So how does a good hotel manage to keep dad, mum and the kids content and amused for days on end?
10. Evason Phuket Six Sense Spa
260 Rooms - Rawai Beach
Evason has an excellent kids club and even provides closely supervised 'sleepover' services, leaving quality time for mum and dad. Just Kids! also organises theme nights for the little ones (from four to twelve years old) and has environmentally aware children's projects such as learning about hers in the resort's own vegetable gardens. Family scavenger hunts are also a favourite and the resort even offers family packages. One of the favourite family activities at Evason is to take the free long-tail boat to Koh Bon, an island some 15 minutes south, where the resort has a 400-metre stretch of beach with open bungalows, a restaurant and plenty of water sports equipment.
9. Hilton Phuket Arcadia
677 Rooms - Karon Beach
At number nine in our Top Ten Family Hotels lies the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort. Set in sprawling and verdant grounds on Karon Beach, the Hilton doesn't do things by half. There's a health and fitness centre, a putting green, three swimming pools, free scuba classes, a spa and sauna, tennis and squash courts, snooker and table tennis amongst other facilities so you and your family will have your hands full here. A unique feature to the resort is the 'cinebar' where latest movies are played in a mini movie theatre. The kids club is set in a charming glade with outdoors and indoors facilities and a warm, friendly staff. The Hilton Arcadia lies in the largest resort grounds of the island and next to the beach. So much to do, so much space in which to do it
8. Katathani Phuket Beach Resort
530 Rooms - Kata Noi Beach
If it's tropical beachside opulence you and your family are looking for, then Katathani is certainly one to fit the bill. Even if Katathani weren’t situated beachside your holiday would still be leaning towards the aquatic as the resort sports no less that six, yes six swimming pools and three Jacuzzis! There is a nightly family-oriented musical revue and parents looking for some quality one-on-one time during the daytime there is a kids club for the little ones' amusement. But most of all, it's the 'no-worries' factor of being right by the beach that attracts families here and the fact that, with six food and drink outlets with many more over the road along with in-hotel shopping, the resort is the ultimate in relaxed family holidaymaking.
7. Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort
470 Rooms - Relax Bay near Patong
As the name implies, Le Meridien is located smack-bang on the beach, in this case Relax Bay – between Patong and Karon beaches. This means no hauling bag after bag into the taxi and spending priceless holiday time getting to and from the beach. Simply stroll out and set up on the sand. There are plenty of water sports for all ages to choose from as well as organised beach volleyball. Dad can practise his swing with the supervision of a golf pro on the driving range and if you are hoping for a romantic meal for two simply call the babysitting service. For the kiddies there is the hotel's Penguin Club, open from 09:00 to 19:00 daily that features an amazing array of games and activities – some 31 in all – ranging from aerobics to a treasure hunt.
6. Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket
405 Rooms & Villas - Bangtao Beach
With Asia's longest freshwater swimming pool at 323 metres long and an 18-hole golf course located within the Laguna complex, not to mention access to all Laguna hotels in this integrated complex and their wonderful facilities, the Sheraton Grande Laguna has all the moves needed to make a top family holiday. The VIP (very important kid's) club caters for the little ones in style with daily entertainment games and crafts (complimentary for children aged from 4-12) and the Sheraton's spa facilities are exemplary. Ning Nong and Yum Yum, the resort’s baby elephants, pay their daily visits to play with the little ones and the young at heart. As for family-style accommodation there are two-bedroom island villas as well as three- and four-bedroom private pool villas and residences with cooking facilities.
5. The Ramada Resort
121 Rooms - Karon Beach
The Ramada Resort is really one of Phuket's best-kept secrets when it comes to children's facilities but it's high time the secret got out… The design of the resort shows a tangible sense of humour, with theme bars (Joe Kool's – 'The World's Worst Restaurant!') and theme rooms, such as the Outer Space Room and the Underwater Room as well as the larger Castle Theme Duplex Suite with adult accommodation on the main floor with a kids room on the upper floor. There's also a two-bedroom family suite but the main attraction of this colourful resort is the peace of mind it affords parents when they see their children so well-catered for. On arrival, families are greeted by 'rangers' who are in fact children's minders and who look after all in-house activities as well as excursions.
4.Möevenpick Resort Phuket
382 rooms - Karon Beach
Möevenpick features the largest kids centre in Phuket as well as a fully equipped fitness centre, a spa with eight Thai-style treatment rooms, four swimming pools, two tennis courts, pool tables and the powder-white sand Karon Beach just over the road. With an array of facilities like this, there's something for everyone in the family. Of course there's more… in the shape of a jogging track around the property and individual villas to lend more of a family-like feel to your stay. Families can use the games room for free and it has the advantage of being both indoors and outdoors with everything from newspapers and magazines to billiards to computers with internet access to a 'jungle gym'.
3.Holiday Inn Phuket Resort
265 Rooms - Patong Beach
The Holiday Inn enjoys a great location in the heart of Patong Beach. It also features themed rooms just for families. The 'kidsuite' provides a children’s themed ‘room within a room’. For a little more than a standard room, kidsuites can accommodate two adults and two children less than 12 years of age, allowing all the family to enjoy their holiday. The resort also offers family suites which consist of two connecting rooms; one standard room connected to another specially designed children's room. Designed in a pirate theme, the kids room has beds set in ‘boats’ plus toys and themed furniture. Your children have their own room with TV, video, electronic games, toy box and Playstation. It’s a great concept as it ensures that everyone gets a holiday!.
2.Laguna Beach Resort
252 Rooms - Bang Tao Beach
Number Two on our Top Ten List is Laguna Beach Resort. With its extensive water sports facilities and three swimming pools and water slide, not to mention the beach right by, there's aquatic fun for the family to be had here. The resourceful kids' club with its many resources and age-differentiated activities is another of the many thoughtful touches put into making the LBR an excellent family resort. While mum and dad play tennis on one of the three outdoor courts or even at the indoor one, the kids can take a class in batik or visit the resort's two baby elephants. Afterwards, the whole family can sail a catamaran (complimentary) or hit the games room for more fun.
and The most popular is ...
JW Marriott Resort & Spa265 Rooms - Mai Khao Beach
Sitting on Mai Khao, Phuket's longest beach, the Marriott literally has adventure at its doorstep. What's more, the facilities at this five-star resort and Number One family hotel winner are exceptional. There are no less than 10 restaurants and bars to choose from, all set in expansive grounds and there's certainly no need to get up at the crack of dawn to claim a sun lounger because the resort features three swimming pools. The main swimming pool is enormous with a separate section that caters especially for families, including a shallow bubble pool and a waterslide. The kids club features separate areas for young teens and smaller children. The little ones have a colourful cubbyhouse with a climbing frame, wooden toys, karaoke, a dolls house, computers and even their own pint-sized furniture.
Through a combination of good service, exciting activities with attractive and spacious accommodation, that's how. Here are our Top Ten family hotels, the ones that manage to find that magic balance for that most difficult of formulate: Keeping it in the family.
