Hotel advice in Patong Phuket

I am talking to my friend in Pattaya about visiting Phuket with him on my next Thai holiday in March and I am looking for advise on suitable hotels.

I have previously stayed at Club one seven - I would consider it again but the rooms are pretty small and I think their "Grand Deluxe" rooms literally open straight on to the small pool with no sort of terrace area. I have also stayed at Aquarius Guesthouse, their so called Suites are OK, but no balcony and whilst it has the small roof terrace the small indoor pool is a bit limited.

I am ideally looking for somewhere reasonably comfortable, must have a gym (for my friend not me!) and preferable an out door pool, ideally in the Patong area. My main concern is that whilst I will hopefully be with my friend most of the time, if I did have any other joiner I don't want to incur extra fees and embarrassment and also want somewhere that is reasonably gay friendly - rather than full of families and kids who might find it a bit odd a 50 year old with a young Thai guy!

Any advise or suggestions would be really appreciated?

If you can afford it I can recommend the Royal Paradise Hotel right in the heart of the gay area and have all the facilities you need


http://www.agoda.com/the-royal-paradise ... tel&cklg=1

Club Bamboo is a gay hotel, but more than a walk to Paradise. It is a little overpriced, but you would feel comfortable there. http://www.clubbamboo.com/

Toy Residence is a cheaper option in the same area, and with more space, and no one minds who you bring back. http://www.phuket-toyresidence.com/en/

Despite having the advantage of being right in the middle of the gay Paradise Complex, the Royal Paradise Hotel used to have the reputation of being relatively gay unfriendly, but perhaps that has changed. It certainly still caters for coachloads of oriental tourists, who often look bemused when they walk back to the hotel through the gay area!

Royal Paradise hotel?

Joiner Fee - a no no!
No free Wifi in room - a no no!
Chinese package tourists in large numbers in the hotel - a no no!

http://www.royalparadise.com/faq.html
http://www.phuketbars.info/non_guest_fr ... hotels.php

My one piece of advice is to keep well clear of the central (very straight) entertainment area (Walking Street etc) unless you are a late night reveller and prefer to sleep during the day. The music continues until 0600, r at least it did when I was there in June. You need to be at least 800m away from it all. Plenty of choice; check the Agoda site.

In Patong you can be in the middle of the Complex and still have quiet nights and sympathic rates : by staying at the Rendez-Vous Hotel (gay owned)
http://www.boontarika.com/index.htm

I would book there again without any doubt - at least when the beach will be tourist-friendly again.

I agree; I've stayed twice at Rendezvous. It is, as you say, quiet....the gay sois in the Paradise Complex do not sport the enormous amplifiers favoured by the straight bars in and near Walking Street.
The rooms are simple but perfectly acceptable. Decent bathrooms and a/c, too.
One bonus is that the coffee and croissants are the best I've had in Thailand. There is no reception at night....you are given a key.