JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa is one of the most luxurious resorts (with a price tag to match) in Phuket. The tropical grounds and friendly service are almost impeccable. A location near Phuket International Airport is convenient for flights, but less so for those who want to explore Phuket. There are three upscale swimming pools, a luxe spa, and 12 distinct restaurants and bars. Contemporary rooms include balconies and mini-fridges, while the Villa has a private pool. Past guests have reported that kids have a run of the place.

Centara Grand West Sands Resort & Villas Phuket is a massive beachfront resort with a fun outdoor water park, infinity-edge swimming pool, and several on-site dining options. The location next to Phuket International Airport is convenient, but it also brings airplane noise and a far drive to get to other areas of interest in Phuket. Accommodations range from family-friendly rooms with bunk beds to a villa with a gorgeous private pool. Past guests have complained about crowding at the breakfast buffet and cleanliness issues in the room. Freebies include Wi-Fi, parking, a welcome fruit plate, and a shuttle. All Centara resorts in Phuket are particularly family friendly.

This sprawling mid-range hotel in a relatively secluded part of Phuket is aimed squarely at parents and their young children. The generously proportioned rooms are comfortable, if a little plain, and many come with equipment like cots and buggies. Although it lacks some of the amenities of nearby competitors, Sunwing Resort does offer an abundance of swimming options, a gym, and an on-site convenience store.

The five-pearl Pullman Phuket Arcadia Resort is alone in its class in this part of Phuket. Accessed via a single, windy road that also leads to Naithon Beach and a national park, the hotel is far from any other properties. The Pullman is about a 10-minute drive from Phuket International Airport, but it takes at least 45 minutes to get to the tourist activities in Phuket Town. Both families and couples adore this hotel for its gorgeous design details, extra-comfortable rooms, and infinity-edge pool overlooking the Andaman Sea. There are six on-site bars and restaurants, a luxe spa, and a fun kids' club. The natural beach is stunning, but the water can get a little rough at certain times of the year, and steep steps to the beach may be difficult for little ones to traverse.

The 414-room Merlin Beach Resort is a sprawling family-friendly resort located beachside on the outskirts of Patong. Rooms have private balconies with seating areas and while they vary a tad in terms of decor, all have air-conditioning and big bathrooms with separate showers and tubs. Resort features include multiple swimming pools (including a baby pool and a shallow kids' pool with a slide) plus tennis courts, a fitness center, spa, and a number of bars and restaurants. The location might be a bit remote for some visitors, as it's a 10-minute drive into Patong and there's not much within walking distance.

Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort is a huge, self-contained complex surrounded by lush jungle that looks out over its own sandy beach. The hotel's large size can make it feel a little impersonal, but its scale does mean a vast array of facilities, including an enormous pool and a range of sport facilities. Spacious rooms have been sleekly renovated and many include lovely sea views. All this doesn't come cheap though, and you might also find yourself paying for plenty of extras -- including Wi-Fi -- if you book the room-only rate.

The 409-room luxury Angsana Laguna Phuket is part of a large complex of four- and five-pearl resort hotels on northwest Phuket's Bang Tao Bay. The resort's location is removed from the legendary island nightlife, but highlights include an enormous freeform pool that meanders throughout the sprawling grounds, as well as a beach club and water sports on the lagoon. Rooms are spacious, modern, and airy, with stylish bathrooms, beautiful views, and a luxe vibe, but guests should expect to pay extra for rollaway beds and breakfast.

The Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort is a luxury chain property overlooking the Andaman Sea and set along the stretch of Phuket's Kamala Beach known as Millionaires' Mile. All 199 rooms here have a simple, breezy elegance with large bathrooms and soaking tubs as well as balconies or terraces, most of which have views out onto the sea. The hotel features many standard Hyatt amenities including multiple on-site restaurants, a poolside bar, a spa, and a supervised kids' club. Though the hotel abuts the sea, the rocky beach is not ideal for swimming and the hotel's situation on a cliff can make maneuvering about the resort tricky for some guests

This Moevenpick Resort location, part of a global chain, is a huge upscale property set in extensive tropical gardens overlooking Phuket's beautiful Karon Beach. Facilities are plentiful and include four pools, four restaurants, a spa, and plenty of activities to keep the kids amused. A breakfast buffet is included in the room rate. Most rooms and villas have balconies with sea views, though, while generally well-maintained, some units are starting to show signs of wear. Rates are on the high side but it's a solid option for this type of high-end holiday retreat.

The 45-room Chava Resort is an elegant and luxurious boutique apartment-hotel in a lush area on the west coast of Phuket, popular with families, groups, and couples alike. A three minutes’ walk from beautiful Surin Beach, the resort is in an ideal spot for beach-goers and eco-adventurers. Apartments range in size from two to five bedrooms, all with fully equipped kitchens, private balconies with teak furniture, modern bathrooms, and a clean, sophisticated Eastern aesthetic. Throw in the picturesque pool, tropical grounds, and poolside dining and the resort is truly a tropical paradise. Guests should note, though, there's no fitness center or spa.

The 246-room beachfront Holiday Inn Resort Phuket Mai Khao sits on Thailand’s sparkling Andaman Sea, and its breezy, modern design embraces the jungle setting at every turn. In an area of Phuket filled with plenty of expensive hotels, this upscale resort is a great value with plenty of opportunities to relax or stay active, including two on-site restaurants, a large infinity pool, fitness classes, live entertainment, and, of course, the beach. Families are especially welcome here, with special Kid Suites and plenty of options to keep kids busy, though guests looking for the wild nightlife of Patong Beach will want to look elsewhere.

The Horizon Patong Beach Resort & Spa is a 160-room, upper-middle-range property with a direct walkway to the beach and a family-friendly atmosphere. Guest rooms are spacious, with minibars and views of gardens, or one of the property's two pools -- one of which is for families with kids. The spa has a mosaic-tiled steam room, and the gym is large and filled with light. There are also separate Indian and Italian restaurants, a free buffet breakfast, and a sports bar with games. Some of the furnishings -- including tube-style TVs -- are dated, though, and Wi-Fi is not free in all rooms. And while the resort is smoke-free, some guests have complained that the staff doesn't always enforce that rule.