DUP - Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas

Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas: A Michelin Key Selected Oasis of Luxury in Phuket

Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas, a Michelin Key Selected property, consistently earns high praise for its serene ambiance, exceptional service, and luxurious private pool villas. Guests frequently describe it as a perfect escape for relaxation, often feeling like a secluded nature sanctuary.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas is overwhelmingly positive, with an overall rating often around 4.5 out of 5 or 9 out of 10. Guests consistently rate the cleanliness, comfort, and staff highly. The sentiment leans towards it being an exceptional and unforgettable luxury experience, ideal for honeymooners and those seeking a private, tranquil getaway.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud several aspects of the resort:

• Private Pool Villas: Each of the 91 villas boasts a private infinity pool, offering a perfect hideaway. The design allows for pool access and views from every room within the villa.
• Exceptional Service & Staff: The staff are frequently described as incredibly friendly, helpful, meticulous, and well-trained, elevating the overall guest experience. They are noted for their attentiveness and genuine smiles.
• Stunning Design & Grounds: The resort's design harmoniously blends with the natural setting, featuring stunning wooden villas amidst vast, exquisitely maintained tropical gardens and a serene internal lagoon. The evening lighting, with damask lampshades, fiber-optic chandeliers, and flickering fire torches, creates a magical atmosphere.
• Tranquil Location: Situated on Mai Khao Beach, the resort offers direct access to a semi-private beach, providing a sense of seclusion despite being a short drive from Phuket International Airport.
• Outstanding Breakfast: The breakfast buffet is often highlighted as a standout, offering an astounding selection and variety of high-quality ingredients and flavors.

3. Room Quality

The villas are celebrated for their spaciousness, comfort, and elegant design. The smallest pool villas are considered large by any standard. Key features include:

• Luxurious Interiors: Villas are decorated in a "tropic chic" style, featuring comfortable king-size beds (some reviewers calling them the "comfiest" they'd slept in), arched, basketweave ceilings, and ample space.
• Thoughtful Amenities: Guests appreciate details such as Bose wireless speakers, complimentary water, Nespresso machines, and a variety of scented soaps in the bathrooms. Villas are cleaned twice daily, ensuring they remain spotless and fully stocked with amenities.
• Private Pools & Outdoor Showers: Each villa's private infinity pool is a major draw, and outdoor rain showers with unique touches like turtle-shaped taps are noted.

4. Dining Experience

Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas offers a diverse and high-quality dining experience across its five on-site restaurants.

• Exceptional Breakfast Buffet: As mentioned, the breakfast buffet at La Sala is consistently praised for its extensive selection, variety of juices, and high-quality dishes, making it a highlight for many guests.
• Diverse Restaurant Options:
  • La Sala: Renowned for its top-notch Thai food, including regional specialties and creative twists on classics, and has been recognized by the Michelin Guide. It also offers an in-house Indian chef with knockout dishes from its Tiffin by La Sala menu.
  • SeaFireSalt: A Mediterranean-themed beachside grill restaurant offering a lively atmosphere and a swim-up bar. It features a range of burgers, pizzas, and pastas for lunch, and fancier dishes like scallops and sizzling platters for dinner.
  • Tree House: Phuket's premium Omakase House, built around an old Banyan tree, serving brilliant sashimi, nigiri, and grilled Japanese dishes.
• In-villa Dining: Room service is prompt, though prices for in-room dining can be on the higher side.
• Cooking Classes: The Spice Spoons Cooking school offers one-to-one classes where guests can learn to prepare Thai cuisine, making it a great value experience.

5. Service & Staff

The service at Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas is consistently described as a major highlight, often exceeding guest expectations.

• Friendly and Attentive: Staff members are praised for being "super lovely and helpful," full of smiles, and chatty in the restaurants. They are very friendly and accommodating at all times, taking care of guests from arrival to departure.
• Professionalism: The Guest Relations and reception teams are noted for their high professionalism.
• Personal Touches: Staff go out of their way to assist guests, such as inflating pool floats and carefully packaging them for travel.

6. Location & Accessibility

The resort is situated on the northwestern tip of Phuket, offering a tranquil and somewhat secluded experience.

• Proximity to Airport: It's conveniently located approximately a 20-minute cab ride from Phuket International Airport. While planes might be seen in the distance, guests report not hearing them.
• Beach Access: The property boasts direct access to Mai Khao Beach, a semi-private and quiet stretch of sand. Due to conservation regulations, beach amenities are limited.
• Resort Navigation: The villas are spread out across extensive, beautifully maintained grounds with a tropical lagoon. Complimentary bicycles are available for getting around, though sometimes they can be scarce or in disrepair. Golf cart buggies are also available, but response times can occasionally be slow.
• Nearby Attractions: The Mai Khao area is generally quiet, but guests can walk to other nearby hotels for dining. Turtle Village, next door, offers a 7-11, a Coffee Club, and a pub. Khao Phra Thaeo National Park, with waterfalls and the Phuket Gibbon Rehabilitation Centre, is a worthy day trip. The resort is a significant distance from busier areas like Patong Beach, making it less ideal for those looking for nightlife and extensive off-resort exploration without pre-arranged transport.
• Accessibility: Public areas like the spa, restaurants, and main pool are wheelchair accessible, with select accessible villas available upon request. Beach access, however, may not be wheelchair accessible.

7. Value & Pricing

Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas is a luxury property, and its pricing reflects that.

• Price Range: Stays can start around $400 per night in the offseason, rising to approximately $700 per night during the peak winter travel season.
• Perceived Value: Many guests feel that the service, style, and overall experience overwhelmingly exceed the nightly rate, offering excellent value for a luxury stay. It's considered a worthwhile expense, especially for special occasions like honeymoons.

8. Common Complaints

While reviews are largely positive, a few recurring criticisms have been noted:

• Mosquitoes: Despite daily spraying, mosquitoes can be an issue, requiring guests to use multiple coils when sitting outside.
• Bicycle Availability/Condition: Complimentary bicycles are offered for navigating the large resort grounds, but they can be scarce or sometimes broken.
• Management's Issue Resolution: In one instance, a guest reported a frustrating experience with management regarding a medical charge after an accident on the property, where they felt the response was not at the level expected of a 5-star hotel.
• Buggy Response Time: While buggies are available, some guests have experienced slow response times for pickups.
• Dining Costs: Eating at the resort's restaurants is considered expensive by some, though it's acknowledged that Phuket itself has become a pricier destination. Limited breakfast options were also noted by one guest.
• Lack of True Seclusion (Minor Point): While offering a secluded vibe, some reviewers note that the proximity to other resorts means it's not truly isolated, with neighboring hotel pools sometimes visible or audible.
• Anantara Vacation Club vs. Villas: It's important to distinguish Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas from the Anantara Vacation Club Mai Khao, as a reviewer noted the latter offered a less satisfactory experience with limited food, lack of beach access, and a "sales office vibe." (This review specifically addresses the Villas, not the Vacation Club).

Sources

1. booking.com
2. laviepartagee.com
3. littlewanderingwren.com
4. theshutterwhale.com
5. theweek.com
6. youtube.com
7. booking.com
8. mrandmrssmith.com
9. expedia.com
10. thepointsguy.com
11. youtube.com
12. nomadmum.com