The Best Family Hotels & Resorts in Phuket

By Santorini Dave

Phuket Family Hotels – My Advice

• Book Phuket hotels as early as possible – especially for December to March when the best resorts can be fully booked months in advance.
• Where to Stay in Phuket: Kata Beach and Karon Beach are two wonderful beach towns that have a very family-friendly vibe and beautiful sandy beaches. Kata is the quieter of the two. I recommend both places for families.
• Patong is the main tourist town in Phuket. It has a seedy feel in parts but is not terrible. There are better areas to stay for families but I wouldn’t say Patong is a no-go area (though after dark it becomes more unpleasant). Jung Ceylon is the best and biggest mall on Phuket and a good fallback if the streets of Patong feel too sleazy for your tastes.
• The best weather on Phuket is from December to April when it’s dry, sunny, and the beaches are great for swimming. The wet season runs from May to October when the sea gets rough and is often unsafe for swimming. September and October are the rainiest months. During the wet season Koh Samui is usually a better choice if you’re after good beach weather.

The 11 Best Hotels for Families in Phuket

• 1. Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket – Karon Beach
• 2. Vijitt Resort Phuket – Rawaii Beach
• 3. SAii Laguna Phuket – Bang Tao
• 4. Thavorn Palm Beach Resort – Karon Beach
• 5. Novotel Phuket Karon Beach Resort & Spa
• 6. Holiday Inn Resort Phuket – Patong
• 7. Mövenpick Resort & Spa Phuket – Karon Beach
• 8. Mom’s Tri Villa Royale – Kata Beach
• 9. Chava Resort – Surin
• 10. Sawasdee Village – Kata Beach
• 11. Sunwing Bangtao Beach – Bang Tao

Karon Family Hotels

1. Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket

Endless opulence, unique beach frontage, outstanding for families. Spread across low-level hills facing the beach and quietly hidden from the main road, the Centara is truly remarkable. The 4 lagoon-shaped pools with ‘islands’ of palms and even ‘beaches’ never seem to end, tropical plants invade every possible space, and the beach is vast and virtually private. Rooms are elegant and spacious, with more colonial-style touches, and some feature a plunge pool or Jacuzzi on the balcony. Many rooms have 2 double beds, some rooms connect through the balconies, and a few more have an extra bedroom (ideal for a third child). The Camp Safari Kids’ Club is large, welcoming and one of Phuket’s finest, with separate rooms and activities for teenagers and younger ones. Added to the list is a playground, children’s pool, impressive water slides, games arcade and activities such as Thai crafts and evening movies. And the whole family can enjoy tennis, beach soccer, yoga and aqua aerobics. At the far northern end of the bay, it’s the only resort that directly fronts the beach. It can feel a little isolated but is only 10 mins along the beach to central Karon.

2. Mövenpick Resort & Spa Karon Beach Phuket

Family-friendly mega-resort that doesn’t feel like one. A narrow entrance along the main road belies serene grounds so enormous that guests need buggies. The resort offers an extraordinary range and number of rooms in 5-level blocks and villas dotted among vast tropical gardens. The design, setting and layout of the villas differ greatly, while all rooms feature a likeable Thai décor with colourful prints, exceptionally long wooden desk, and bamboo curtains across a sliding door to the sizeable balcony. All offer an extra single bed and some have connecting doors, while a few villas and suites contain a kitchenette and 2 bedrooms. The 3 lagoon-shaped pools are shady and immensely inviting, with a kids’ pool and water slide attached. Numerous activities are offered (some free), including Thai boxing, aerobics and arts and crafts, while the younger ones would enjoy candle-making, face-painting and musical games. The Little Birds Club is airy, supervised and free, with an area for parents to join or watch, and the Play Zone features a decent playground, games room and reading area. Midway along Karon, it’s just a short stroll to the town centre.

