Hotel Review: Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort (Deluxe Two Bedroom)
The Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort opened early last year in 2014 and it is located away from the infamous Patong Beach. Nestled hillside and overlooking the peaceful Kamala Beach, the Hyatt Regency Phuket brings a 5-star experience to luxury resort-lovers - this is also the first Hyatt-branded proerty in Phuket!
The Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort is located approximately 35 minutes drive away from the Phuket International Airport. There are a range of options to get to the Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort - the most comfortable one being a hotel limousine of course but I opted for a prepaid taxi from the airport instead. The resort houses 199 beautifully-appointed rooms and most of them come with an impressive view of the Andaman Sea where you'll be able to watch the sun go down in the evening. There is also a mix of basic rooms, Regency Club rooms and larger Deluxe rooms at this property - some rooms even come with a private plunge pool for your personal indulgence!
While waiting for my room to be ready, I took a walk around the lobby which overlooks the amazing Andaman Sea and the inviting swimming pool. There's also plenty of areas for you to sit around but I did think that they were heavily under-utilised - perhaps when group tourists arrive in throngs?
During my trip to Phuket, I stayed in the crème de la crème at the Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort - the Deluxe Two Bedroom Unit. There are only 12 of such units and they are the largest rooms you can get on property. The extremely spacious corner rooms are approximately 97 sqm in size and it specially caters to families traveling together or simply smaller groups of friends. You will find two single beds and a king-sized bed with a spacious balcony in this unit. Like most other resorts, the floor is not carpeted for obvious reasons (hurrah for hypoallergenic travellers!).
The first bedroom which is located near the entrance contains two single beds with a separate air-conditioning control (so personal preferences can still be respected if you are sharing this two bedroom unit). A 40-inch flat screen TV with a range of cable and satellite channels can also be found in this bedroom for your enjoyment.
Complimentary drinking water, extra towels and bathrobes are also provided for the potential occupants of this room without the need to request. The bedroom is also connected to open plan bathroom which sits in the middle of both bedrooms (more photos later!). There is only one bathroom in the Deluxe Two Bedroom and I thought it would be a better idea with one and a half bathroom instead - especially when you are sharing this with children and other adults. With that being said, the open plan bathroom is really pretty with a separate shower and bath area.
Outside of the first bedroom you will find an area where the minibar as well as the coffee and tea-making facilities are located. I really appreciate the existence of a Nespresso machine in the room (this is pretty much the new standard for acceptable instant coffee now) and the generous amount of capsules which will be replenished when your room is made up. Complimentary water is also provided for you to fill your Nespresso machine with - tap water is not potable so take note of that.
There is a small living area between the bathroom and the master bedroom - it contains a sofa and a separate work desk which was the place I thought I'd spend most of my time working from but I found the Regency Club to be a lot more conducive instead (more on this later too!).
One thing to note about the master bedroom though - it does not come with actual doors that you can actually close and partition the area away for privacy so be sure to keep that in mind when you decide on who you are sharing the unit with. The master bedroom is connected to the massive balcony where a 6-seater dining table and a daybed can be found. It also comes furnished with its very own 40-inch flat screen TV with cable and satellite channels.
The open plan bathroom looks out to the master bedroom and therefore, you will be able to enjoy the sea view from the tub. Also, fret not as you will definitely be able to close the shades for privacy when you're in the bath.
Finally of course, the open plan bathroom that I have mentioned on multiple occasions is extremely spacious and it has a bathtub (albeit not as deep as I would like but it offers an ocean view because of this reason), separate rain-shower area and of course the toilet. You will also find two sinks in the bathroom so the bottleneck is alleviated in the morning when everyone is rushing to get ready.
I received some fresh fruits and dried mangoes as a welcome amenity - these proved to be excellent when you are hungry and too lazy to move in the room (of course room service is the other sensible option).
My Deluxe Two Bedroom was located quite on the lower end of the hill which has its own set of perks and drawbacks. Firstly, I have not mentioned this before but because the Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort is nestled on a steep hill, getting around may be quite difficult for some travellers (especially when you are travelling with young children or older folks). There is a complimentary buggy service that you can utilise should you feel unmotivated to walk up and down the slopes. With that being said, I did not once call for the buggy service as I have found walking to be very manageable and therapeutic. The other benefit you get from having a room on the lower end of the hill is the fact that the pool and most restaurants are located nearer to you. The drawback obviously is a slightly obstructed view (but still impressive!) and being slightly further away from the Regency Club and Gym.
There are three main dining venues on-property: The Pool House, Sunset Grill and The Pool Bar. Despite having only three restaurants, the menu is quite extensive and the different themed-dinners on different days of the week help to spice things up a little. The Pool House (the Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort's all-day dining venue) was probably where I ate most of my meals in and I really enjoyed the quality of Thai food here.
Of all the a la carte dishes that I have sampled here, my personal favourites were the "Kor Moo Yang" (Grilled Pork Neck with Herb Chili Sauce), "Ka Na Moo Grob" (Stir-fried Kailan with Crispy Pork) and the "Khao Phad Erawan" (Fried Rice, Crabmeat, Crab Roe and Chili Paste).
