Phuket Marine Poshtel

Rooms at Phuket Marine Poshtel run from bunk-bed dormitories to private rooms. Dormitories with six, eight and twelve beds sit alongside four capsules, while the private rooms have a double bed, a king bed, or a single and a king bed, with marina, harbour or mountain views in several of them.

Many rooms have a private bathroom with a shower and toiletries, air conditioning is fitted in several rooms, and free Wi-Fi covers all rooms. Some rooms add a flat-screen TV, an electric kettle or complimentary tea, and a few sleep up to three guests. Several rooms have blackout curtains and soundproofing.

Phuket Marine Poshtel has restaurants, a coffee shop, a snack bar and room service, as well as a bar and a shared kitchen for guests who want to cook. Vending machines are also on site, and the snack bar covers light meals and drinks.

For getting around, there is an airport transfer, car hire, a taxi service and free parking on site, with parking nearby as well. Tours can be arranged, and ticket services, luggage storage, laundry service and currency exchange are available.

The hotel also has an elevator, facilities for disabled guests and a shared lounge with a TV area. Boating, diving, snorkelling, hiking, fishing and watersport equipment rentals are also available.

Chalong is a quieter part of Phuket, built around the bay of the same name, where piers serve the boats that head out to the islands. Compared with the busy beach towns, the streets here are calmer, and evenings are more often spent by the water or at a temple than in bars. Local shops, markets and the Night Market are part of everyday life in the area.

Wat Chalong, the Chaithararam Temple, is 3 km away and is one of the most important Buddhist temples on the island. The Big Buddha stands on a hill 3.3 km away, and Kata Beach, a sandy bay with a lively seafront, is 4.8 km away. Phuket FantaSea, a theme park with an evening show, is 16.3 km away, and Phuket International Airport is 32.5 km away. A car, scooter or taxi is the practical way to reach these sights.

A good day could start at Wat Chalong, followed by the Big Buddha on the hill and an afternoon at Kata Beach. Boats for island trips leave from Chalong Pier, close to the hotel. In the rainy months, sea conditions can make boat trips less predictable. A convenience store and a cash machine are close by, so the basics are easy to find on the way back.