After a hiatus Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort is very much in operation again, featuring refurbished, aside rooms, also news food and beverage concepts. Therefore this review has been updated to reflect the new offer.
And what was pointed out already before, is something that we can conclude to be even more actual, namely that the Hyatt brand and its different hotel concepts are on the rise in Southeast Asia and beyond, so country after country here are seeing introductions and additions of Hyatt Place, Hyatt Regency, Grand Hyatt and Park Hyatt hotels. In particular the Hyatt Regency brand is being launched on many destinations.
Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort part of brand growth in Asia
As for the Hyatt Regency brand, part of Hyatt’s exciting leisure offers and adding to its Hua Hin resort, it arrived to Phuket in December 2013 as the first Hyatt property on the premier resort island. Then, properties in Bangkok and Koh Samui have also been launched.
This brand, and in this particular setting, certainly helps in ensuring holiday-makers a quality experience and equally that travellers, the likes of Hyatt-loyal brand followers, choose to visit the southern Thailand destination attention.
As for this brand’s concept, its Hyatt Regency properties in urban and resort locations around the world serve as the go-to gathering space for every occasion – from efficient business meetings to memorable family vacations.
In terms of Phuket’s resort gems as benchmarking, Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort is really a top choice when it comes to oversized pools and exclusive beachfront locations. Noteworthy it’s also the first international brand along the famous, upscale ‘Millionaire’s Mile’, just south of Kamala beach proper.
And the differentiation from its many sister brands? Hyatt Place, launched in 2006, is described as Hyatt’s upscale select service hotel category. Meanwhile, the well-known five-star Grand Hyatt brand features large-scale, distinctive hotels in major gateway cities and resort destinations. They include dramatic architecture and innovative dining options. With a critical mass in Asia, Grand Hyatt hotels provide sophisticated global business and leisure travellers with upscale accommodation.
Then, climbing the luxury ladder another step or two, Park Hyatt sits at the peak, with hotels that constitutes ‘icons of luxury’. Park Hyatt meets the expectations of connoisseurs of sophisticated living where they are operating – including Bangkok, Maldives, Saigon and Siam Reap. Both on such resort destinations as well as in premier cities Park Hyatt combines understated sophistication with distinctive regional character. The brand can therefore meet the needs of discerning, affluent individual business and leisure guests.
Park Hyatt hotels offer elegant, contemporary luxury, along with highly attentive personal service in an intimate and refined environment. Its hotels include art programmes and signature restaurants featuring award-winning chefs.
Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort at blissful beach location
Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort delivers on the brand’s promise of a one-stop experience. O.K (assuming the stay is longer than for just a weekend) it’s a must to experience also Kamala Beach’s blissful beach, but no need really to plan much aside the actual stay, as the resort provides all the ingredients for a perfect escape.
The arrival, after a ride through the island and once closing in on Kamala Beach, takes guests along a snaking coastal road, overlooking the Andaman Sea on Phuket’s west side.
Kamala bay is a small valley surrounded by hills and with a local community that also features expats; for instance Scandinavians on long-stays and even with their own schools; and other foreign villa owners – and plenty of accommodation, restaurants and tourist shops. Along the gently sloping beach there are also some beach clubs.
At Kamala Bay’s Southern end a separate road follows the Millionaire’s Mile coastline out on a cape, where Hyatt’s resort nestles on a verdant, terraced hillside overlooking the beach of Kamala Cove and boasting its own beachside terrace. The topography gives the resort seclusion, and its landscaping of tropical plants and trees combined with natural greenery and blissful sea view, form a perfect setting.
In fact, the accommodation buildings rest on a steep hill so one can get good exercise if walking up and down in between dining and drinking sessions and time spent in one’s room or suite. Needles to say the units that are placed the highest have the most impressive panorama sew view.
Hyatt Regency in Phuket is a resort where the dining zones and that mega infinity pool takes centre stage!
