Anyone been to Phuket Beach Club/Mai Khao Beach

[mariawolf]

So we have a lot of points to use because our MVC for Spain didn't pan out (even though was told 95% get their request and we were #1 on the wait lift)
Curious if anyone has any feedback on either of these resorts--seems to have a lot of availability in winter months?
Thanks

 

[Gemini Chica]

I haven’t but from all I have read most recommend the Beach Club one best. I had a post awhile ago asking about both!


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[bazzap]

The original MVC resort Phuket Beach Club (PBC), where we own, was initially sold as a weeks based resort.
The newer Mai Khao Beach Resort (MKB) was sold as a points based (Asia Pacific points) resort from day one.
There is always far more availability at MKB, including as Interval Getaways all Year round.
The two resorts are located very close to each other.
PBC is situated directly on the beach in beautifully landscaped tropical gardens, sharing the resort and facilities with the JW Marriott hotel.
MKB is set back from the beach, some 5 minutes walk with its own facilities.
We have stayed at and enjoyed both, although PBC is a a clear favourite of ours.

 

[dansimms]

We have stayed at over 40 of the MVCI locations and PBC is our very favorite. We went in 2004, so that that was a good while ago.

 

[vol_90]

Both are great resorts with excellent service and hospitality. Prefer Phuket Beach Club over Mai Khao Beach since it's actually on the beach vs. a shuttle or long walk and shares facilities with the JW Marriott (3 pools and multiple onsite restaurants). In 2019 we will spend 66 nights at the PBC and 4 nights at MKB.

PBC is our favorite resort of the 13 we have stayed at since 2007.

 

[Steve Fatula]

We stayed at PBC this year and absolutely loved it. There is a lot to do in the area, and you can walk to shopping.

 

[Pompey Family]

Prefer Phuket Beach Club over Mai Khao Beach since it's actually on the beach vs. a shuttle or long walk

Is it a long walk? The long walk/shuttle statement conflicts with the 5 minute walk stated by Barry (and others).

 

[bazzap]

Is it a long walk? The long walk/shuttle statement conflicts with the 5 minute walk stated by Barry (and others).

You can get a shuttle and some do, but I never have and in my experience it is a short ~5 minute walk past the Turtle Village shopping centre and along a path along the Northern edge of the Phuket Beach Club resort, as I have marked on the map.

 

[Pompey Family]

Thanks Barry, I thought as much.

 

[Fi2]

We actually stayed at both, this past July, since I had to scramble and rebook (certain flight legs and accommodations) after I realized that I hadn’t checked my kids’ passport expiration dates after all. Yikes!

Definitely, the PBC has much, much more going on, and I’d likely rebook there, but transfer into a MKB unit with a plunge pool for our last night was not a terrible disappointment. And, both clubs were fantastic about making our move as smooth as possible.

 

[bazzap]

We actually stayed at both, this past July, since I had to scramble and rebook (certain flight legs and accommodations) after I realized that I hadn’t checked my kids’ passport expiration dates after all. Yikes!

Definitely, the PBC has much, much more going on, and I’d likely rebook there, but transfer into a MKB unit with a plunge pool for our last night was not a terrible disappointment. And, both clubs were fantastic about making our move as smooth as possible.

Yes, the helpfulness of the resort teams and the famous Thai friendliness are key factors in us returning to Phuket year after year.
The plunge pools with the ground floor units at Mai Khao Beach resort are a big plus there, as you say.

 

[pekckian1]

I am an AP owner and have being staying a few times in both resorts. I prefer PBC as it has more facilities and activities. Having said so, the hospitality of Thai in both resorts is something that keeps everyone returning years after years.

 

[vol_90]

If anyone is planning to be at PBC or MKB let me know and I'll buy you a beer, cocktail, tea or coffee. We are there Oct. 3rd - 20th and Nov. 23rd - Dec. 1st.

 

[RandR]

Thinking of trading into PBC in December and wanted to get some info. I have seem things about only using bottled water. Does this precaution apply to fruit and vegetables as well? I know I have been warned about ice and eating certain things in Mexico so I didn't know if that applied here. Also, what kinds of activities does the resort have on property and close by?

 

[Steve Fatula]

I didn't brink bottled water. And I got a weeks worth of groceries delivered (online order) to the room for an entire $1 delivery fee. Didn't rent a car. We took a bunch of tours while there, the favorite one being to the island from the Bond film and many other islands, was beautiful. The resort is very nice and tropical. We went in early June to just avoid the rainy season. We use a combination of a week we exchanged into with and DC points to add on to the week, You will not be sorry you went!

