Phuket is Thailand’s largest island and one of the most beautiful places on earth. The only problem? Everyone knows about it, which makes it one of the most crowded tourist destinations, with around 17,000 to 18,000 international tourists arriving each day according to details the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket director shared with the Bangkok Post. And numbers are expected to rise in 2025. That’s not too much of an issue, though, as Phuket resorts are renowned for their lavish offerings and stunning locations.
The island also boasts over 90 kilometres of coastline dotted with stunning beaches. So there’s plenty of space on the sand for everyone. Plus, the large, thrumming crowds make Phuket’s old town all the more charming.
But it does mean you need to choose where you stay wisely, so that your chosen Phuket resort can be a refuge during your holiday. Somewhere serene and secluded, or so incredibly luxurious that you’d never dream of leaving the property. Whether you’re a White Lotus chaser, a poolside sunbather, or you just need a holistic wellness recharge, here are nine of the best Phuket resorts to book for your next island getaway.
Our expert picks for Phuket resorts in 2025
- Best for The White Lotus luxury: Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas (here’s why)
- Best for honeymoons: Amanpuri (here’s why)
- Best for families: Banyan Tree Phuket (here’s why)
- Best for new-school cool: COMO Point Yamu (here’s why)
- Best for romantics and couples: Keemala Hotel Phuket (here’s why)
- Best for sunsets: V Villas Phuket (here’s why)
- Best for food lovers: Trisara (here’s why)
- Best classic Phuket resort: The Nai Harn (here’s why)
- Our pick for ethical luxury: Six Senses Yao Noi (here’s why)
Best resorts in Phuket for luxury holidays
Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas
Best Phuket resort for The White Lotus level luxury
The third season of The White Lotus continued its winning combination of miserably privileged people and beautiful locales, which has also led to the “White Lotus effect” (a surge in travel bookings). The HBO show’s first season, set within the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, saw a boom in bookings. Sicily and its stunning San Domenico Palace at Taormina, another Four Seasons property, experienced a 300 per cent increase in demand following the second season.
So when Thailand was named as season three’s setting, people were quick to book holidays – even before it aired. According to data from Webjet, year-on-year bookings to Koh Samui and Bangkok surged 28% and 23% respectively after the trailer dropped. Phuket was also the ninth top destination for flight bookings from Australia between 1-11 February.
While HBO stuck with the Four Seasons at Kho Samui, the Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas were also featured in several scenes. It’s no wonder, given its location and aesthetic – a collection of private luxury, southern Thai-style villas on the northern tip of Phuket Island, clustered around a lagoon. With its emphasis on wellness, leisure and amenities, it’s just a shame that Tanya McQuoid won’t get to experience Anantara.
But if you’re yet to book, note that some facilities will be closed for upgrades from 5 May 2025, including the Sea.Fire.Salt. Restaurant and beachside pool (reopening mid-July). There are plenty of other dining venues, facilities and another main pool, though. Or check out Anantara Mai Khao’s sister resorts in Phuket: Anantara Kho Yao Yai and Anantara Layan.
Reasons to stay:
- Conveniently located 15 minutes from Phuket International Airport
- Ideal for both couples and families, with a choice of accommodation options
- The award-winning Anantara Spa will leave you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated
Amanpuri
Best luxurious Phuket resort for a honeymoon
Aman Resorts might be renowned for luxury now, but back in 1988, its first hotel, Amanpuri in Phuket, was a gamble. Owner Adrian Zecha was opening a hotel with considerably higher rates than its competition – in many ways he was betting on Phuket as a tourist destination itself. That gamble paid off handsomely – Aman continues to go from strength to strength, and Amanpuri is still a benchmark for Phuket luxury accommodation.
Amanpuri is one of legendary architect Ed Tuttle’s most celebrated designs, and it’s easy to see why. It is a stunning resort of temple-like pavilions, where the indoors and outdoors seamlessly intermingle, and traditional southern Thai visual motifs are refracted through a contemporary lens. As is customary with Aman Resorts, a stay here certainly comes at a higher price point, but you absolutely get what you pay for. That means a peerless spa, a glut of cuisine-spanning bars and restaurants, and a range of bespoke experiences and activities. It’s all, of course, anchored by exceptional rooms – from private villas to secluded pavilions.
