Hyatt Place Phuket Patong
It’s not called a “Hotel” it’s a “Place”, it’s not exactly the plush “Hyatt” that we’ve come to know but still carries the basic creature comforts. I admit I was weary about what a budget or simplified Hyatt constitutes but the rooms I found, although compact, holds the furniture and amenities one would expect of a 3.5 – 4 Star hotel.
An absolutely, gorgeously comfortable bed, working desk (free WIFI), mirror, balcony with beach view, reading corner with sofa, bed lights, large screen T.V, bath robes, soaps and shampoos, iron cupboard and hair dryer. Mind you, everything is brand spanking new. Notably, you’re only a short walk to the beach and who wants to walk when you can go via golf-buggy (free service), along with trips to the shopping mall, or if you’re exceptionally lazy, a buggy ride to the elevator.
The pool is what will really win you over, particularly if you’re travelling with children, there is the super shallow kid’s pool with fountain and the main pool is long and luxurious, surrounded by deck chairs which catch the sun and still only 1.1 meter deep throughout so nearly all ages may enjoy.
The rooms include breakfast in single, bare and large aerated room with an open kitchen. The selection is limited but surprisingly fresh and satisfactory. Eggs cooked to order, sausages, pastries (avoid the croissant), fresh fruit and juice, self-espresso machine, cereal yogurt and a few hot bain marie dishes. It’s far from extravagant but it’s clean and comes with the room.
The dinner option was less satisfactory, more so because of the price. Paying 200THB for a fried rice is just way too steep for an Expatriate or seasoned tourist, but if you’re looking to stay in and not adventure out for street or Thai cafe food then I guess it’s justifiable. What was impressive was the speed in which the chef cooked all of our dishes, with only himself and 1 serving staff.
We enjoyed the Tom Yum Kung, Grilled Chicken with Sticky Rice, Phat Krapow (stir fried basil chicken), but the dumplings and spring rolls were a miss fire. And if you’re feeling guilty after that, their gym has an awesome view of Patong Hills and every equipment is brand new. Not to mention right next to the pool which you can jump (not dive) in after a sweaty workout.
It all started to make sense to me after my one evening at Hyatt Place Phuket. If you’re a couple or small family or business traveller who doesn’t need to spend a lot of time indulging in every single hotel benefit or expecting to be waited on hand and foot and price is also of utmost importance then this is your place. It’s clean, it’s comfortable, it’s convenient. It’s for those who need a quality base before they go on explorations of the town or island and yet come back to comfortably work, watch TV or take a dip in the pool or a run on the treadmill.
Once the place begins to weather and become outdated, which can be fast in a place like Patong, it remains to be seen whether the value will match the competition, which is expectantly fierce. But with a reputation such as the Hyatt, I doubt they would allow the place to wither, but it’s early days yet and they are still yet to blossom. Stay and see for yourself.
Highlights: Pool, Bed, Balcony with table and seating, reading corner in room, excellent and strong coffee in the reception lobby “Gallery’ area.
Tips: For small families, book the adjoining rooms. Ask for the room with the sea view obviously.
Room for improvement: More reliable WIFI, a few more hot meal choices in the breakfast room, a little less expensive Thai food menu.
Extras: There’s a free office area to use in their gallery, with printing service. Free Golf buggy shuttle to the end of the road (across from the beach), to the shopping center also.
17/1-3 Soi Prabaramee 4, Patong, Phuket, Thailand, 83150
Tel: +66 76 689386Fax: +66 76 627277phuketpatong.hyattpl
