Wayla villa@Maikhao beach (SHA Plus+)

The staff really made this stay for me. They were welcoming and accommodating from the start, checked that things were going well, and offered a free airport taxi either way. For my ride back, they offered a better price than I could find on grab. I had booked this hotel and room specifically for a bathtub, but the room looked like the online photos except the tub was missing. The owner showed me the broken one and explained the replacement he'd ordered hadn't arrived. They had another room with a tub, luckily, since it wasn't tourist season and I wasn't staying long. They moved me into a massive upgrade at no extra charge. In touristy Phuket, they could easily have handled it differently, so I appreciated the gesture even more. I didn't eat at the restaurant, so I can't comment on the food. There's a lovely cafe across the street, and the beach is easy to walk to, so it's good for a quieter Phuket stay. I rated the location 4/5 because, even with lots of restaurants nearby, good western food is hard to find around there. That's only an issue if, like me, you live in Asia year round and really miss pizza. It's also very quiet, and I slept past 10am. A great experience, and I'd recommend staying here.

I spent 7 days here while volunteering at Soi Dogs, and ate at the restaurant every night. It was too good for me to want to try somewhere else. The family running the place takes lovely care of guests, always coming by to say hello and ask how your day went. I loved the couch in my room, and the bed was really comfortable. Highly recommend it for a stay in Maikhao!

The airport transfer was free and had been arranged for me and some other guests in the morning, which made things easy. The hotel is in a quiet area near the airport, with massage, food, cafes, 7-11, and the beach a few minutes' walk away. I had dinner downstairs, where the menu was large. When staff noticed I was battling a mosquito, they thoughtfully brought repellent. My room was spacious, with a large, beautiful bathroom and an incredibly comfortable bed. I slept amazingly and didn't hear any noise from other guests. The pool looked very clean and people were swimming, though I didn't get in. I'd have used it if I'd had more time. There's no elevator, but staff carried my luggage to the second floor. I'd come back.

The family at Wayla were the real gem. They were extremely helpful, offered a free shuttle to the airport, and went above and beyond when I lost my phone on the morning I was leaving. Since getting back to the U.K., I've been able to track its location, and they've been instrumental in helping me find it. I'm very grateful. We stayed one night in the Japanese room before our flight home. It was spacious, had good facilities, and the villa is very close to Phuket airport. We used the free bikes and ate at the restaurant, which had a good range of food that was nicely presented. A lovely place, highly recommended.