smiling though as your thoughts return to what a wonderful, relaxing holiday you've had!
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