 

[bazzap]

Thinking of trading into PBC in December and wanted to get some info. I have seem things about only using bottled water. Does this precaution apply to fruit and vegetables as well? I know I have been warned about ice and eating certain things in Mexico so I didn't know if that applied here. Also, what kinds of activities does the resort have on property and close by?

PBC has high owner occupancy in December.
MKB is easier to get into.
PBC Activities when we were there in December were
(this is the first two pages of four, the other won’t attach right now?)

 

[RandR]

PBC has high owner occupancy in December.
MKB is easier to get into.
PBC Activities when we were there in December were
(this is the first two pages of four, the other won’t attach right now?)

View attachment 17474View attachment 17475

@bazzap just got the trade to PBC in mid-December. Do you have a driver/guide that you would recommend? We would like to spend a day or maybe two sight seeing some of the local flavor and going to some local restaurants. We thought it would be best to have someone take us around that knew the best spots and could translate.

 

[bazzap]

and

@bazzap just got the trade to PBC in mid-December. Do you have a driver/guide that you would recommend? We would like to spend a day or maybe two sight seeing some of the local flavor and going to some local restaurants. We thought it would be best to have someone take us around that knew the best spots and could translate.

We might even overlap dates, as we will be at PBC until 18th December.
Almost everyone understands and speaks English in Phuket, generally extremely well.
As we have been visiting for many years now, I don’t really have up to date information on guides but we do tend to use the same driver to take us out and about wherever we want to go, so I will message you with his details.

 

[aland0524]

All this discussion has gotten me interested in PBC. I'm thinking of renting out my MOC/Napili oceanfront and then renting at PBC using Redweek (I noticed a few for rent). However, I couldn't sort out the various "view" options available other than number of rooms. Can anybody help explain the view types at PBC or is this not a significant criteria? For example, for Hawaii MVC resorts, you have the option to choose "oceanfront", "oceanview", "garden or island view" or "garage" view . Anything similar for Asian resorts like PBC?

 

[turkel]

We stayed at PBC in Nov 2018 for our honeymoon. Great resort. Would definitely go again. (It’s pretty far for us though)

I highly recommend John Grays kayak tour. It’s an all day excursion and a guide does all the paddling. Great food, great time, great scenery and we went when the weather was meh and still loved it!

 

[bazzap]

All this discussion has gotten me interested in PBC. I'm thinking of renting out my MOC/Napili oceanfront and then renting at PBC using Redweek (I noticed a few for rent). However, I couldn't sort out the various "view" options available other than number of rooms. Can anybody help explain the view types at PBC or is this not a significant criteria? For example, for Hawaii MVC resorts, you have the option to choose "oceanfront", "oceanview", "garden or island view" or "garage" view . Anything similar for Asian resorts like PBC?

There are no multiple view options at PBC.
Every unit has a good view over the beautiful, landscaped tropical gardens.
All the MVC buildings are on 4 floors and located in a semi circle around the JW Marriott hotel.
It is a large resort, so you can request to be nearer or further from the hotel / facilities and on a low or high floor (ground floor have large terraces, higher floors arguably have better views?) dependent on your preferences.

 

[Pompey Family]

We stayed at Mai Khao and we received complimentary bottles of water every day. I never drank the tap water and bought a large bottle of cheap water from the local supermarket for brushing my teeth with. I can't speak for the hygiene standards in the kitchens that we ate from but none of us experienced any stomach issues. The view from our balcony was of the lush tropical gardens and I would say that it's a much more interesting and enjoyable view than one of the sea particularly when you can watch a metre long water monitor hunting for fish in the pond beneath your balcony!

You can hire a number of non motorised water sports equipment such as kayaks, paddle boards and catamaran dinghys from the beach area in front of the JW Marriott and there is no cost. There is a fire show at both resorts I believe on different nights which is quite entertaining. The Ginja restaurant offers Thai cooking classes however if you're a reasonably confident cook and have dabbled in basic Thai cooking you might find it too basic.

We didn't venture out from the resort much as the holiday was all about complete relaxation plus I've been to Thailand previously and found the islands such as Phi Phi, James Bond Island etc to be unpleasantly overcrowded. As beautiful and stunning as they are they have become a victim of their own success.

We visited a local elephant rescue sanctuary to learn about how they rescue and recuperate elephants that have been used to haul tourists around all day or used in logging industry. You get to prepare and feed the elephants then take them for a mud bath and a rinse. This is a far cry from the barbaric practice of elephant riding which unfortunately is still a popular tourist pastime. The concierge will offer advice and arrange a visit to the sanctuary. You will be collected by a driver with an air conditioned minibus and taken to the sanctuary and who will then return you back to the resort.