Ayara Hilltops Resort & Spa, Phuket

Wish we had stayed longer, the resort is amazing and the room was great. Staff were friendly and helpful.

Stayed in Ayara Hilltops hotel in March 2009 and had a nice experience - which sums up the hotel for us, it was 'nice', nothing in particular wrong with it, but it wasn't spectacular or extraordinary. Welcome upon arrival was a little disorganised and luke-warm, perhaps as there were a few people checking in at the same time. The rooms were nice, although a little smaller than the photos imply - the bedroom felt a little claustrophobic. Buggy service at the hotel is fabulous - the buggy will drop you off and pick you up in the vicinity of the hotel. Rather than arrange a pick-up time with the driver, we'd just call the hotel when we were ready to leave the beach and the buggy would be there within 10 mins. Location is convenient - great beaches nearby, Surin and especially Laem Singh. Nice restaurants and a couple of bars on Surin beach. Dinner in the hotel was nice, although very expensive.

see above we took taxi from airport which cost 450B. Hotel design pleasant and staff helpful, especially buggy drivers. Rooms comfortable and stylish; the cheapest rooms are absolutely fine and actually significantly quieter than some of more expensive ones. Need buggy to beach which would be fine if beach area allocated to hotel not so crowded. Chairs are free which is a bonus but a bit tatty. Hotels like Chedi are on a private beach which makes a big difference! (though can use the surin-end of this beach if non-guest). Twin Palms bit of beach quieter and nicer. Surin def. not a 'quieter' destination now; need to look further up coast if that's what you want. Rates through agoda for this hotel good, however.