Bangtao Beach

This is the waterfront of Phuket Laguna.

One of the top high end hotel, resort, villa, bungalow and apartment area in Thailand. 

This Andaman Sea Front is around 6 km of clean light yellow sand and has a high-end luxury village behind, that's "Laguna Phuket", less than half way between the town and airport. This is a very long stretch of sand, most of the time without people, they prefer the pools in the hotels. 

Unfortunately on the beach are some shanty town structures means ugly makeshift restaurants right in the sand looking like a slum and the usual shops. Several luxury accommodations and expensive shopping are at Canal Village, there is a supermarket which had to change the stock from whisky to vodka, it includes a well stocked wine and champagne section.

The five luxury resorts are set on the banks of the lagoons, this are flooded tin mines from the last century. An 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, a great spa and some restaurants are there in between and the usual Indian Tailors which always are Nepali. Here are some of the best beach resorts on Phuket Island.

If you don't like to hang around at the hotel all the time, especially in the evening take the shuttle to the entrance of the compound, there are plenty of shops and restaurants plus taxis for Patong Beach, the town or elsewhere. 

There is no entertainment around but a golf club and definitely some of the best luxury accommodations on the island. Defining luxury is a very subjective thing as each person has their own ideas about, but as a matter of fact it has a good growing rate here. 

All this hotels, resorts, villas and apartments offer a great settings and first class services.

Sometimes it is a little bit slow but it comes with a great smile, that’s also already something, especially when compared to these robots in Singapore and Hong Kong. They try very hard to create an exclusive ambiance that is so highly sought after. 

Floors of marble and granite, doors and decoration made from teak wood and the amenities are top notch. At this top beach resorts you can expect attractive and expensive bedding often of linens and silks, actually at Laguna is a Jim Thomson Silk Shop. Towels and robes are thick and luxurious and usually embroidered with the hotel crest. Some put a blind eye on this stuff if you take an item or two with you as souvenir, actually it won't matter very much for them since they charge you a very high price anyway. 

Satellite television and high speed internet access is standard and all other like mini bar etc.. Never use a taxi or tuk-tuk to arrive for check in at the hotel without having a booking already since those guys will go to the hotel people and demand commission that they brought you there and the thing is, they give it to them since they are afraid of them; this are mafia style groups on the island and other places in the country. 

There are other negative subjects just look at the slum structure at the photo right, its unbelievable that they allow such shanty town encroaching on one of the best beaches, according to Thai law this is strictly forbidden. 

Bookings at the airport are a similar scam they will milk you by a heavy commission the hotel will pay them every day and you can be sure they add this on top of your room rate when you came in. Better try to book through the internet or tell your secretary to do so, never book anything at the airport. 

Bangtao Beach in the Andaman Sea

When you come to this waterfront places you can expect excellent trained doormen, bellboys, receptionists and room service staff. They offer service with a smile and absolute discretion is on. Especially when you are one guy only and have a look for nice Thai Girls around. But this discrete service is not at every place, some of the hotels refuse entrance for the young women to the rooms totally and other put a heavy double occupancy fee on it, better check this before you book. 

Laguna was the main tin mining ground before tourism came. The lagoons of today were open pit mines a few decades ago, time is changing. Now Bang Tao Beach and Laguna is it is a high price assembly of luxury hotels, apartments and villas. This was built up from scratch landscaping was done nicely and reflects somehow the up market environment.