Holiday Inn Mai Khao Day 3 and 4

In this post, we will share the various activities from our holiday at Holiday Inn Mai Khao.

If you stay at Holiday Inn resorts, you are likely to see these themes repeated.
– Stay Romantic- bathtub, sunsets
– Stay Delectable- food bbq, buffet πŸ™‚
– Stay Relaxed- yoga, swim, Spa
– Stay Connected- free Wifi connection (kids would associated Stay Connected with their PS3!)

We would add “Stay FUN“. There are enough activities in Holiday Inn Phuket Mai Khao to keep us entertained for 4D3N(checkout our Day 1 and Day 2 itineraries)
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– Stay Relaxed –
Where should we start? There are so many water places all around us, all FUN!
The lap pools, swimming pools, the Andaman Sea and even our bathtub!

Video : Beach and pool activities (planes spotting too)

Beach play after our breakfast. As the tides roll in, the waves grew stronger. Even swimmers must be careful. When the waves roll back, younger kids can be sucked in!

Sandcastle building would be fun on the soft sand.
Beach waves Phuket Mai Khao

It is definitely safer (but no less Fun) to swim at Holiday Inn Phuket Mai Khao’s infinity pool. Besides water polo and other “scheduled” water activities, kids can choose some unofficial curriculum, such as throwing and picking-up of pebbles underwater.
Family Friendly Phuket hotels

Yoga anyone? We attended an early 8am session. Not exactly soothing for first timers, the stretching can be strenuous and tiring.
Yoga Holiday Inn Phuket

Family bonding with kids, it was pretty unique to be perspiring on the beach. Close our eyes, hear the waves lapping on the beach.

Breath in breath out, Zen, we got to remember to “Stay Relaxed” right?
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– Stay Romantic and chill

Pickup a book, laze on the beach, watch the Sunset (Day 2 post).
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We saw a beach party under the evening sky and swaying trees, accompanied by live band and sea breeze.
The constant drift of BBQ meat was inviting.

A beach wedding ceremony at Mai Khao beach should be spectacular.
Holiday Inn Mai Khao wedding
(image credit Holiday Inn Phuket Mai Khao website)

Perhaps your definition of Romantic is couple time massage or spa?

Introducing the famous Tea Tree Spa. Rustic building, high ceiling and cooling interior. A cup of ice tea, and we are immediately shielded from the hot sun.

A quiet moment for Mummy and Daddy, away from the occasional kids’ screaming :p
Holiday Inn Phuket Tee Tree Spa

Inside the inner sanctuary, Mummy and Daddy chose the “Back, Head and Shoulder” massage (30min) and Feet massage (30min). The next hour was pure bliss as our masseuse soothes our stress away

Couple time again, our minds were with each other, until Daddy snooze away… (ooops)
Massage

Parents would be happy to know that kids can join them in massage session too! We would have invited our kids down, but Tea Tree Spa was fully booked.
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We did enroll the kids for a massage session at the huts outside our resort. Kids were giggling away as they got tickled, but they were enjoying their own pampering session too.
Phuket Massage

It can be pretty warm in the afternoon, sleeping can be a form of relaxation too.
Just grab a book and lie down on the hammock or pool couch.
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Just chill and relax.
Phuket Mai Khao Holiday Inn review

– Stay Delectable –

Enjoying our American breakfast at Pesto, while soaking in the sights from the vast horizon of Andaman sea.
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Yummy traditional and authentic Thai Food from Kin Dee, rated No3 in Mai Khao.
Mai Khao Kin Dee Thai food

We phone-order our lunch and enjoy a sumptuous meal on our balcony. No doubt the experience would be better if we dine at the restaurant.
Recommend Thai food Phuket Mai Khao

Go for the green curry and appetisers like salads, prawn/crab rolls. Their mango sticky rice is especially sweet.
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(Kin Dee meal is not sponsored)

For the ultimate experience, the whole family can enroll in a cooking class and whip up some Green Curry, Tom Yam Gong and pineapple salad.

Under the real chef’s guide, adults proceed to dish out three Thai cuisines.
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Remembering to have Fun, even when we are preparing meals for our love ones.
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Newly minted Thai chefs, our green curry is quite good.
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Cute aprons, but the little ones are very serious when it comes to making their own pizzas.
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Otherwise, how would you explain Boon Xin rolling the dough with eyes blindfolded?
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Their pizza must be delicious, Boon Kang was caught pinching away πŸ™‚
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The cooking class was a delightful experience for everyone, especially more memorable when they realised we are making our own lunch.
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– Stay FUN –
Over our 4D3N stay, there was always some activities to engage us.

If you are adventurous, run 4km to catch planes landing on Phuket International airport. Although Daddy would not recommend the kids to run along (it is tiring to run on sloping sand!)
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You might have spotted the beach when your plane is landing.
Phuket International Airport

Plane spotting real close, as you can feel the planes roar overhead. Do note that the best time to catch inbound planes (flying in from the sea) will be between 7am to 9am. I suspect afternoons will be outbound flights.
planes spotting Phuket

You will notice that Mai Khao beach does not have any sea motor sports like jetski or parasailing. We overheard from staff that it was intentional to keep the beach untarnished.

Outdoor playground (outside Kid’s club) is popular with smaller kids too, but there is minimal shelter.
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Even up till the last hour, while waiting for our van, kids still want to pick up billiard.
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Princess treatment. Kids are really given VIP access at Kid’s Club. Parents should not be surprised when kids request to stay there from dawn to dusk!
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So, what will we miss about Holiday Inn Phuket Mai Khao?