Reasons to stay:
- Situated on its own peninsula, overlooking the turquoise waters of the Andaman Sea
- Villas offer seclusion with their own swimming pools and personal chefs
- Exceptional Aman service
Banyan Tree Phuket
Best Phuket resort for families
Beyond just having a kids club, a good resort for families is about convenience and ease. Banyan Tree Phuket’s sheer volume of things to do (and types of things to do) within the resort is what makes it such a good choice for families. The location itself is beautiful – this traditional southern Thai-styled resort is well situated between Bang Tao Beach and a series of coastal lagoons, on an 89-acre property.
It makes the most of that footprint to offer an 18-hole golf course, a series of tennis courts, a wellness centre, a spa, as well as an abundance of lagoon-based activities such as kayaking (not to mention the all-important kids club). There are also seven restaurants, offering a wide variety of cuisines. There’s a range of villas to choose from, but it’s hard to go wrong here.
Reasons to stay:
- The 89-acre resort boasts a golf course, tennis courts and cycling paths
- On-site kids club open from 9am–6pm every day
- Built around a picturesque lagoon and surrounded by lush greenery
- Picturesque Bang Tao Beach is just a 10-minute walk away and Old Phuket Town is a 30-minute drive for further exploring
COMO Point Yamu
Best Phuket resort for new-school cool
Although Phuket doesn’t quite match Chiang Mai’s temples and cultural status, its overall aesthetic is still, by and large, traditionally Thai – surrounded by the Andaman sea. While that may be a large part of the island’s appeal for most, the more cosmopolitan, design-driven traveller will want to stay at COMO Point Yamu. This striking property at the tip of Cape Yamu, with a panoramic outlook over the beautiful Phang Nga Bay, boasts a design from esteemed Italian architect Paola Navone. Choose from a variety of rooms, suites and private pool villas, which can accommodate a vast array of family and group sizes.
Dining includes the Italian La Sirena and traditional southern Thai cuisine at Nahmyaa. For light snacks and all-day cocktails, there’s the poolside Aqua Bar. Holistic wellness is a large part of COMO Point Yamu’s appeal, with a menu ranging from massages, and yoga lessons to workshops led by resident life coaches. The resort also makes the most of its proximity to Phuket’s old town with a variety of experiences on offer, from cooking classes to hiking to cultural tours. Parents can also make the most of Play By COMO: a children’s paradise for little ones aged four to 12.
Reasons to stay:
- Design-led Phuket accommodation with 360-degree views overlooking Phang Nga Bay and Point Yamu Bay
- Signature COMO Shambhala therapies at the treatment rooms overlooking the bay
- Kids club open daily, plus a teens room with pool tables
Keemala Hotel Phuket
Best Phuket resort for couples
Let’s get one thing straight – it’s nearly impossible to take a bad photo in Phuket. You’d have to be trying pretty hard for any photo you take of your hotel not to be grid-worthy. Having said that, if you want a guaranteed winner of a post, a photo of Keemala’s bird’s nest villas is as close to a cheat code as you can get.
Keemala is a lush resort on the western coast of Phuket, midway between the jungle and the cool vibes of Kamala Beach. Appropriately, there’s a large focus on wellness and clean eating here (you can even book a holistic retreat), and those seeking to deepen their appreciation of the Thai philosophy and cultural outlook will appreciate Keemala’s emphasis on it.
Although those distinctive bird’s nest-shaped private pool villas are a visual highlight – the other villas, from the one-bedroom tent pool villas to the Avatar-esque tree houses, are all well worthwhile, too.
Reasons to stay:
- This tranquil jungle retreat is ideal for those looking for a different Phuket experience
- Exceptional wellness program, including holistic retreat packages and a focus on fresh and sustainable cuisine
- Every accommodation option boasts a private pool
- If you want to venture out, a complimentary shuttle can take you to the nearby beach
V Villas Phuket
Best Phuket resort for magical sunsets
V Villas opened in 2021 and instantly made its mark on the local scene. Fans of the MGallery brand of hotels will find plenty to like about this boutique resort, which has just 26 villas. This picturesque pool resort sits atop a hill that looks out over Ao Yon Bay – and it might just boast one of the best sunsets in all of Phuket — particularly if you’re watching it while you sip away at a cocktail at Akoya Bar, the main building’s buzzy rooftop. (But if you’d prefer to take it in from your private infinity pool, we wouldn’t blame you.)
