Westin Siray Bay Resort to open soon in Phuket
Rooms at the new Westin have sweeping views of the islands of Phang Nga Bay.
There was a time when visitors to Phuket would go to the Siray area, east of Phuket Town, for just one reason: to catch the big ferry to Phi Phi. The narrow channel between the main island and Koh Siray (Siray Island) was – still is – the centre of Phuket’s fishing industry and unless you were looking for general scruffiness, a vague and unsettling feeling that this was a rather lawless part of the island (it was – gang wars between Burmese fishing boat crews resulted in a rash of murders), and the pervasive reek of fish, there was no other reason to go there.
This was a pity, because Koh Siray, on the other side of the fishing port, was, and is, an attractive, heavily wooded place, with quiet bays and, at the eastern end, fine views of the islands in the centre of Phang Nga Bay. It wasn’t long, of course, that people discovered the charms of this quiet island. Tour companies began taking visitors to the Sea Gypsy village there, with its unique culture, and to Wat Siray, the small temple high on the hill.
A couple of people built large private homes with broad sea views, property agents started hunting for plots to sell, and the first resort opened – featuring a pool with Phuket’s first water slide.
Now Koh Siray has snagged its first five-star international hotel brand, with the opening of the Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa in March next year. Construction is almost complete, and a general manager has been appointed. He is Greg Findlay, who spent a couple of years running the Sheraton Krabi Beach Resort before joining Westin in New Zealand. Now he’s back in Thailand.
The rooms have a bright, clean design.
Backing him up on the sales side is Regina Wilson, who track record includes a spell with Meridien in Bali and with Sheraton in Fiji.
“Our exclusive location on the east side of Phuket coupled with the private white sandy beach, crystal clear water and abundant greenery around will make this Westin resort a perfect retreat for our guests to recharge and rejuvenate” remarked Findlay.
The resort will have 258 rooms, suites and villas, six restaurants and bars, three swimming pools and four meeting rooms. The scheduled opening date is March 1. The website is here.
We are currently in the process of booking a holiday in Thailand in October. Your new hotel looks fantastic but I am a very nervous traveller and because of the tsunami, prefer a hotel room that it is set high above the sea level. It is a very special occasion for us and I want to ensure that our accommodation is exceptionally nice and I feel at ease. Could you give me a more detailed description of your rooms and we can then visit our travel agent to make a booking. Thank you. Kindest Regards. Catherine Heath, Perth, Western Australia.