Apologies if it is a rather long review. I felt that the whole stay at this place was a small or big failure after another. Constant issues unresolved intrapolated from a few good spots. Check in: we paid a small fortune (~part of a holiday package so do not have the exact amounts but it was around 8 thousand pounds for 5 nights) for a 3 bedroom double pool villa (villa 907, there is only one of these). Check in: we were told at 1pm room was not ready yet so we had to wait for Check in time at 3pm. I said fair enough and waited (with no Internet access) by the Banyan Café where we had lunch. At 3pm I got annoyed that we had not been checked in yet and complained and reception said (quote word for word): villa is ready now, buggy will bring you, but your butler is busy. I can bring you now and then butler will come and explain everything later. We said OK and went over. Our cases were already there so clearly villa has been ready for some time but people just didn't care enough to check us in. This will be the repeat theme of this stay. From the way we have been treated you would imagine we are the worst customer they have ever had, while frankly I am convinced we are amongst the best as this is our 2nd stay and we spent around 15k already! And we always also have lots of extras and stuff. Also I normally tip so genuinely quite why I was treated like this I have no idea. Anyway, on to day 2. Before arriving we filled in a detailed check in form the hotel sent and we had asked for housekeeping between 10 and 11 am each day. Day 2 it is 2pm and still no housekeeping and I have already sent 3 chases so my husband filled in a survey online that he was sent and said well 4/5 because housekeeping has not turned up. A few minutes later the butler comes over and says (irony lost on him) please just complain to me if there is a problem. 10 minutes later we got housekeeping and they also promised to be on time the rest of the stay. This obviously isn't enough to be angry but.. read on. Also the plumbing in the villa made a terrible high pitch noise each time we used the main shower or the toilet in the main bathroom so what we started doing is avoid flushing the toilet in the middle of the night not to wake each other up. Again OK. Not ideal but I will survive. Also I do not know if related but the jacuzzi outside started on its own. This did not use to happen in villa 902 last year and it is an inconvenience (small) because that way it gets too hot and unusable. Anyway again not enough to be angry on its own. Day 3.. Tre which was closed last year, is the breakfast restaurant for the double pool villas, the first day was OK even if not great but the 2nd day was a tragedy and this time I did get upset. We were sat in the sunshine despite our 'table' (the one set for 6 as this is the only 3 bedroom pool villa) being available and in the shade (I made a face but didn't say anything) and then we were ignored literally for 1 hour while everyone else was getting hammered on cheap prosecco refills. Honestly staff were just kept busy by someone having 10 glasses of bubbly at 9am in the morning while my husband and I sat in the sun without a coffee! It genuinely took 70 minutes for our coffee to arrive and it only arrived after our food and only after I shouted at one waitress who failed to 1. Apologise 2. Saying they will fix it 3. Get our order in quickly despite the complaint. My husband's and mine food were brought around 2 wrong tables before coming to ours and this AFTER I had complained! The coffee arrived 20 minutes after the complaint. I mean how long does it take to make a coffee? Anyway what we decided to do was to go to the Banyan Café (and pay! For breakfast) every morning. So just picture paying 8000 pounds and then go out for breakfast every day just so we can get decent service! (Which we did, I love the Banyan Café!!!). OK so day 4 and 5 (till sundown) went well. Day 5 dinner was in villa bbq (~10k bahts as we had customised the menu, highly recommended by the way, Dam is a good guy and excellent chef). At 11pm shattered I went to bed, my husband stayed up a bit tidying up.. this is where rat issue happened! He saw 2 rats making the laps of the villa! He even filmed them! Just to be clear, this is 2 rats running around in the main body of the villa and where the dining table is and where my husband and I had snacks and staff leaves you treats and stuff! Put this in context, the hotel had 'offered' us to pay 32000 baht (apparently that is after a 30% discount) for a late check out! (1h and 45 minutes!!! Past the 3pm 24h free check out policy the hotel runs, aka you check in at 3 you should check out at 3 free of charge). I mean I know the hotel thinks we are cash machines but which fool pays 32000 bahts for 1h 45 minutes ? I was negotiating the price but then I stopped when I saw the rat video off my husbands phone. I don't want to pay one minute extra in a rat infested villa!! Last insult. Day 5 our bikes got stolen twice. We don't know exactly if by other guests or members of staff. When we complained to the bike guy