Wyndham Grand Phuket Kalim Bay, Thailand

Wyndham Grand Phuket Kalim Bay

Words: Han Sen Hau
Photos: Monica Tindall

What’s better than an infinity pool? 

A private one. With an ocean view. Let’s throw in a complimentary unicorn float for good measure. That was exactly what we got when we stayed at Wyndham Grand Phuket Kalim Bay. After we dropped our luggage, admired “The Yum List” spelt out in rose petals on the bed, then parted the drapes like Moses did the Red Sea, we sighed at the sight of our very own private infinity pool that blended with the sky and sea further out into the horizon. Okay, so maybe not the horizon, but the other side of the bay where Patong Beach is, where tourists never sleep, and the music never ceases.

You’ll be glad the hotel is a 15-minute tuk-tuk ride from that raucous light show. At least from that standpoint, you can decide from your luxurious, unimpeded vista if you actually want to be a part of that show or to simply recline the weekend away on your unicorn float with coconut in hand. Both sound like equally appealing options, but true luxury lies in the availability of such choice. A choice that you can only make from your suite at Wyndham Grand Phuket.

What You See Immediately

As part of our time at Wyndham Grand Phuket, we were given the Pool Suite with an ocean view, which meant that we were dropped off at the Villa Lobby, one of two welcome areas, as it would be closer to where the suite was. The entire property is built along the face of a hill, thus allowing many of its suites to have an enviable view of Kalim Bay and the aforementioned Patong Beach, a feature not so easily attained elsewhere. The architecture and infrastructure facilitate this as nothing faces inwards, only outward towards the sea.

The other big thing we noticed at the Villa Lobby was Club Wyndham, the brand’s signature timeshare programme. The banners were so large and prominent that we couldn’t help but enquire what exactly Club Wyndham was, just in case there was an actual club with deejays somewhere on the premises. The answer was a timeshare membership, and guests are welcome to explore a wide range of vacation ownership opportunities with the larger Wyndham portfolio as long as they meet the membership requirements.

Another neat little feature immediately noticeable upon arrival is the hotel’s mascot, the Asian tapir, which can be seen painted on walls and stairwells. In addition to being cute backdrops for a quick selfie, the mascot serves as a reminder that Phuket’s best natural attractions remain accessible to all due to responsible tourism practices.

What You Don’t See Immediately

The Infiniti Lobby Bar. We completely missed this upon arrival at the Villa Lobby as it was so well hidden, even though it was immediately across the lobby. Had we walked a little further away from the lobby towards a fleet of Mercedes, we would have noticed the flight of steps leading towards the bar that looked like a perfect spot to catch sunset views. There are only a handful of publicly accessible locations within the hotel that could claim to have a better view, including the Latitude 98 restaurant upstairs and The Deck Swimming Pool. However, this dear writer would prefer to lounge by the Infiniti Lobby Bar because it is shielded from the elements, and there’s no need to change into swim shorts just to enjoy a view. Plus, it never gets too busy at the bar, so unfettered thoughts can flow freely to the gentle music of the wind and waves, and maybe a martini or two.

Speaking of lobbies (we can’t seem to avoid them), there are two main lobbies at Wyndham Grand Phuket. While suite and villa guests are most likely dropped off at the higher Villa Lobby, those who have booked a deluxe room would be greeted at the Welcome Lobby at the foot of the hill. The latter would also be the location where taxi drivers can pick up and drop off guests, so if you’re planning a late night out at Patong, your ride will be waiting for you at the lower Welcome Lobby. Alternatively, the hotel has an hourly shuttle bus service to Patong for only 50 baht per trip between 10 am and 8 pm. 

The final big “invisible” attraction is Zenmaya Oceanfront Phuket, a boutique hotel that’s also part of the Wyndham portfolio just across the street from Wyndham Grand Phuket. For one of our dinners during our stay, we had the fortune to dine at Zenmaya’s Zeascape Wineroom for a once-in-a-lifetime dinner event. That experience is a story that deserves its own article. Seemingly a venue filled with surprises, Zenmaya also hides a mini Santorini in the form of its Reef Cafe, splashed in shades of white and Santorini blue, with sprinkles of cherry red bougainvilleas peeking at every corner. The cafe is a must-visit attraction, especially when the bar serves a mean Campari spritz on a clear, sunny day.

Room

Like the overarching architecture that defines much of Wyndham Grand Phuket, everything in our Pool Suite was designed to have its occupants face the sea. The private infinity pool opened up to the sea. The first thing we saw each morning when we arose from our king-sized bed was the sea. The work desk from which we typed our reviews furiously allowed for momentary distractions with views of the sea. Even while soaking in the bathtub, we could part sliding doors to expose our chests to the sea. 

Had the hotel not adopted such a single-minded focus on promoting itself as a romantic getaway for couples, we’d imagine it could function equally well as an uber-chic creative residency, where writers could self-isolate for a month or two in order to hash out their next bestseller. The only fathomable form of intrusion would be loud neighbours, who may choose to blare loud music from their portable speakers, which we had to momentarily endure for, thankfully, an hour or two. 

With a private infinity pool come a handful of unique experiences, like the unicorn float mentioned earlier. The other unmissable option to consider is the floating breakfast, which is delivered in trays to the room and makes for the ultimate holiday shot that will cause your enemies’ heads to explode with envy the minute you post pictures of them on social media. By the way, there’s never a risk of either food or float drifting away and over the pool, even in the stormiest of weather. Still, we couldn’t help indulging our irrational fears of mixing coffee with chlorine, so we carefully ushered our trays back to the patio once we were done taking at least 1,000 photos of them from every possible angle.

