Best Western Phuket Ocean Resort Information

First time I spent peak season (around New Year 2009/2010) there and still feel the place is as described in a previous comment. And the restaurant can not accomodate everyone during that time for breakfast,staff - that really tried to serve well, but was a couple of heads short - had to restrict access sometimes.

Did not like to be forced booking the compulsary New Year´s Eve Gala Dinner, but most of the places around do that - one doen´have much of a choice, so some tables were left empty of those whod ecided to pay and not show up. Great arrangement around the lower pools, cosy atmosphere - may be a little too many tables. Impressive to see the kichcen brigade out that evening, who prepared mostly thai food for the western taste. Managed to bring a nice show on stage. Staff worked hard to serve everyone and contributed to a nice atmosphere.

When I book a Delux room and a request a high floor, I do expect to get that. And not a room in adark corner, low floor, without bathtub. Did not know there were rooms without bathtub in that resort. Don´t like having to complain after a long journey, but expect things just to seamlessly flow. Anyway - reception offered room with bathtub on a highfloor afterwards.

Called the hotel in advance to arrange for transportation from the airport, what worked well and was little cheaper (... but really little ...) compared to the the taxi counter´s outside the arrival hall, who offer and display fixed prices as well.

Generally I would say this area has recovered well from the Tsunami 2004 (last time I have been there was summer 2006). But not nessesarily to it´s advantage. Lots of new resorts opened and attract tourists that hardly leave those aynmore, what made the classical thai foodstalls disappear, have some resturants work with two menues (higher price for tourist, lower price for Thais) and one has to pay 300 Baht for a tuk tuk ride that I would normally not pay more than 50 for. The traffic on the road in front of the hotel was high, what turns the place to be quite a noisy one.

The seaside turned to very touristic, but once getting inside the island one can still find - Thailand.