Banyan Tree Phuket

This was a return visit to Banyan Tree Phuket. It’s a lovely peaceful resort where the accommodation is villas. We stayed in a 2 bedroom villa which also has its own pool and jacuzzi. The included breakfast is excellent giving you a wide selection of local cuisine or continental. The restaurant choices are good too, though tin tapas Tuesday offering 2for1 offered only a choice of dishes that were unpopular. Our holiday started slowly with a lukewarm late welcome but improving on reaching the villa with some nice welcome back touches. Unfortunately though during our stay there was a large party that seemed more important than all other holidaymakers: when we wanted to go to breakfast no buggy’s arrived to transport us, there was chaos in the restaurant with insufficient seating. At the poolside it was noisy and service was poor, and food arrived in sufficiently cooked. The rooms were not cleaned at the usual standard that we had found previously. It was a shame because it is a lovely place to holiday though on this occasion we were let down.

As a return guest at Banyan Tree in Phuket we expected a wonderful holiday and we were not disappointed. The service, the restaurants, the spa… everything was just as we hoped, all attentively overseen by our butler, Jason, who was excellent.

Just writing to express my gratitude for a truly wonderful stay at the Banyan Tree Phuket. The villa was beyond expectations, the pool so inviting, the outdoor bath so calming, the garden full of fascinating bird life and beautiful flowers. The level of service was impeccable, always calm with genuine smiles. A mind boggling array of choices for breakfast, took several days to work out what were our favourites. A real highlight was a massage in the spa with Im. Pure bliss! A short walk across the road takes you to a beach for magical sunsets. Top dining choice was Saffron for a wide variety of Thai dishes. Thank you so much. We’ll come again! 🙏

From the moment we arrived, this resort absolutely blew us away. Even the entrance was breathtaking. We were welcomed with a traditional Thai greeting, complete with beautiful bracelets, a refreshing welcome drink, and a tasty snack a such a thoughtful start. We had booked a two-bedroom pool villa, which comes with a dedicated concierge to assist you throughout your stay. Ours was Villa 911, located quite a distance from the main area, so we were taken there by buggy which the kids absolutely loved! When we reached the villa, we were greeted with a personalised plaque reading ‘Villa Kotadia’, a lovely and memorable touch. Before entering the main villa, there is a small outdoor kitchen area equipped with all the necessary appliances. But that was just the beginning. As the concierge opened the main doors, we were stunned by the design and layout. The entrance walkway led to two large glass doors, which opened up to a gorgeous lounge and dining area with massive sliding doors that looked out onto the garden and pool. The master bedroom was nothing short of stunning. The bed sat in the center, surrounded by glass walls, and had two direct access doors leading into a shallow pool area separate from the main pool. The bathroom was just as impressive, a spacious shower with a steam function, a freestanding bathtub, and a large walk-in closet. The second bedroom was equally impressive, complete with its own lounge area, stylish bathroom, and closet space. There was even a third shower room and additional toilet. But the real showstopper? The massive 12m x 5m private pool with a jacuzzi, four sun loungers, an outdoor shower, and a view that overlooked a peaceful lake. At the back of the villa, we had even more loungers and a table setup for evening relaxation. It honestly felt like something out of a Bond movie! Dining Experiences: A Mixed Bag Watercourt (Dinner & Breakfast): Unfortunately, this was the low point of our experience. Dinner service was extremely slow, and the food did not live up to expectations. Even basic amenities like hand soap were missing from the restrooms. At breakfast, I asked if my eggs could be brought to the table (as I was attending to the kids), but the staff refused. By the time I fetched them myself, they were cold. One staff member, a man in a cap who seemed to be in charge, was particularly unhelpful. Another woman dressed in black was also quite moody. I’d recommend skipping Watercourt breakfast and going to Tre instead. Tin Tapas: This restaurant was a gem, excellent food and amazing service. A big shoutout to Nicha, Nit, and Jay who provided five-star service and made our meal so enjoyable. Hojo: Absolutely incredible. The food was spectacular and the service exceptional. They really turned our day around after our disappointing Watercourt experience and made the dinner feel special. The sushi bento box was amazing , such good flavours. Banyan Tree Cafe: Consistently great food and polite service. The fish burger and pizza were some of the best we have had! Saffron (Wifes Birthday Dinner): While the food didnt quite match the Thai cuisine we had enjoyed elsewhere in Chiang Mai, the service was warm and accommodating. Due to the weather, the restaurant was a bit overwhelmed with guests, but the staff handled it with grace. A special thanks to our concierge Jason, who arranged a beautiful birthday cake and flowers for my wife, a sweet and thoughtful gesture. The same moody staff member from Watercourt was also working here, she was going around servicing rice, though she did at least say goodbye. Tre (Breakfast): A total win. Quiet, elegant, and à la carte no chaos or buffet lines. The service was top-notch, and the food selection was excellent. Special thanks to Yang and Yuwadee, who were incredibly kind and attentive. In-Room Dining Team: Outstanding service! The food was exceptional – the Indian dishes, in particular, were absolutely delicious. This team is incredibly hardworking and truly deserves top-tier recognition for their efforts and quality. Activities: The Muay Thai classes were a highlight. I took a class with Ti, who was an outstanding coach. I have a boxing background, and Ti helped me adapt to the Muay Thai style quickly. He was so good that I came back the next day with my son for a private session with Ti. My wife did a weightlifting class and thoroughly enjoyed it. Big shout of tour Charlee who organised our Phi Phi Island trip, thank you so much! :) this was a memorable trip and really made our stay. A Huge Thank You to Jason Our Concierge Extraordinaire: Jason was, hands down, the star of our stay. From the moment we arrived, he went above and beyond to ensure our family was happy and comfortable. After the disappointing experience at Watercourt, he organised a lovely afternoon tea in our villa. He made it his mission to show us that Banyan Tree is about excellence and he succeeded. Kind, caring, attentive, and incredibly thoughtful, Jason is one of the best concierges we have ever had. He truly made our family holiday unforgettable. He even organised for a Happy Birtday plaque to be placed on our villa for my wife, and he gave a lovely bag as a gift, I mean this guy went all out. Banyan Tree is lucky to have such an exceptional team member. Thank you, Jason, for making our experience so special.

We stayed for 10 days in a double pool villa and had the most magical time. The villa was wonderfully private amongst beautiful gardens. The staff throughout the hotel were all excellent however our private butler TingNong was exceptional. Everyday he made sure that our every need was taken care of. It was our wedding anniversary during our stay and the details he arranged for us were incredibly touching. A team member for the Banyan Tree to be very proud of. Thank you for such a special stay 🙏🏻