Only the small coastal road separates the beach and the resort, where the open-air lobby overlooks a grass-covered terrace (the roof of the meetings facilities and perfect spot for weddings) by the side of the pool zone.
Many guests who arrive on early morning flights find it convenient to enjoy the sea breeze there, and linger, even dosing off, on comfy sofas while waiting for check-in.
From there the blue-tiled infinity pool, flanked by sun beds and blue-hued umbrellas, looks incredibly appealing. And the lobby really comes to life at night when the spot-lit structure gets that true Thai tropical feeling.
Looking for a respite the thought comes to mind: “This is really the place!”
It becomes clear that this resort is intended for indulgence and pampering. The pool, the restaurants and bars, and the spa convey the unspoken message: Relax! Spoil yourself! Wine and dine!
Embrace only those pleasant distractions. Keep that job email inbox at bay and make sure you won’t be disturbed by the outside world while being there! Get inspired by the ocean. Let your mind wander freely…
Health and fitness
Hyatt Regency offers a full range of services and amenities, including notable culinary experiences so days here find their path seamlessly, incorporating healthy- and fitness-driven activities, such as what is on offer from the resort’s activity programme and spa menu (daily activities include for instance morning yoga poolside, Pilates, tai chi, Thai boxing, fun body stretching), or focus on a more leisurely “schedule” that will allow a long and leisurely breakfast, followed by poolside reading, and then – when it is on the programme – Sunday Brunch with options for free flow alcoholic beverages. Thereafter the day continues with more poolside rest, and a late afternoon swim – and then over to, for club guests, sunset cocktails and canapés at Regent Club (currently hosted al fresco at One 80 Degrees).
The resort’s Nahm Spa – also completely renovated earlier – provides specialist massages, herbal and aromatic treatments and traditional Thai massages. The low-lite spa rooms come with blonde wood for built- in cabinets and beige flooring and wall panels.
To get to the room in the heat of the day guests are taken up the hillside’s snaking resort pathways via golf buggies. Some rooms are entered from above, as they are situated in three-storey buildings and entered on the backside.
Rebranded to fit with the Hyatt concept a host of new and improved facilities, including the addition of eight stylish new suites, were unveiled in November 2016. Further refurbishment was initiated during 2021, including renovations and also the introduction of new F&B concepts.
Refurbished rooms and suites
The Premium suites that come with Regency Club lounge access are: King Bed Hilltop Ocean View Suite (an 82-square-meter suite with incredible Andaman Sea views from the balcony, featuring one king-size bed, a bathroom with walk-in shower and bathtub, and a separate living room); and 2 Bedroom Regency Suite (97-square-meter suite, with one king and one twin bedroom, a separate living area, a large balcony featuring a daybed and dining table). These come with striking ocean views of the entire resort.
In addition, the resort’s fourteen 44-square-metre Ocean View Terrace rooms have been equipped with private jacuzzi on the vast 65-square-metre outdoor terrace. This room type is picture-perfect for couples and honeymooners on a true romance, with the terrace – however sometimes very hot daytime – equipped with sun-loungers and a shaded living and dining area.
Families include a new configuration where a separate room for up to children can enjoy TV from a double bed and a mezzanine level single bed, with one wall painted as an underwater scenery.
The most conspicuous new interior detail is a framed, bluish sketched painting depicting ancient Thailand, with Siamese architecture buildings and vegetation in a tropical setting near the sea – resembling the location of Hyatt Regency Phuket itself.
Other interior details: a marble counter work desk; a around, oversized designer lounge chair with round coffee table; small fish statues mounted on the wall or inside a built-in wall panel shelf: a bespoke carpet around the bed; and tropical timber flooring (resembling mahogany).
A frosted glass window separates bathroom and tub from bedroom
The room’s private plunge pool has a shallow and a deeper section, enabling to sit down in the water, sipping cocktails for instance. The amazing ocean view aside, it also gets much cosier at twilight with the built-in lights in the stone walls enclosing the terrace.
