Joakim Persson

Few resorts on the island of Phuket, and its Patong beach in particular, have stood the test of time like Holiday Inn Resort Phuket. It is timeless, but also recently refurbished and thus, for good reasons, worthy of a review – and your attention! This Holiday Inn hotel has been around practically since the very beginning of Phuket’s tourism and boasts a prominent piece of land in this famed Asian beachside strip.

Holiday Inn Resort Phuket sticks to its formula and has clearly gained many repeat customers over the years who have found their respite, with direct access to the actual beach and also own pool areas on the premises for more seclusion and relaxation. The setting is simply irresistible to many who favour Phuket and like the combination of things Patong proper has to offer: lots of dining and tourism shopping options, a stretch of beach, bars and of course its popular nightlife. In recent years – Covid -19 aside – Patong has also seen an upgrade in terms of quality of both F&B offers and shopping. So Patong and its travellers just can’t wait to get back to normality, doing their thing.

Holiday Inn Resort Phuket: a perfect escape

But things are just as normal within the resort, reopened at full capacity since April 2022. This hotel provides all the ingredients for a perfect escape, and where the kids pool has its entirely separate area, villa suites have their pool area, while there is a third smaller pool area closer to the beach, and then the fourth largest common pool area (by the Busakorn wing) that itself is a reason to leave the beach behind: here is the perfect spot to mindfully switch off, and enjoy a good book as well as drinks in the pool bar on sunken bar stools. The rhythm here is slower.

Coconut palm trees and sun umbrellas give shade for the many daybeds spread out around the pool, and where the Ground Floor Premium rooms step out to spacious balconies and direct access to the pool. Spears of afternoon sunshine glint through as you enjoy the perfect sundowner cocktail setting.

For those yearning for the beach, it is merely steps away from the resort’s premises facing the beach road. Via the ground floor and the main wing there is a private entrance facing this road, and once you cross it you are on the beach!

The arrival to the restyled Busakorn (meaning ‘blue lotus’) Wing takes place via its street side entrance (the Main wing has its own entrance around the corner of the block), where the adults-only villa area is also an attraction. Guests step up and into a traditional open air Thai sala, with its tilted wooden ceiling and oversized hanging lamps. For check-in it has an air-conditioned lobby. This building looks its best in the evening, while the blue-tiled pool shines throughout any sunny day. The exotic, tropical beach-holiday setting also comes with fully grown frangipani trees, fountain Jacuzzis, statues depicting the typical animals such as crocodiles, elephants and people dressed ancient Thai style. Here and there one also finds reflecting ponds, some including fish – which enhances this tropical character. The roofs are mint green-tiled, some in traditional Thai style gable roofs reflecting Buddhism.

Overlooking the pool and swim-up bar Charm Thai Restaurant features outdoor tables, where for instance Falafel sandwich Hummus (Falafel stuffed in pita bread with takini sauce and cucumber yoghurt) or a Hummus set (Hummus, baba ganous, Lebanese dip with bread and fresh vegetables) are yummy lunch bites. Well-known Thai dishes such as Pad Thai, Tom Yum soup and delicious curries are also served in a modern Thai-style setting, open from breakfast until 11 pm.

The breakfast served delivers on the expectation of a selection of multiple hot dishes such as, Chicken Teriyaki, Stir-fried noodle seafood, Pork or veal sausage, Grilled tomatoes, Sautéed mushrooms and Sauteed potatoes, along with freshly pressed juices, eggs cooked to your liking etc.

Holiday Inn Resort Phuket’s refurbished room interior

Before sharing more experience of the hotel’s dining choices let’s focus on the newly refurbished rooms. As the Happy Hour Asia reviewer it does not strike me until afterwards that the strokes of colour that forms the painted wall above the headboard – in the Busakorn Poolside Studio room
– seems to reflect the colours of the Holiday Inn brand: mainly green and purple-blue.

The bed is flanked by an oval large bed table with drawers and a black-and-white oval lamp on each side. The white bed linen is also contrasted by darker tones as Thai textile wall cover, bed frame and headboard.

Aside warm colours more nature-washed tones included the sandy faux wood foyer flooring. The bedroom floor also has a more neutral sandy tone with smaller square and diagonal tiles, while built-in wardrobes are either chocolate brown or light brown, with a work desk with lamp to the side of wall-mounted flat screen TV. Next to it is the mini-bar and Illy coffee machine to brew one’s own espresso. The configuration of one of the wardrobes is smart: it can be opened from both sides, e.g. from the bedroom or from the vanity, where ladies will have their place by the illuminated mirror.

Then, by the window is a relaxing corner with an orange sofa, thoughtfully decorated with colourful pillows and a veined granite-surfaced coffee table.

The glass-partitioned shower comes with a sit-down bench and rain shower, with grey-veined tiles.

