Deevana Plaza Phuket Patong

The broad, open-air lobby of the Deevana Plaza Phuket Patong sets the scene for the hotel. Here bench seating, lantern-style pendant lights, and dewdrop-shaped wicker loveseats give a stylish, modern first impression. Jazz music piped in from the lobby bar adds an appropriate soundtrack. From here, the medium-sized resort also opens up to a bank of elevators and the heart of the hotel -- its sprawling pool. White, rectangular balconies face toward the water giving views over the scene. The pool itself unfolds over several levels, with shallow areas for tots, loungers and bench seating set in the water, and submerged seats for the swim-up bar. Cordoned off whirlpool spaces and waterfall features on one end add even more bells and whistles. Pretty cobalt-blue sun umbrellas and wooden loungers give spots to loll. It’s no wonder the space stays busy from morning till nightfall. A handful of palm trees and ferns add a bit of greenery to the scene, and that’s helped along by some astroturf squares that decorate the balconies facing the lobby.Guests at Deevana are a mixed group, but a good portion are families, drawn by the whole resort package the property offers, especially its kid-oriented features such as the pool, the (unsupervised) kids’ club, and the Family Rooms kitted out with bunk beds. The location is another major draw, close to all of Patong’s bustle but off on one end, insulated from its noise. Unfortunately, the building’s stone and tile corridors do have a tendency to echo sounds from the hallways and the pool, so while Patong’s nightlife won’t keep you up, your neighbors might. But the hotel does post reminders throughout the property to keep a hushed voice when in hallways, so early-to-bed or late-to-rise sleepers remain undisturbed, and these rules are heeded for the most part.

Off on the southern end of Patong, the Deevana is close to all the action but still separated enough to remain relatively insulated from its noise. The resort is set right on one of Patong's major commercial streets lined with dozens of shops, eateries, bars, mini markets, pharmacies, and taxis. It's a busy spot with lots of foot and vehicular traffic, and it feels especially safe with people out at all hours. The long sandy stretch of Patong Beach is a short seven-minute walk away. Famed Bangla Street, known for its up-all-night club scene, is a 13-minute walk away. But Deevana guests can also head to Hard Rock Cafe, which can be reached in five minutes on foot. Junceylon Shopping Mall, with clothing boutiques, tech shops, and a grocery store, is also a 16-minute walk away. Other major Phuket attractions require a car, such as Wat Chalong, which is a 29-minute drive, and the Big Buddha sculpture, which is a 40-minute drive. Phuket International Airport can be reach in an hour by car.

Guest rooms at Deevana are split into four categories: Deluxe Rooms, Premiere Rooms, Family Room, and Deluxe Suite. Deluxe Rooms are the standard category and vary only with the view, "city" versus "pool," with pool views being more desirable. Wood-veneer floors, cream-colored walls, and white platform beds give a clean, fresh backdrop that’s embellish by leaf-patterned wallpaper on accent walls and colorful throw pillows in jewel tones. Wide balconies are furnished with wooden table-and-chair sets. It’s all very fashionable, though the flooring in our room wasn’t quite flush. All rooms have a generous list of amenities including flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, electric kettles with tea/coffee, minibars, robes and flip flops, beach totes, umbrellas, safes, and flashlights. Premiere Rooms on the fifth floor upgrade to free minibars and free laundry service. Family Rooms present a particularly good value for travelers with kids as their larger spaces divide out between double beds and sets of bunk beds partitioned off by curtains. Colorful cartoon wallpaper and stuffed animals make this space feel especially welcoming to kids, and each of these areas has its own smaller flat-screen TV that’s connected to a PlayStation console as well. One thing to note about Family Rooms is they’re the only category that lacks balconies as that square footage has been utilized to fit in extra beds, and unfortunately for a room that sleeps four, the little tables here only seat two.Deluxe Suites are the most spacious with separate bedrooms and living areas complete with sofas and dining room tables for four. Flat-screen TVs here are set on swiveling rods so guests can watch them no matter where they’re lounging. These rooms also include larger bathrooms with walk-in showers, dress areas, and countertops with espresso machines and half-sized fridges (though they don’t have full kitchenettes). Decor here also includes a few extra flourishes such as pretty latticework or stenciled patterns above the beds. These rooms can also be adjoining with the next door room. All guest rooms have separate shower stalls and soaking tubs. Hairdryers and individual toiletries, including Q-tips and emery boards, come standard. One charming detail is the little accordion door that lets guests reach into the rooms’ wardrobes for robes or other clothing without leaving the privacy of the bathroom.

The Deevana is anchored by its pool, and while technically its just one, it's split across several sections offering different environments, such as the waterfall features in one portion or the imbedded whirlpool in another. A swim-up poolside bar also doles out cocktails and refreshments to guests on submerged stools.Many guests here are drawn by the hotel’s family-friendly amenities that includes a kids’ club. While the club is unsupervised, it is better stocked than many other hotels, with mini slides, chalkboards, and oodles of stuffed animals and toys. Babysitting is also available on request (for a fee). Just off the lobby is the resort’s restaurant, Phuket Cafe, a vast space that serves up all meals, including a breakfast buffet (which is included in most rates, but not all). To the opposite side, a lobby bar serves up coffee drinks along with cocktails and light bites. Apart from the swim-up bar, there’s a third rooftop bar on the sixth floor of the hotel. This floor has an outdoor space that can also be used for events. Room service is available as well. One nice perk for this pearl level is the resort’s spa. It offers treatments such as facials and Thai massage in private treatment rooms or couples rooms, including one with its own whirlpool tub. A separate area set with wooden seats facing the pool gives a serene spot for foot massages. The sizable fitness room has a handful of cardio machines (a single treadmill, stepper, rower, and bike) along with weight-lifting equipment. Windows here face the street and let in plenty of natural light. Separate locker rooms are available, too. An enormous on-site meeting room can fit up to 500 people theater-style and is frequently booked for corporate events, and smaller meeting spaces exist as well. An internet corner provides a few public computers, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the building. Other services include concierge service, laundry service, and limousine service, and a tour desk operates on site.