Honeymoon hotel in Phuket
 

We're going to Thailand in mid-November for my honeymoon. we've booked the entire trip except the five nights we plan to stay in the Phuket area. There are too many hotels to choose from! We've searched the message boards and researched recommended hotels and haven't found one that we love yet. We want something romantic and luxurious but not too much so. We like the Khao Lak area because there's a lot to do but we haven't found a hotel we want to stay at yet. Can someone help?

Have you looked at Mom Tri's Villa Royale yet? It isn't in the Khao Lak area at all, since it is located between Kata and Kata Noi beaches. Definitely something very special!!
Carol

What is your per night budget? Phuket can provide good hotels at all levels. Also, how interested are you in nightlife? Some spots are isolated, but gorgeous.

There are big differences between beach area in relation to the beaches but also how close they are to restaurants/shopping/nightlife etc.

Budget is also so important as the range is anything up to $1k a night, so tell us your budget.

Khao Lak is fairly quiet.

thanks for all the replies! our budget is max about $350 per night. we're not as interested in night life as outdoor daytime activities (that's one reason khao lak seemed interesting to us). we definitely want a few restaurants to choose from but we won't be going to bars or clubs at night.

We recently returned from Phuket and spent three nights at the Arahmas resort which we loved. At first, we thought it was a bit remote as it is about an hour from Patong and Phuket town but after visiting those areas we were so happy to return to our secluded beachfront hotel away from the crowds and tourist traps.
If budget allows, I'd suggest staying in one of the beachfront villas as we felt completely pampered in this beautiful spot. During the day, we either lounged by the pool, walked along the beach or took advantage of some of the tours that are offered on Phuket. Our favourite was the kayak tour with Sea Canoe (www.seacanoe.net) as it took us into magnificent caves and showed us some incredible scenery around the island.
One evening we took a car into Patong for dinner and the other two evenings we walked along the beach where there are several funky little bars and restaurants right on the sand which are very casual, very friendly and serve good food (and you can watch the sun go down over the ocean while sipping a cocktail). Our favourite was Mr. Kobi Bar as the owners are so very welcoming and entertaining to spend time with and added a wonderful dimension to our time on Phuket.

Although not in Khao Lak, consider The Mangosteen Resort, http://www.phuket-photos.com/frameme...een-resort.htm
http://www.phuket.com/mangosteen
a forty villa boutique resort we really enjoyed. A five minute shuttle ride from Nai Harn beach, it sits on a hilltop and has outstanding views of Chalong Bay and islands, nice breezes, a large custom pool amid lush grounds and a terrific spa. A superior or deluxe jacuzzi villa is within your price range. I think its intimate nature and casual luxury is perfect for a honeymoon. Many activities are within a short drive. The day trip to Banana Beach on Coral Island was very enjoyable(http://www.coralislandclub.com/).
For more information, read our trip report http://fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=27

If you really like Khao Lak - then you might like some of the quieter areas of Phuket - but that are still close to the super-busy tourist areas.

Just north of the Patong/Karon/Kata area are some of the best beaches - and better priced hotels on the island.

I might recommend something like the Layalina for on-the-beach upscale boutique or Kamala Beach Resort for a traditonal on-the-beach hotel.

Lots of info about that area is at http://www.PhuketGoldCoast.com

Forgot to add - for bungalows right on the beach try Andaman BangTao Bay Resort on Bang Tao Beach.

The drive from Kamala to Patong is only a bit longer than from Khao Lak Town out to the Merlin - from Bang Tao to Patong might be equivilent to the drive from Khao Lak Town out to the LeMeridien.

Personally, I think the Banyan Tree in Phuket is my idea of a honeymoon place.

In Khao Lak, I would go for the Sarojin.