A trip to Thailand is not without any complications. During the peak season, crowds of tourists flock to local restaurants and surfing stalls wanting to get a taste of authentic Thai flavours and experience the best activities the country has to offer.
While that may sound quite overwhelming and a mood downer, there is an easy solution to that problem… all-inclusive resorts.
When you book a room at an all-inclusive resort, you won’t need to lift a finger to create an unforgettable holiday. All-inclusive resorts often offer free-flowing cocktails and endless city-based and beach-based activities.
With Thailand being one of the top destinations in Southeast Asia, it’s no surprise that there are numerous all-inclusive resorts across the country. To help you decide where to book your stay, we’ve rounded up our pick of the best Thailand all-inclusive resorts.
An all-inclusive resort or hotel offers all the essentials guests may need during their stay. These essentials vary from resort to resort, but the cost is always included in the booking price. This means you won’t have to worry about any surprise costs or accidentally running a tab.
There are a number of different things that can be included in the booking price of an all-inclusive resort. While we recommend double-checking what is included in the booking, here are some of the things you can expect to be provided by an all-inclusive resort.
Roundtrip Airport Shuttle
Nothing beats getting to Thailand and knowing that transportation to the hotel and any associated costs have already been arranged and taken care of. While this is not always offered by every all-inclusive resort, those that do provide shuttles from the airport to the resort and back to the airport once your stay is done.
Food & Drinks Galore
When you book a stay at a resort offering an all-inclusive package, you get breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks at any time. Enjoying your steak? Order another one. Want another glass of mojito? No problem. It’s all unlimited.
If that doesn’t sound exciting, then we assure you that the fact that every room in an all-inclusive resort comes with a stocked mini fridge or minibar will make you giddy. Additionally, higher-level rooms also often come with your choice of premium liquor and snacks.
That being said, the quality and variation of food and drinks offered by resorts vary and can be something of a gamble.
Activities & Sports
Most all-inclusive resorts offer extensive city and/or water activity options for guests, even those with kids. Beach resorts, specifically, often offer a wide range of water sports, including snorkelling, kayaking, paddle boarding, windsurfing, and bodyboarding. On shore, resorts also offer beach volleyball, basketball, tennis, pool tables, board games, croquet, golf, and fitness gyms.
Out of the resort, some offer city activities, including tours of nearby destinations and visits to elephant sanctuaries. Some also provide tour guides to take guests through the streets of Thailand where they can sample delicious street food and witness local cultural performances.
Free WiFi
Wi-Fi access is provided and free in all-inclusive resorts. Typically, Wi-Fi access is available in all rooms and throughout the resort, especially in common areas.
Now that we have the basics of all-inclusive resorts covered, here’s a list of the best all-inclusive resorts across Thailand.
The Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa in the beach resort town of Patong offers guests a slice of paradise and a private stretch of sand where they can lounge, build castles, or take a dip in the cool waters. Aside from the sea, guests can also swim in one of the resort’s three swimming pools.
In addition to the cool swimming waters, guests who book a stay with the resort also get access to superb amenities, including a kids club, a premium spa, and a 24-hour fitness gym. Some rooms also have direct access to either the pool or the beach.
Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa’s all-inclusive deal includes all meals and selected beverages from one of the property’s ten restaurants and swim-up bar. The most popular restaurants include Thai Pantry Restaurant (which serves traditional Thai dishes), the D.O.C.G. (serving authentic Italian cuisines), and the Beach Grill Restaurant (featuring fresh seafood). Other dining choices are also available at the on-site Phuket Coffee Co.
Website: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/hktmb-phuket-marriott-resort-and-spa-merlin-beach/overview/
If it’s luxury and tranquillity you are after, it’s hard to find a resort as unique as Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort. Located in the beautiful city of Chiang Rai, this resort is an oasis in northern Thailand that boasts opulence and views of sprawling hills near the borders of Myanmar and Laos.
Booking a stay at Anantara grants guests access to a delightful buffet spread every day during breakfast and mouthwatering food options for lunch and dinner. If you’re still feeling peckish, there is a range of snacks available to choose from in each room’s lavishly stocked minibar.
Apart from their delicious food, the all-inclusive package allows guests to enjoy relaxation through different spa treatments, a chance to experience walking alongside elephants, and a tour of the countryside. Yoga classes are also available during most mornings.
Website: https://www.anantara.com/en/golden-triangle-chiang-rai
The Pullman Khao Lak Resort on the shores of Khao Lak’s Bang Muang Beach offers guests round-the-clock indulgence and the comforts of five-star luxury. A Pullman, each day begins with a veritable breakfast feast, followed by a buffet spread or set-course meals for lunch and dinner.
In between meals, guests can take a dip at the resort’s plunge pool or the beach. Guests who book the pool villas also have their own 41-square-metre pool where they can partake in a floating breakfast for two. Rooms are also fitted with a coffee machine, a daybed, a bathtub, and rain showers.
Website: https://www.pullmankhaolakresort.com/
Located just minutes from mainland Phuket, The Village Coconut Island Beach Resort is a five-star all-inclusive resort that offers an enviable sense of seclusion that heightens that mood of relaxation.
The Village Coconut Island Beach resort offers a wide range of accommodations equipped with free WiFi, flat-screen TVs, and kitchenettes for meal preparations. Guests who check in are also given access to multiple amenities, including several outdoor pools, hot tubs, a lovely garden, and a fully-equipped gym. Mountain bikes, sails, paddleboards, and kayaks can also be rented for free.
In between meals and water activities, guests can partake in sunrise yoga classes or learn how to make authentic Thai dishes by enrolling in cooking classes. Guests can also engage in friendly rounds of tennis or Muay Thai.
Website: https://thevillage-coconutisland.com/
Located along the Krabi coastline, Phulay Bay is a five-star luxury resort boasting scenic views of the Andaman Sea. Guests who book a stay at the resort would also be treated like royalty and given the luxury of having their own personal butler to take care of their every need during their stay, including bringing daily breakfast and making sunset cocktails.
The sprawling property is home to 54 suites and villas, each sitting near tropical gardens and serpentine moats. Due to the massive size of Phulay Bay resort, guests are chauffeured by hotel staff in golf carts to and from their destinations.
Some of the amenities and activities featured at Phulay Bay include a full-service spa, an infinity pool, five on-site restaurants, Batik painting workshops, and Thai cooking classes.
Website: https://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/kbvrz-phulay-bay-a-ritz-carlton-reserve/overview/