3. Novotel Phuket Karon Beach Resort & Spa

Dazzling design, breezy location, wonderfully family-friendly. With sizeable grounds and a serene setting along the uncrowded northern part of the bay, the sparkling-white exterior blends in perfectly with the sparking-blue pools. The main pool is lined with inviting cabanas, and features ‘waterfalls’ and ‘islands’, while a wide relaxing beach is just across the road. The Deluxe Family Rooms are spacious enough for a king-sized bed, twin bunks and sofa without feeling cramped. In a special wing, these rooms face the huge children’s pool or the second family-oriented pool. Otherwise, some suites and villas have 2 bedrooms, a few standard rooms have connecting doors, and most rooms and villas can fit in an extra single bed. The resort clearly values families, offering free children’s meals and affordable daily packages for youngsters inclusive of meals, drinks and activities. The Kids World Club is colourful and airy (but mostly suitable for under 10s), while the older ones would enjoy the triple-loop water slide, in-room movies and range of fun activities. What’s more, it’s only 5 minutes along the beach to downtown Karon.

4. Thavorn Palm Beach Resort

Exceptional style, graceful gardens, families welcome. The antithesis of a bland motel-style resort, the Thavorn is truly different: proudly Thai-owned for 3 generations, the gardens are reminiscent of an English cottage and the design is more colonial than Thai. And the charm continues inside with an adorable mix of Thai décor and old-world furnishings. A few suites contain 2 or 3 bedrooms, and there’s enough space for an extra single bed in any room. Better still are the Family Deluxe Rooms, which are 2 standard rooms with connecting doors; 1 with a king-sized bed, the other with 2 singles. The 4 lagoon-shaped pools feature spouts, bridges, ‘islands’ of palms and a kids’ pool, but the public beach over the road is surprisingly scruffy. The kids’ club (for under 12s) is brightly-colored and supervised, while the young ones can also search for rabbits and turtles among the gardens. Pleasingly set back from the road, it’s in a quieter stretch of southern Karon, but still walkable to the town center and to Kata beach, with a better range of facilities.

Patong Family Hotels

1. Holiday Inn Resort Phuket

Massive, central, and terrific for families. The deceptively extensive grounds fronting the esplanade house 2 wings with almost 400 rooms, suites and villas. Most face inwards, minimising traffic noise, although some overlook car parks and adjoining hotels, and any possible sea views are blocked by lofty palms. Rooms are comfortable, functional and spacious with a vague seaside holiday theme. The sofa can convert into a single bed, and an extra single bed can be squeezed in, too. Otherwise, book 2 rooms with connecting doors. Far better are the adorable Family Suites in a special wing with corridors of murals. They feature a standard bedroom and an adjoining kids’ room (suitable for under 10s) with turtle-shaped beds, video games and a separate bathroom. In addition, there are sizeable separate pools for children and toddlers with a water slide, a tiny playground, and range of absorbing activities, e.g. Thai language and dance. The free Kids’ Club is colourful and well-supervised, offering far more than just video games, and opens some evenings. With access from the esplanade and quietish side-street, it’s very convenient to the beach and a myriad of tourist facilities.

2. Millennium Resort Patong Phuket

2 hotels for shopaholics, and sheltered from the unsavory. For some, shopping is more essential than sunbathing. So, merged within the world-class Jungceylon shopping center, the Millennium offers rooms in 2 buildings about 200m apart. Both differ in facilities, appeal, and name: Beachside (although 500m from the ocean) and Lakeside (although no lake is nearby). The former soars 5 floors above the shopping center, with cinemas, shops and ice cream parlors within meters from the bottom of the hotel lift. The pool is smaller, and some rooms face the car park or street (which still may be quieter than those overlooking the shops). Both buildings contain colorful rooms with a sizeable balcony and inviting sofa, and the possibility of an extra single bed. But the suites with a separate living area also have a maximum occupancy of 3, so a larger family would need rooms with connecting doors. The classier Lakeside features a large pool, with a kids’ pool attached, and some rooms on the ground floor have direct pool access. And perhaps, this is somewhere to protect younger ones from the unsavory elements of Bangla Road and its environs (still only 100m away).

3. Patong Merlin Hotel

Immense, quieter location, ideal for families. Huge grounds stretch from the main road, lined with cafés and shops, to the esplanade in the more relaxed southern part, distant from the unsavory Bangla Road. The overall design is attractive, the balconies drip with bougainvillea, and the meandering paths are lined with palms and vines. Some rooms overlook the road and car park, but most face inwards, diminishing traffic noise, but none have sea views. Rooms are compact and functional like a motel, and colorful, with a sizeable desk and lovely sliding doors leading to the balcony. More spacious and appealing are the Superior Rooms, with a sofa that can convert to a single bed, while rooms on the ground floor have direct access to a pool for only those guests. (And many rooms have connecting doors.) The other 3 lagoon-shaped pools feature tiered sections packed with inviting lounge chairs. And the amenities for families are impressive, including 2 separate kids’ pools with inflatables; a bright, thoughtful and supervised kids’ club with engrossing activities, such as origami and mask-making; and a decent play area for toddlers.

