Proud Phuket is a family run hotel located in the Nai Yang section of the Southern Thai island of Phuket. With a distinct personality and unmistakable Chinese cultural elements, the hotel has 101 rooms, four food and beverage outlets, and a lovely spa.Â
I was hosted by Proud Phuket for two nights during a seven-night stay in Phuket, Thailand.
A family run hotel, Proud Phuket had a distinct personality reflecting the family’s Sino-Thai roots.
Chinese cultural elements were evident throughout the property, especially in the hotel rooms and in the hotel’s lovely spa.
Gardenia flowers and sea turtles were recurrent – if subtle – themes.
There was a consistent white, orange, turquoise, and brown colour scheme throughout the property.
The Arrival …
I was driven to the Proud Phuket by a limousine arranged by the Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa, Nai Yang Beach, which was the first hotel I stayed at on my visit to the island.
The Welcome …
Upon arrival at the Proud Phuket, I received a warm welcome from the hospitable staff at the hotel’s front desk.
I was served a delicious welcome drink in the hotel’s open-air lobby before being escorted to my hotel room.
My Room…
I was escorted to room 217 on the second floor. A superior room, my room measured 30 square metres.
My room had a soft beige and off white colour scheme with orange and turquoise accents.
There were several playful touches, such as the towels that were placed inside a traditional Chinese-style wicker suitcase.
There were also two tortoise-like cushions placed on the bed.
Within moments, there was a knock on the door. It was a butler carrying a Chinese style basket.
He removed the lid and took out a Chinese style tea set with a teapot and two small teacups.
He poured me a cup of tea, asked if I needed anything, and then left.
There were tea-making facilities and an empty refrigerator – no over-priced drinks or snacks to tempt you.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of all was waiting for me outside: direct access to a private swimming pool, which only nine rooms on the second floor had access to. It was PERFECT for doing laps!
A Superior Pool Access room, my room measured 30 square metres, had one king size bed, a day bed, and a private terrace with a swing and direct access to the pool. Sleeps up to two adults and a child.
Superior Pool View rooms measure 33 square metres, Deluxe Pool View rooms measure 53 square metres, Junior Suite Pool View rooms measure 61 square metres, Junior Suite Pool Access rooms measure 61 square metres, and Two Bedroom Suites mesure 78 square metres. They have two king size beds and an opium bed and sleep up to four adults.
The Food …
The hotel has four food and beverage outlets. One overlooks the swimming pool. This is where most guests have breakfast.
Another one faces the street, and this one is popular with both in-house guests and passers-by.
There is also a bar next to the main swimming pool with in-pool stools and a rooftop bar, which is popular with hotel guests at sunset.
Yai Yai Kitchen
Yai Yai Kitchen – Thai for Grandma, Yai Yai kitchen features the kind of healthy but tasty dishes a Phuketean grandmother would serve.
Indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the Proud Court and the swimming pool. Serving a buffet breakfast and a la carte dishes at lunch and dinner.
Click on the following link for my first-hand review of the restaurant …
Ang Ku Tea House
Ang Ku Tea House – named after Phuketean celebration cakes, Ang Ku Tea House serves a selection of blend teas, coffees, pastries, organic salad, light snack, raw juices, local delicacies and more.
Lao Teng Roof Bar – meaning upstairs in the Hokien dialect, Lao Teng Roof Bar is located on the roof, and it serves signature cocktails and tapas with local flavours.
Tao Pool Bar – a swim-up bar, Tao Pool Bar serves snacks and beverages.
The Cooking Class …
The hotel can arrange cooking classes, and I learned how to prepare the following dishes during my stay.
- Easy Recipe for Hot and Sour Soup (Tom Yam Goong)>>
- Easy Recipe for Yummy Thai Style Grilled Beef Salad (Yam Nuea Yang)>>
The Courtyard …
The hotel is built around a lovely landscaped courtyard, with lawns, swimming pools, and covered space,.
The hotel has three swimming pools, including a children’s pool and a private pool for the exclusive use of hotel guests staying on nine rooms on the second floor.
The Fitness Room …
The hotel has a small gym overlooking one of the swimming pools. It has floor-to-ceiling windows along two walls.
The gym has a treadmill, a cross-trainer, a weight-training machine, dumbbells, and an adjustable bench.
The gym is open daily from 6 am to 10 pm.
The Spa …
Full of stylish Chinese cultural elements, Nyona Spa offers a full menu of spa treatments.
The Other Facilities and Activities …
The hotel has a fleet of bicycles, which can be borrowed at no charge.
I made good use of the the bicycles during my two night stay, usually borrowing one for a spin through the neighborhood after breakfast and taking another spin in the late afternoon before dinner.
I tended to spent the afternoons in the hotel’s lovely tea house working at my computer, sipping coffee and eating the mouth-watering pastries that the hotel is famous for.
The hotel has its own open air shuttle, which can take guests to the beach and nearby tourist attractions.
The hotel can arrange Thai cooking classes, and a class was arranged for me during my stay.
- I will share the recipes I learned how to prepare in future blog posts.Â
The hotel also has a library stocked with books, games, and desk-top computers and a kid’s club where children and hang out and have fun.
Location, Location, Location …
Proud Phuket is located on the northwestern coast of the Southern Thai island of Phuket.
There is a lively commercial strip along the beach with lots of restaurants, day spas, and boutiques.
Click on the following link for a first-hand review of some of the restaurants I ate at …
There is a street market directly behind the hotel three days a week.
Click on the following link for a first-hand account of my visit to the market …
Nai Yang Temple is located a short walk from the hotel, and temple visits can be arranged.
Click on the following link for a first-hand account of my visit to the temple …
The hotel is a short walk or bicycle ride from Nai Yang National Park, and I took many leisurely bicycle rides through the leafy park during my stay.
The hotel is a short drive of Phuket International Airport, and a complementary shuttle service to and from the airport is provided.
The Verdict …
From my arrival to my departure, I totally loved this charming hotel.
Things started out with a very warm greeting at the front desk. Even as a travel blogger, it’s nice to be made to feel that you have been expected!
A lot of thought had obviously been given to the hotel’s colourful – and at times quirky! – interior design.
There was a consistent theme running through the property – from the hotel rooms to the public spaces – that reflected the obvious pride that the family running the hotel had in their Sino-Thai cultural heritage.
I particularly liked the food and beverage outlets. Both the Thai and Western menus were well-thought out, and the a la carte dishes were delicious. The pastries at the tea house were particularly yummy.
Best of all were the staff. They were usually friendly – especially the food and beverage manager!
I really felt that I was more like a guest being welcomed into someone’s home rather than a travel blogger being hosted by a hotel.
If I had three thumbs, I would give this hotel three enthusiastic thumb’s up!
Next Stop
After checking out of the Proud Phuket, I was driven in the hotel’s limousine to my next stop, the Cachet Resort Dewa Phuket, where I spent one night.
The drive only took a couple of minutes. The two hotels are practically next-door neighbours.
After that, I moved on to the Naiyang Park Resort, an ecologically friendly retreat, where I spent my final two nights in the beautiful Southern Thai island of Phuket.
Then it was quick flight back to Bangkok, where I spent another five nights before returning – a bit reluctantly – to my home in Hong Kong.
Where to Stay in Phuket, Thailand
Proud Phuket –Â 135 Soi Naiyang 2, Naiyang Beach, Talang, Phuket, Thailand.
Check out your favourite hotel booking website for guest reviews, hotel room rates, and availability:
If you book a room at Proud Phuket on one of these sites, I will receive a small commission – at no extra cost to you!