After an hour long, 1000 baht taxi ride, we finally made it to Rawai, the southern tip of Phuket, Thailand. On this part of the island, it’s not too crowded, the beaches are pristine and quiet. To our right was a calm lake, and to our left was Nai Harn Beach, which we couldn’t wait to enjoy. We finally saw the entrance sign to our resort, Sunsuri Phuket, and then got dropped off at the lobby. Check in was a breeze, and we were welcomed with complimentary drinks, fruit skewers and some cool towels (it was the hottest in Phuket during our trip). Sunsuri Phuket is the definition of a luxury getaway; if you find yourself trying to plan a Thailand vacation take a chance and drive that extra mile. You’ll find yourself at one of the most incredible resorts.
Andy and I were escorted by buggy to our ocean view pool villa, all the way at the top of the hill. The accommodations are spaced far apart and it would’ve been a trek to get up to our room. Fortunately, they had a complimentary buggy service, which we used about 10 times a day. With our key in hand, we walked up the steps and opened the wooden door to our gorgeous villa. Right when we entered, there was an amazing view of the Andaman Sea and to the right was our balcony and private infinity pool. With floor to ceiling glass walls, it was the perfect place to relax and watch the sunset in our living area and then have a good night’s sleep in their comfy king sized bed. To our surprise, they set up two elegant swan towels with flowers spread around the bed (so romantic!). Then we saw the luxurious bathroom; two sinks, big mirrors, a rain shower, and of course the large bathtub that faced the view. We were in awe, and we couldn’t wait to spend the next three days in our cozy retreat.
5 Things to Experience at Sunsuri Phuket
1. Indulge in one of the many buffets
Our first night there we got to enjoy the Asian-inspired buffet at SAIL restaurant. For foodies, it’s basically heaven. There were so many options to taste. My pro tip for going to a buffet is to just take a little bit of each so you have room to try everything! My favorite part was the dessert selection! They had various types of Thai desserts in little bowls and cups. I wish I didn’t get full so I could eat more of those. For breakfast, we had another buffet at SIP, where they made special order eggs and had a yummy selection of juices like pineapple and lychee. We peeked downstairs back at SAIL and they had unlimited Thai Tea! That same day, we came back for dinner, which was, of course, another buffet. After eating a lot of street food, this meal felt so glorious. They had the best Pad See Ewe and they even had a fried banana dessert, which you could pair with ice cream and sweet syrups.
2. Lose track of time at the pool
Set in the middle of the property, there are 4 pools you can enjoy. There are so many things to do while you’re at the pool. Right off the bat, we got to experience water boxing, where you hold your balance while trying to knock down your opponent. If you lose your balance or get hit, down you go into the pool! We used our Muay Thai skills we learned earlier in the day, and I was able to knock Andy off! After that, we ordered some refreshing cocktails to enjoy poolside. I think I spent about an hour just lounging on my new pineapple floatie, pure bliss. For those thrill seekers, they also have a water slide and a diving platform! I faced my fears and jumped off a few times, it was exhilarating! We spent a good 3 and half hours at all the pools, and then realized since that wasn’t enough, it was time to enjoy the sunset at our pool villa.
3. Learn how to cook a 4-course Thai meal
Andy and I are pretty much master chefs now! With the help from Chef Aroon, we both learned how to whip up four new Thai dishes. Suited in our tall chef hat and Sunsuri aprons, we began cutting vegetables and mixing ingredients together. Our first dish was Yam Ta-Lay, spicy seafood and lemon juice mixed together into a refreshing salad. Our second dish was Gaeng Jued Gai Sab, a light chicken soup with vegetables. Our third dish was Phad Kra Prow Nue, wok-fried beef with garlic, chili, and hot basil leaves. Our final dish was a Thai classic, Kluay Buad Chee, sweetened bananas in coconut milk cream. To our surprise, we just prepared a four-course meal in about 45 minutes. When everything was finished, we received a certificate of completion and got to enjoy our delicious lunch on the outside patio.
4. Relax at Nai Harn Beach
The real reason why you visit Phuket is for the beaches, right? We took a 5-minute complimentary shuttle ride to Nai Harn Beach on our last day before check out. When you get there, rent a pair of beach chairs and an umbrella for about 200 baht, you’ll need shade if you want to survive the heat! They have a strip of shops and cafés where you can find some lunch and buy some coconuts to quench your thirst. Check out Sea Breeze Café, a partner of Sunsuri. You’ll also find stores that carry every kind of floatie imaginable! I couldn’t control myself, so I bought a huge pineapple for 250 baht. After sunbathing, we took a dip in the ocean to cool off and do some swimming!
5. Take a private Muay Thai Lesson
Imagine an outdoor deck, overlooking lush greenery and lake. Then add hot weather and Muay Thai lessons, you have the perfect workout to burn all the calories you gained at the buffet! Our instructor Patt, was very informative and patient and taught us the basics of Thai boxing. He wrapped our hands and instructed how to do basic punches, kicks, and a combination of both. After that, it was time to put on the boxing gloves and give it all we got. It was the perfect setting to have a fitness class, to learn more about Thai culture while working out is a huge plus!
Our visit to Sunsuri Phuket was simply amazing. Our two-night stay flew by, but we made so many memories and made new friendships with the gracious staff. We requested late check out, that’s how much we didn’t want to leave! Thank you Fook for having us, you made Phuket a magical destination for us!
