The Surin Phuket

I started crying uncontrollably the moment I checked out of The Surin Phuket. . Returning to my happy place, the feeling was completely different this time, and I believe it was all thanks to The Surin. So, after a short break at home, I couldn't wait to write about everything here. Hotel Guide: When choosing a hotel, I deliberated between The Surin and The Racha for a long time. The Racha requires a boat trip, making transportation inconvenient, so I ultimately chose The Surin. The hotel is quite far from Phuket's commercial center, offering a strong sense of seclusion. It shares a white sand beach with the neighboring Amans, where the sand is fine and soft. The octagonal pool is truly picturesque, offering different views whether it's sunny or rainy. Upon check-in, the welcoming staff presented me with a fragrant frangipani bracelet, which I hung by my bedside, letting its scent accompany me for several nights of good sleep. Room Selection Guide: There were two of us, staying for five days. For the first two nights, we booked a 'Beach Suite,' but after checking in, we found it only so-so. The view was ocean-facing but obstructed. We provided feedback to the hotel, and they responded very quickly, showing us several different room types that were available for immediate occupancy. After seeing them, we upgraded to a 'Beach Deluxe Suite,' which was closer to the sea and had an unbeatable view. However, light sleepers should be aware that the waves are very loud! For the remaining three nights, we stayed in a 'One-Bedroom Seaview Deluxe Cottage,' which I highly recommend. Compared to the ocean-front rooms, the stilt-house cottages offer an even better view, and the price is much more reasonable. The only minor drawback is the absence of a bathtub. Each room is thoughtfully equipped with a beach bag, sun hat, flip-flops, and an umbrella. Food: The breakfast isn't particularly extensive; it's a semi-buffet style. Let me share my daily breakfast menu: à la carte Buckwheat Crepes with banana / Bircher Muesli. For dinner, we mostly ate at the hotel's Thai restaurant. My personal recommendations are: Steamed Seabream with Lemon / Curry Soft Shell Crab / Red Curry Lamb with Roti. For dessert, you absolutely must order the Banana Tempura, which comes with ice cream dip – absolutely delicious. Just a short stroll out of the hotel after dinner, there's a small street with several local spas and craft shops, as well as a 7-Eleven, which is perfect for daily supplies. This setup is incredibly comfortable for introverts, haha. Service: Our English isn't great, and while language was a barrier, everyone here was patient and enthusiastic, going out of their way to assist us. When I was learning paddleboarding on the beach, the instructor noticed I was wearing a short-sleeved shirt and proactively went to the storage room to find me sun-protective clothing. The linens were changed daily during cleaning, and there was turn-down service every evening with delicious goodnight cookies. Even the steps leading up from the beach throughout the hotel had thoughtfully placed showers. Oh, and it was my birthday during our stay, and the hotel gave us a beautiful complimentary brownie cake! When we checked out, the front desk manager saw us getting into the car and quickly ran over to wave goodbye. At that moment, I couldn't help but cry uncontrollably. It was such a beautiful, beautiful hotel experience. Here, I witnessed countless complete sunsets, swam in heavy rain, stumbled upon hermit crabs moving houses on the beach at dusk, watched crabs scurry... The entire hotel isn't overly luxurious, but here, we fully integrated with nature, and it's definitely one of the most unforgettable hotel experiences of my life.

The hotel's beach is beautiful, and the sea view from our ocean-view room was stunning. However, the room facilities are old and lack attention to detail. There's also only one 'influencer-style' swimming pool. The breakfast restaurant was ridiculously bad. Almost no service, terrible food, poor quality ingredients, and limited variety. Don't believe those influencer photos! There were no insects at the hotel, which is because they spray a lot of pesticide. On the first day, we were told to go indoors during the spraying, and I felt dizzy afterward. At night, you won't hear any crickets chirping on the mountain – the pesticide use is quite concerning when you think about it.

A exquisite hotel with stunning sunsets and consistently warm service. The breakfast was luxurious, though a bit on the sweet side. It shares a beach with Aman, and you can even see Aman's pavilions from the windows.

This isn't my first time here. The rooms and scenery are incredible, and the location is fantastic. The service, as always, is top-notch. Every time I come, the first thing I do is grab a coconut and head to the beach. My only complaint is that the breakfast this year isn't as Asian-friendly as it used to be. It's a huge step down from last year, with only one page on the menu compared to three or four. Eventually, I just stopped bothering to wake up for breakfast. Please value your Chinese customers!

The ambiance, service, and views are all superb; it's almost perfect, with the only drawback being the high price. However, Surin Beach itself is a small, curved cove with strong waves – I'd even say they're bigger than those at Karon and Kata. During the rainy season, swimming is completely out of the question. If strong waves or limited swimming options bother you, you might want to reconsider. On the upside, it's less crowded during the low season, and they often offer room upgrades.

Pros: 1. The hotel's private beach is excellent, with fine sand that's very soft underfoot. 2. There are sun loungers on the beach, not many, but there aren't many guests either. It's mostly Westerners and fewer Chinese. The foreigners are all very polite, and the Chinese guests I met were also very friendly and well-behaved. Unlike larger hotels that are crowded, this one is very quiet and private. Overall, a great experience. 3. The sea view is stunning, and the sunset is beautiful. You can watch the sunset from the restaurant, which is very romantic. 4. The rooms are clean, and the facilities are quite complete. The bedding is clean and comfortable on the skin. Although the hotel rooms aren't new, they are very well-maintained. 5. The shuttle service is responsive, and the staff are relatively enthusiastic. 6. There's not much around. There's a Brothers and a Top (shops/restaurants), which are basic but sufficient. There's a 7-Eleven about a hundred meters walk from the entrance. However, a 15-minute taxi ride takes you to Phuket Town, where you can find dining, small bars, and massages. Cons: 1. We visited in August, when the waves were quite big, so I didn't dare to swim much. The beach isn't actually that big. 2. The rooms are generally quite simple. For a hotel costing over 2,000 THB in the low season and over 4,000 THB in the high season, the decor is far from luxurious. 3. There are stairs to climb. From the beach to the lobby, you have to climb stairs. Some of the sea-view bungalows are quite far from the lobby. As a heavier person, climbing stairs was difficult, and I had to call for the shuttle constantly every day. Fortunately, the service was good, and the shuttle was very responsive. Summary: Quiet, private, beautiful scenery. Perfect for those who enjoy peace and quiet, fulfilling every expectation of a resort hotel. I'd even call it a 'hotel of a lifetime'.