We’ve been resort hopping during our trip to Phuket, Thailand. We spent the last five days at Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort and Villas and it’s the place that feels most like home. Our dual-level suite was adjacent to the main reception, swimming pool, kids club and Panache restaurant. It included over 1500 square feet of living space with two bedrooms upstairs and a living room and kitchen downstairs. It’s even located in Laguna like us in southern California… just on the other side of the world. If you’re looking for a place to call home during your trip to Phuket, this is it.
We walked in to the suite and were blown away by the open space on both levels. Upstairs, there were two bedrooms. Our bedroom had a king bed with our own bathroom and the other bedroom had two single beds with an en suite bathroom as well. I appreciated the blackout curtains, especially on the days that we didn’t need to get up early, and we all loved the large showers. Both bedrooms also had floor to ceiling windows that lit up the rooms during the day.
The floor to ceiling windows were my favorite part and they were on the main level too. They made me feel like I was looking out at all of Phuket. The kitchen features granite countertops, ceramic cooktop and oven, refrigerator, coffee/tea making facilities, toaster, cookware and tableware. The contemporary style with neutral tones and a splash of color made me feel like it was decorated with my tastes in mind. Even the placement of the dishes made me feel like I was in my own kitchen.
While we loved dining at markets and finding new places to eat during our stay, it was nice to have a home-cooked meal during the trip. We’re in Thailand for a month so we really needed to eat in our suite for a few days. Breakfast was included in Panache restaurant and we usually had lunch at a local market and dinner in our suite. Buying local food added to the Thai feel and cooking it ourselves made us feel at home.
One evening, we took advantage of a really neat option offered by Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort and Villas. We had a BBQ party! They delivered the BBQ stove, utensils, oil and their classic BBQ pack including beef tenderloin, pork tenderloin, sausages, chicken wings, corn on the cob, potatoes, salad with dressings and dips, bread rolls and seasonal fruits. We ate dinner on the balcony and watched the sunset over the resort.
The pool, which was only a few steps from our suite, was not large but it suited us well. It had two levels and a blue pool title that sparkled in the sunlight. Many of the villas and suites have their own pools so the main pool wasn’t very busy. Poolside drinks and dining were an option and lounge chairs surrounded the pool.
Next to the pool was the kids club. It had a daily list of complimentary activities along with a list of activities for a fee. Athena loved the arts and crafts and any painting activities were her favorite. She enjoyed just playing at the kids club too. There was a large ball pit that we buried her in a number of times. Her smile says it all.
One of the major downsides to the resort is that it’s not located on the beach. There is a shuttle transfer to Canal Village and to BangTao Beach but waiting with a three year old wasn’t convenient. We did utilize the shuttle a few times and enjoyed the trolley-feel and the shops at Canal Village. At BangTao Beach, one of the stop options on the shuttle, sun loungers and umbrellas are reserved for Outrigger guests. We preferred the beach at Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort and often dined at the nearby restaurants for lunch.
Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort & Villas is located in a residential style resort, where both holiday and permanent residents appreciate the peaceful and relaxing environment. It’s ideal for guests that want to get away from the crowds in Phuket and feel at home. The kitchens allow you to prepare meals for yourself and the large living space gives you more privacy and comfort. If you’re looking for beachfront, go down the street to Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort, but if it’s a home-feel you’re after, the resort and villas have the welcome mats, slippers and ropes ready for you.
This is exactly what we want for our family trip to Phuket. We’re renting scooters for the trip and we want to cook at the hotel. We’d prefer to spend our money on tours and experiences rather than restaurants but we like our personal space. I’m going to look at the cost of the villas. Thanks for the info.
Enjoy the rest of your trip.
Dana
Looks like a great place to stay as far as resort travel goes. I always love it when i read about kids facilities that these place’s have. Thailand is the list one day soon. Being Australian everyman and his dog from Australia visit Thailand that’s my only reluctance.
There are a lot of people here from Australia. It seems like in every group of people we meet, at least a handful of them are from Australia. Maybe they have good flight prices since so many Australians visit! That’s a plus. Have you traveled to any other Asian countries?
This is our first time visiting Thailand but it won’t be our last. We love it here in Phuket and can’t wait to experience more of the mainland. Hopefully we can return in 2016 for more locations.
My second comment is the same…wish I could have been taught to swim by my parents like you are doing for Athena! And in Phuket!
Love the rooms–what a great place to stay! And your daughter looks like she enjoyed it too.
I like the idea that you have access to kitchen and make your own meals. Adorable pictures of Athena 🙂 It’s fun seeing kids of travel bloggers over the years. I remember her trip to Germany and seeing that cinderella castle (can never remember the name)
Not one to stay in resorts normally, but this one does look lovely!