Anyone know anything about this hotel please.

I hope someone else has stayed who can give you first hand information, all I can tell you is that it is famous, but do not the hilltop location, so although apparently great views it is a way to the beach, low season rates go around the USD 150-450 range, so that is right up in the top level ranges for low season pricewise.
here are a couple of Sawadee reviews:
http://www.res24.com/review/posts.ht...ury-hotels.com

If you wanted a boutique place that is closer to the beach at Surin the Manathai might be of interest, that's about USD 75-170 so totaly different price range but another choice if you are looking for a boutique style place in the Surn area, this also shows a map which shows the location of both in relation to the beach and the Amanpuri area:

http://www.r24.org/phuket-luxury-hot...athai/details/


If you wanted 'on the beach' in the Surin/Pansea area then the Chedi which runs USD 130-310 is another option in the area, top rate though getting you a beachsuite, also the Chedi between May and Oct does some great deal, pay 6 nights stay 8 nights, pay 7 nights stay 10 nights, pay 8 nights stay 12 nights, but these are low season,
after 1st November rates go very much higher for all, but the area certainly is one of the nicer areas to stay.

Many thanks James. Manathai does look nice.

I'm not too fussed about being on the beach - just looking for a nice place to really veg out for a bit - haven't been to Phuket for about 10 years as I'm usually in Bangkok/HuaHin/Laos etc.

I'm from Western Australia so the plane stops in Phuket anyway so good opportunity to stop too and at the moment the wholesales (qantas et al) are doing brilliant low season deals 10 nights for 5 so it works out at about A$135 a night.

Hopefully someone else will have actually stayed there and can tell me a bit about it.

I'd be interested to hear more about it too. Anyone know if there are ocean views from the rooms?

The non stop from perth to Phuket takes about 6 hrs 20 so real easy, but do note that on Thai the 'return' to Perth means transfer at Bangkok ( so considor that ), the Singapore Airlines/Silk Air connections are great, Silk flies up to 3 times a day between Singapore and Phuket and it's easy to get a good connections from/to Singapore, I think there's an ex perth around midnight, that gets you into Phuket by 0930, on the return you leave Phuket about 2020 and get into Perth at dawn, or leave Phuket 1020 and that gets you into Perth late night.
10 years, wow, you 'will' see a big change! I lived there several years and visited for years and years before that ( "I remember when......." ), for R&R with great views Treetops should suit and Surin area will be more like you 'remember'.

Thanks again James - yes I know the flight back is direct from BKK - we do it every year - only 2 of 4 per week go via Phuket and they all come back direct. So this year we will stop off in Phuket and then siddle up to BKK for our yearly shop!!! and then home direct. We have silver with Thai so fly them when we need the bigger baggage allowance - which I always manage to use up when we are in BKK.


I'm expecting huge changes in Phuket - stayed at the Boathouse in Kata last time.

For LA FadeAway - they apparently have ocean views from all rooms - only 48 - with Jacuzzis in the 2 "lower priced" rooms and a small pool in the highest priced ones - they are big - 115 sqm up to about 150sqm. - with bedroom and living rooms and large terraces. Straddled up the hill so apparently there is a lot of variation in view and privacy which is what I'd like to know about.