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Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket - Hotel & Spa Review

by Edward Moulton. 

(exclusively for GingerAsia.com)

I recommend this hotel for:

Romantic getaways, weddings and honeymoons, families, beach lovers, singles, sports lovers, golfers, sun worshippers, tired business people; in fact just about anyone…

An Island Within An Island Within An Island…

It does not get much better than this – world class hotel accommodation, a fabulous spa, extensive recreation facilities, the longest freshwater pool in Asia, delicious food, crystal clear waves crashing on a pristine beach and the charming hospitality that Thailand is so famous for.  The Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket has it all without a doubt…

The concept is a resort within a resort within a resort and each happens to be an island.  This is surely a unique place and from the moment you arrive at the reception lobby of the hotel you know you are going to be in for a treat.  This Sheraton Grande Hotel, part of the global Sheraton and Starwood Luxury Collection brands, upholds the highest standards of hospitality and whilst the resort is large it is perfectly designed and easy to get around on foot or by electric golf buggy.

Located on the northern end of Phuket, Thailand’s largest and most famous island, the hotel is called Laguna because it is set on an island lagoon just a few metres from the stunning beach.  The beach itself is long, clean and lapped (or crashed depending on the time of year) by crystal clear Andaman Sea waves.

Once you leave the beach to the lagoon island you cannot fail to notice the stunning meandering pool, which is Asia’s longest with freshwater at 323m.  It links many of the other amenities, restaurants and villas and creates in effect a further island within which much of the accommodation is located.  Along the way are waterfalls, Jacuzzis and swim up bars.  You can swim it or walk it as it is just the right depth.

A Wide Choice Of Accommodation For Every Budget…

On this lagoon island the Sheraton Grande has 423 rooms and villas and offers a wide choice of accommodation from spacious rooms with either garden, lagoon, pool or ocean views (there are 297 of these) to Villas with either direct lagoon access, private pools and Jacuzzis or even fairway locations on the Laguna Phuket Golf Course (there are 126 of these).

We stayed in a two bedroom Lagoon Villa and it was delightfully appointed, well equipped with all mod cons and best of all right over the water to allow quick access to the pool.  These are three storeys and all have their merits as the higher floors afford lovely views but for the ultimate in decadence request a pool level villa and just slip into the pool from your own private pool jetty.

Spa Treatments By Professionals… 

The onsite Angsana Spa has a varied menu of treatments and it is managed in a highly professional and friendly manner.  It is free of pretention yet the staff is obviously very well trained and pleased to pamper you as you let all the stress and worries float away with a massage, facial or other treatment.

We opted for the ‘Fusion’ massage and I can thoroughly recommend it.  The brochure description reads:
'This clever blend of Thai and Swedish massage techniques is unique to Angsana Spa. Our therapist uses strong palm strokes to deliver the massage while stretching you for complete relaxation. The Invigorating Oil soothes all aches, unblocks stiffness and enhances flexibility.'

It lived up to this description.  The masseuse was charming and very attentive.  She offered just the right balance of professional yet friendly service and was keen to make the experience as relaxing as possible while maintaining a courteous and respectful manner.

The Angsana Spa is situated at the heart of the hotel and easy to get to in a robe, the décor is very pleasant and the reception staff were very efficient and helpful.

A Wide Choice Of Dining…

The Sheraton Grande has, as you would expect, a wide choice of dining options.  From the Chao Lay Thai restaurant near the beach to the Puccini Italian restaurant, there is something for every taste.  Having already heard these two restaurants were excellent, we ate at the Birds Of Paradise evening buffet and then the Gekko beachfront restaurant the next day.

The former has a great selection of high quality food with attentive service but Gekko is truly a unique and memorable experience.  Delicious Phuket lobster and tender Australian steak cooked to perfection is a hard act to follow; combine this with lots of other seafood and carnivorous menu items and a stunning location on the balmy beach with a fresh breeze and you will not want to leave.

Other food choices are the Poolside restaurant serving a varied selection of tasty meals and snacks, the aforementioned Chao Lay Thai restaurant, Puccini Italian fine dining restaurant, Loy Krathong lounge for snacks and even the options to have food served in your room, on your balcony or your terrace.  Food is treated with due respect at the Sheraton and you will not be disappointed wherever you eat.

If you do tire of these options or are staying for an extended period, a nice touch is that you can take the shuttle boat around the lagoon to one of the other hotels nearby, eat in their restaurants and then sign the bill back to your hotel room.  Perfect convenience and a nice trip there and back over the water.

Something For Everyone To Do…

The Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket caters to all guests very well by having a wide variety of facilities and a desire to make life easy for all.  Businesspeople will already be happy with the extensive wi-fi network but can also make use of the well-equipped business centre.  Kids will love the VIK (Very Important Kids) Club where the Director of Fun will take care of all 4-12 year olds and even introduce Lilly and Lucky, the resident baby elephants.

For the rest of us, there is the Pulse gymnasium which is well equipped, sailing craft and water sports available for the beach or lagoon, floodlit tennis courts, the world class Laguna Phuket Golf Course or just the chance to laze by the longest freshwater pool in Asia while sipping a cocktail.  That gets my choice!

If that is not enough or sounds too active, there is always the Angsana Spa followed by an evening in the Loy Krathong lounge listening to tunes from the resident band or playing all manner of games with the friendly bar staff.

Further Afield…

The Sheraton Grande’s location in the Laguna complex offers unrivalled benefits in the form of easily accessible activities and options such as local shopping, the golf course, a climbing wall and of course all the beach has to offer as it is one of the most beautiful in Asia.

And of course, as one of five integrated resorts in Laguna Phuket, the complimentary bus and water transport throughout the resort makes it easy to discover this beautiful place. As already mentioned, guests enjoy signing privileges in the restaurants and bars (there are over 30 to choose from) as well as the Laguna Phuket Golf Club.

A little further afield is the rest of Phuket.  As Thailand’s largest and most famous island, Phuket has many other world class beaches, restaurants and even the old town to explore.  For the single traveller or those seeking more adventurous nightlife, Patong is nearby and is a famously cosmopolitan area with many bars and clubs and all the fun and adventure that only Thailand knows how to offer after dark.

In Summary…

This is primarily a hotel and spa review but of course you also have to consider all the hotel amenities and the surroundings when considering whether a particular hotel is right for you.

My view is the Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket ticks all the boxes in a way very, very few other hotels can manage to do…

It has a location to die for with easy access by direct flight to an international airport nearby; it can offer sea and freshwater swimming in abundance, sun, sand, beach, pools, a stunning lagoon, great accommodation, a terrific spa, delicious and highly varied food, attentive service, extensive sports and recreation options, lots of other things to do and then things nearby if you do wish to get out and about.

I found nothing at all to detract from a memorable experience there and I have no hesitation in recommending the Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket for all the reasons I mention above but most of all because it is a great hotel with a great spa!

This is part of my series, ‘The Ultimate Hotel Spa Guide’.  I am Edward Moulton and I write here exclusively for GingerAsia.  I hope you enjoy this review and it allows you to make an informed decision before you book.  The series features the top spas and hotels across Asia and my views are impartial and honest.

If you need to know anything more about the Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket or any of the resorts I feature, contact me directly by clicking here. I look forward to hearing from you…

For further information on the Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket or to book a stay at the hotel, click here to go directly to their website.