106 Best Hotels in Phuket and the Andaman Coast, Thailand

On a cliff above a beach, this boutique resort boasts a beautiful view and a path down to the shore that travels within Khao Lak Lamru National Marine Park. Within the resort itself, a quiet natural atmosphere prevails. Rooms are in wooden cottages that are "rustic", in the sense that they do not have the usual explosion of silk fittings and Thai art that most resorts of this class have, but you'll hardly have to sacrifice any comfort here. Each room has a few deck chairs out front for gazing at the sea.

Located on the western shore of Koh Phra Tong, this luxurious eco-resort has 27 secluded wooden villas and a host of wellness programs and yoga classes designed to elicit ultimate inner peace and tranquility. The houses have polished wooden floors and fans—not offering air-conditioning is one of their many environmental initiatives—and minimal yet charming Thai-chic decor. The resort goes by responsible tourism principles, working closely with the community and avoiding the use of glass bottles and plastic. The restaurant serves Thai cuisine made with fresh seasonal ingredients sourced locally.

The Best House lobby, an inviting high-ceilinged room with comfortable chairs, white tile floors, and wooden beams, offers a good sense of what you can expect from the accommodations. The rooms are spacious and comfortable. The place isn't on the beach, but it's very close to it. 

It's not opulent, but this small, friendly, and wonderfully situated resort offers comfortable rooms only 20 meters from the beach, with nice en suite bathrooms, air-conditioning, satellite TV, and beachfront patios. The location is a bit out of the way, which allows guests the opportunity to take a break from the busier parts of Bang Thao Beach and enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings. The resort's restaurant serves delicious Thai specialties and the in-house Relaxy Spa is reasonably priced.

This resort in East Railay has a lovely infinity pool and a popular spa. Rooms are spacious, and the bathrooms each have a large sunken soapstone bath tub, great for relaxing aching muscles after a day of rock climbing.

This landmark resort—one of Phuket's oldest—has long been one of the most sought-after places to stay. The main lobby retains a nautical flair that evokes a New England yacht club, while guest rooms are spacious and light, with a modern design and touches of traditional Thai. The Boathouse Restaurant has more than 400 labels in its cellar (reservations recommended).

One of the best among a string of boutique bed-and-breakfasts in the charming Peranakan Old Town, Casa Blanca is comprised of 17 tasteful rooms with either garden courtyard views or a small balcony looking out onto the street. The hotel's proximity to the trendier areas makes it an ideal base for those wishing to explore the buzz and charm of Phuket Town. The friendly staff are keen to ensure that your stay is comfortable and enjoyable, and little touches like handmade soaps elevate this place out of the ordinary.

About a 10-minute walk to Ao Nang Beach, this sleekly designed resort has rooms and suites that look out over the swimming pool or the limestone cliffs. All have balconies, comfortable beds, and strong Wi-Fi. Families appreciate the separate children's pool and suites with bunk beds. 

Octagonal villas with high ceilings, four-poster beds, and whirlpool tubs epitomize the luxury available to guests at this resort on a small private stretch of sand. Though the beach is nicer farther north, the water here is swimmable and, as it is on the south end of Nang Thong Road, the resort is ideally located for romantic beach walks. That is, if you can tear yourself away from the stunning tiered swimming pool long enough to explore the beach.

Chao Koh Phi Phi Lodge is a collection of unfortunately lime-green, basic but comfortable bungalows near Tonsai Bay. There's a great swimming pool, and the resort features family-size suites. At the back of the resort there are still some budget-friendly wooden fan huts. Evenings, the lodge runs a seafood restaurant by the sea, with a nice view of the bay.

This popular budget property is one of the largest (and oldest) hotels in Krabi---rooms in the new wing are more modern. Look for the rooms labeled "new style." Both buildings are near the night market and the river.

You'll get a great view of the cliff that inspired the hotel's name as soon as you step into the lobby, but then your attention will quickly shift to burned bricks, charred wooden tiles, and natural wooden beams. The Cliff's villas are set around a nonchlorinated ozone-treated swimming pool by the lobby. The rooms, each with an outdoor shower, feature glass bay doors on two sides. The suite is on stilts above a small private fishpond and is particularly popular with honeymooners.

One of the coolest things about this boutique resort is that some of the rooms are "convertible": If you're too hot you can open up the "walls" and allow the breeze to blow through. That said, it's not over-designy; sustainability is the big theme and some describe it as sort of upscale camping, with air-conditioning and a nice bathroom. The resort is at the northern end of Klong Dao Beach—the quiet end of an already quiet beach. Isolation is a blessing here, as the resort has almost everything you might need, including a pool table and a spa. The water here is swimmable, and snorkeling around Kaw Kwang Cape, while not exceptional, is pleasant and there are fish to be seen.

The once-faded Metropole, the town's first high-end hotel, rebranded to sparkling results: The rooms are bright with new furnishings and the rooftop pool is a stunner. The hotel's handsome Chinese restaurant serves great dim sum.

This modern resort is spread around an expansive mangrove forest, directly on the beach: the contemporary and colorful standard rooms overlook the forest, while the six suites have views of the sea. There are many activities to keep guests occupied, including sailing and tennis on lighted courts. The pools, restaurants, and bar are down by the beach, where various water sports are available, and the sunbathing and swimming are great.

