SAii Laguna Phuket — Hotel in Choeng Thale

I really enjoyed my 1 night (and could have stayed longer) at the SAii. It is underrated to say the least. The location is suburb, within the gated Laguna neighborhood so super safe. The beach is maintained year round (I was there in the monsoon season so the beach is littered daily but what the surf brings in - a lot of trash supposedly from passing ships and "Malaysia" whatever that means) is cleaned up by the staff. That is not necessarily true as you walk further down the beach that isn't owned by a hotel.

More pro's - the pool area is epic, large and with swim up bars, fountains etc. Very nice! There are plenty of lounge chairs and this is all beach side. The resort is 5-7 min from town with multiple (legit) massage/spa places, a great supermarket, restaurants, bars, a couple gyms, you name it - all just outside the Laguna compound. Cabs/Ubers are easy to come by. There are beach bars next door, outside the gates and they cater to different interests and a variety of cuisines, some are more like a beach club with thumping music, large fire pits and a chic crowd, others more quiet and romantic...you have options for many days & nights. Therefore I would HIGHLY recommend this hotel for solo travelers. You will not be struggling to meet people or enjoy being around others should you choose. Also for first timers visiting Phuket - this is IMPORTANT - the hotel (I say this after 10 plus trips to Phuket), perfect for first timers who don't know the island and/or who aren't experienced travelers. It's location close to the airport is a major bonus as the roads and infrastructure in Phuket are bursting with all the development (and seemingly this issue is being ignored by the government) and traffic can be epic is a nasty way. Sidebar, the airport is not set up for those who like to cut it close and/or are late for their flights!

Noteworthy issues - the lobby is currently under renovation so there is construction. The resort is large, so if you're in the lagoon view section, it's quieter but also further from the pool and restaurants. There are elevators and the buildings are only two stories in that wing. The beach is kept immaculately clean and has security though in the rainy season, June through October, you may not be able to swim in the ocean as this part of the island has a strong rip-tide, undertow and major angry waves during this period.

Lastly, I gave the staff a 3 out of 5 because there are so many resorts in Thailand where the staff are extraordinary, thoughtful, engaging and seem to really enjoy what they do. I did not experience any of this at the SAii...the staff were just OK and largely ambivalent. I had an issue with the fact that I booked with Hotels.com and the hotel had a very challenging time with what seemed like a straightforward issue. The glitch involved multiple calls with the U.S. (and not the best customer service from hotels.com in what was the middle of the night, U.S. time). In the end, it all worked out but it tainted the stay a bit. Having said this, the team at the parking lot (currently subbing as the lobby) were terrific, akin to the best curbside check in you've had, so there was zero inconvenience with luggage drop etc.

I would DEFINITELY try this place again and encourage...

Bang Tao Paradise Flop and Drop On arrival at 9.30 pm Wit was all smiles and warm welcoming warmly collected our luggage and took us thru to reception where we were greeted with more smiles and a cool drink. The check in service was fast and efficient getting us to our room. We return because this is our “Happy Place” for a relaxing stay our “Flop and Drop” holiday where we enjoy the beauty of this paradise on the shores of the Andaman Sea away from the noise and chaos of the crowds in Patong or Kata Our day starts with a fabulous buffet breakfast, then down to the pool and the poolside bar, all close to the sandy shores of Bang Tao beach with easy access for a dip in the surf. Jui has worked at this resort for more than 10 years so we often chat when we are at the pool, he is dedicated to making your stay as best it can be. If you wish you can enjoy the Club Lounge, as we did, with a very nice afternoon tea, with the fabulous staff members, May, Gift and Mickey there to serve you a coffee or tea and offer a fantastic selection of sandwiches cakes and tropical fruit. When asked of availability of Gluten Free they were so accommodation in having Gluten Free made available for my husband, both afternoon tea and hors d'oeuvre with cocktails in the evening. I cannot emphasise how well this was done. Thank you We love this location, we love this resort, love the staff, this is truly the most comfortable, aesthetic and beautiful place to escape the stress. Walk along the beach there are local restaurants including some amazing seafood restaurants, bars, open air massage, laundry services and many places at night you can find something to eat or drink and listen to a local band and watch kids big and small play in the sand. You can catch the Shuttle bus to the entrance then it is a close walk to local shops and cafes in Boat Avenue, and Porto de Phuket or you can get to them by taxi for 200 baht (no more), Saii management is upgrading its service and refurbished its rooms giving them a more comfortable and modern look. This renovation is impacting the current room capacity of the resort and the amount of amenities and experiences currently available but that didn’t impact us too much we still had a fantastic week in paradise. Staff are amazing.... helpful and always smiling and nothing was ever too much trouble. A huge thank you to the Team at Saii Laguna, Roberto the head of F&B for your time to listen to our comments and to act so promptly. To Helena, who puts her personal touch showing her care and interest in each guest with her team at reception Thank you Helena for the personal care and to, Pui, Tan, Greeniz, Mickey and Tan. Nothing was too much trouble for this team, friendly and helpful seems too little to describe the splendid service they offer. I also want to acknowledge Sunny our housekeeper who was fabulous and made our stay very comfortable...

General Impression The hotel is beautiful and thoughtfully designed, with great attention to aesthetics. At first glance, it seems to offer everything you could want—pools, beach access, a kids’ club, gym, and various activities. It's large and impressive, and its location within the lagoon is truly special and scenic.

Front Desk, Bell Service, and Room Service Unfortunately, we had quite a few interactions with the front desk, which became frustrating. Dealing with logistics during our vacation was not ideal, and everything seemed to take a long time. Room service was also very slow, and the same goes for bell service. I’m not sure why, but it felt like we were constantly waiting for things, which took away from the overall experience.

Rooms We initially stayed in two standard pool-view rooms, which were generally fine—until we discovered ants in one of the beds in the morning. Naturally, we couldn’t stay in that room. To their credit, the hotel responded quickly and professionally, upgrading us to higher-floor rooms at no extra cost. We really appreciate this gesture. The new rooms were excellent and definitely worth the upgrade—they offer a completely different experience.

Kids’ Club The kids’ club is spacious, includes an outdoor area, and runs engaging activities throughout the day. The staff is lovely and caring. However, the club is located in a remote area near the laundry facilities, which was a downside for us. It was difficult to access, and we couldn’t easily check in on our children. A more central location would have been much better, in our opinion.

Gym The gym is excellent—fully equipped, clean, and well-organized. The only drawback is that it closes at 9 PM, which felt a bit early.

Pools and Beach The pools are fantastic! There’s a large water slide, a separate children’s pool, plenty of lounge chairs, towel service, and even complimentary popsicles. As for the beach—it’s a small strip of shoreline. If you're looking to enjoy the sea, we recommend heading to one of the larger beaches nearby, and there are plenty to choose from.

Location The hotel is set within the lagoon, which is a stunning and peaceful area. It’s also conveniently close to shopping centers and all the main attractions in Phuket. The location is definitely a highlight.

Food The food was excellent.

Summary We had a great time overall. It’s clear that the staff genuinely wants to offer good service and that guest satisfaction matters to them. That said, we personally left with a mixed impression—while the hotel looks amazing and is located in a prime area. The service felt average and somewhat...