Although the sea-view villas are obviously hot property, you shouldn’t overlook the hill-view villas – they offer a verdant escape, and you can still get your water-view fix from Akoya. Villas range from one-bedroom stays to the four-bedroom presidential villa. Each villa has a personal butler assigned to it, who’ll cater to your every whim. Whether it’s an afternoon tea or a whisky night, there’s also always an interesting event going down at Yon Ocean House, the resort’s central restaurant.
Reasons to stay:
- Poised 39 metres above sea level to offer panoramic views
- 24-hour butler service
- Located a 15-minute drive from Phuket Old Town
Trisara
Best Phuket resort for food lovers
A hotel’s dining options are, of course, of utmost importance to us here at Gourmet Traveller. As exhilarating as it is to dine locally, an excellent hotel simply must have an excellent restaurant. Trisara Resort meets – and exceeds – that brief. Its restaurant, Pru, was the first restaurant in Phuket to earn a Michelin star, and it still retains it – holding the distinction of being the only Michelin-starred restaurant in Phuket. In addition to Pru, Trisara’s other diners are no slouch: Cielo, Jampa, Seafood at Trisara and Dala Bistro and Bar are all sublime.
But it’s not all about the food here – whether your idea of the perfect holiday is to burn through books by the pool or you’re after some spa pampering, everything you’d expect from a top-tier resort is on offer, executed to an exacting standard. Activities range from water sports to private cooking classes (parents, there is, blissfully, a kids club). One highlight is the Trisara Cruise line-up, which includes a half-day excursion to the iconic Phang Nga Bay (made famous by James Bond).
Reasons to stay:
- Michelin-star dining at Pru restaurant
- Exhilarating activities, from water sports to local market visits to cooking classes (and, thankfully, a kids club)
- Each of the villas and suites has a private pool
The Nai Harn
The best classic Phuket resort
When it opened in 1986, the Nai Harn, which was once the Royal Phuket Yacht Club, was the island’s first true luxury resort. It hasn’t missed a step since then – this is still one of the finest resorts you’ll find anywhere on Phuket.
What’s the secret to its longevity? Well, it might be the stupendous drinking and dining (with a particularly honourable mention to Reflections, the glimmering rooftop bar). It could also be the considered renovations and upgrades that have been made over the years. Or the thoughtfully designed spa and wellness menus – delivered with impeccable service. That postcard-perfect view over Nai Harn bay certainly doesn’t hurt either.
The Nai Harn is also an excellent option for those hoping for a more conventional hotel room set-up, rather than the whole-villa-style arrangement that’s popular in Phuket.
Reasons to stay:
- Offers a more secluded location than other many Phuket resorts, overlooking Nai Harn bay
- Lavish service, including press-for-Champagne buttons and your own beach butler
- Classic hotel design, where guest rooms boast designer amenities and expansive terraces with canopy daybeds
Six Senses Yao Noi
Best resort for ethical luxury
Serene and secluded, Six Senses Yao Noi is technically not in the Phuket province but on an island between there and Krabi. But its offering and proximity – a 45-minute speedboat ride from Phuket – earned it a spot on our list. And once you arrive, you’ll instantly be in bliss. Every one of the 50 private villas has its own pool and terrace with views across the jungle to the ocean, perfect for sunset cocktails.
Like all Six Senses stays, this Phuket resort has an unwavering commitment to sustainability, with waste management and water conservation prioritised, as well as tangible support for the local community, including donations to schools and hospitals. The property has four restaurants and the option of in-room dining. The six-course Chef’s Table experience here is a must.
Reasons to stay:
- Private pools and terraces come with all 50 villas
- Ko Yao Noi is one of the Thailand’s more secluded and untouched islands
- The resort’s top villa The View, includes a private infinity pool, cinema and fitness centre
How we select the best resorts in Phuket
The Gourmet Traveller team has stayed at and assessed a wide selection of hotels, resorts, short-term rentals and other accommodation providers, which has helped us develop a set of criteria on what makes a place the “best” for different types of travellers. For our edit of the best resorts in Phuket, we regularly assesses a range of resorts available to book, focusing on properties available with our partners and considering the following key factors:
- Location
- Facilities and amenities
- Inclusions
- Rooms
- Other features
- Reviews from guests and/or our editorial team, as well as any relevant awards
To make sure that the properties truly are the best of the best, we also rule out any established places with aggregated guest ratings of less than 7.5/10 on popular booking and review platforms, as well as on Google.
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