Bang Tao Family Hotels

1. SAii Laguna Phuket

Luxurious, convenient, beachfront and excellent for families. One of few with a genuine Thai design and beach frontage, this place oozes opulence and charm. Many rooms have been recently renovated, but less appealing are those facing the ‘tropical lagoon’ (just an unexciting man-made lake). All feature stylish Thai influences, and many boast world-class sea views from a balcony metres from the sand. An extra single bed is available for all rooms, while most are large enough for a second extra bed, and many have connecting doors. The beach offers extensive views, and the numerous sparkling-blue pools feature spouts and waterfalls. Facilities for families are outstanding, e.g. a playground, sandpit, games room and kids’ pool with inflatables and a decent water slide. The supervised and secure Koh Kids’ Club offers engaging activities (for free), such as Thai painting and dancing, as well as movies and a special menu with an emphasis on healthy eating. Also offered are tennis, squash, water sports (some free), and courses in Thai language and cooking. What’s more, it’s within 100m of a cluster of beachside cafés.

2. Sunwing Bangtao Beach

Convenient, beach frontage, and ideal for families. The focus of this self-described ‘fully-contained family resort’ is continually apparent. The rooms (called ‘studios’) have views of the gardens and pools, while many are angled towards the ocean for hopeful glimpses, and those on the ground floor have direct pool access. All are spacious, with motel-style furnishings (e.g. fridge and microwave), sizeable balcony and curtains separating the bedroom from a lounge area with a sofa that converts to a single bed. In fact, all rooms can fit in 2 single beds and many have connecting doors. Family Suites feature 2 bedrooms and bathrooms, while the Happy Baby Studio is specifically designed for the very young. There are 6 lagoon-shaped pools, and part of the shady beach is cordoned-off from jet skis. And the facilities for families are extraordinary: a kids’ club, 2 special pools (including one for babies) with water slides, educational playground, and games room. A range of absorbing activities is offered, and at night there’s family-style entertainment and ‘kids eat for free’ buffets. It’s also handy to beachside cafés and a few shops along the main road.

Chalong Family Hotels

1. Vijitt Resort Phuket

Superlative elegance and family-friendly in underwhelming area. The Vijitt offers magnificent villas dotted among landscaped gardens of palms and ponds vast enough (and steep in parts) for guests to need buggies. All are attractively designed, spaced apart along meandering paths, and fitted with gates and fences ensuring total seclusion. Other features include high thatched ceilings, a lovely tiled floor, complete windows on 2 sides and space for an extra single bed. And some feature a private pool (more than just a plunge pool) and 2 bedrooms for families. Activities offered include Thai yoga and botanical walks through the hotel gardens, and the supervised Rotunda Kids’ Club is particularly welcoming, with a children’s pool, games area, movie room and playground. A range of engaging activities are also available including Thai crafts, cooking and language. The Infinity pool facing the beach has edges that seem to merge into the ocean, and the sea views are particularly scenic. The beach is virtually private (with no public access), but the sand is gritty and the water brown, and the general area is unexciting and lacks tourist facilities nearby.

Kamala Family Hotels

1. Novotel Phuket Kamala Beach

Unappealing exterior but lovely position and Kamala’s best family option. Although the design is unattractive, the location is superb: facing a serene beach at the uncrowded northern end of the curved bay. All rooms feature a contemporary décor, extensive windows and motel-style appliances and furnishings. Some Pool Villas have 2 bedrooms, while suites contain a separate lounge area and 2 TVs, toilets and balconies. Most rooms have a sofa that converts to a single bed and all can squeeze in an extra single bed for a second child; some also have connecting doors. The pool is smallish and the attached bar sometimes noisy, but facilities for families are terrific, e.g. a daily package for children, including meals, movies and of course, ice cream, and a kids’ club (more suited to those under 10). Also offered are painting, aerobics and music classes, lessons in Thai dance and language, and free rental of bikes and kayaks. It is about 15 minutes along the beach to the centre of Kamala, which is significantly quieter than Patong (to where free shuttle buses are offered).