This Holiday Inn also offers ‘scan to order’ room service. But for a refreshing drink or pre-dinner cocktail the pool bar is the place to go. There is also Happy Hour on drinks to enjoy between 4 pm – 6.00 pm daily, including also at Terrazzo Ristorante & Bar, which is Holiday Inn’s own brand for Italian cuisine.

Terrazzo is situated by the beach road and therefore also provides guests with a taste of Patong’s vibrant action, as the venue enables intermingling also with dining and drinking guests from outside. It also features live music from 5.30 pm onwards, Monday to Saturday.

The open-air restaurant features a boat-formed bar with an orange canopy, and a bar extension with wine cellar, besides one of the resort’s pool areas.

As starters Salmon rolls (smoked salmon and asparagus with mustard lime dressing), Insalata Caesar or Insalata di Radicchio (Radicchio salad with button mushrooms and gorgonzola dressing) are among the choices.

For ‘Something warm’ Zuppa di Funghi (Mushroom soup served with pizza bread), served like a calzone with the soup hidden in the bowl under the pizza bread! There are also Zuppa di Broccoli, Calamari Fritti (Fried squid, tartare sauce and fried zucchini) and the ubiquitous Bruschetta Pomodoro (Tomato salsa with Italian basil served on bread croutons).

Chef Tony’s Pasta offers Penne Bolognese, Spaghetti Amatriciana (onion, bacon and tomato sauce) offers Pappardelle al Cinghiale (wild boar, red wine and chocolate ragu). Then there are wood-fired pizzas, such as Pizza Kaprow seafood (squid, prawns and mussels) and the ‘Meat lover pizza’ with salami, pepperoni and Italian sausage – perfectly enjoyed together with a glass of Australien Shiraz, Biggins Estate.

For main course the Phuket Best Burger is chef Toni’s creation as the 2021 winner of the Phuket Best Burger competition. There are also fish dishes such as Filetto di Sogliola con Patate al Basilico e Olive (Baked sole fish with roasted veg., basil & olives) and Grilled salmon with marinated vegetabls.

Dolce! Dessert is a must in an Italian meal, with favourites on offer: Crème brûlée, Apple tarte tatin or Tiramisu (Savoiardi, mascarpone and coffee).

A fine-dining hidden gem

Then, we turn the attention to the resort’s epicurean point of pride: Sam’s Steaks & Grill – meat lovers go-to destination for a great steak – and beyond. This fine dining restaurant hasn’t gone unnoticed but is at the same time probably something of a hidden gem in Phuket. Situated next to an outdoor atrium inside the resort it is open for dinner Wednesdays to Sundays showcasing excellent service and dining in a discerning setting. There are some outdoor tables aside the indoor seats, and a glass-enclosed wine cellar with a comprehensive selection of fine wines to choose from.

The interior comes with wavy blonde wall panels, a few chandeliers resembling shells and what resembles a living room section with chandeliers and mirrors, which is the private dining room. Sofa seats have black and grey leather upholstering. High-back leather armchairs have hues of wine red and mustard.

A few exclusives seats also enable couples to sit next to each other on semi-circled sofas along one of the walls.

Coming to the food you are in for a dining adventure! Teasers from the menu are as follows:
Starters: Avocado crab salad or Pan-fried Foie Gras, seared scallops and shrimps
Soup: White asparagus & truffle veloute
Seafood: Boston lobster
Meats: Australian rack of lamb, Osso Buco a la Milanese (Braised Aus beef shank in rich gravy with gremolata and saffron mashed potatoes)
Dessert: Pavlova (crispy meringue with fresh cream and fresh mixed berries)

Order Caesar salad and it will be mixed live at your table.

‘Sam’s Special 3 Courses Set Menu’ begins with a special Amuse-bouche of the day) to start off the dining experience: seared scallops and shrimps, the former being hidden underneath those shrimps on the plate.

As starter the choice falls on a delicious Cream of broccoli soup. There are also Wagyu beef tartare, and Canadian lobster roll.

Then a passion fruit (they seem to know which fruit I absolutely cannot get enough of!) sorbet to trigger the taste buds further. For main course: 180 gm Australian best beef fillet, or Pan-roasted salmon (with mashed potato, spinach with garlic and dill cream sauce) – a truly melt-in-the-mouth dish, and a large portion of fish. The sauce with the salmon is just superb and there is plenty of it in a hot sauce pan, while fresh dill is garnishing the salmon.

As dessert I opt for Crème brûlée, while I watch the flambéing of the Marshmallow Chocolate Fondant dessert at my neighbour’s table.

And at last comes a surprise Grand finale: chocolate on sticks in a water bowl with fog! And after this I can’t really get enough of Holiday Inn Resort Phuket so I am likely to return in due course…