By the window overlooking the private terrace is another daybed/relaxation corner furnished with many pillows in peach, green and marine blue for comfort.
Regency Club recommended
Furthermore, ensuring that you book a room with Regency Club access is worthwhile – for the indulgence and guaranteed satisfaction for you and your travel company, not least for its perfect sun-downer cocktail setting.
The club lounge service, including evening cocktails, is currently served at the resort’s new al fresco bar One 80 Degrees, overlooking the pool area and the sea, serving also the guests of the surrounding oversized day beds throughout the day.
The contemporary bar is designed as an elevated terrace offering the perfect vantage point for unwinding and hydrating with fresh juices, creative mixology and favourite sundowners. It’s furnished with round, blonde wooden tables and rattan-style armchairs with striped blue-white pillows and blue upholstering.
During the previous visit for this view Regency Club served for instance vegetarian quiche, along with other temptations such as Roasted duck with orange and beetroot salad, plates of cheese and Italian ham, Passion fruit panna cotta – all this going nicely with a well-chilled glass of white.
Here, the cocktail evening session is perfectly timed with the sun setting over the ocean, often offering a spectacle of colours.
On the ordinary menu one can get the classic bar menu such as light bites, salads, comfort food, pizza, Thai dishes and ice cream sorbet.
Classic cocktails include: Singapore Sling, Long Island Ice Tea and Aperol Sprits. Signature Cocktails examples: Gin Jinx Sling – Beefeater gin, fresh mint, fresh ginger, lime juice, simple syrup; Hyatthino – Mekhong, pineapple juice, fresh lime, mint, simple syrup, soda; or Bimade – Jim Beam, lime juice, maple syrup, pomegranate and fresh mint.
There are also a few cocktails that include the premium award-winning rum distilled in Phuket – ‘Chalong Bay’. Then there is a selection of wines from around the world.
This is also the venue for Happy Hour, served daily 5 pm – pm, offering Absolut Vodka, Beefeater Gin Havana 3yo, Red Label, Campari, or wine: Great Five collection; Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon.
The fifty-metre infinity pool is stunning, featuring on-water sandy, as well as curvy mosaic-designed daybeds (reminiscent of Barcelona art) in front of a lap swim area. The pool also has shallow sections at each end with a canopy giving shade partly over the pool and the terrace. The sheer size of the pool makes it feel like the sea itself!
Adjacent to the blue mega pool are grass lawns and walkways with lines of blue daybeds, blue parasols and roof-covered cabanas white, sea-through curtains. New is an installed playground with a slide for youngsters.
And for those who want to try the beach itself, directly in front of the resort there is now a Sunset Terrace, in the form of an elevated deck right on the beach offering a semi-private relaxation zone with sofas and sun loungers. For sunset pole position you are advices to grab a seat there. Hyatt Regency Phuket also offers energizing classes ranging from Yoga and Pilates to Muay Thai held on this terrace while enjoying fresh sea breeze and splendid natural surroundings.
Also on the beach the ‘Shore Walks’ activity is on offer, which during low tide functions as an “educational time capsule of marine and coastal ecosystems for families to discover, such as off-shore coral reefs, rock pools, coastal flora and fauna and ancient geological rock formations” that was actually formed over millions of years.
Top-ranking for its food
And the best comes last in the review – the food! At this oceanfront resort (aside its amazing pool) the top-notch food and beverage offers take centre stage. The resort has a reputation for fabulous food and top quality brunches and since re-opening it is now in the guest top ranking among all Hyatt Regency resorts worldwide for its buffet breakfast and its chefs team keeps on raising the bar.
The main action is at refurbished The Pool House Kitchen. Decked in striking blue and white tones with accents of timber elements the all-day-dining restaurant features a stylish marine interior. Designer wall lamps – that creates a halo of light shooting out like from the sun – are reminiscent of lamps you would find in old ships.
