Resort evaluation: What it’s like to remain on the Banyan Tree Phuket

Banyan Tree Phuket supplied a complimentary keep in order that TPG may get an inside take a look at the resort and its facilities. The opinions expressed beneath are totally these of the writer and weren’t topic to evaluation by the resort or any exterior entity.

One of many best-known luxurious resorts in Phuket, Thailand, can be considered one of its most established.

Banyan Tree Phuket, the primary property within the Banyan Tree chain of inns and resorts, first opened on the location of a former tin mine in 1994. Quick ahead to in the present day, and you will find your self checking in to a sprawling resort the place personal pool villas are the norm and employees members go above and past to offer genuine, native experiences to visitors arriving from world wide.

Here is what it is like to remain at Banyan Tree Phuket.

What it is like at Banyan Tree Phuket

Banyan Tree Phuket is a 30-minute drive from Phuket Worldwide Airport (HKT) and may appear to be a golf-oriented resort primarily based on the drive as much as the resort by means of the Laguna Golf group. However the resort and its quite a few villas stretch from the golf course by means of a lagoon community close to the Andaman Sea (accessible by way of the neighboring Laguna Seashore, which is a brief bike trip or 10-minute stroll from the resort).

Many public areas are open-air, and upon arrival, you may be greeted by a staff member who will information you to the check-in space inside a broader foyer space that features a massive water characteristic, a bar and Banyan Tree’s signature upscale restaurant, Saffron.

Checking in

My check-in course of included nice touches like chilled natural tea and chilly towels to deal with the Phuket humidity, and a staff member escorted me in a buggy to my Pool Villa whereas a distinct staff member dealt with baggage supply. The massive property has accommodated a number of expansions and renovations because the resort opened 30 years in the past, so it is value borrowing bikes (supplied complimentary at a stand close to the Banyan Tree Spa) to get round effectively.

How a lot Banyan Tree Phuket prices and tips on how to ebook

Whereas my keep was complimentary, charges for a Pool Villa (the entry-level lodging) begin at $340 per night time in off-peak months earlier than rising to round $500 per night time within the peak winter months. You may wish to ebook properly upfront for those who’re pondering of visiting for Christmas or New Yr’s Eve, as that is the busiest time of yr for resorts throughout Phuket.

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For added elitelike advantages, you’ll be able to ebook straight with Banyan Tree or by way of platforms like Skylark and American Categorical High-quality Accommodations + Resorts, which is offered to these with The Platinum Card® from American Categorical. By utilizing your Amex Platinum on FHR, you’ll be able to earn 5 Membership Rewards factors per greenback on pay as you go resort bookings or use factors for all or a part of your keep.

Rooms at Banyan Tree

Pool Villas are the norm at Banyan Tree Phuket, and there are even DoublePool Villas in a extra secluded part towards the again of the resort. My Pool Villa had the proper quantity of area for 2 individuals to stretch out and never be in one another’s means.

The king-size mattress missed the patio and pool space from a spacious bed room with a seating space and a moist bar. The lavatory featured a walk-in bathe, dressing room and ample storage for baggage. Numerous shades of inexperienced and cream with gentle wooden dominated the colour scheme.

The decor and design signaled that the resort is attempting to attraction to a wide selection of tastes: Peaked roofs and murals over the mattress leaned right into a Thai aesthetic, whereas the again patio and personal pool felt like they might belong anyplace — that is not essentially a foul factor however one thing to think about for those who’re on the lookout for any explicit aesthetic.

Housekeeping, together with nightly turndown service, is obtainable two instances a day, and repair is quick. As jet lag was setting in, I recurrently requested extra espresso pods for the in-room espresso machine. New pods arrived inside minutes every time I referred to as. On the amenity entrance, you could possibly discover the same old luxurious choices of tub robes, self-importance kits and slippers, whereas Banyan Tree-branded tub merchandise, which incorporate argan and camellia oleifera seed oils, are used within the toilet.

What we ate at Banyan Tree Phuket

There are some eating standouts at Banyan Tree Phuket, significantly concerning Thai delicacies and distinctive experiences.

Banyan Tree’s high-end, open-air Thai restaurant, Saffron, missed a lagoon and had a romantic vibe because of the nightly dwell music performances going down within the adjoining lounge. Mieng moo hong, or Phuketian stewed pork stomach in betel leaves (470 baht, or $13), was a scrumptious begin earlier than major programs of khao pad saffron, a wok-tossed saffron dish with seafood and greens (600 baht, or $16), and shrimp pad Thai with mango (780 baht, or $21).

Not that we wanted the carbs, however a enjoyable amenity at Saffron was the rice cart, which was wheeled round to supply diners 4 kinds of grains. Like I stated, we did not want the carbs, however the blue-hued butterfly pea was scrumptious. (OK, high-quality: I had the cart return for seconds.)