Boon Xin will miss her Princess treatment and friends at Kid’s Club. We felt very safe whenever Boon Xin is in the hands of caretakers at Kid’s club.
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I will miss the Chocolate croissants from our breakfast at J’s Cafe.
Sweet, indulging, all holidays should be this good!
Chocolate Croissant

Boys will miss the swimming pools.(Actually they miss the PS3 more, we need to pull them away from their room every day)
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Thank you Holiday Inn Phuket Mai Khao for your kind hospitality. Everyone was so friendly to us, and guests were warmly greeted at every corner.

Praew (Marketing) is friendly and accommodating, Maroo (activities manager) is always really to engaged the kids in sports, friendly Ploy (front desk) can speak Mandarin and always smiling while Jack (Pesto) is always attentive and ensures his guests enjoy Pesto’s services.

With your smiles and personalities, you made our holiday much more memorable. Even our kids are impressed, they were happily saying “Sa-wat-dee” with palms clasped whenever someone greeted them πŸ™‚

Everyone needs a relaxing vacation to rejuvenate.
We would not hesitate to recommend Holiday Inn Mai Khao to our friends.

Holiday Inn Phuket

More details about resort can be found on their Website, Fanpage and Instagram.
Our 4D3N Phuket Mai Khao Itinerary :
Day 1 Resort activities
Day 2 Phi Phi island tour
– Day 3 and 4 blog post (the pool, the sea, the massage)
– Day 3 and 4 photo albums on our Fanpage

Holiday Inn Phuket Mai Khao review

This lap pool at Holiday Inn Phuket Mai Khao always set our hearts fluttering.
Imagine living on the first floor, our swimming suits will never be dry!
Holiday Inn Mai Khao pool

Our rooms over 4D3N were the two bedrooms family suite (83sqm). Kids were actually assigned a Junior Suite, but the room will be on another block, end up we chose two Family Suites.
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Kids got their own LCD but I suspect the only console they need is the PS3!
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Love how Holiday Inn makes an extra effort to ensure kids are catered to. Juniors got their own shower kit, there is a stool for them to ensure they are tall enough to brush their teeth too.
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If they wish, kids can choose their own cartoon linens too! Parents will be impressed with the attention lavished on details.
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Kids definitely have it better. Compare their bathtub with adult’s single shower head πŸ™
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Parents will be jealous of the kids’ humongous bathtub! In case any parents wish to hijack the romantic bathtub, do take note kids will have a full view from their room :p
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Holiday Inn Phuket Mai Khao’s Junior Suites (69sqm) also come with two rooms and yes, PS3 too. The only difference is Junior suite comes with bunk beds!
Phuket Mai Khao Holday Inn suites
* Available accommodations are available at this link

Looking at Boon Xin’s expression, our vacation at Holiday Inn Phuket Mai Khao has got off to a good start.
Phuket Mai Khao Holday Inn review

From the first picture above, this is the pool view from within a Deluxe room! Guests can literally leap into the pool from their living room. Official Hotel policy needs child to be above certain age before room is available for booking (just to be safe).
Phuket Mai Khao Holday Inn

Activities galore at Holiday Inn Phuket Mai Khao resort. There is always something going on for everyone from young to old, most activities are free.
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Water polo or soccer anyone?
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Boys love table tennis and darts.
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There is always the pristine and deserted Mai Khao Beach facing the Andaman sea.
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Love the huge comfortable lounge. We can literally doze off and enjoy the breeze.
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The open green landscaped field, kids always prefer to walk on the lawn than pavement.
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Lunch at Khun Pa, decorated like a street walk eatery. Guests can get to enjoy Thai street food.
Quite authentic, I would say.
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The fruits are real, but the seller is trying to act cute. Watermelon or pineapple anyone?
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All respectable resorts come with a Kid’s Club, and Holiday Inn Phuket Mai Khao’s rock. Boon Xin checkin to this fun room every day! Friendly staff and plenty of activities keep the young ones occupied and entertained.
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The huge ball pit proves a hit with older kids too.
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Mai Khao Holday Inn kids club

Love this pool side couches at J’s Cafe and Restaurant. We can literally dine under the pool’s water level, just ensure kids keep their hands off the water!

Super relaxing and chill with friends and family.
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Our buffet dinner, seafood, grilled meat and desserts. Abundant selection for everyone.
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Movie nights on Wednesday and Saturday evenings. Stars (Star gazing) are readily available from the open air “cinema”.
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Adults are tired after a full day, but kids still want to play Fifa on their PS3.
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We would like to shout Thank you Holiday Inn Phuket Mai Khao for sponsoring our stay and meals during our 4D3N vacation. If you are looking for a quiet and self-contained family friendly resort, we will strongly recommend Holiday Inn Phuket Mai Khao.

However, do take note that nightlife and street-food variety will not be available outside Holiday Inn’s Phuket Mai Khao resort, that would be another resort at Holiday Inn Phuket Patong.

More details about resort can be found on their Website, Fanpage and Instagram.
– Our friends’ raving reviews (Cheekiemonkies, AJugglingmum, LilBlueBottle)
– Good reviews on Tripadvisor
– Our last trip Phuket/Krabi area was in 2010 Krabi adventure (5D4N)

*Did you know Kids Stay and Eat Free! Yeah, details and T&C here)
phi phi island speed boat

We will share more fun Family activities, cuisines and even a trip to Phi Phi island soon. Meanwhile, our Day 1 and Day 2 photos and blog are already uploaded to our Fanpage albums (Day 1, Day 2 Phi Phi, Day 3, and photo Day 3 Massage and pool, photos Day 4 Yoga and Aeroplanes)