We have just returned from a wonderful stay at the Banyan Tree in Phuket.

This was our second visit to a Banyan Tree Resort as we stayed at their Seychelles resort last year and I am now totally hooked.

The Banyan Tree resorts must surely be among the most beautiful resorts in the world. We stayed in a lagoon pool villa. We had actually booked to stay in a pool villa but were given complimentary upgrades to the lagoon one.

I was celebrating my birthday and i was given a complimentary birthday cake and champagne. I thought this was a lovely touch and it is things like this that makes Banyan Tree so special.

We had private transfers from the airport and were met at the Banyan Tree reception by a young woman with a huge smile and were given little flower garlands and a cool drink and cold cloths.

The reception area is beautiful with lily ponds and marble everywhere. After a speedy check-in we were taken by buggy to our suite. We could not believe our eyes. It was absolutely beautiful. We had our own pool which was just a few steps from our bed, through sliding doors, whuch was set in our own garden with exotic plants and trees. The pool was a good size and we also had a double padded sunlounger and after our pool there was a raised deck with a table and chairs then behind that was a wooden sala with another two sunbeds.

Our villa also had a huge inside rainshower but we also had an outside sunken bath which was really nice. There were his and her basins and closets and the most wonderful toiletries. There were robes for our use as well as slippers and sandals for use at the pool. The room had a cd/dvd player too,coffee maker and mini bar. Every morning there would be fresh fruit delivered to our room too.

The villa was extremely clean and we would have our room cleaned twice a day and in the evening after turndown service there would be a gift on our bed and soft music playing and candles burning.The resort is quite spread out so there are buggies to take you around. You just call them and within minutes a buggy would be there for us.

The beach was lovely and was only about 10metres from our front door.The whole resort is so beautiful. It surrounds a lagoon which joins the other 4 resorts which make up the Laguna Complex which Banyan Tree is part of. Just to add, after our sala, there was a wooden gate which led to a little bath which led to another private sunbathing platform which was right on the edge of the lagoon.

We stayed on a bed and breakfast basis and the breakfast choice was amazing. The food was so fresh and the choice was unbelievable. You had a wonderful choice of restaurants at the Banyan Tree but you could also use the facilities and restaurants of the other four resorts. There was so much choice from Thai to International that at times we could not decide where to have dinner. Every night we had a wondeful meal.

We had no complaints about anything. Food and service was always first class. In the evening after dinner we would sit in the open reception area and have a drink. It was so relaxing, but if you are looking for somewhere with lots of activity going on then this would not be the place for you. We were quite happy just to relax and soak up the atmosphere.

My one regret is that I never tried their spa. It gets rave reviews and now wished I had tried one of their treatments. Maybe that could be my excuse to return next year!

This place is just amazing. The staff are the most wonderful and friendliest people you could ever hope to meet. We have stayed at many 5-star resorts around the world but personally I think none are as beautiful as Banyan Tree Resorts. We were so sad to leave and during our short time there we made so many "friends" with the staff of Banyan Tree Phuket. We miss their smiling faces so much.

If anyone is considering going to a Banyan Tree resort, then you should go ahead and book it. Booking to go to the Banyan Tree in Phuket was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I have so much wonderful memories from our stay there.

It truly is an exceptional place of exceptional beauty and even more exceptional staff. Congratulations to Banyan Tree Resorts on giving us the chance to experience something so beautiful.

We will definately return.