It seems that despite the supposed tourist slump and the economic crisis you can’t keep a good island down. Phuket keeps faith in its own distinct charms with a rash of new resort openings.

Sri Panwa

Open: Grand opening late 2009
This super luxury retreat in the southeastern tip of the island is suitably secluded with 80-rai of lush forest transformed to accommodate 51 luxury villas. Sri Panwa is seriously stylish; thanks to its tropical contemporary design and spacious accommodation. Villas start with the modest 190-sq-meter one-bedroom pool villa all the way up to the 2,000-sq-meter six-bedroom residential villa. Each has its own private infinity pool and personal assistant. If you do drag yourself out, then the Baba Dining Lounge offers all day dining while Baba Pool Club is home to BabaQ serving everything from homemade pizza to Japanese from Ten-Sui. The Sai Spa and Baba88 nightclub will both open soon.
Rave: At last somewhere to give Amanpuri a run for its money. The villas are super stylish, have a stunning view over Chalong Bay and we just love our butler.
Rant: Considering how much you are paying, the tiny beach is something of a disappointment.
Neighborhood: It’s not exactly thrill a minute around here. The best thing we could come up with: Phuket Aquarium. It was renovated in 2005 but it’s no Siam Ocean World.
Price: You can expect to pay at least US$1,053 a night for a one-bedroom villa through Oct 31, then it gets really expensive.
88 Moo 8, Sakdidej Rd., Panwa Cape, Phuket, 076-371-000, www.sripanwa.com

Sala Phuket

Open: January 2008
It’s been open for a year but still only a few high-end weekenders have discovered this chic resort. Located on the northern beach of Mai Khao, next to JW Marriott Phuket, the low-rise property blends in with the tranquil surroundings. Sala Resort is super chic, finished in a contemporary Sino-Portuguese design and in signature colors of white, bleached gray and purple. Though every villa has its own private pool (and for once private means private), three beachfront pools are also available. There’s also a restaurant and spa.
Rave: The luxurious setting and privacy of the villa. Even the budget choice garden room comes with a sexy open air bathroom. Guests can also choose their pillow and what scent they want for their shampoo.
Rant: It really is miles from anywhere so definitely not for party people. We even got a little spooked by the narrow entrance road at night.
Neighborhood: The Turtle Village community mall, located next to Anantara Phuket, and its Jim Thompson store, is about the only place close by to spend your cash.
Price: Thai resident rates are from US$208 for two nights with daily breakfast, one dinner, and roundtrip airport transfer until Oct 31.
333 Moo 3, Mai Khao Beach, Thalang, Phuket, 076-338-888, www.salaresorts.com

Outrigger Serenity Terraces

Open: Soft opening April 2009
A clean-cut contemporary design is adopted for all 78 rooms and suites overlooking Chalong Bay, with turquoise the only real splash of color. An infinity pool is located in the center of the resort and surrounded by an all-day eatery and bar while a small pier offers a spot for candlelit dinners. There is also the Navasana Spa to keep you entertained in this quiet part of the island.
Rave: The rooms are huge for the price especially the duplex. And the spa, though tiny, has some very talented masseuses.
Rant: Less a beach more a swampy wetland, so not a place you want to hang out. And while it aims to be a five-star property, it still needs a little bit more work to reach those lofty heights.
Neighborhood: Rawai is an upcoming part of so check out the newly opened HomePro Village, a lifestyle community mall, while Kan-Eang@Pier, a stylish version of the original and popular seafood restaurant, is just few minutes away.
Price: Freedom package rates are from US$132 for a serenity room to US$560 for the duplex beachfront villa and include a 50% discount on spa treatments, late check out and upgrade opportunities.
14 Moo 5, Rawai, Muang, Phuket, 076-371-900, serenityterraces@outrigger.com, www.outrigger.com. 

Courtyard by Marriott Phuket
• Kamala Beach     
• Patong Beach           
• Surin Beach      

Open: January 2009, December 2008 and June 2008, respectively
Despite the names, none of these three new Marriott properties are actually on the beach, though they are within walking distance. The neo-colonial style Courtyard Patong is probably closest with its 390 guest rooms just a five minute walk from crowded, noisy Patong Beach. The Courtyard Surin has 256 rooms while Courtyard Kamala has 180 suites, ranging from 34-sq-meter one-bedroom to 95-sq-meter three-bedroom deluxe options. All three share the same design, decor and amenities, including a Kid’s World, large swimming pool and international cuisine of MoMo Café.
Rave: You know what you get from the Courtyard by Marriott brand, a standardized service and reasonable prices. The Patong property is close to Patong’s nightlife and Jungceylon shopping mall. Surin is a rising area.
Rant: Yes, they are new—but you wouldn’t know it from the cookie cutter design. The Courtyard Kamala’s view includes a Muslim cemetery. Creepy! The ones on Surin and Patong have no spa. 
Neighborhood: Hard Rock Café, part of Courtyard Patong, is scheduled to be completed soon—but no one will tell us exactly when. The extravagant Phuket Fantasea (www.phuket-fantasea) is next to Courtyard Kamala and Courtyard Surin is near the beachfront dining and party area.
Price: Thai residents rates are from US$73 at Courtyard Kamala and Surin, and from US$83 at Courtyard Patong, though Oct 31.
Kamala: 100/10 Moo 3, Kamala Beach, Kathu, Phuket, 076-303-000, www.courtyardmarriottkamala.com
Patong: 48 Ruam jai Rd., Patong, Phuket, 076-337-000, www.courtyardmarriottpatong.com
Surin: 106/27 Moo 3, Cherng Talay, Talang, Phuket, 076-303-300, www.courtyardmarriottsurin.com 

