Jantra Residence by Chinocollection

You are staying in Kathu, not in a beach-front dive resort, but in a small residence built around space, greenery and a slower rhythm. Jantra Residence by Chinocollection combines hotel rooms, suites, villas and cottages, with the choice of a more compact stay or something that gives you room to spread out after a day carrying dive gear around.

English is spoken by the hotel team, alongside Russian and Traditional Chinese. That matters when you are arranging a transfer, asking the concierge about an excursion or simply trying to explain what you would like for dinner without resorting to mime and hopeful pointing.

The mood is more residence than full-scale resort: a garden, a terrace, a library and a central pool. There is also a restaurant on site, so you can come back, eat, swim and settle in without turning every evening into a transport exercise.

The address is 80/6 Moo 7, Kathu, Phuket, Thailand. The property is a few steps from Kathu town centre, with Tiger Kingdom, Bangkok Hospital Phuket and Khao Rang Hill View Point among the nearby places to explore.

Its position also gives you access to several of Phuket's better-known stops: Patong Beach, Central Mall Phuket and Old Phuket Town are all highlighted as major sights close to the residence. This is a useful base if your non-diving plans involve food, shopping, viewpoints or a change of scenery rather than simply walking from reception to the sand.

Excursions can be arranged through the hotel, including trips to Monkey Hill, Phi Phi Island and Racha Island. Boat excursions are also available, while car hire can be arranged when you prefer to set your own timetable.

The accommodation range is broad, but the useful distinction is not the grand wording attached to each category. It is how you want to use the space. Couples can choose a double room or suite, with options facing the garden, pool, water or golf course. Some executive double rooms and suites add a balcony, which gives you somewhere to sit rather than using the edge of the bed for every piece of clothing you own.

Travelling with friends or family, look at the duplex, two-bedroom suite, villa and cottage categories. The duplex options work for a small group, while the larger villas and cottages are the more natural choice when everyone needs a little breathing room. A villa category includes air conditioning, a fridge, tea and coffee facilities, a dining area, blackout blinds, a desk, Wi-Fi, a television and bottled water, as well as a private bathroom.

Suites bring the more useful everyday details: a safe, telephone, toiletries and towels, alongside the private bathroom. The practical difference after diving is simple. A fridge helps with cold water, blackout blinds help when your body clock has given up on local time, and air conditioning is available in the villa category. The hotel also offers laundry and dry-cleaning services, handy when saltwater has had its say over several days.

The Sala is the on-site restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner from an open-air terrace. The cooking covers Thai and international dishes, with gourmet coffee and specialist tea prepared by chefs trained internationally. It is the sort of arrangement that suits a dive day: breakfast before heading out, a proper meal when you return, and no need to go hunting for dinner in wet kit-adjacent clothing.

Breakfast is complimentary. Room service is available too, which gives you a quieter option when the day's exertions have made conversation feel like an advanced speciality.

There is no bar listed as a separate venue, but the drinks side is not an afterthought. Specialty teas are grown on site, including Butterfly Pea and Indian Cork, while mixologists create signature cocktails. The Sala opens from 7.30am until 8pm, so plan dinner within that window rather than assuming the kitchen will be waiting at midnight.

The 25-metre central pool is the obvious place to loosen up after a day in the water. You also have a sun terrace and garden, with enough of a change of scene to make the afternoon feel like recovery rather than simply waiting for the next alarm.

The spa offers massage and rejuvenation therapies. Treatments require a reservation, so arrange one rather than arriving with the confidence of someone who has never tried to book a massage at the last minute. The library gives you another low-effort option when you want a chair, a book and no timetable.

For a more active day, the hotel can arrange excursions to Monkey Hill, Phi Phi Island and Racha Island. Golf and cultural excursions are also available, and the concierge can help organise outings. Pets are welcome, which is useful for guests travelling with a four-legged companion, while accessible facilities include wheelchair access and an accessible restaurant.

Airport transfers are available through the hotel and can be arranged on request. Parking is available if you are driving, and the hotel can also arrange car hire. Free Wi-Fi covers the practical business of checking boat messages, weather updates and the inevitable collection of photographs that should have been deleted before storage became a problem.

Reception, concierge, luggage storage, laundry and dry cleaning are available. The property also offers currency exchange, ticket assistance and help with excursions. Express check-out and contactless check-in or check-out are part of the practical setup, while the accommodation is non-smoking.

Visa, Mastercard, American Express and cash are accepted. Pets are allowed, and the hotel provides pet-related arrangements for stays with an animal. The property also has facilities for events and a conference room, though the main attraction for a diver remains the combination of on-site meals, a pool, a spa and a location suited to exploring Phuket away from the beach-front strip.