More Kid-Friendly Hotels in Phuket

Siam Palm Residence (moderate) – Patong

2 bedroom apartments are spacious and have fully equipped kitchens. Pool area has lots of shade (maybe too much if you’re really looking for sun but perfect for kids). Good location for restaurants. Phone: +66 76 290-402

Centara Karon Resort Phuket (luxury) – Karon

Wonderful resort for families with waterslides, huge pools, and a family-friendly vibe. The kids’ club is one of the best in Phuket.

Andaman Seaview Hotel (moderate) – Karon

Large rooms (though a little dated), 2 beautiful pools, and across the street from an idyllic stretch of beach. Great breakfast. Phone: +66 76 398-111

Katathani Phuket Beach Resort (luxury) – Kata

Large resort with 6 swimming pools and 6 restaurants. Interconnecting junior suites are available for large groups. Awesome beach in front of the hotel. The kids’ club is fun. Phone: +66 76 330-124

The Boathouse Phuket (luxury) – Kata

Family suites are great and recently remodeled. The beautiful pool area (not huge) fronts an idyllic stretch of beach. Phone: +66 76 330-015

Centara Kata Resort Phuket (moderate) – Kata

Family suites are huge (1 king bed and 3 singles) and have a kitchenette. Kids club is nice for kids younger than 7 or 8. There are 3 pools (one is an adult pool, another has water slides). Free shuttle to the beach but the walk isn’t far. Phone: +66 76 370 300

Banyan Tree Phuket (luxury) – Bang Thao

Huge 2-bedroom villas (some with private pool). Great if you’re after a semi-secluded family getaway. Far from Phuket’s touristy spots in the south (which may be good or bad). Bicycles available and several restaurants and beach bars are within an easy walk or cycle. The beach here is wonderful. Great kid-friendly pool. Phone: +66 76 372-400

Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket (luxury) – Bang Thao

One bedroom suites and two-bedroom villas (with private pool) are both good for families. A couple of baby elephants roam along the beach (usually in the morning). Pool is huge and kid-friendly. Phone: +66 76 362 999

JW Marriott Resort & Spa (luxury) – Mai Khao

One-bedroom suites are large. There’s a babysitting service and a top-notch kids’ club (with lots to do). The beach is quiet and secluded. 3 pools – one of which is adults only. Phone: +66 76 338-000

Andaman House (moderate) – Mai Khao

Suites are huge and have full kitchens. Free access to the Splash Jungle waterpark which is part of the resort. There’s not a lot nearby so I wouldn’t stay here for longer than 2 or 3 days but the water slides make it a very fun treat for the kids. Phone: +66 76 372-000

Family Villas and Apartments in Phuket

Apartment rentals for families in Phuket. All units have kitchens and swimming pool. Most have washer/dryer and free-wifi.

• The View Phuket – Kata
  Luxurious 2-bedroom villas sleep family of 4, 3-bedroom villas sleep family of 6.
• Waterfront Suites Phuket by Centara – Karon Beach
  Beautiful 2-bedroom suite with kitchen, 1 full bed and 2 twins is perfect for family of 4.
• Kata Hill View Villas – Kata Beach
  3-bedroom villa (split level) has 3 double beds and sleeps 6.
• Kata Sea View Villas – Kata Beach
  4-bedroom villas have private pool and sleep group of 8.
• Karon Sunset Sea View – Karon Beach
  2-bedroom apartment has 2 queen beds and sofa bed for family of 5.
• Duangjai Residence – Rawai Beach
  1-bedroom apartment has double bed and 2 sofa beds for family of 4.
• Jirana Patong – Patong
  2/3/4/5-bedroom villas sleep families of 4 to 10.
• Hill Myna Condotel – Bang Tao
  2-bedroom suites have 2 double beds and sleep family of 4 (cheap but not near beach).
• Casuarina Shores Apartment – Bang Tao
  2-bedroom apartments sleeps family of 6. Penthouse apartments have private pools.