We booked through Hoteltravel.com for 2 adults and 2 chilren. When we arrived after some discussion we discovered Hoteltravel.com had only booked 2 adults into the resort. As a result we were asked to pay an additional 1000THB for an roll in bed. After some discussion with Hoteltravel.com and the hotel, the hotel compromised and said they would provide a mattress free. What I discovered was that they had taken the matress off a rollaway bed (leaving the base around the corner from my room). Why they didn't just give me the whole bed I will never know. It just seemed a bit petty.

When you arrive at this rather isolated hotel you are pleasantly surprised to see what appears to be a nice hotel. On arrivel we were told about hotel construction which was around the main pool and along the beach front. We paid an additional 800THB for a villa that allowed you to slip from your balcony into the pool.

On entering our room we passed 2 stagnent green ponds. On entering our room I spent the next hour killing 12 mosquitos and then resorted to requesting bug spray and nuking the wholeroom.

The room was of interesting Thai design but lacked finish and was very small. The bed was as hard as hell hence a poor nights sleep. We were afforded 2 small bottles of drinking water with a warning the tap water was not good to drink and you had to pay for anymore.

In general the resort struct me as run down and in need of invigoration with very view guests actually staying in the resort.

The dining area closest the pool also was adjacent more stagnent water. Watching the staff was comical as they split oil and other liquids on the ground and mucked around in preparation for dinner.

Given the condition of the rest of the water around the resort I was a little concerned about the state of the pool water although we did swim in it and did not get sick.

While the food at the pool restaurant was poor the breakfast was great with plenty of choice.

When walking on the beach there was a lot of rubbish.

There were not many staff around the resort however those that I spoke to were very pleasant and tried their best.

Our chilren enjoyed swimming from the room but we were pleased to get away from the place.

Considering what we paid I am sure I could have got better value for money.

For my short vacation, I chose to stay at Arahmas Resort and expected a quiet, peaceful, and quality vacation. Arahmas Resort has given me a really great time. The resort is quite new, green and clean. The room is spacious, functional and fine decorated. We stayed on the building and have seaview room where the guestrooms on the ground floor have pool access.

The beach is nice, long and private eventhough the sand is not sandy and very white. There is a construction site near by the resort, but it has stopped already for a few months. So we enjoyed the day reading and relaxing around the pool and the beach. The food there was fine and fresh. The staffs were always smile, friendly and helpful.

A right choice for a wonderful tranquil vation here at Arahmas.

It is important to note that hotel suffers from the construction of new Grand Hyatt hotel just on the left, and view is not so pretty.

Beach is not swimmable and at low tide there isn't even a beach! The water just goes away leaving a huge stretch of wet sand and all you can see is construction on your left.

Hotel location is secluded, one hour away by taxi to Patong beach and 40 minutes away from Phuket city. If it happens to rain while you are on holiday to Arahmas hotel you practically have nothing to do and that includes hotel rooms TV program which is very limited. Also, hotel will not provide free shuttle bus unless you pay and minimum 4 people to go anywhere. Arahmas is no where near five star hotel, most I can give is just four star and hotel grated 5 star them-self, hotel staff was nice.

As written previously, this hotel suffers from the construction of the new Hyatt Regency (not Hilton) just besides. This construction is noisy all day (fortunately not at night) and particularly ugly for the view (10 storeys, right into the sea with no beach). How can the Thailand authorities could have accepted the spoilage of a so beautiful location ?

Because the location is one of the best on Phuket island : secluded, nature, deserted, not too many people. Even the airport nearby has not been a problem and the planes were relatively quiet compared to the Hyatt. At Arahmas, staff was very nice and friendly, especially in order to arrange the very best suite available in the hotel : ask the ones right at the end of the aisles (not the one close to the reception). The view on the bay is superb with big verandas.

Cooking chief is swiss and its western cuisine is very creative, tasty and unexpensive for its quality. Even if, like me, you are crazy of Thai cuisine, you should try its risotto or duck breast with mango shutney or its mango sabayon. A dream for a French like me.

The nearby hideous Hyatt should be finished by mid 2008 (it was scheduled to open by the end of 2006). So wait until the construction is finished in order to take benefit of this peaceful place (and try not to look at the building then).