The Pool House and The Pool Bar are somewhat connected and the available menus are very similar. If you choose to sit outside, you will be rewarded with the view of the swimming pool and the Andaman Sea. The Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort has one of the largest pools in Phuket and it is one that you can frolic in all-day (and all-night) long. The pool is really quite impressive and it is one that I often find myself gazing out to (even in the balcony) or from the Regency Club.
As mentioned previously, the Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort runs a number of dining promotions across the different months. While I was there, the BBQ at Pool Bar caught my eye and I made a reservation for it for dinner on my first night. At the time of writing, BBQ at Pool Bar is offered every Wednesday and Saturday (6:30PM to 9:30PM) for just THB 780++ (approximately S$30++) per person! I really like the casual vibe of the The Pool Bar - it's windy in the evening and the view of the ocean (and sunset if you are lucky) is truly quite magnificent.
BBQ at Pool Bar is extremely value for money and one that I will highly recommend especially if you love grilled meats and fresh seafood (well, who doesn't?!). If you intend to order one entree, one main and a drink from the regular a la carte menu, you may be much better off by paying THB 780++ per adult instead.
Choose from a selection of fresh seafood on ice - massive prawns, crabs, and mussels. I love that the quality of fresh seafood is not compromised despite the relatively low price. One thing I am always quite careful about when I travel is to avoid of the possibility of having bad seafood - there is nothing worse than having food poisoning on the first day of your vacation! I absolutely love the fresh prawns and went back for extra helpings.
I really enjoyed the selection of grilled meats (including seafood), satay and that amazing spicy dip (which I have to learn to make at some point in my life). If you like, there is also a selection of other hot foods like Tom Kha Gai (Thai Coconut Chicken Soup), fresh pasta and other carbohydrates. For a mere THB 780++ this in my opinion, is the most value-for-money meal I have ever had in Phuket.
While alcoholic beverages are not included in the BBQ buffet (don't be greedy now!), a bucket of five beers go for only THB 500++ (approximately S$20++). You'll see only four in the picture above because I couldn't resist the temptation of an ice cold beer while watching the sun go down.
If you are there at the Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort on Wednesday or Saturday, be sure to give the BBQ at Pool Bar a try! Freshly grilled seafood, vegetables and a couple of Thai favourites over a sunset on the Andaman Sea for a steal - that's everything you can ask for in a perfect dinner setting!
There is a pretty decent gym at the Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort. The main problem I have with it however is the selection of free weights. If memory serves me right, the heaviest free weight available when I visited was only 10KG. There are no chest machines (or equivalent) as well so that is definitely something the hotel needs to improve on. I did however like that the gym was connected to the Regency Club (via a staircase) so you can pop by the club for a cold beverage or a dip in the private pool if you have club access.
The Regency Club at the Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort in my opinion is an absolute must-have when you stay here. Obviously you are expected to pay a small premium for one of the Regency Club rooms but you will have access to the Regency Club and all the privileges (which may actually have you save money depending on your consumption habits). Firstly, the Regency Club is perched on top of the hillside and therefore it offers unparalleled views of the property and the Andaman Sea. There is also a private infinity lap pool (24m) which is exclusive only to Regency Club guests.
Apart from offering a conducive place to get work or reading done, you will also be able to enjoy freshly-made coffee, tea and other beverages at the Regency Club while you snack on nibbles throughout the day. After spending a whole morning out in the pool and around the property, trust me that Iced Latte in the Regency Club is going to be the thing you want the most.
In the evening, complimentary cocktails, wine, beer and other liquors are also served at the Regency Club. In fact, there is even a small outdoor BBQ (menu changes on a daily basis) where you will be able to enjoy delicious grilled meats, vegetables and other local favourites. This can also serve as dinner (it's free-flow food anyway) for some hotel guests if you do not wish to eat in one of the restaurants.
Fresh breads, cheese and desserts are also served in the Regency Club during the Evening Cocktail hours so there's definitely a selection to choose from.
Personally for me though, the most valuable part of having Regency Club access is the impressive sunsets you are going to witness from here with a drink (or multiple drinks) in your hand. I cannot emphasise on how beautiful the sunsets are in Phuket and from the Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort. I guess nature just has her way of surprising (and impressing) you sometimes.
Of course, no vacation in a luxurious resort is complete without a spa treatment. Located on the highest section (and of course, offering the best views) of the Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort is Nahm Spa which is inspired by the traditions and ways of the sea gypsies. The inspiration behind the spa is to allow individuals to reconnect with the healing nature of the sea and to reach inwards to ease away the day-to-day stress from within.
Couple treatment rooms are available upon request but they are often very popular so be sure to book these early to avoid disappointment.
There was one restaurant in the Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort that I did not manage to check out however - well. not when it was open at least.
The Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort definitely took me by surprise - it was incredibly beautiful and despite hearing about some of the hiccups during the soft-launch stage of this property, my stay was nothing short of perfect (apart from that rainy day once but there's nothing the hotel can do about it). I will definitely be back when I'm in need of another beach vacation but perhaps in a lower season the next time.
Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort
16/12 Moo 6, Tambon Kamala, Amphur Kathu, Phuket 83150, Thailand
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