we did not get offered locks. After the 2nd time I complained to the general manager who literally said "what do you want me to do about it" and "do you not have locks" (does it suppose I travel with bike locks and rat poison??) The issue is thatbthe hotel has black new bikes which everyone wants and not enough of them to go around so they literally get stolen and swapped for inferior ones (genuinely once even in front of our villa). We even saw members of staff swapping bikes! Considering how much bikes cost and that 1 night in a double pool villa is at least 1k, surely they can just buy a few more new bikes and put a stop to this ridiculous issue! We complained about the rats, he swore when he saw the video but did not say he was sorry nor that he would change our villa etc etc. He said (for both issues) I will have a think how to fix ... I mean brilliant! What reassurance! In the end the deputy manager Kwanchai came by the pool villa and he was a bit better and he offered a few things which I refused (I mean how does offering a free lunch fixes the problems that there is 2 rats living in the villa???), don't these people know that sometimes you can be allergic to rats or that kids might put their hands in their mouth after touching stuff etc etc?? I said to Kwanchai, you need to promise that after I leave the villa (and no, I do not want to now complimentary extra 1h 45!) You call pest control and ask them to put traps near the wood beams, otherwise it is not fair on who is checking in after me. Anyway, bottom line, go somewhere else. Phuket is gorgeous and for sure we will be back and there is a ton of hotels that I am sure will take our money and treat us better. I would recommend (based on dinner experiences) Anantara Layan, The Slate or Amanpuri if you have the budget. …
After a three-year absence, we returned to the Banyan Tree. We rented a double pool villa and two two-bedroom pool villas. It was good to see the property had been well maintained. As a group of 7 people, we created a lot of work for the staff including housekeeping. We were well taken care of. A special mention and thank you to our villa host, Miku. Miku did a great job taking care of our many requests, always polite, always with a smile, and always efficient. She also had some great restaurant reservations. The breakfast buffet was good too.
We can just only recommend this amazing Hotel to everyone. We are repeating guests and this time we stayed 4 weeks at Banyan Tree Double Pool Villas ( our 6th time) with our 2 small kids. Even the Villas are little bit older they are still beautiful and come up with big space for the hole family, a perfect place to relax and enjoy. What makes this resort so special? 1. Spacious Villas surrounded by the most beautiful garden and nature. Gardeners make this place to paradise, flowers, trees, birds and animals 2. Best staff ever ❤️‼️❤️‼️ Most of the people working there are just amazing, especially everyone loves children. Lot of staff are working there for many many years and we know a lot of people and always get a warm welcome from everybody. Special thanks to housekeeping, Watercourt breakfast team ( Niwat is a great manager), Saffron team, Pool Service ( Tiffy) and Beach team. Last but not least a Special Thanks to our Villa host Miku. She took care of us the hole 4 weeks and made the holiday even more special. We and our kids love her, always a smile, always supporting and trying to make every day the best day for us. She is an important part that we feel that Banyan Tree Double Pool Villa is our second home 3. Food is just delicious especially Breakfast at Watercourt and for sure Dinner at Saffron. Always very high quality and amazing taste, we never can get enough of it We can’t wait to be back in April ❤️ Melanie and Sascha with Benjamin and Jonathan …
The Double Pool Villas at Banyan Tree Phuket are simply amazing. Of special note are butlers (Tack & Best) who went over the top for us booking restaurants, organising transport for our trips around and taking care of every little request. Tack even organised a watercolour picture from a photo he’d taken. The spa was very very good so book early as it is very popular. We alternated between the Banyan Cafe for breakfast when we wanted peace and quiet but the buffet at the Watercourt is also strongly recommended even if it does come with the kids running around and adults excitedly talking about yesterday and what they were going to do today!
Hard to put into words what a super stay we have just had. We honeymooned at doublepool. The villa was exceptional (908 faces the sun so is recommended), private, peaceful, stunning place. Lovely service throughout the hotel. Stunning grounds, next to laguna golf course (asian tour was playing there this week so must be good!) and next to a great stretch of beach with some lovely local beach bars and restaurants. Hotel helped sort some great experiences inc private speedboat hire, elephant sanctuary trip, taxis to nights out in Patong and visits to temples. We would go back here in heart beat, well worth the money.
