Indulge in Paradise: A Review of the Luxurious Amenities and Unforgettable Experience at Sensational Sala Phuket Resort and Spa
Escape to paradise with the beautiful Mrs Karen Howey, the wife of former Newcastle United player Steve Howey, as she takes you on a journey to the beautiful island of Phuket.
In this blog, Karen shares her experience of a romantic getaway at the stunning Sala Phuket Resort and Spa. From the moment she arrived, Karen was impressed by the warm hospitality and exceptional customer service provided by the resort. Follow along as Karen describes her luxurious private pool villa, mouth-watering dining experiences, and rejuvenating spa treatments. Whether you’re planning a honeymoon, anniversary celebration, or simply a romantic getaway, Karen’s insider tips and recommendations will help you make the most of your time in Phuket.
So, it’s our Anniversary! Not a big or a special number that is typically celebrated in style but it just felt like we needed to mark it in a significant way (we deserve it – or so I tried to sell it to the husband in this way!) and what better way than a holiday?
So commenced the search and as an Information Professional within my day to day working role there is nothing I love more than a research project!
After much consideration we settled on Thailand, more specifically Phuket. There were a number of excursions we were interested in and the country itself looked beautiful. The next step was which hotel resort. If you’ve ever looked to holiday here you will know that there are a vast array of five star luxury destinations to choose from so this wasn’t an easy (albeit a fun experience) task to undertake.
I knew we didn’t want to be in a busy area that was heavily tourist populated, I knew that a beautiful beach in easy reach was a must and we also wanted to have accommodation which featured a private pool. Enter Sala Phuket Resort and Spa……
This hotel ticked all of the boxes for us and on contacting customer services prior to our visit I received warm, speedy responses which I found incredibly helpful and informative. At this point I relaxed in the confidence of the warm and fuzzy feeling of these guys have got this covered. It was time to start looking forward to our holiday.
On arrival into Phuket airport we found our way to our driver (I would recommend not bothering with booking a private transfer and just agreeing a price with a taxi driver outside the airport – it’s a cheap drive – roughly 500 BHT approx. £12.00 and much less stressful than trying to find your driver) and we were on our way.
A short 25 minute drive later and we were welcomed to our destination of choice. And what a welcome we received!
Big smiles and a traditional Thai “Wai” while we were comfortably seated and invited to relax. A Thai fragrant flower bracelet was gifted with a cooling towel and an ice cold refreshing drink, which we sipped whilst choosing our pillow preferences, fragrance we would like room scented with and a choice of soaps and lotions. This was a new one on me and a lovely touch, plus they smelt divine!
Our room was not quite ready but we could not have been looked after any better. A large day bed near the pool and complimentary drinks made the short delay very pleasurable and we took the opportunity to stroll a few steps to feel the sand between our toes on what is an absolutely gorgeous long stretch of beach. Barely a soul in sight, you would definitely never have a problem peacefully relaxing here. The sea is warm and clear, an absolute delight.
Our SALA room pool villa surpassed our expectations and once again the excellent customer care was evident in the flower petal bath they had prepared, stunning bed decorations and a beautiful bouquet of flowers. We were also surprised with a complimentary bottle of champagne which was another unexpected delight. The lovely Mew showed us to our rooms and explained the amenities and I have to add that she was exemplary in looking after us throughout our stay. A real asset to the team!
The photographs really don’t do it justice. The pool was a very good size, so much more than a plunge pool and crystal clear clean, as was the whole villa. Housekeeping are on top of their game here with little touches like unique little bottles of tea left of an evening when you return to your perfectly turned down room and lovely bath salts to add to your relaxing evening bath.
The day beds and corner sofa were supremely comfortable and the bed and linen was cloud like! After a busy day sight seeing it was an absolute treat to relax around our pool and enjoy a very different experience of the large outdoor bath or shower and then sink into crisp, clean bed. The toilet is also outdoors and whilst it is open it felt private. There are additional curtains which you draw around the bathing area if you would like to but we found the villa to be extremely private and so we were comfortable enough to not worry about it. There is a television and a good number of channels but to be honest we didn’t really bother with it as we preferred to read or listen to a little music.
For your convenience and comfort there are luxury bathrobes, flip flops, a sarong, umbrella (which we thankfully never needed!), beach bag and even a stylish floppy hat!
The room service here really is first rate and the experience is efficiently enhanced by the in room app function you can download on to your mobile device (though you can of course still just dial reception if you prefer). If you needed or wanted something it arrived quickly and with a smile.
We never once struggled for a sun bed around the pool (if you can tear yourself away from your villa!). Bar staff quickly fulfil any order you may have and top you up with complimentary iced water very regularly.
This resort is literally made for Weddings, Honeymoons, Anniversaries and romantic vacations although they definitely have a family focus too and offer adjoining villas and larger accommodation for groups. No request is ever too much to ask and you can tell the ethos at this resort is heavily focused on ensuring the guests have the best possible experience. Functions and events take place with flourish and expertise here. It is flawless.
Weddings and celebrations look breathtakingly beautiful, you truly would have Insta worthy memories made that yourselves and your guests would treasure forever.
It really would make a dream wedding destination
A multitude of dining experiences are available from moonlit roof top dining, sunset dining experiencing, candlelit dinners and in villa private BBQ’s to name a few.
We booked on a bed and breakfast basis and the breakfast choices were excellent. A hot and cold buffet is available with a pop up egg station for omelettes etc plus an a la carte menu where you can choose from a plethora of delights! It is important to add that if you choose to eat within the resort you will have made a very wise decision! It really is exceptional! Featuring an array of seafood, select cuts of sensational meat and a number of speciality dishes you cannot fail to find a wide variety of options to tantalise your taste buds. Head Chef Tony Wrigley is clearly an expert in his field and so passionate about his cooking, the quality, flavours and presentation are exceptional. We would have happily worked our way through the entire menu if we had had the time! Do not miss out!
Evening entertainment is available with a variety of options and within the gorgeous setting you can relax while listening to the DJ, watch a movie on the big screen under the stars, visit the pop up Thai food market to sample the local cuisine, indulge in steak and lobster Sunday and many other options…
There is an onsite gym, if that tickles your fancy and we saw a good few people taking an early morning run as the sun rose. You can borrow a canoe or a paddle board etc too and explore the ocean, the water was calm when we were there and it’s a lovely experience.
We were also offered a complimentary 30 minute spa treatment each. This consisted of a back and shoulder massage and the only thing I can say is “WOW”. The therapists are out of this world and we both felt amazing afterwards. I would definitely recommend booking in!
I really wish we had had more time at this glorious resort as I would have indulged in more of everything as it was all so good! More time in the villa, more time on the beach, more of the food, sun and refreshing drinks and more time in the spa!
Sala, you stole a special place in our hearts. It was hard to say goodbye to our stay here and we will definitely return!
Take your Sala Resort and Spa experience to the next level by visiting their website. And while you’re at it, why not check out Karen Howey’s previous blog about her and Steve’s dreamy wedding in Mauritius? Karen’s vivid storytelling and keen eye for detail will transport you to the sun-kissed beaches and turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean.
Get inspired by her romantic tale and learn more about how Sala Resort and Spa can help you create your own unforgettable memories.
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