Angsana Laguna Phuket

The Angsana Laguna Phuket is a large, family-friendly resort with a luxurious Thai-inspired touches throughout the parkland property. The resort borders a lovely lagoon and a white sand beach. The enormous freeform pool meanders through the property, with a lazy river for floating, nets for water polo and other sports, a swim-up bar for a leisurely cocktail, and a variety of lounge chairs for catching rays. The lobby has violet tile floors and a gorgeous, sunny open area under a high peaked roof. The uncluttered front desk sits in front of a weathered Thai relief. Although there are plenty of available activities, the Angsana Laguna Phuket is not plastered with “what’s on today” signs and tour brochures often found in resorts. The atmosphere is peaceful, with pockets of privacy for guests who want to chill. The grounds are studded with lush green lawns, stone pathways, Buddha shrines, lotus ponds, and even a wishing well. The resort does host a large number of special events and parties, which means certain areas may be off limits or noisy for the duration. At night, entertainment ranges from live jazz to a Vegas-style beach party.

The Angsana Laguna Phuket is located in northwest Phuket, on Bang Tao Bay. It's part of the Laguna hotel and resort complex, a group of four and five-pearl hotels connected by a web of canals. Between the different Laguna hotels, there are plenty of restaurants, and a free boat shuttle ferries guests around the area. The property has its own beach club, but most of the resort is set back from the sand and some rooms are a bit of a trek from the ocean. There is also a free shuttle to Laguna Phuket Golf Club, a couple of minutes away. Phuket FantaSea theme park is a 20-minute drive from the hotel and the famed Patong nightlife is a half-hour away by car. Phuket town and airport are each a 30-minute drive from the property.

Rooms at the Angsana Laguna Phuket are clean, spacious, and airy, and filled with colorful abstract artwork and modern Thai furnishings that create a luxurious beach resort feel. They may fall a tad short of advertised 4.5-pearl expectations, but there are comfortable easy chairs, pretty desks, and many special details, including temple bells and elephant sculptures. Rollaway beds are available for a fee. Bathrooms are large and modern, with gorgeous sunken shower/tub combos and fluffy embroidered towels. Amenities include 40-inch flat-screen TVs with cable, pillow menus, laptop safes, fridges, coffeemakers, and free bottled water. Some rooms have direct pool access; others have balconies with lovely lagoon or pool views. Rooms near the pool and beach are noisy during the day.

Angsana Laguna Phuket features a long lagoon-style pool with swim-up bar and lots of room for peaceful floating. There's also an on-site Mediterranean restaurant, and the beachfront Baan Talay serves Thai cuisine and fresh seafood. Some may find the on-site options a bit too limited, however, and there aren't many nearby options outside of Laguna. Xana Beach Club offers Sunday brunch (with a DJ) and a weekly seafood barbecue with a fire show. The daily breakfast buffet is ample but unmemorable, and costs extra. The Tree House Kids Club and Cafe is colorful, clever, and fun, with a mini-spa, playground, and tyke-sized climbing wall. The lobby lounge features live jazz and big screen TVs for sports fans. The gym is well-equipped and gets lots of natural light -- yoga classes are also available. Wi-Fi and parking are both free.