Blue-white, striped wall-mounted sofas with a golden wood frame, dining tables with gold foots, dark timber-beige rattan dinner chairs with light blue upholstering, or creamy white, also contributes to the overall marine style, as does the gold framed round mirrors in various sizes mounted on brown woven wall panels.
The Poolhouse Kitchen also has blue walls around the open show kitchens and four yellow layers of LED lights mounted above them. Out on the sun-shaded terrace the furniture consists in natural wood tables and large rattan style chairs with upholstering, cocoon white ceiling lamps, black and beige lantern-style lamps etc.
On the all-day dining menu: mouthwatering selections of freshly squeezed juices, artisanal pastries, tempting handcrafted ice cream and cooked to order signature dishes and favorite classics.
If we start with the breakfast buffet, there so many irresistible things…Experienced by writer at an earlier visit, it was the first time in Asia to discover both tortilla and paella on the breakfast menu a clear indication of a Mediterranean mark put on the menu. The breakfast spread, from the home made superb bircher muesli and mango smoothy to the many innovative salads (beetroot, coleslaw etc.), the bread pudding and the tortilla are very much top-notch.
As for artisanal pastries – oh yes! Many can testify to that Danish pastries in hotels can be a bit dull. Here they are excellent!
Today, its focus rests on classic Italian, authentic Thai, Indian specialties and international favorites with the finest of ingredients sustainably and thoughtfully sourced.
Incredible food of India deserves highlighting, including Yellow dal – lentil curry with cumin and Naan bread as a perfect starter, and Chicken tikka masala. From Tandoori oven: Free range chicken tandoori, King prawn tandoori tikka or Achari fish tikka.
Unique to the destination there are also not-to-be-missed Phuket flavour dishes, including: Homemade chili paste with crispy phuket-style shrimp, fish sauce, shrimp paste, steamed and fresh vegetables (Nam Prik Goong Siab), or for example Hokkien-style stir-fried yellow egg noodles with vegetables, poached eggs, soy sauce (Mee Sapam). These are said to showcase the brilliant amalgam of local Thai ingredients peppered with historical inspirations.
From the sea on the menu our picks are: Seared sustainable salmon fillet, and Grilled phuket tiger prawn (with spicy garlic-coriander sauce). From the land: Roasted free range chicken with garlic-thyme, or Grilled Australian Black Angus tenderloin.
Sunday means brunch time (but check with the resort when it is on!) with the option of free flow alcoholic beverages. When tried and tested previously there were brunch highlights that got exclamations marks. Seafood paella!! Magic… and of course, again, the tortilla! Then a few plates of Grilled Mackerel with garlic and turmeric, and the Salt crusted baked sea bass.
And salads! Bell pepper salad, Spicy Seafood salad, Roasted duck with orange and beetroot salad… they looked and tasted gorgeous, paired with well chilled white wine.
On the seafood spread – a Thai five-star classic – where mussels and shrimp along with lime were paraded, standing on a bed of ice, and lemon and lime, sweet as well as sour, and spicy sauce bowls to go with it.
There wee Smoked salmon fillet and Tuna fillet. And grilled meats with condiments such as Pineapple salsa, Tomato Salsa, or Baba Ganoush Hummus!
The sautéed vegetables were superbly spiced and tasty on their own: cauliflower, pumpkin, potato skewers… awesome!
In addition some live stations…
Then, when time for dessert the food must first sink in because here came a rich selection of frankly quite irresistible cakes. And for those with a passion for passion fruit – that ultimate tropical symbol – it came in the form of panna cotta: just magnificent and melting in the mouth and perhaps with some ice cream sorbet…
Also on the dining front there is Mizu, described as more than an exquisite gastronomical indulgence that presents mesmerizing showmanship from the resort’s expert Teppanyaki chefs who artistically dice, chop, juggle and flambé the freshest of sustainably-sourced ingredients in fluid acrobatics and dancing flames.
At the end of it all, as soon as leaving you will be left wondering: ‘How soon can I return here!?’
