Anantara Layan Phuket Resort

This has to be one of the best hotels in Phuket. It boasts a pristine natural environment coupled with excellent design. The only minor drawbacks are the occasional planes flying overhead and, due to its very natural setting, there might be lizards crawling in the room. A slight annoyance was during check-out when I requested a late check-out until 2 PM for an urgent online meeting, but despite three attempts to communicate, my request was denied.

The room was excellent, and the pool and courtyard were big pluses. The service was also incredibly good; they even remembered our preferences at breakfast. The only minor drawback was the beach, which was quite mediocre; it's better to go to the large public beach instead.

This was my second stay at Anantara Layan, the first being ten years ago. I deeply regret returning, as it severely shattered my fond memories of the hotel. Everything has deteriorated significantly compared to a decade ago. Firstly, the breakfast was awful, truly awful. The selection was limited, and the taste was poor. For the price point of this hotel and Anantara's reputation for dining, it was completely substandard. It was even worse than the Anantara Koh Yao Yai hotel, which is half the price. After three days, I had no desire to eat breakfast whatsoever on the third day. Secondly, the once beautiful and tranquil private beach is gone. The beachfront is now piled with sandbags and rocks, looking like a port! You can't even go into the sea! It's hard to believe a 'gold standard' hotel doesn't even have a beach, and kids can't play in the water! It completely contradicts its claim of being a family-friendly hotel. Furthermore, the room was extremely dated. It felt like the interior hadn't been renovated in the past ten years. The room lacked any sense of luxury, and the private pool wasn't appealing. Moreover, the vegetation wall in the backyard was sparse, offering no privacy – you could be seen from outside! The outdoor shower area in the backyard was also very old and dark, clearly neglected, making you feel like bugs might appear at any moment when showering! The outdoor sun loungers were also dirty and rundown, giving no desire to lie on them. The landscaping in the public areas was also poorly maintained. Although lush, it was very messy. Upon entering the hotel, the paths to the parking lot and breakfast area lacked aesthetic appeal, and rubbish piles were openly visible, along with construction debris, severely impacting the view. The hotel's swimming pool was also very uninviting; a long rectangular pool held no appeal for me to swim in, especially when compared to pools at other luxury and family-friendly hotels. Also, this hotel is really remote and inconvenient to access. If it weren't for the good impression from ten years ago, I wouldn't have returned, and this time, I'm utterly disappointed. The only saving grace was the consistently good quality of the hotel's steakhouse and Thai restaurant. Otherwise, I couldn't find any redeeming qualities in this hotel. However, the restaurant prices were inflated, just like the hotel room rates – not worth it. This hotel no longer deserves to be rated as 'gold standard'. I suggest the platform revise its rating. I've always trusted the Anantara brand, staying at their hotels five times in Thailand, including two in Phuket, one in Koh Samui, and one in Koh Yao Yai. This has been my most disappointing experience, and I hope the brand can make improvements to avoid damaging its reputation and disappointing customers.

The hotel is clean and the food is halal and delicious. The service is excellent, especially the breakfast which offers a good selection of Arabic food.

The room was great, and the pool and beach were perfect. You could even go crabbing at night. The hotel's service was absolutely top-notch.

Phuket's Layan Beach | Living the Thai Dream at Anantara 🌴 **About the Environment and Rooms** The hotel's design embodies a 'modern Thai Zen' aesthetic. The lobby boasts a soaring, high ceiling with a wooden dome and crystal chandeliers, exuding a sense of quality. Throughout the hallways, you'll discover intricate handcrafted wooden carvings and textiles from Southern Thailand, showcasing meticulous attention to detail. But the real highlight is the guest rooms! Most come with either a private pool or a large terrace. Open the floor-to-ceiling windows and you're greeted by endless blue sea and white sands – the view is absolutely breathtaking. Inside, the rooms feature rattan furniture and linen fabrics, with hand-painted wave patterns above the bed. These natural materials truly evoke a tropical island getaway vibe. The public areas are also enveloped by lush tropical plants, and the pool connects directly to the beach. Sitting in a thatched-roof pavilion in the evening, watching the orange-red sunset spread across the ocean, is incredibly therapeutic. 🚗 **Transportation & Surroundings** Located on the north side of Layan Beach, it's about a 25-minute drive from Phuket International Airport. Getting to Karon or Kata Beach also takes around 30 minutes, so transportation is quite convenient. What's more, the area feels very lively. The Layan Night Market (open Fridays and Saturdays) is right next door, just a 10-minute walk away. It's incredibly convenient for an evening stroll and trying local street food, so you don't necessarily have to dine at the hotel. That's a huge plus!

Absolutely loved this hotel! The ambiance is great, the facilities are top-notch, and the food, especially, is incredibly delicious. We've already booked another week for October to just relax and unwind, even before we've left.

The service was good, and the hotel environment was quite nice. However, the private pool water was dirty, so I had to use the public pool instead.

Aside from being pricey, this hotel is flawless. The service is exceptional, and I had a very comfortable stay. The staff's attitude and work quality are top-notch. However, the on-site dining options are just average and also quite expensive. This hotel offers great privacy and discretion, especially compared to more mainstream hotels. It's very quiet and not overly crowded, making it an excellent choice for a getaway. The only downside is that dining options are limited nearby, so I'd recommend renting a car if you plan to stay here, as it would make eating out much more convenient.