Phi Phi Island Village. A little expensive and only stayed 1 night as I was traveling for 4 weeks but it was by far the nicest place I have ever stayed. It was away from the main Phi Phi island but we needed a little break from the non stop party scene for a little down time. We had a 2 bedroom Villa with our own zero gravity pool overlooking the entire island. It was unreal. We drank everything in the mini bar, had dinner and breakfast with a total cost of $480 for the night. I believe we got a break on the price though due to a little haggling on the price and realizing it was more of a "honeymoon" hotel...after all we were just 2 dudes on a journey through Thailand. After they showed us the Villa we knew we had to stay. It hit the budget hard but I still talk about it 6 weeks later.

Phi Phi Island Village web page http://www.ppisland.com/

hi

July is fine, its low season (monsoonal) but mostly rains overnight, early evening and sometimes get showery periods on some days but not all the time, get lots of sun too, hot and humid, we always go in low season time, usualy May/June or Sept and never stopped us doing anything, great deals on resorts too

Pool villas in Patong itself a bit hard, lots of Resorts with pool access rooms which are great, there's a few resorts around with private plunge pools but some are just out of Patong itself and about 15-20 min ride in

Diamond Cliff Resort, closest 5* with villas, have some 1 bed pool villas, great 5* resort, but may be expensive, (do stay pay deals stay 8 pay 4 etc)north end Patong and can walk into town about 15 min walk 9 but plenty of resturants on the way) or quick tuk tuk ride look on: diamondcliff.com

Deevana resort is in Patong, you can walk to everything, a 4* resort, they have some rooms in Spa section, Jacuzzi plunge pool, not big enough to swim in though, but look great have some deals in low season and include airport transfers

Sheraton Grande great resort with pool villas, in Laguna area 30 min to Patong

Couple private pool villa resorts Surin and Kamala areas (15-20 min to Patong) andaraphuket.com http://wwww.manathai.com and http://www.capesienna.com all look great if you dont mind a short travel into patong by taxi or tuk tuk (or hire a car)

Kata beach area ( 15 min to Patong) Centara Villas and Malisa Villa Suites have pool villas, close to resturants, markets etc in kata and Karon areas

look on http://www.siamrealestate.com and phuket.net for private rentals

The Old Phuket Hotel in Karon is a great place - pool access rooms are excellent. Although not near 'all the action' of Patong it is close to all that Karon and Kata have to offer. The Hotel itself is great - location, staff, bright - clean - large rooms. We have stayed here twice now and can not fault it. You have so many options - it all just depends on what you are looking for. We had family stay at Patong Merlin last year - they enjoyed it but the noise in the hallways / rooms above / around the pool / etc was not my sort of atmosphere with crowded pool areas, etc.

hi

back again, if you want a pool access room there are lots of resorts in Patong itself close to all the action, few to look at

Merlin Beach Resort (5 min hotel shuttle or taxi ride) great resort though, 3 massive pool areas, small private beach (bay) pool access rooms are fantastic http://www.merlinphuket.com

Patong Merlin have a new wing with pool access rooms

Holiday Inn Busakorn wing pool acess rooms, great location and pools

Burasari Resort

Baumanburi Resort

La Flora

Thavorn Beach Village & spa, pool access rooms, ocean view villas with private jacuzzi on balcony fantastic views of andaman sea, 10 min ride into Patong though? http://www.thavornbeachvillage.com

Hi,

As said above, it will be a challenge to find anywhere within/close to Patong with a plunge pool. I think La Flora do have pool villas though so maybe you could check them out.

If you don't mind being further out, you could try Twin Palms, Aayra Hilltops, Movenpick, Phuket Pavillions, Absolute Chandara, JW Marriott, Banyan Tree, the Shore at Katathani, Dusit Thani, Sala, Indigo Pearl, Outrigger Serenity and Laguna, and the Evason.

Hope this helps :)

Would check out LaFlora Resort. 5 star with Plunge Pools in Villa Option OR you could go Pool Access Room if you want to share with other guests. Beach out the front. Also on beach road within walking distance of Bangla Rd. My favourite hotel choice for Patong. Extras include all day mini bar and buffet breakfast. At the end of the day you pay for what you get. So if your happy to pay some more this is the place to be. You wont be dissappointed if you have champayne taste.

If you consider the Kata area check out the Malisa Villas. Some of their villas have private plunge pools. It is only about 15 minutes drive from Patong.

http://www.malisavillas.com

Hope this helps.

Chantal.

Centara Resort Karon or Centara Villa's in Karon might fit the bill. The cabana room at Centara Resort is great, and has a private 3m x 2m outdoor spa (the whole room and outside area is behind high walls). The resort itself is nice, and it's only 10 minutes by tuk tuk to Patong. I haven't stayed at the Villa's but they look great. I don't know how 'private' the plunge pool is there.

La Flora is in Patong and has various private (and shared ?) plunge pools, as does the Movenpick in Karon, but both would be $$$$. Might be affordable in July.