My sister is planing a reunion with college girl friends. I found Phuket beach club available for June. The resort has mostly very positive reviews. However, a few older reviews mentioned the distance to town and lack of reasonable priced restaurants. Has that changed recently? The recent reviewers did not complain about that. One of the reason behind the trip was that one girl was diagnosed with breast cancer 2 years ago and just started another round of chemotherapy. She is only 36. They all want spend time with her and relax. Are there enough activities and eateries near the resort?
Thanks a lot for your help,
Jane
The resort is still a long way from what might be called "The Action" on Phuket BUT "The Action" meaning Patong is IMHO very sleazy and not with the trip.
So the restaurants at the JW Marriott to which Phuket Beach Club is attached are quite expensive for Thailand. However the Siam Deli offers reasonable priced food as does the Italian and the Thai Restaurant (Ginja). The Marriott Cafe does fixed price buffets most nights.
In more recent times there has been a lot more development in this area and there are now several more hotels and a second MVCI resort (Mai Khao Beach Club). There is a Renaissance just along the beach and also small boutique hotel called Sala. Both have less expensive restaurants than the JW.
Also there is an up market Anantara which is quite expensive. There is also a small shopping mall now and that has a British Pub which is less expensive than the hotels and a Coffee Shop "The Coffee Club" that does less expensive food also. These is also an ice cream place and a small supermarket (very small).
In the area there are a number of local Thai restaurants which are much less expensive but these will not be in any way "up-scale" eateries they are excellent for local food and reasonable prices. However getting to them will require either a taxi or a rental car.
IMHO PBC is the number one MVCI resort in the family and has won the resort of the year award on a number of occasions. PBC guests get to share all the facilities of the JW Marriott (3 pools, kids club and beautiful gardens and right on the beach.
Now June is not High Season in Phuket so the weather will be tropical - some thunder storms with heavy rain but lots of sun in between. Each villa is supplied with 3 golf umbrellas for obvious reasons.
We vacation there every year in Jan/Feb as owners and often visit twice per year if we can afford the air fares.