Where should I stay for my virgin visit to Phuket? I picked Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort for its nearby access to Kamala Beach. Well, if the resort turned out to be a disappointment, I would at least be 10 minutes away from salvation. But Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort is a Hyatt after all! From sweating it out in the enormous pool to relaxing in Nahm Spa, the resort screamed “typical”, and more. Here’s why.
Room Overview
Room Number: 9010
Room Type: 2 Twin Ocean View
Number of Nights: 2
Cost: THB 4,717.50
Specialty: Full service resort – no lack of amenities!
Room Amenities: Toiletries / Hair dryer / Power socket / Heater / Bedroom slippers / balcony with sea view
Bathroom: Shower / Bathtub / Vanity Counter / Toilet
Safety: Card access to guest levels and rooms.
Staff: Friendly and warm / English proficiency
Neighbourhood: Private beach, but across the road.
Getting around: 1 hour from the airport on Grab. 10 minute shuttle to Kamala Center and Kamala Beach.
Check in to Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort
The cavernous, open air hotel lobby screamed of 1990s luxury. Thankfully, there was no queue to check in and we were attended to immediately. After being seated at the check in desk, the welcome drink was served as we waited for the check-in to be completed.
When it was finally completed, we were brought to our room via the resort buggy. The sprawling resort was built on a hillside. Boy, was I glad that I needn’t lug my suitcases up and around the resort. The buggy service was also available beyond check-in. We could call for the buggy – there was even a phone at the waiting points – to bring us to any part of the resort. Compared to Holiday Inn Resort Krabi Ao Nang Beach, the buggy service at Hyatt Regency was more responsive and frequent.
Our room was in a block not far from the resort lobby. After dropping off, we still had to go half a level down to reach our room. Of course, the buggy man helped us bring our luggage down. To be frank, the entrance to our room, which was dark and dingy, made me wonder if we made the right choice to book a room at Hyatt Regency Phuket.
Twin Ocean View Room
But we were at Hyatt! The room turned out wonderful. In terms of layout, it was typical. The bathroom and closet was right by the door, followed by the bedroom, which opened out to the balcony.
Our room overlooked the pool and the sea. Unblocked. It was splendid for sitting by the balcony and watch the sun set in the sea.
Spacious Bathroom
The bathroom was also not short of space. It even had a huge standalone bathtub! The toilet and shower stall were also separated. Save for some personal toiletries, Hyatt provided everything and we could just pack our essentials for the staycay.
Well Designed Pool, Great for Laps
Hyatt Regency Phuket has something that I haven’t seen in hotels lately – a gigantic pool. I would say it was nearly 50m! Alongside the pool were countless sun decks. Yes, on the main side of the pool, the sun decks were even placed on terraced platforms, offering everyone unblocked views of the pool and the sea! Imagine lazing on one of the terraced cabanas, sipping fresh young coconut juice and munching on fried avocados…
Cabanas and sun decks half submerged in the water lined the edge of another end of the pool. People like me can have a faux pas beach life experience without touching the beach. But then again, I really loved the pool. Before the kids jumped in, I was able to swim laps and enjoyed every moment of it.
Beach Access from Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort
And speaking of the beach – which was the most controversial for Hyatt Regency Phuket – it was right across the road. It was nonetheless owned by Hyatt and who arranged for sundecks and provided food. I literally saw the pool bar guy cross the street to deliver the food! This kind of disjointed beach was unique indeed. But then again, it looked small so I didn’t bother crossing the road to check it out.
Nahm Spa
The wellness centre of the resort sat halfway up the hillside. One would walk through the beautifully landscaped path mimicking nature’s walk, coupled with trickling water, before entering its tranquil reception. After a welcome drink and a cool wet towel to refresh ourselves, we were led to our own private treatment rooms.
Over there, I got my footbath while seated at a couch – yup! Not on the bench in a public area. There was also a separate changing room that consisted of a shower, toilet and vanity, just like a hotel room. What followed was the choreographed delivery of the massage.
The session ended with a hot drink to soothe our insides. The experience was so good, we booked a second session for the following night!
Getting Out to Kamala Beach
Being new to Phuket, I really didn’t know where to go outside of Hyatt Regency Phuket. However, I did know that the nearest town to the resort was Kamala Beach. And Hyatt has a regular shuttle – via a giant tuk tuk – that would stop at the Tsunami Memorial at the town centre. I would say Kamala Beach was a modest place, and reminded me a lot of Changi Village and Changi Beach. But it did have a much larger beach, which was lined with shops for water sports… And open air massage. It looked interesting, but no thanks!
