The Base Central

You book the whole apartment at The Base Central, which has one bedroom with a king bed and is set up for up to two guests. Air conditioning, a TV with satellite and cable channels, and fresh linens and toiletries are provided, so the apartment is ready to settle into.

The private bathroom has a whirlpool bathtub and a walk-in shower, with towels, a hair dryer and toiletries. The kitchen is fitted with a stove, microwave, refrigerator, freezer, dishes and cookware, and there is a coffee or tea maker.

The Base Central has a fitness centre with modern exercise machines and free weights, an outdoor pool surrounded by tropical planting, and a garden with a balcony or terrace. A hot tub, a desk or workspace and a laundromat nearby are also available to guests.

On the practical side, there is on-site parking, an elevator, 24-hour security, a private entrance and a washer. The kitchen basics include cookware, oils and condiments, along with coffee or tea, and English, French, Italian and Thai are spoken. The laundromat nearby and the washer are useful for longer trips, and the private entrance and the elevator make arriving with luggage straightforward. Guests can also use the balcony or terrace and the garden for a quiet moment outside.

The Base Central is in Tambon Wichit, in Phuket Town, the provincial capital of Phuket. The old town is known for its Sino-Portuguese shophouses and its museums, and the streets around Central Festival are busy with shops, cafés and food stalls. The area suits guests who want to stay in town rather than on the beach strip, with shops and everyday services close at hand.

Aquaria Phuket, an aquarium with marine displays, is 250 m away, and Central Festival Phuket, a large shopping complex with restaurants, is 450 m away. Baan Chinpracha, a museum in a Sino-Portuguese house, is 2.3 km away, and Chaithararam Temple (Wat Chalong), one of the island's most important temples, is 5.6 km away. From the old town, Patong Beach, the island's best-known beach, is 7.6 km away, so a day can combine the town's museums with the beach strip.

A full day can start with the temples and the museums in the old town and move to the beaches in the afternoon. Big Buddha Phuket sits on a hill above the island and is a longer trip, while Kata Beach and Karon Beach lie further along the coast. Phuket International Airport is reached by road from the town, as the island is joined to the mainland by a bridge.