There is also a slew of birthday and honeymoon decoration packages available, which can appear in the form of a parade of balloons filling up the room or a bathtub filled with rose petals. We received the latter, much to our delight and amusement, though the floral arrangement was so beautiful that neither of us wanted to ruin the handiwork.

Dining

Most of the meals enjoyed at Wyndham Grand Phuket generally occur at the Latitude 98 restaurant above the Villa Lobby, while Thabtim Cafe by the Main Pool and Zana Spa offers light bites and easy drinks. The breakfast spread at Latitude 98 revolves around local cuisine, standard continental fare, and refreshingly Middle Eastern recipes, which probably reveal a portion of the hotel’s clientele. The sheer variety of local Thai food remains the restaurant’s biggest draw for breakfast, and guests are free to enjoy curries of varying intensity and fruits of different colours. 

As for dinner, we were entreated to Latitude 98’s Romantic Set Dinner on our first night, complete with fairy lights and even more rose petals sprinkled on the table, a humorous arrangement for a duo whose relationship remains strictly professional. I can’t consume more than a single glass of wine without glowing beetroot red, while Monica can’t take food that’s too spicy. It would have never worked out between us … 

That being said, for a 6-course meal to work successfully as an intimate dinner between two lovestruck birds, it would need to be something that impresses the palate and stimulates conversation; the Romantic Set Dinner checked both boxes. From the vibrant Por Pia Sod bursting with verdant flavours to the intriguing matcha tempura prawns swimming in clear tomato soup and the generous slab of grilled salmon resting atop dollops of yellow curry, each dish savoured was a pleasure to the senses and a serenade to the spoils of the sea. The concluding Passionfruit Mousse and Sherbet was also a work of art that extolled the virtues of tropical flavours, a very welcome departure from anything laced with chocolate. 

Facilities & Attractions

With water being such a key element to Wyndham Grand Phuket Kalim Bay, it is no surprise that the hotel has two common infinity pools just in case the one that comes with the suite isn’t sufficient. The Main Pool further up the hill looked like a popular spot for families surrounded by lush greenery, while The Deck Pool at the lower level exudes a more “happy hour” feel. Both pools are served by their adjoining cafe slash bars, which list identical menus. 

The hotel also manages a fairly large orchard that overlooks the entire property and supplies much of the ingredients enjoyed at the restaurants and spa. It’s obvious that the team takes great pride in the orchard simply from the quality of the information boards erected there, so we made sure we treaded carefully during our brief excursion lest we accidentally trampled the lemongrass that would go into our Tom Yum Goong.

Fitness & Spa

The fitness centre at the hotel is a fairly simple set-up with a couple of treadmills and some weight machines, if anyone wants to work off the hefty breakfast relished at Latitude 98. Incidentally, we noticed that the area where the fitness centre is located (right by Zana Spa and the Main Pool) can get really hot in the evenings, so morning workouts are definitely de rigueur here.

As for our experience at Zana Spa, we were pampered with a 60-minute, full-body Swedish massage. Mo was my assigned masseuse, and my session began with a cup of ginger kombucha and an intensely satisfying salt scrub for my tired feet. I was then directed to my treatment room which came with a changing area and shower room, though not before Mo gave me a preview of their couple’s room, which additionally had a large jacuzzi and divan for a post-massage snuggle. 

The smell of rosemary and eucalyptus in the essential oil used for the massage immediately relaxed me, even before Mo applied any pressure to my sore shoulders from carrying camera equipment all day long. Once she gained momentum and pressed harder, it felt like four knuckles worked seamlessly to unravel the tight knots above my shoulder blades. Mo was a machine. She applied just enough pressure to expel the aching pains with every sigh that escaped my lips and had she continued to massage my back any longer, I would have rolled off the bed like jelly. 

The overall episode was intense but much needed, and I exited the treatment room feeling as light as a cloud, floating towards the fragrant bael and pandan drink that awaited me. As I slowly guzzled down the drink, I pored over their menu of spa treatments, which include facial treatments, manicures, pedicures, and a very tempting Vichy shower therapy. Considering how well my massage went, I would be down for one of their hydrotherapies should I be fortunate enough to visit again.

Wyndham Grand Phuket Kalim Bay Review

When it comes to views and convenience, you would be hard-pressed to find a hotel that can beat what Wyndham Grand Phuket Kalim Bay has to offer. While the hotel loudly and actively promotes itself as the preferred getaway destination for couples, we could see it work as a refuge for writing recluses like ourselves, who could love nothing more than our own company as we are confined to our own thoughts, sentiments, and rainbow unicorn floats.

Many thanks to Dominic Egger for arranging to make our stay as comfortable as possible and to Mark for attending to our whims and fancies. 

Reasons to stay at Wyndham Grand Phuket Kalim Bay: sheer abundance of infinity pools, both public and private, with ocean views; beautifully plated dinner sets at Latitude 98 restaurant; various room packages to commemorate special occasions; intensely satisfying spa treatments.

Wyndham Grand Phuket Kalim Bay
8/18-19 Moo 6 Kathu,
Phuket 83150, Thailand
+6676 562 000
www.wyndhamgrandphuket.com

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