We also walked around the town a bit, shopping at the nearby supermarket and finding the best tasting snacks in Thailand: rice crackers in prawn floss (and other assorted flavours). We also popped by to Issan Popeye Thaifood Restaurant. Yes, it was a Popeye inspired eating place. Other than the attention grabbing murals, Issan Popeye was an unassuming eatery. In fact, it was empty when we were there at 12pm.
We ordered the usual Thai comfort food: Pad Thai, Fried Omelette Plain, Fried Tung Hoon. I wouldn’t say the food was heavenly. They were plain but palatable. You know… The “home made food” kind. They didn’t bowl me over, but they still left me feeling gratified.
Idyllic Sunset View from Casa Boho Rooftop Bar and Pool
Perched atop the property, Casa Boho is a rooftop bar overlooking the entire resort. It has a modest, but very insta-worthy pool. We were there early and got ourselves a spot with the sun decks right by the pool. From there, we could sip on our cocktails, munch on chicken skewers and admire the sunset over the infinity pool. When we felt like it, we could go for a dip. They even had pedestals for when people wanted to enjoy their drinks in water!
The majority of Casa Boho was usual cafe seating which also enjoyed panoramic views of the sea. They served mainly finger food. Yup, their options weren’t as expansive as the Pool House. As it was right at the top of the hill, a call for the buggy ride was a must!
Dining at Pool House
As a self sufficient resort, Hyatt Regency Phuket sports a huge and ultra functional inhouse restaurant: Pool House. Yes, it was by the pool. It also offered food at a more palatable price than the other upscale restaurants on the premises. That was where we spent 2 breakfasts and dinners.
Dinner
We rounded off our arrival day with a simple dinner at the Pool House. The evening sun was shining bright and deep into the eatery. We had Pineapple Fried Rice, Fried Chicken, Tom Yum Goong and Mango Sticky Rice.
On our second dinner, we explored Sweet Potato and Yam Chips, Green Curry, Pad Krapao, and had Pineapple Tarte Tatin for dessert.
Yes, we ordered some spicy food but had requested that they turn the knob down. As such, we had Green Curry that allowed us to taste the rich flavours that would have been overpowered by the spiciness.
The mango sticky rice was also unique, in a sense that the chef had torch seared the mango. But truth be told, that was only for aesthetics. 🤭 There was no wok hei or grilled flavours. Nonetheless, Pool House still served up a sweet mango to please my heart.
Breakfast – Unbelievably Decadent by Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort
Breakfast was an elaborate affair. The sprawling premises allowed for a wide variety of food options, ranging from crowd pleasing western to local Thai favourites. There was even a specially decorated counter for the kids. I gotta admit I competed with the kids to snag some nuggets too. 😅
The Thai options appealed more to me. While the green curry was a little heavy for breakfast, I was gobbling down sticks of chicken skewers disregarding how oily they were. Interestingly, I enjoyed their pastries too – rare for an Asian establishment.
We could also order noodles from the live station; the Tom Yum Chicken was definitely tweaked to cater to my weak guts. 🥳 Equally pleasing were the fried chicken mid wings. Ahhh… comfort food!
Was the breakfast tasty? Above average, yes. We were in a resort, and a convenient breakfast place mattered more. It did get quite crowded later in the morning – everyone was in a holiday mood after all. And yes, we reported for breakfasts at the ungodly hours of 8am to beat the crowd!
Parting Words
I’m surprised that my travelogue of Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort churned out more words than that of St Regis Langkawi. I’d think I would go on non-stop for the luxurious staycay I splurged on. How did Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort captivate me?
Hyatt Regency Phuket covered all grounds – from scenic seaviews to healing spa treatments, and from wide pools surrounded with endless supply of sundecks and cabanas to various dining options. On top of that, we could also venture out of the resort and explore Kamala Beach.
I would say the most memorable part of the stay was at Casa Boho. The cafe and bar took the apex spot (literally) of the resort. By going early, I got to snag a place by the infinity pool looking over the sea adorned with the setting sun. But hey, my ocean view room also allowed me to enjoy the sights from the convenience of my balcony. Casa Boho just hits differently.
The only downside was that it took almost an hour’s Grab ride from the airport to reach the resort. That was 2 hours on the road! If not, Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort hit all the sweet spots. Till then, stay wanderlust!
All photos and videos were taken using Google Pixel 7 Pro, and edited with Google Photos.