We’re a German family living in Thailand since 2019, with two daughters (3.5 and 7.5). Thanks to our Thai Elite Visa, we sometimes get fun offers through Thailand Privilege – like this one: three nights at Anantara Vacation Club Mai Khao in a two-bedroom suite for just 7,500 THB.
We already loved Anantara Koh Phangan and heard rumors that White Lotus was filmed at the Mai Khao property (spoiler alert: not quite). So we booked it. Over Songkran. Full of excitement.
In this Anantara Vacation Club Mai Khao Phuket review, I’ll share exactly what happened – the highs, the lows, and the sales pitch that made us want to run.
What Is Anantara Vacation Club Mai Khao Really Like?
Anantara Vacation Club Mai Khao offers big suites and friendly staff, but falls short on key details. There’s no beach access, limited food options, and a pushy sales pitch. While the rooms are spacious, the overall stay felt more like a timeshare pitch than a relaxing holiday.
Anantara Vacation Club: Arrival and First Impressions
We flew in from Koh Samui with Bangkok Airways – short flight, smooth ride. At Phuket Airport, a hotel minivan was already waiting for us. Air-conditioned, comfy, no drama. Great start.
At check-in, we were greeted by a lovely receptionist named Oil. She handled everything super fast while my husband and the girls chilled on a swing in the lobby.
Then came Leeffe, our bell boy. He loaded our bags onto a golf cart and gave us a mini hotel tour on the way to our room. Friendly, funny, and spoke perfect English. Honestly? He’s due a promotion!
Our suite? Huge. Two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a full kitchen, and – drumroll – a hidden washing machine and dryer in the closet. Big balcony with a pool view. It felt like a proper apartment, not a hotel room. First impression: we thought we struck gold.
But that feeling didn’t last long.
The Reality of the Resort
So, the suite was lovely. But once we stepped outside and looked at the hotel facilities, things started to feel… off.
First surprise: there’s only one pool. It’s filled with kids’ toys and inflatables. Loud, crowded, no adult area. No peaceful corner to sip a coffee or read a book while the kids splash around. Just chaos.
Then we realized – there’s only one real restaurant. It’s called Taurus. That’s also where breakfast is served. They have a pizza oven too, which supplies the pool bar and restaurant. There’s also a “rooftop bar” that opens occasionally… but it has maybe five tables and not a single vegetarian option on the menu. Zero. Nada.
Oh, and about the beach? You won’t find it here.
The hotel is basically a gated community of villas and one main building with a tiny sports area. No beach access, no sea breeze, no space. You’re surrounded by walls. And if you’re dreaming of the White Lotus filming location – sorry. That was the other Anantara next door. The one you’re not allowed to enter. Unless you book dinner in advance.
Glorious Food? (Or Not.)
After traveling, we were starving. So we headed to the Taurus restaurant. We’re vegetarians, and let’s just say… options were limited (but we’re used to that).
We ordered a veggie sandwich, a veggie bowl, fries for the girls, and soda water. The bill? Almost 2,000 THB. For real.
Later, when we wanted dinner, we were told it was buffet-only. 2,000 THB per adult. 1,000 THB per child. So… 6,000 THB for the four of us – to pick at a handful of veggie side dishes? No thanks.
We tried to order pizza to our room instead. But guess what?
“Sorry, can’t make pizza when it rains.”
(Still not sure if that was a joke or real policy. Either way, we were hangry.)
We ended up ordering a vegetarian indian dal. It took over an hour to arrive.
Oh, and the next surprise?
A disgusting smell started coming from the master bathroom. We kept the door shut and the extractor fan running 24/7. The light in the closet also wouldn’t turn off unless we jammed a remote control into the door frame. Our DIY hotel hacks were starting to pile up.
Breakfast Surprise
The next morning, we had breakfast at 8 a.m. I was honestly nervous – I’d read some rough reviews. But surprisingly, the buffet wasn’t bad at all! Lots of choices, decent coffee, an egg bar and fresh pastries. Pro tip: sit in the side room near the bakery area. It’s calmer. After 9, the main room turns into a circus.
The staff? Lovely. Super attentive. They really were the highlight of our whole stay.
The Kids Club Letdown
After breakfast, we brought the girls to the Kids Club. And… ouch.
Let’s just say the photos online are very, very generous. In reality, the space felt cold and empty. A big slide, a tired toy kitchen shoved in the back, and not much else. No cozy vibes, no creativity, no warmth. We’ve stayed at Hyatt, Marriott, and Pullman – and this didn’t even come close.