On isolated Laem Son Beach, this family-run resort offers genuine Thai hospitality. Tall pines, arching coconut palms, flowers, and ferns abound, and many birds inhabit the grounds. The basic rooms have fans only, but larger air-conditioned villas have individually designed layouts and interior design, with walls in cheerful colors like lavender, pistachio, or yellow, and all include some Thai art. The resort is across the river from Noppharat Thara National Park.

On a hill between the two beach areas of Kata and Karon, these well-situated accommodations are a great value. The bungalows are basic but clean, and all rooms have balconies that overlook a garden courtyard area. Some of the rooms are a little dated and on the small side, but they are good for the price. Email for direct booking.

Located across from Patong Beach, this stylish and contemporary resort has a bit of everything, including five restaurants, a bar, a kids' club, a playground, a swimming pool, and more. There are plenty of activities to keep guests occupied, and it's within walking distance to the entertainment district of Bangla Road. 

This budget-friendly resort is made up of basic bungalows on stilts in a tropical garden. All bungalows have single or double beds with fans and mosquito nets, hot water, and free Wi-Fi. It's nothing spectacular but it is charming and in a quiet location not far from the beach. The attached coffee shop serves excellent coffee and a choice of vegan and vegetarian dishes. Mr. Bamon, the owner, is extremely friendly and helpful and quick to give sightseeing tips. 

In the heart of Patong and close to all the action, the FunDee is a good budget option for this bustling area. The rooms are large and clean with touches of art deco styling, and the service is superior to what one would expect for this category of hotel.

This family-friendly modern hotel has two wings, two activity centers for kids, as well as a children's pool with a waterfall. The Busakorn wing has a separate Thai-style reception area, peaked-roof rooms, and an adults-only swimming pool surrounded by Singha and elephant sculptures and fountains.

On the tropical hillside at Kamala Bay, these spacious contemporary rooms and suites all have private balconies with spectacular sea views. The hotel also has three restaurants, a bar, spa, a kids' club, a dive center, a fitness center, and the largest seafront infinity pool in Phuket. A free tuk-tuk will take you to the center of Kamala and a paid van service is available to Patong. 

This hotel's chief attraction is its unbeatable location, right in the middle of Patong facing the beach. Towering flower displays stand in the lobby, where Thai art adorns the walls, and large sliding glass doors exit to the landscaped grounds, beach bar, and adjacent pool. The spa has glass doors and windows, so you can enjoy the beach views while receiving treatments or massages.

The primary reason to stay here is to save money for day trips and nightlife. The large bright rooms have tile floors, and the ones on the top floor peek out over surrounding buildings for a nice view of the sea. All are available without the air-conditioning turned on for an extra discount. The hotel is close to the action in town (there's an Irish pub across the way), as well as to the minibus and longtail boat junction.

This long sprawling lodge fronts most of the Kata Noi Beach, which tends to keep nonguests away and leave nearly 1 km (½ mile) of smooth sand delightfully peaceful. Glass-walled suites in the Thani wing have some of the best ocean views on the island. You can shower and watch the sun set at the same time through huge bathroom windows. Regular rooms (if you can call them that) in the Buri wing are very tastefully furnished, with all the bells and whistles you'd expect in this price range (some look out to the pool, others the ocean). The same group also has the exclusive Shore resort right next door for those seeking a more intimate experience.

On the island of Koh Jum, in Phang Nga Bay between Krabi, Phi Phi, and Koh Lanta, Koh Jum Lodge has rooms in 20 wooden cottages designed in traditional Thai architectural style, on the grounds of a coconut palm plantation in a tropical garden setting. All cottages are near the beach, facing Phi Phi Islands to the west, each benefiting from sunset and sea views. Although the resort is open all year, public boats do not service it year-round. During the high season (November to mid-May), boats from Krabi to Koh Lanta stop offshore, where longtail boats ferry you to the island. The remainder of the year you must contact the resort to hire a B3,000 longtail for the 40-minute ride out to the island from Krabi.

There are 10 recently built, comfortable, fan-cooled wooden huts on Koh Surin Nua (B2,000), and tent camping is allowed at a site that has decent facilities, including toilets and showers. You can bring your own tent and camp for B80, or rent one (sleeps two) from the national park for B450. Book your hut at least 10 days ahead.

Organized by a community of Koh Yao residents, locals invite visitors to stay in their homes, share meals with them (consisting primarily of fish caught by village fishermen), and learn about about local customs like rubber tapping, batik dying, fishing, rice farming, coconut harvesting, and other traditional trades. It's a lot more environmentally friendly and less invasive on the island's Indigenous people than resort development.

These are the only beachfront bungalows in Ao Nang Town, and they have the best swimming as well as a seaside park with plenty of benches positioned for gazing at the sea. The bungalows are spacious, with lounge areas and large bathrooms. The rooms are all finished in wood and decorated with local touches. The large pool and surrounding gardens give a hideaway feel to the resort, and you can find plenty of privacy if you are looking for it.

It's pretty basic, but the Krabi River Hotel, on the banks of Khlong Krabi Yai, is a good budget option with pleasant views. The decor is nothing special but it's clean and comfortable, and it's a short stroll to some riverside eateries.