Laguna Phuket – From Wasteland To Premier Resort Complex

When I first visited Phuket in the early 1980s, Laguna Phuket was a tin-mining wasteland behind Bang Tao Beach. That is until a Singaporean, Mr KP Ho, Chairman of the Wah Chang Group, had the vision to turn part of this wasteland into an international resort.

Since we have been travelling to Phuket Thailand, for our family vacations, I have always chosen to stay at one of the resorts at the Laguna Phuket because it has everything we need - including elephant rides!

Now I realise the fact that the complex has been created rather than evolved, will put some people off.

I can understand that you might prefer a more local flavour with local restaurants and local communities inter-mingling with hotels. I would too but in Phuket, in my opinion, you cannot find high-end hotels in close proximity to local color.

Although you can at the boutique hotel level: Mom Tri’s Boathouse is right in the middle of the bustling activity at Kata Beach for example.

The Laguna Phuket works for us because you have a choice of 5 high-end hotels: the Banyan Tree Phuket, Sheraton Grande Laguna, Dusit Laguna Resort, Laguna Beach Resort Phuket and the Allamanda Laguna Phuket.

As a Laguna guest, by purchasing a Day Pass, you have access to the facilities of the other hotels, excluding the Banyan Tree and the Allamanda. So if you fancy a change of scene, you can go spend the day by the pool of a neighbouring resort or maybe use some of the facilities.

Between them the hotels have something like 30 restaurants and bars and a whole host of activities including gyms, games areas, tennis, table tennis, canoes, kayaks, bicycle hire, windsurfing, archery and of course the Laguna Phuket Golf Club. And if you are looking for a health spa in Phuket look no further.

The Quest Recreation area is available for team building and includes rock climbing, abseiling and high ropes. They offer a program called the Family Challenge which I must confess we haven’t tried yet. Our greatest challenge in Phuket tends to be deciding where to eat!

Talking of which in addition to the formal restaurants there are some great little ‘shack-like’ restaurants on the beach. The food is cheap and tasty but do not expect silver-service.

You can also find restaurants at the Canal Village. This is a pedestrianised area at the heart of the resort that has around 30 shops. As you will see from the map (opens in a new window), as well as restaurants there are boutiques, a currency exchange, a laundry and a bakery. Right next to the Canal Village there is also a chapel for those who like the idea of getting ‘married’ in Thailand.

Moving around the resort is very easy. The whole complex is set amidst a complex of lagoons and tree-lined avenues and there are complimentary buses and boats available to ‘shuttle’ you around.

If you are like me, and like to dine away from the hotel occasionally then there are some local restaurants around a 5-minute drive away. You can pick up a taxi from your hotel.

I almost forgot the beach. Bang Tao Beach is around 8 kms long and stretches from the resort in the north to a local village at the southern end of the beach. It is perfect for long romantic walks (or so I am told!). Here is Sandra probably thinking wistfully about one of those walks.

As you can see from this next picture below, which we took during one of our vacations, the beach does get disturbed by the Phuket weather during the low season.

As a result of the tin dredging pre-1980, there are, I understand, huge holes in the sea bed just off-shore and thus when the south-west monsoon arrives the tides endeavour to fill these holes by taking sand from the beach. Each year then from around May to October there are bulldozers on the beach replenishing the sand and there are sandbags along the top of the beach providing protection. This is not a major problem because the seas are generally too dangerous for bathing at that time anyway but it is something the visitor must be prepared for. During this low-season period the watersports tend to take place on the protected lagoon which snakes its way between and behind the hotels.

Finally let me tell you about the Laguna Phuket Airport Hospitality Centre at Phuket Airport.

Situated between the International and Domestic Arrival Halls, this lounge is available for Laguna guests to relax after or before a flight and there is staff on hand to assist with arrival and departure queries.

Return from Laguna Phuket To Phuket Island