“A Quiet Escape in Phuket”
Movenpick Resort Bangtao Beach Phuket is a boutique resort located in the heart of the Laguna area in Thalang, Phuket. The resort is cosy, and exudes Thai architectural charm. It is just a few steps away from the beach, and is everything that you would expect a resort to offer.
There is an airport transfer chauffeur service available, but arrangements must be made beforehand with the hotel for the pick up. It is about half an hour from the Phuket International airport, including traffic, at the Northern area of Phuket. Movenpick Resort is located along Bangtao beach (one of Phuket’s longest beaches), and right in the heart of the Laguna area.
Security is quite tight around the compound, and there are guards 24/7 on standby making guests feel quite safe and assured.
Upon arrival, you’re greeted by the friendly staff and offered a fresh flower wrist garland, along with a refreshing serving of Plum Roselle tea. The land of smiles indeed! I really felt pampered and like a princess with the amount of attention given.
The guest reception desk… …is literally just a desk. You’ll be ushered to relax on one of the comfortable sofas, while the staff take care of your check-in procedures. No queuing or hanging around counters needed, and very casual. The staff present and take care of everything, while requesting for the basics like your passport and deposit while you’re seated.
On alternate days and weekends, there will be a musician on a string instrument called a khim. The sound produced places you in a zen like trance, and you feel relaxed almost immediately.
The Khim player obligingly posed for me. He’s really friendly, as with all the other staff at Movenpick Resort. All the staff speak pretty fluent English, so there was not much of a language barrier. However, knowing a few basic Thai terms would aid in haggling and politely rejecting a few pesky touts.
Once the room is ready, the Movenpick Resort staff will personally bring you to your designated room/suite. They then proceed to show you around the room and their facilities. I guess this would only be necessary for guests who booked suites or penthouse apartments equipped with kitchenettes and pools or Jacuzzis. Room service is available, along with in-room spa treatments and massages.
We were given the Classic Room, which is just a basic hotel room with an attached bathroom. The room was furnished with an Asian touch and Thai influences, and came with basic necessities like a simple bar, closet, television, DVD player and safe.
There’s free Wi-Fi too, and the connectivity was surprisingly fast. The view from the window is your perfect picturesque lush greenery and a little peek of the Andaman sea. Sometimes little birds perch on your windowsill in the morning and makes you feel like a Disney Princess.
Here’s a peek of the simple bathroom. The Classic Room is alright for a short stay, but my only gripe was that the room was located directly above the restaurant and main kitchen (the other rooms were further back). We could hear the guests walking about and the faint clanging of metal trays in the mornings – sleeping in was not an option. If booking, do request for a room further away from the commotion.
The suites and penthouses are away from this block, and offer luxurious amenities such as flat screen televisions and surround sound systems, as well as personal pools and Jacuzzis.
To the left of the reception area and restaurant is the poolside. There is a poolside bar at the end of the pool, and you can order Movenpick ice cream by the cup or scoop. What is a stay at Movenpick Resort without Movenpick branded ice cream? Perfect for the hot sunny days (or in my case, day). Sun bathers can pick the beach beds or deck chairs.
Movenpick Resort’s other facilities include a full-fledged gym, The Blossom Spa, and The Palm Kid’s Club – a day care to park your little ones while the grown ups enjoy personal time.
The Palm Cuisine restaurant offers all day dining, and the breakfast buffet is held here as well. Occasionally, guests can opt for a barbeque dinner by the poolside, at 1200++ BHT per pax. Private dining and room service is available.
The breakfast buffet is decent, with an omelette station, and caters to various nationalities with different cuisines. I loved the pancakes and salad selection the best though.
Bonus! The resort offers complimentary rental of bicycles, with and without baskets. The ride out to Laguna where the food and massage parlours are is about 3 to 4 km, which is pretty fun. It also gives you an excuse to pig out. Along the way, be sure to check out the horse and elephant rides, as well as street food vendors parked by the roadside. Alternatively, a comfortable taxi ride is 200 BHT to the Laguna area.
Motorbikes are 700BHT for the whole day, while cars and trucks (both manual and automatic) range from about 2000 to 3500 BHT for a whole day’s rental. There are many other rental places right outside the compound, but be sure to haggle for a reasonable price before making a decision. Having your own transport is definitely a bonus as it saves costs on transport, and you’re better able to explore the areas around Movenpick Resort. Its about 30 minutes to an hour’s drive to any of the tourist spots like Phuket Town and Soi Bangla Road at the Patong Beach area.
There is direct access from Movenpick Resort to the Bangtao beach area, through a computerised keypad locked gate. There used to be an entire row of beach clubs and bars, but recently the Thai Military has demolished all the establishments along the beach as it is public land and not meant for commercial use.
However, once you get past the debris, the view along the coastline is spectacular.
Overall, the short getaway at Movenpick Resort Bangtao Beach Phuket was a pampering experience. It is quiet, and romantic, away from the bustle of city life, leaving you revitalized and recharged to take over those Monday Blues.
The best time to visit Phuket would be in November to March, and in June to avoid the monsoon season.
*Movenpick Resort Phuket is also available on The Entertainer App- when you stay 1 night, you get 1 night free! Read more about how to get this awesome deal on The Entertainer App.
Expected Damage: $400 – $1020 SGD per night (before tax)