It has been a marvelous stay at Banyan Tree Phuket with an excellent team in all areas the resort (F&B, Room service and maintenance and Spa). We felt more than welcome and well served around the clock! 120% recommendation!!!
This is one of the best ultra-luxury resorts we have ever stayed. Every detail is carefully thought of, and our quarantine time is just passing by, while we just want to savor every moment. Miku is simply outstanding, she is hands on, taking care of everything we need, no request is too big or too small. The team of nurses, cleaning, kitchen, and maintenance are all doing fabulous work. I can't recommend this resort enough. If you are coming to Thailand and can afford this resort - don't hesitate for a second, it is magical - both as your quarantine or regardless.
I had planned to spend two weeks of Alternative Local Quarantine (ALQ) at Banyan Tree Phuket. Unfortunately, when approaching the hotel for the reservation, I was informed that the property had to temporarily suspend its program participation, as a result of which I had to stay at another property for my ALQ. According to the latest information, Banyan Tree Phuket is rejoining the ALQ program starting April 18. After finishing my ALQ at the other property, I moved to a two bedroom double pool villa at Banyan Tree Phuket, which covers an immense 1.500m^2 with its own 12 meter pool, jacuzzi, lanai, and garden. The hotel offered a stay 3 pay 2 night special, which made the price quite reasonable. The staff was courteous throughout and room service was very quick despite the 89ha size of the property. I recommend the hotel both for those planning to do ALQ in Phuket starting April 18 or otherwise. …
It is a always a pleasure for repeaters, when most of the expectations are scored. Stuff is doing a great job. Nothing, if argued, is left behind. Perfect garden and surrounding-care. Nice beach and service stuff. Thank you very much again to Pui, Jay and Joy. Made our stay memorable again. Worth mentioning: The security guy at the zebra crossing (to reach the beach area) needs some personal training to improve friendliness, when BT-guests cross the street and taking the bicycle with them, what he absolutely does not like. The resort is not a jail, and he is supposed to like what guest, considering the safety, like and prefer!
Our third visit to the Banyan Tree in the last 10 years and having previously stayed at the Spa Sanctuary we thought we would return (and mark a landmark Birthday in my case) by sampling their signature property in Phuket. In these days of TripAdvisor and YouTube there are few genuine surprises on arrival these days but suffice to say the opulence and spaciousness of the villas is quite remarkable ‘in person’ and you will not be disappointed. These are quite old Villas now but they have been very well maintained and have a ‘classic Thai’ feel about them that some of the newer (and some might say ‘flashier’ resorts) can’t match. Banyan Tree pretty well invented the ‘Pool Villa’ concept and this was where it all started. With the Double Pool Villas they wanted to make a statement and it’s one that has stood the test of time. Great little touches are everywhere and you’ve probably read about them here already; putting your name on the Villa, butler on speed dial, the fantastic breakfast at Tre, ice cream in the afternoons, complimentary mini bar (not booze!), daily turndown gifts and more. Ok, if I’m being picky (and I mean really picky) the second pool is frankly a little pointless. The ‘floating bedroom’ concept is spectacular but works even better over the lily ponds of the Spa Sanctuary in my humble opinion. I can see why they did it though, to help naming conventions if nothing else. Also, the privacy afforded by the amount of greenery about the place means that in some cases, the tree canopies can do a great job of filtering out the hot sun. Ideal for those enlightened folk who don’t see the sun as something to bask in all day. Our villa was 920 which overlooked the golf course across the lagoon (a great view) and, with an Easterly outlook saw a beautiful sunrise every morning and sun on the terrace until about midday. Walks on the beach in the afternoon kept our vitamin D levels at maximum. More broadly, Banyan Tree still offer the best Spa offering in the world. Period. Sorry Six Senses. The restaurants were all great too - the Japanese restaurant Tahei probably the standout although Saffron always worth a visit in any BT hotel. Will we return for a fourth visit? Almost certainly and perhaps combine with a trip to the soon to open Banyan Tree Krabi...…
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim Your Listing