Phuket : Sino House Phuket Hotel

1st – 2nd August 2011. Written by Vinleon and Xin Li.
Phuket, Thailand
This Sino-chic hotel sits in the heart of Phuket Town hence making it nice base to explore the many sights of old Phuket Town such as Soi Thalang or the Mansion of Phra Pithak Chinpracha.

The dimly-lit hotel lobby is reminiscent of the reception halls of the old Shanghai houses. Together with the elegant bamboo trees and the fountains, it felt rustic, warm and inviting.

Xinli and I stayed for one night in the Shanghai Deluxe Room (1600 THB, 1st April to 31st October), and honestly, we were VERY impressed the moment we stepped into the room.

The room is very spacious and there is a huge art piece that spans across the headboard and a vintage-style Shanghai lamp (those with the plastic/glass jade-green shade) on the dining table, which are enough to bring out the theme of the room.

The thing that really sets this place apart from any other hotels is the provision of microwave oven. Hotels have no idea how helpful it'll be to have a microwave oven in the room! Furthermore, it's nice that drinks in the mini bar are complimentary, BUT no bottle openers were provided.

The breakfast is definitely something to look forward to!

Firstly, the dining area is at the top floor of the hotel, and the view is spectacular!

Alfresco breakfast with great view and fresh air makes it a perfect place to enjoy a cup of freshly brewed coffee complemented by local sweets and tasty bread with jam. It's exactly how a relaxing getaway breakfast should be.

Of particular interest to me is the coffee machine. I've yet to come across a hotel that serves coffee this way. Most of them serve it in a glass jug on a heating element that heats the coffee to sourness. Urgh.

But the toaster they provided is not the conveyor belt variety, but the pop-up toaster, so it makes it impossible to heat up the otherwise delightful croissants evenly.

As with most other hotel breakfasts, some Asian dishes, fruits and desserts were served.

THE RAIN TREE SPA
Another feature of the Sino-House Hotel and Apartment is the 50% discount it offers to its guests for any treatment at the Raintree Spa next door.

As the name suggests, we found ourselves sanctuary surrounded lush greenery the moment we stepped into the Raintree Spa.

A refreshing cold drink was served the moment you arrive with a cold towel to cool yourself down.

This was followed by a patient, informative and polite introduction (+Q&A session) of the various treatments they offer.

After a short cleansing of the feet and foot massage, we are set to go.

The service was excellent throughout the session. Meilin, the friendly masseur attending to Vinleon was very helpful in helping us to find the cheapest way to Patong or Chalong or recommend the best places to get a good deal such as the ASEAN Trade Fair that we were unaware of.

After a relaxing Royal Thai Massage (500 THB, 250THB after discount), a cup of lemongrass tea and snack was being served.

Although Sino-House Phuket Hotel and Apartment may not be near the beach or your typical beach resort, the service was excellent, the rooms were comfortable (love the complimentary mini-bar too) and the spa next door offers discounted prices to the guests (during our stay) makes the Sino-House Phuket Hotel and Apartment a good choice if you plan to base yourself in Phuket Town instead of the beaches as the buses go to most parts of Phuket like Kata, Patong and Chalong for as little as 25THB (one-way).

Sino House Phuket Hotel
1 Montree Rd., Talad –Yai,
Muang Phuket 83000 Thailand

Tel. : 66 76 232 494-5, 221 398
Fax : 66 76 221 498