Review Doubletree Banthai Resort Phuket, an oasis of peace just off Bangla Road

Thailand is increasingly serious about reopening its borders completely, in the meantime Phuket and the islands of Samui and Phi Phi are the only destinations that can be reached via the sandbox protocol.

This is my second visit to Thailand And I have to say that things have changed quite a lot in just under 45 days here in Phuket. This time the excuse was not the desire to experience what it was like to live inside the Sandbox, but a much more material necessity, namely the bankruptcy of Alitalia and the end of the Millemiglia program.

Finding myself having to take out a bunch of points from the loyalty program of the now-defunct Italian company, I searched for a destination to reach using the miles I had in my possession. The choice fell on Thailand mainly for two reasons. First because Etihad is a program partner and charges ridiculous fees for its award flights, then because, of the few destinations open for tourism, Thailand was the only one that appealed to me. The other was Dubai, but it is still too hot at this time. Last but not least, my time was also very short: The trip was to be completed by October 14.

Reservation

Hilton group does not have a large presence in Phuket, on my August trip I had been to a Marriott, very nice facility and that I recommend, but this time I chose the DoubleTree Banthai Resort because of its location: right in front of Phuket's iconic beach sign and a 5-minute walk from the heart of nightlife, namely Bangla Road.

The asking price in points for sleeping at this resort is small, it starts from 14k points Hilton Honors. As explained several times, for award nights Hilton does not have a table, but variable pricing based on room cost and average occupancy. In this case, the cost was the lowest ever seen for a hotel of this type.

Despite costing a few points, I preferred to pay "cash" for my stay, the reason being simple: the cost in euros was so low that there was no point in wasting points. Including taxes, I spent 50 euros per night for three nights. And that in the end between bonuses and various promotions, this stay earned me over 24 thousand HH points.

The Sandbox procedure

Perhaps in a few months the protocol will be eliminated and it will no longer be necessary to follow any particular procedure, so this paragraph may be unnecessary. In any case, contact with the hotel to get the Shaba certificate needed to obtain the COE and everything else was done via email in a consistently fast and precise manner.

Here, too, things have changed and some procedures have been modified, such as direct booking of the swab and a site where the result can be consulted independently without waiting for the hotel to check and give the go-ahead to the tourist.

The email upgrade

For the past few weeks Hilton has been experimenting with a new way of communicating free upgrades for its Gold and Diamond guests. Previously, it was a surprise that was discovered by checking in via app or upon arrival at the hotel. Now instead, an email arrives a few days before arrival at the property.

Speaking of upgrades, singular was the fact that in the days prior to my arrival, the hotel's marketing department sent me a few emails in which I was being offered paid deals.

On balance, thanks to the status, I was given a room that cost 2,000 thb per day more than the one I had booked.

Not bad when you consider that Gold status is free for all American Express Platinum holders and that, in addition to upgrades, it also gives away breakfast in all group hotels.

Check-in

I was well aware of where the resort was; the trip from the airport by hotel car took just over 50 minutes. Upon arrival at the front desk I was greeted with the usual Thai welcome.

In addition to the DoubleTree chain's iconic iconic cookie, I was also offered a fresh towel and drink, a nice way to welcome a guest on a very hot mid-September day.

O.T. This hotel also has an entire room dedicated to the cookie, the chain's symbol, and you can buy slippers, mugs, towels and bathrobes all with the logo printed on them.

At the desk, all Sandbox documents are double-checked and the rules explained. Then you are escorted to the room, from which you cannot leave until the result of the PCR swab done at the airport arrives.

The hotel is located on the Phuket boardwalk. Only the restaurant and breakfast room, which are housed in the buildings in front of the main building, have sea views.

The resort is divided into 3 small horseshoe-shaped complexes, and in the center of each is a swimming pool. Each pool has its own bar, although during my visit only the one in the central pool was operational.

The lobby is very nice, there is also a bar in the long hallway, but it was always closed due to the small number of guests.

Then there are three separate blocks that house a gymnasium, a bakery, the breakfast room, and a restaurant. Finally on the street, overlooking Phuket Beach, is a cocktail bar open to all.

The room

Thanks to my free upgrade I went up 3 room levels; I had booked a basic room and ended up in a premium room with direct access to the pool. Rooms on the ground floor can be of two types: with direct access to the pool or simply with access to the pool area.

The difference is minimal. In my case I could go down the ladder from my small terrace to enter the pool and sit in my personal jacuzzi, in the other type you have to walk "about 5 steps" to go from the small terrace to the pool. The price difference between these two rooms was 500 thb, about 13 euros per night. I leave the choice to you.

The room is modern and basic, however very spacious with a huge bathroom.

As Barbieri would say in an episode of 4 hotels, "the closet is not a closet, but the topper is there."

I personally find the quality of the beds in these chains really top notch. There is also a small sofa in the room, which I think could easily become a third bed.

A mega TV screen, plenty of international power outlets and USB sockets. Also available was a kettle, but no coffee maker. While there were soft drinks and beers in the minibar for a fee.

The small terrace has a giant chair and a small table, a comfortable space for eating, working on the computer, or just relaxing, before or after a dip in the pool.

The bathroom is spacious and faces directly into the room with a retractable wall, as has been fashionable in recent years.

In addition to the tub, a large walk-in shower and classic Hilton toiletries. Here I would have expected more than the usual bare essentials.

Swimming pools

As mentioned, there are 3 twin pools, one for each complex housing the rooms.

For the lucky ones who have direct access, nothing else is needed; for everyone else, however, there are cribs available.

Each pool has its own bar, and every day from 4 to 5 p.m. is happy hour, with the option of paying for two cocktails or beers for the price of one.

Of course, this situation does not give great privacy, but being able to take a dip without leaving the room is something that could become contagious in the long run.

Services

Perhaps the only flaw is that it is not a true resort. From such a facility one expects a complex where, if one wishes, one may not even go outside. How it happens at the Marriott Merlin Beach Resort. Where I stayed in August.

This facility does not offer enough things to do not to go out, the very layout of the spaces with restaurant and chiringuito open to all on the Patong Beach promenade make it all very un-resort-like.

Even the pools are not big enough to satisfy all the customers, when of course the DoubleTree will fill up again as before.

But it's just an etiquette issue, because everything else was perfect, even in the hotel's parking lot there is even a fastcharge station for electric cars, although I never saw an electric vehicle around Phuket.

Breakfast

In these latitudes one is unlikely to be disappointed with the breakfast buffet, and this hotel was no exception.

Breakfast is served in the building outside the complex that houses the rooms; if desired, it is also possible to eat on the veranda.

The buffet is divided by islands, and unlike in many facilities in Italy and Europe, everything is "as before" or almost.

The room is large enough for all guests to have breakfast, even when the hotel returns to higher occupancy rates.

From Thai omelets to eggs cooked any way you like, from wok to Chinese dumplings, from the machine that makes pancakes to fruit and vegetable centrifuges. I can say that there is no lack of anything at all.

In conclusion

This facility was truly a surprise in a positive way, the location is perfect for those who want to stay in Patong and from there move to the many beaches of southern Phuket Island. It is perfect for those looking for the nightlife of Bangla Road and surrounding areas. Perhaps not for families with children who are looking for more of a resort model than a hotel model.

Being able to dive from the room directly into the pool is addictive, it's just a shame that hotel pools are almost never allowed to go at night, otherwise it would be great to have a swim before bedtime. On balance, between bonuses and various promotions, Like the current Power UP that gives double points I have accumulated over 24,000 points with this reservation, Enough to spend 5 free nights in many Hilton hotels around the world.

• Hilton Honors
• trip to Phuket