Arinara Bangtao Beach Resort

Guests arrive to the Arinara Bangtao Beach Resort through an airy white rotunda circled by orchid-colored benches and facing a curved check-in desk. From here, guests cross a walkway flanked with enormous ponds housing Japanese koi fish in bright orange colors. On the other side, the resort unfolds in a horseshoe shape opening to the beach at one end. Despite this somewhat lavish entrance, the resort itself is a straightforward property with broad appeal, especially for families. Kids can be spotted splashing around the ramp-shaped waterslide or the sprinkler features in the kiddy pool. But the multiple pools, including several narrow waterways around the pool-access rooms, means calmer corners can be found. Still, in high season the pool area can get crowded as guests hunt for free loungers.Arinara is exceedingly kid-oriented, however, couples and groups of friends do make it here as well, lured by the excellent location and access to beachfront restaurants and nightlife. Guests also come from all over the world, with Chinese, Russian, and Scandinavian markets especially well represented. 

Arinara Bangtao Beach Resort is located smack in the middle of Phuket's west coast on Bang Tao Beach. It's an area that can be quite a bit quieter when compared to beaches in the south such as Patong and Karon beaches. Neighboring streets have a handful of shops, mini markets, pharmacies, and eateries, along with a couple tour company desks. But there isn't the same nightlife scene here that can be found in Patong's famed Bangla Road. An ATM right directly to the right of the hotel’s entrance, and a mini golf course is on the opposite side (another boon for families). At the back of the property sits the independently owned beach club Luxe (guests have full access), and to the right of that is the highly popular beach club Catch. Seafood restaurants run up and down the coast here, giving plenty of dining options a short stroll away. Other major attractions require a car or tuk tuk to reach, such as Wat Chalong temple and Big Buddha statue, a 36- and 51-minute drive respectively. Phuket International Airport is a 31-minute drive to the north.

Guest rooms at Arinara span eight categories from the entry-level Premium Studios with spacious bedrooms, bathrooms, and balconies all the way up to the Arinara Suite with a separate living room, a soaking tub, and an enormous terrace. A boon for families, several of the rooms above the Studio level can include two double beds. Premium Studios also offer the option of two twin beds (versus a double). Rooms range from garden to pool view, with Pool Access rooms offering direct access to a little waterway right beyond their balconies’ edge. All rooms have furnished balconies, though their views vary. Most bathrooms have roomy walk-in showers and vessel sinks. Individual toiletries are provided. Across all categories, rooms share a clean-lined, Asian-accented aesthetic, with low platform beds, chase lounges, and medium-toned wood furniture, including writing desks. Rectangular lighting fixtures provide a little bit of adornment to walls, which tend to be devoid of artwork. White walls, tile floors, and crisp white bedding add to their clean, minimalist feel.All rooms include flat-screen TVs with international channels, free Wi-Fi (though some report it's spotty), electric kettles with tea and coffee supplies, individually controlled air-conditioning, free bottled water, mini-fridges, safes, hairdryers, and huge umbrellas. Higher-category rooms also add robes and slippers.

The Arinara’s best feature is beautiful Bang Tao Beach, a pretty stretch of sand that tends to be less hectic that neighboring beaches during the daytime (though the neighboring beach club Catch brings a bit more bustle). To reach the water, guests cross through the independently owned beach club Luxe located on the sand, but the club is entirely open to Arinara’s clientele.Within the resort, the biggest draws are also water based: the multiple pools that swirl around the courtyard. There are three total including a main pool, a kiddy pool with a ramp-shaped waterslide and sprinkler features, and a pool inset with jetted benches that tends to draw adults. (Guests can flip the switch for the jets themselves.) There’s also 12 narrow pools surrounding the pool-access rooms, giving those guests a slightly more private place to take a dip. Loungers and sun umbrellas are scattered throughout the sundeck, but in high season it can be a struggle to calm a free seat. A poolside bar with swim-up seats gives another spot to nurse a drink. Activities are provided year around, but in high season the resort steps it up with multiple animation programs throughout the day that appeal to kids and adults. Live music and shows, such as Polynesian dance performances, are added to the schedule. For dining, the main restaurant, Nara, serves lunch and dinner with indoor/outdoor seating. Buffet meals are provided here in high season. A second Thai restaurant, Rim Nham, offers local dishes for lunch and dinner. This space also doubles as the breakfast room in the mornings. Apart from the poolside bar, a second bar rimmed with hammocks gives the ideal spot to swing with a drink in hand. A little mini market on site also gives a place to purchase snacks (and stock the rooms’ mini-fridges), and room service is also on hand. The property provides loaner cribs at no charge, and babysitting can be requested for a fee. While there’s no kids’ club, the resort does have an (unsupervised) kids’ playroom stocked with a few toys and an impressive playhouse in the shape of a small airplane. A playground sits just outside as well. For adults, air-conditioned game rooms holding ping-pong and pool tables give a spot for diversions, too. Water polo can also be played in the pool with floating nets. A functional fitness room offers a few weight-lifting machines, free weights, and cardio machines, including treadmills, but it sees little use as most guests opt to swim in the pool or take a run on the beach. There’s no spa or massage treatments.Apart from a small meeting room, there’s no business facilities, but Wi-Fi is free and available throughout the property.