Baumanburi Hotel

Looks-wise, the Baumanburi represents the prototypical Patong resort. It’s made up of a series of marigold-yellow buildings topped with terra-cotta tiles, a design so frequently seen in this area. A narrow open-air lobby opens right up to the main attraction: The resorts rambling freeform pool. Most of the action is centered here, with a swim-up bar providing refreshments and a poolside massage sala, topped with a sharply peaked Thai-style roof, offering rub downs by the water. A kiddy pool area is also here, with an oversized mushroom water feature providing some sprinkler action. Towering palm trees around the pool provides a little shade and greenery. From here, open-air hallways connect the public areas with guest rooms and continue the same earth-toned colors. The Baumanburi was opened in 2005, and while renovations are ongoing (the elevators were most recently spruced up), it feels as if the decor has remained trapped in the past, with a slightly old-fashioned look. Still, guests looking for a fun-in-the-sun vacation could do worse than the Baumanburi's excellent location and pleasant pool. Guests tend to be young families and middle-aged couples looking for a property that’s walking distance to attractions without being overtaken by their noise. 

The Baumanburi is located on the south side of Patong, an area known for its raucous nightlife. But thankfully, it’s set a ways off from Bangla Road, Patong’s infamous hard-partying club scene; though anyone looking to check out the action can reach it in 14 minutes on foot. Patong’s other claim to fame is its beach, which can be reached in a six-minute walk. It's a pretty stretch of golden sand that hooks around Phuket's coastline, though it can get crowded. A paved beachside promenade here is lined with tuk tuk drivers and street food vendors. And just across the street are all kinds of storefronts, eateries, bars, coffee shops, surf clubs, and mini markets, all of which also surround the streets around the resort. Another nearby attraction, the Jungceylon shopping center (with clothing boutiques, a Boots pharmacy, a grocery store, and shoe stores), is an 11-minute walk away, and the Baan Son night market sits just behind it. Outside of Patong, major attractions such as the Big Buddha statue and Wat Chalong temple can be reached in 40 to 29 minutes, respectively, by car or tuk tuk. Phuket’s airport can be reached in a 57-minute drive.

Rooms are split between seven room categories from the entry-level Superiors that are about 340 square feet (32 square meters) all the way up to Premier Suites at a massive 914 square feet (85 square meters). All rooms apart from Superiors have balconies and bathtubs. Pool Access Rooms, on the ground floor, offer balconies that dip down directly into the hotel’s central pool. Balconies are furnished with table-and-chair sets either in wood or white plastic. Throughout, rooms have a uniform, somewhat old-fashioned look with most outfitted in dark cherry-wood furniture. Expect carved wooden chairs and platform beds topped with burgundy bed runners, though there’s little in the way of decoration apart from a few stray floral prints on the walls. Rooms are spacious enough to hold upholstered benches in addition to beds, and Deluxe Rooms and the categories above are large enough that they can comfortably hold an extra bed (a boon for families). Bathrooms, with granite countertops and rose-colored tile, also feel out of date, but most include separate showers and soaking tubs -- a rather elegant setup for this pearl level.Across all categories, rooms are rather well stocked when it comes to amenities, including flat-screen TVs with international channels, safes, minibars, umbrellas, hairdryers, individually controlled air-conditioning, pool towels, free bottled water, electric kettles, and free Wi-Fi. Most rooms also include bathrobes and slippers.

The core of the Baumanburi, and its most appealing feature, is its huge freeform pool. It’s surrounded by padded loungers and white plastic patio sets. To one end is a shallow kiddy pool area with a large mushroom giving a sprinkler water feature. Adults have their own poolside diversions -- a swim-up bar and a massage sala, where a masseuse can knead muscles alfresco. Massage treatments are also offered in the hotel’s modest spa, which has a handful of wood-paneled treatment rooms. Two saunas and a steam room can also be found here, which guests can use freely (no need to have a treatment booked). The fitness room is rather spacious for a resort of this size offering multiple treadmills, stair steppers, and a weight-lifting machine, but the equipment is at least a decade past its prime. (The vibrating belt here, a relic from a bygone fitness era, is old enough to be considered antique.)Dining takes place in two restaurants: The Lobby Cafe, which is open for lunch and dinner, offers up Thai, Chinese, and International dishes along with live music in the evenings. The Siam Flavors restaurant, which is really the hotel’s breakfast room, puts out a buffet with the usual fresh fruit, cereals, breads, juices, coffee, and an egg station, along with some more Asian-influenced dishes, such as boiled chicken with rice. In a patio area just outside the Siam Flavors restaurant is the hotel’s stage, which swings into action during the high season showcasing singers and live music. The hotel also host pool parties here on the weekend. Other activities that can be arranged through the hotel include Thai cooking classes and beach water sports.There’s one enormous meeting room on site with the capacity to hold 100 people. It’s outfitted with AV equipment, though the space itself is about as dated as the fitness room. Wi-Fi is available for free throughout the property.Cribs and babysitting can be requested (the latter for a fee), but there's no kids' club or playroom as there are with other family-oriented resorts in the area.