Honestly, I wouldn’t leave my kids there for more than two hours. And I didn’t feel great about that.
The only good thing? Again – the friendly staff. The girls loved the pirate treasure hunt, face painting, and rock climbing wall inside. The team did their absolute best. But it felt like they were making magic with very little.
Still, we were trying to stay positive. Until the next part.
The Infamous Anantara Vacation Club Sales Presentation
This was part of the deal. I knew it. 90 to 120 minutes, they said. I’d read some horror stories online – pushy tactics, people crying, someone even called their lawyer afterwards. So yeah… I was prepared for battle.
We showed up at 10 a.m. The waiting area was full of other “guests” waiting for their turn. Slowly, everyone was picked up by their personal sales rep. At 10:10, our rep arrived – a young Thai woman with perfect English and a super friendly vibe. So far, so good.
She walked us upstairs to a big room full of sales booths. It was loud, pop music playing, people chatting, deals being made left and right.
Our rep was actually great. Kind, not too pushy, explained everything well, showed us Anantara Hotels in New Zealand, Dubai, and the Maldives. Her manager popped in from time to time – older, experienced, also doing her thing. The pitch? A timeshare-style membership for Anantara and partner resorts around the world. Interesting concept… but not for us.
They got the hint early that we weren’t going to sign anything. After about two hours and a short tour of a pool villa, we thought we were free.
Nope.
A third guy came in. Final sales pitch. Middle-aged Thai man. Opened with:
“Don’t worry, the sales part is over now.”
Spoiler: it wasn’t.
He launched into this weird pressure campaign. Said it was “just between me and my husband.” Looked only at my husband. Ignored me completely. Tried to sell us a 500 USD “trial package” (as far as I remember) and wanted us to swipe our credit card immediately. Then came the gaslighting.
“You might not be there yet in life…”
“It’s a thing between you and your wife…”
Excuse me?
At that point, the holiday vibe officially died. We were done. We just wanted to get the hell out.
The Rest of Our “Holiday” – aka Escape Mode
We picked up the girls from the Kids Club and made a quick plan: get out of here.
We sneaked next door to the Marriott Beach Club – where we found good food at decent prices and even managed to hang out (illegally, oops) by the beachfront pool. The kids played, we breathed, and we all agreed: this was the most relaxing part of our trip so far.
The next two days? We did everything we could to avoid the resort.
We explored Phuket Old Town. We went to Central Festival Mall. We even (again, illegally) wandered into the “real” Anantara next door – the actual White Lotus filming location. It was stunning. Peaceful. Stylish. The total opposite of where we were staying. We snapped some sneaky photos and dreamed of what could’ve been.
Back at our suite, the bad smell in the bathroom? Still there. They tried to fix it and also left a very sweet apology note, but nope.
Key Takeaways: Anantara Vacation Club Mai Khao
- Large suites with a kitchen and laundry
- No direct beach access
- One crowded pool and one restaurant
- Few vegetarian options, overpriced food
- Pushy sales pitch included in the stay
- Staff were kind, but the resort lacked charm
- Wouldn’t return or recommend for families
👉 You might also like:
– Hyatt Regency Phuket with Kids – My Honest Review
– The Best Time to Visit Phuket: Weather, Season & Climate
– 7-Day Thailand Family Trip: 2 Perfect Itinerary Ideas
– Pullman Phuket Naithon Beach with Kids – Honest Review
Final Thoughts – Would We Ever Return to Anantara Vacation Club?
Short answer? No. Long answer? Absolutely not.
Yes, the suite was big. Yes, the staff were lovely. But the whole experience left a really bad taste. Between the limited food options, lack of beach access, sad kids club, and aggressive sales pitch… it just wasn’t the relaxing family break we hoped for.
And calling it Anantara? Honestly misleading. This is not the dreamy beachfront luxury you see in their ads. It’s a walled-off, villa maze with a sales office vibe. Add a sewage-smelling bathroom and overpriced food, and… yeah.
If you’re thinking of taking one of these “cheap” vacation club offers – ask yourself what your time, energy, and peace of mind are worth. For us, this was the worst value “deal” we’ve taken in years.
We ended up spending our “vacation” trying to escape the very place we were staying. Not great, right?
So no, we wouldn’t return. Not to this Anantara.
Did you plan on going too? Or have you stayed at a Vacation Club like this before? I’d love to hear your experience – drop it in the comments!
Thank you for reading and for making me part of your day. Kindly, Lulu
Just a heads up: some links in “Anantara Vacation Club Mai Khao” are affiliate links. If you click and buy, I might earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
One Response
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