Best Beach Hotels in Thailand

One of JM Marriott’s flagship resorts, this immaculate property sits beside Khuk Khak Beach. Swimmers will adore the lagoon style pool which is the largest in Southeast Asia – with two swim-up bars. It houses 292 rooms and suites all with private outdoor spaces and oversized tubs. Further facilities include tennis, squash, volleyball, video games (a lifesaver if travelling with teens), a fitness suite, Quan Spa providing indoor and outdoor treatments and restaurants offering Thai, Japanese, Italian, Mediterranean and European cuisine. It may be huge but still manages to retain a personal feel.

Floating 12 miles south of Phuket, this island is an eco-retreat with 20 acres of grounds. Sleek, modern monochrome suites and villas hover above the waters of their private pools. But for the best room in the house, it has to be The Lighthouse; a fifteen-metre, five-storey high structure that stands out in the otherwise low-rise resort. This ultra-luxe pad has a state-of-the-art entertainment system, jacuzzi tubs, an 8.5 metre ozonated pool with underwater music and lighting and an observation deck with 360° views. Three restaurants, a bar, a spa, a watersports and a dive centre, are among The Racha’s facilities.

Book a Junior Suite with a pool view, a Terrace Suite with a lagoon view or a one or two-bedroom Private Pool Villa with up to 200 square metres of space to yourselves. The Mövenpick Asara Resort & Spa is home to one of the best seafood eateries in town; the Baan Dum Ocean Front Restaurant, which hosts live music during the weekends and holidays. Head to the Kampu Restaurant for a daily chocolate hour, or for brasserie-style food at any time of day. Cocktails are mixed in the Ocean Bar and you can order artisanal cakes for a celebration (gluten-free options are available).

Located between Maenam and Bo Phut within easy reach of the airport and near to Chaweng Beach, the W brand brings its funky fun vibe to this paradise island. The Kitchen Table serves Western and Thai food from morning to night; the WOOBAR® plays W Music Curator’s tracks, with nibbles, lunch and dinner; Namu is considered the best Japanese restaurant on the island; while SIP is a sunset beach bar with cocktails, creative lunch and dinner dishes and oversized games. Pop to FIT for a workout, WET for a swim and the AWAY Spa for blissful treatments.

With direct access to the white sands of Pansea Bay, guests at The Surin can swim, sunbathe and dabble in water sports in paradise. There are also two pools (one infinity), two floodlit tennis courts and a kids’ club with a range of activities and games to keep young guests entertained. The resort’s signature restaurant is perched right on the beach and serves a range of international and Thai cuisine. Lomtalay Restaurant, beside the pool, is a more casual dining experience with a menu of light bites, sandwiches and salads. And there’s the romantic Sunset Restaurant. A full-service spa provides a range of treatments and therapies, as well as yoga and meditation classes in a beautiful outdoor setting, overlooking the ocean.

Located 200 yards from the popular Surin Beach on Millionaires’ Row, the Twinpalms Phuket Resort has its own beach club, plus three outdoor swimming pools set within a water garden-style landscape (a 50-meter lap pool, a lagoon-style pool and one for children). Kids can also let off some steam in their own club, with a programme of activities, while grown-ups chill out in the award-winning spa. Accommodation is across suites and villas; the largest providing private pools, kitchens with Nespresso machines, wine cellars and cigar humidors. The resort has a secluded feel and elegant decor.

Perched beside Choeng Mon Beach, Kimpton Kitalay Samui offers refined island living. Its highlights include a palm-flanked Olympic-sized swimming pool, loaner fat-tyre bikes to explore further afield, pet amenities and the 500-square metre split-level Junio Kids Club for a programme of non-digital activities. Kimpton Kitalay has 138 rooms, suites and villas, 21 of which have private pools; five restaurants and bars; a pristine stretch of beach; and the organic Pimãanda spa, offering a 14-step sensorial ritual created especially for the resort by HARNN.

Set on Bang Tao beach among lush grounds (which include the 18-hole Laguna Phuket golf course), Dusit Thani Laguna offers ocean-front bedrooms, suites and two-bedded villas. Connect with local culture and your own wellbeing, embark on culinary journeys, get to know the indigenous wildlife and bond with your kids at a Family Retreat or Bonfire Campout. Watersports, yoga, racquet sports and creative past-times such as batik painting, tie-dye, umbrella painting, fruit and vegetable carving and flower arranging are all offered. Plus there’s the Angsana Spa, an outdoor pool and extensive kids’ facilities.

This urban lifestyle resort takes its inspiration from the natural elements. 67 rooms and villas are segregated into three different areas/categories of accommodation: Beachside (La Canna and Oceanbed Villas), Sandside (Silksand Rooms) and The Oasis (Sanksy Urban and Sanksy Deluxe Rooms).  Putahracsa’s open-air restaurant serves Thai and Western cuisine and BBQ food with front-seat views of the sea. There’s also a fine boulangerie/patisserie for lunch, dinner, snack and coffee, which is set in a winter glasshouse. Other facilities include a spa, a boutique and a tuk-tuk service to nearby attractions.

If history and culture are on your holiday agenda then a stay at the Ammatara Pura Pool Villa complex on the edge of Lamai Beach should fit the bill. The whole complex is traditionally styled, with much use made of dark Thai wood, intricately carved trees, statues and religious deities. The beautiful villas also embrace traditional building techniques with timber beams, cool tiles, and heavy, period style furniture. The restaurant offers Asian and International cuisine and vegetarian and vegan options. With a sauna, spa and fitness centre guests can be as active or as laid-back as they like.

Set between a freshwater tropical lagoon and a private beach, this luxury hotel enjoys the best of both worlds. 69 rooms, suites and villas nestled among coconut groves, offer lovely views of the Andaman coast. The design is inspired by the intricate architecture of ancient Asian civilisations, in a neutral palette with splashes of vibrant colour. Swim in the marble saltwater infinity pool as you look out over the ocean, head to the incredible spa, try your hand at paddle boarding and kayaking, dine on Thai cuisine at Takola or more relaxed cuisine at the beach bar and grill. Activities include yoga, local tours, cooking classes – and there’s a programme for children too.

Veranda Resort Phuket, Autograph Collection is located on Phuket’s serene Cape Panwa Peninsula. This family-friendly resort offers 159 elegantly designed rooms and suites, each serving as a curated haven of comfort and beauty. Choose from a variety of accommodations, including oceanfront rooms, pool access suites, and expansive family suites. The resort’s décor harmoniously blends modern sophistication with elements inspired by Phuket’s rich culture, creating a tranquil and inspiring atmosphere. Each room features amenities such as complimentary Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and private balconies with serene ocean views. Key facilities include multiple dining options like The Parlour, an all-day dining venue offering international and local dishes, and Bar Botan, known for its handcrafted drinks. The resort also offers an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness centre, and the Let’s Relax Spa, providing a range of treatments designed to nourish the mind, body, and soul.