The Vijitt

Open: October 2008
This sprawling resort features 92 villas spread among the palm trees of Rawai Beach. Inspired by Southern Thai houses, each of the four villa types (from deluxe to pool villa) utilizes traditional design elements and features teak wood and other local materials. A vintage Sino-Portuguese Vijitt weekend home is converted into the signature dining outlet Baan Vijitt offering traditional Thai food, but there are also three further restaurants and bars as well as the V Spa.
Rave: The use of natural materials and the lovely beach.
Rant: While they claim seclusion, their pool villas aren’t that private.
Neighborhood: Just ten minutes south from here, you can enjoy the awesome sunset at Phromthep Cape.
Price: Last minute rates are from US$149 for a deluxe villa to US$625 for a Vijitt pool villa through Oct 31.
16 Moo 2, Viset Rd., Friendship Beach, Rawai, Muang, Phuket, 076-363-600, www.vijittresort.com

Adamas Resort and Spa

Open: June 2008
As the only resort set on Nai Yang beachfront, Adamas promises a tranquil ambience. Bought by the Imperial Hotel Group back in 2008, they have looked to turn the 116 guestrooms into a luxurious beachfront resort. The result is a fairly standard contemporary Thai design but at least there are three restaurants to choose from, a spa and the 3,000-sq-meter swimming pool is a real feature.
Rave: The location—it’s peaceful and close to the airport.
Rant: Everything reminds us of the old 90s style Imperial beach properties—boring!
Neighborhood: Check out the nearby Bill Bensley’s tin-mine inspired designs at Indigo Pearl, while you enjoy their popular vodka brunch every Sunday.
Price: Phuket-Phi Phi package is US$329 net for two people featuring two-night stay with breakfast, one dinner, roundtrip airport transfer, full-day snorkeling trip to Koh Phi Phi and Koh Pai with lunch, and 25% discount on spa treatments, through Oct 31.
92 Moo 3, Baan Na Tai, Naiyang Beach, Talang, Phuket, 076-316-000, www.adamasresortspa.com

Bel-Air Panwa

Open: May 2009
Bel-Air Panwa is in fact not close to either cape or sea but at least the hillside location gets you a view. With 50 suites, the resort is really aimed at families with a choice of two-bedroom and three-bedroom suites. Kids should enjoy the big swimming pool and adults will love the option of dumping their little angels at Kid’s World while they enjoy the spa. Beach lovers can catch the free shuttle bus to the Capri Beach Club located on quiet Ao Yon.
Rave: The rooms are clean, affordable and big and with the pool and club this place really is great for kids.
Rant: Getting a bus to the beach isn’t ideal and it’s a long way from anywhere so you need a car unless you want to eat at Giovanni’s Italian Restaurant every day.
Neighborhood: Aquarium and Sri Panwa Poolclub, see Sri Panwa.
Price: The Rediscovery rates are from US$86 with breakfast. Book two consecutive nights and get a roundtrip airport transfer.
89/9 Moo 7, Sakdidej Rd., Wichit, Muang, Phuket, 076-200-773, www.belairpanwaresort.com.

Radisson Plaza Phuket Panwa Beach

Open: July 2009
The newest kid on the Panwa block (well cape), Radisson Panwa is made up of 211 guest rooms including 15 ocean pool villas and 14 infinity pool villas. Their own website describes the design as unassuming so don’t get too excited. Still there are plenty of activities to keep you entertained including four restaurants, the Talay Spa and the Sapparot Club for kids.
Rave about: The beach location on the nice side of Panwa Cape, make it a more affordable option than neighbors Sri Panwa and Cape Panwa Resort.
Rant abouts: It’s only few months old and still looks a little lifeless and undeveloped. Definitely needs some time for the plants to grow.
Neighborhood: See Sri Panwa and Bel Air. But if you don’t mind driving, Phuket Town isn’t too far.
Price: Introductory rates from US$60 without breakfast. (Where else are you going to eat!)
44/5 Moo 8, Sakdidej Rd., Vichit, Muang, Phuket, 076-602-500, www.radisson.com/phuketth

The Tique

Open: Late 2008
Set on a busy street corner, the six-story Tique is the newest and chic-est shophouse-hotel in Patong with just 24 rooms in total. It looks to blend antique touches with modern boutique style—think vintage chandeliers and bare concrete walls. Despite the small size, you get everything you would expect at a five-star hotel—just smaller—like the tiny rooftop pool: it’s like a big bathtub but does come with a view.
Rave: It’s good value for money and we love the quirky but stylish design.
Rant: At this price, we can just about handle the long walk to the sea and noisy street, but no parking means that those with a car need to get up early (6:30am) or risk a ticket. No spa or restaurant.
Neighborhood: Cheap eats at baan baan restaurants can be had on the next block, and the bustling Soi Bang La nightlife district is just two blocks away.
Price: The rack rates on the web are ridiculously expensive, so make sure you call for promo offers or try booking via online agents to get a more affordable price.
29 Sawasdirak Rd., Patong, Phuket, 076-297-023, www.thetique.com