Veya, Banyan Tree’s wellness-oriented restaurant, overlooks a quieter stretch of the pool in an open-air perch close to the Banyan Tree Spa. The self-anointed “Mediterr-Asian” restaurant was as scrumptious because it was wholesome. Kingfish ceviche (520 baht, or $14) and steamed prawn dumplings with spicy tamarind sauce (395 baht, or $11) had been gentle starters value returning to Veya for a second go to later in our journey.

Veya’s menu included different highlights like cauliflower steak grilled in turmeric and served with hummus and chimichurri (450 baht, or $12) and vegan nachos (360 baht, or $10). Sure, nachos are nonetheless extremely pleasant sans tortilla chips and beef chili!

Tin Tapas Bar, a floating cocktail bar on the lagoon, is a good spot to get pleasure from night cocktails, whereas Tre close to the DoublePool Villas was my most well-liked locale to get pleasure from a quieter breakfast. The Watercourt is the primary spot for breakfast at Banyan Tree Phuket and is considerably busier within the morning than Tre.

The Banyan Tree Phuket staff may organize a personal dinner cruise by means of the community of lagoons surrounding the property. It is a good way to look at the sundown and discover the encircling properties whereas having fun with a number of programs of customizable delicacies (excessive marks for the grilled lobster and calamari throughout our cruise). Personal dinner cruises begin at 18,990 baht ($511) for a gaggle of 4.

Experiences at Banyan Tree Phuket

I honeymooned a number of years in the past at a Banyan Tree resort in Vietnam, and that property caught with me for providing nice native experiences like bike rides by means of close by fishing villages and excursions of the UNESCO World Heritage Website of Hue. It seems that could be a Banyan Tree model normal.

Banyan Tree Phuket provides Thai cooking courses the place you start by choosing recent herbs and greens from the on-site Veya Pharm earlier than then taking the elements again to get pleasure from a cooking class on the Banyan Tree cooking studio (charges begin at 3,800 baht, or $102 per individual). Throughout my abbreviated uncooked cooking class, we realized to make shredded pumpkin, carrot and tempeh salad with a spicy lime French dressing.

Elsewhere, you’ll be able to get pleasure from spa workshops the place you study to make your personal therapeutic massage oils and natural inhalers. It is a part of the broader Banyan Tree Spa hub the place all Banyan Tree Spa workers worldwide come to coach earlier than returning to their residence resort — so it is properly value getting a therapeutic massage, too.

The resort additionally provides extra laid-back, meditative experiences as properly. Banyan Tree’s Lotus Labyrinth close to Laguna Lake allows visitors to have a peaceable, contemplative begin to their day whereas strolling towards the middle of the labyrinth — It definitely made me really feel de-stressed from all of the journey of attending to Phuket.

Facilities and issues to do

Banyan Tree Phuket provides a variety of extra facilities and actions to refill your itinerary and make your journey a bit of extra stress-free:

• Many out of doors actions, from tennis on the on-property courts to 18 holes on the golf course, in addition to kayaking on the lagoon
• A spacious gymnasium with a strong mixture of power and cardio gear
• Concierge service to rearrange native experiences, like visiting a rubber plantation or close by markets
• Intensive wellness and spa choices
• Cooking courses
• Bicycle use
• Personal dinner cruises all through the lagoon community
• Accessibility: A lot of the property is wheelchair accessible, however the property is unfold out and hilly at instances. Buggy service is one of the best ways to maneuver round between public areas and villas. There are villas configured for wheelchair accessibility, however contact Banyan Tree Phuket straight to make sure you can reserve a room that meets your necessities.

Insider ideas for staying at Banyan Tree Phuket

Listed here are just a few extra ideas and issues to know earlier than planning your go to to Banyan Tree Phuket:

• Whereas the resort by no means felt crowded, eating places stuffed up rapidly. Make reservations forward of time.
• Watercourt has an intensive breakfast buffet, however ebook a desk at Tre for a quieter begin to your day away from the hustle and bustle.
• Splurge on a DoublePool Villa for extra space for those who’re touring in a bigger group or need a bit of extra seclusion.
• All spa staff within the Banyan Tree community come to Banyan Tree Phuket to coach, so think about pampering your self with a remedy or two to see what units the usual for the remainder of the model.

Backside line

Banyan Tree Phuket is a good way to immerse your self in Thai experiences and tradition with a staff able to go above and past to make your keep considered one of a sort. An added bonus: The resort provides good worth in comparison with a few of the competing luxurious resorts within the space, particularly contemplating the sturdy spa and eating choices at Banyan Tree Phuket.