Review: Avista Hideaway Resort and Spa, Phuket 2014

Since this trip to Phuket was meant to be a relaxing one, choosing a hotel with the appropriate theme was really important.

Sep 23 2014 to Sep 26 2014 [3 nights]

Like the name suggests, the hotel is indeed a hideaway (though our cab driver had no issues locating it lol), located at the end of a winding road leading away from Patong beach which is popular among tourists with many restaurants, bars and night clubs.

Upon entering the lobby we were ushered to the sofa. Welcome drinks and fruits were served together with cold towels, which were jasmine scented. As the case in many resorts in South East Asia, the lobby was an open design.

There were also rings of cushions, as well as a viewing deck overlooking the Andaman Sea. 

While checking in, we were asked to indicate, among others, our preference for bedding, quilts and pillows. I had always presumed Westin's heavenly bed as the standard for hotel bedding, though it seems that they have a serious contender here.

The room
The room is massive. On the website it says the Club Vista room is 65 sq. m, but with an open concept and light colours, it certainly look a lot larger.

After settling down in the room and doing some unpacking, we headed to the bar for cocktail. The drinks are served together with prawn crackers, which I quite liked. 

As the sun begins to set the view from the bar was beautiful. In fact, this picture doesn't do it justice. For the record, Club Vista guests are entitled to complimentary cocktail every evening. So, while I would visit for the view even if staying in a cheaper room, I certainly would not recommend patronising the bar every day since the price are significantly higher than what you would expect to pay in Patong.

After the cocktail we went to Patong beach for dinner. The hotel had regular shuttle bus services (using a converted lorry) to Jungceylon shopping centre and back, which is a great convenience to guests sine it is beyond walking distance from the beach or town.

The breakfast spread is impressive, with a whole range of juice, fruits and cheese available, a wide variety from the breadbasket, as well as a generous selection of hot dishes. The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating, and we always chose to sit outdoors on the patio, which boasts a great view of the pool one level down and the Andaman Sea.

When the sun has risen, the clouds start to disperse and I happen to catch this piece drifting by.

On the second day we selected a 60 minutes massage, which was upgraded to 90 minutes since we are staying at a Club Vista room, which is like a deluxe room/junior suite equivalent. The massage/spa is one of the highlights of this hotel, and we are keen to experience it. 

Again, the massage was priced on the high end, at THB1,800 a person, but the experience was indeed relaxing.

When we returned the room after the massage, to my pleasant surprise I found this on the table!

Yeah, I know they actually asked us to indicate during check-in whether we are celebrating any event during the stay, like birthdays, anniversaries, etc., and yes I did see the restaurant staff presenting a lady with a birthday cake during breakfast but I assumed her husband ordered it, since he was standing together with the waiter and was fairly calm, in sharp contrast to the exclamation on the lady's face.

Now, the thing is, I did not indicate that I would be celebrating my birthday during check-in. While I am sure given that they scanned our passports as a standard procedure and finding out my birthday is a real no-brainer, I really appreciate the initiative to extend such a goodwill. 

On the 25th, we requested for airport transfer since it was rather inconvenient to hail a cab from the hotel. While the price of THB1,500 (USD 46) is almost twice than the THB800 we paid for on the way there, the minivan was comfortable and could have seated 6, as compared to the usual 4 on taxis. So if travelling in a larger group, it could actually be cheaper to request for the airport transfer.

En route to the airport, the driver made a stop a fairly scenic spot overlooking the beach and told us that it's a good spot for taking pictures. 

Conclusion
The stay has been an excellent experience, and I think this property had lived up to its name. While the Avista certainly wasn't cheap, they certainly delivered what is expected of them at this price, perhaps even more.