Phuket has become exceptionally good at promoting what has been built here.

Almost every new development now comes surrounded by a plethora of restaurants, beach clubs, wellness concepts, retail spaces and entertainment, whether or not they have much to do with the place itself. There is never any shortage of distractions. What is becoming harder to find is Phuket’s original attraction – the natural one that was here long before any of this was built.

The sea. Space. Silence. A tropical coastline that felt like somewhere you had travelled to, rather than somewhere that had been assembled for you.

That is what makes the opening of Radisson Blu Resort Phuket Mai Khao Beach particularly interesting. The 222-room resort opened in April 2026 with everything expected from an international upper-upscale brand, while its strongest selling point is still something no architect could create.

That brand sits within Radisson Hotel Group, whose nine-brand portfolio spans more than 1,500 hotels in operation and under development worldwide. The group signed or opened 160 properties during the first half of 2026, with Phuket among the destinations helping to broaden its resort footprint. Radisson Blu brings that global scale to the upper-upscale segment through stylish spaces, memorable experiences and close attention to the details that shape a stay.

Mai Khao Beach: The Luxury of Space

Mai Khao remains one of the few parts of Phuket where what has not been built is still part of the luxury.

Its beach runs for around 13 kilometres along the island’s northwestern coast, backed in places by Sirinat National Park and still defined by open sand, casuarina trees and long views across the Andaman Sea. Early in the morning, there is space to walk the shore with little competing for attention.

The resort is nestled between the edge of Sirinat National Park and the grounds of Mai Khao Temple, with direct access to Mai Khao Beach.

And, importantly, Mai Khao is not remote. Phuket International Airport is around 15 minutes away, while Yacht Haven Marina, Blue Canyon Country Club, Sarasin Bridge and the famous Airplane Viewpoint are all within easy reach. The resort offers the quiet of Phuket’s northern coast without asking guests to disappear from the island altogether.

“Mai Khao is one of the few places in Phuket where nature still feels untouched, and that’s exactly what today’s luxury traveller is searching for: meaning, stillness and time well spent,” says General Manager Björn-Henning Buth.

Pools, Rooftops and Andaman Sunsets

Radisson Blu Resort Phuket Mai Khao Beach has been designed around that setting rather than in competition with it. All 222 rooms and suites face either the ocean or the gardens, with balconies and terraces extending the living space outdoors.

Rooms run from 35 square metres in the entry category to a 126-square-metre suite, of which there are two in the entire resort. Across the accommodation, the emphasis is on comfort, space and a relaxed coastal atmosphere that makes every stay feel effortless.

At beach level, that 80-metre infinity pool gives the resort one of its clearest signatures. Its scale matters not simply as a number, but because it extends the sense of openness beyond the beach itself: water, sea and horizon lining up into one broad view.

Luana On Sii is the other standout. Inspired by the sleek lines of a superyacht, with glass balustrades, streamlined forms and teak-style decking, it turns the fourth floor into a second vantage point over Mai Khao, this time built around sunset. The name says as much: luana is Hawaiian for ease, sii is Thai for four.

Dining is centred on Sensara, Flavors of the Mekong, inspired by the culinary traditions of mainland Southeast Asia and open from the evening until midnight, and Boardwalk, the all-day restaurant with an international menu and lighter Mediterranean influences. Together with the rooftop, they give guests somewhere to spend the evening without requiring Mai Khao to become another nightlife district.

Wellness, Families and Four-Legged Guests

Wellness naturally moves outdoors. The fitness centre overlooks the sea and stays open around the clock, while sunrise yoga, beach circuits and shoreline runs make use of the setting itself. The Spa at Blu draws on Thai and Asian healing traditions, with a focus on rebalancing rather than indulgence alone.

Families have a dedicated Kids Club with indoor and outdoor activities and a separate children’s pool. One of the resort’s more unusual features is Rad Pets, Radisson’s official programme for guests travelling with pets – still a genuine rarity among Phuket resorts. Thoughtful amenities and warm hospitality extend to four-legged guests as well as their owners, making the resort particularly relevant to Phuket’s resident and long-stay pet-owner community, including Russian-speaking guests.

Sustainability measures include reducing single-use plastics, energy-smart room systems and responsible sourcing. The resort has implemented Hotel Sustainability Basics verified by SGS and is working towards Green Key certification. Three flexible meeting rooms, plus beachfront and poolside spaces, cater to small- to medium-sized corporate events and private celebrations.

Why Mai Khao Still Feels Different

Mai Khao is not for travellers who want nightlife, shopping and dozens of restaurants outside the hotel door. That, of course, is precisely the point.

Radisson Blu Resort Phuket Mai Khao Beach is a new beachfront resort around 15 minutes from Phuket International Airport, with family and wellness facilities, an 80-metre infinity pool, a rooftop pool and bar overlooking the Andaman Sea, pet-friendly accommodation through the Rad Pets programme and easy access to Yacht Haven Marina and Blue Canyon.

But the strength of an established international brand often lies in recognising what does not need to be reinvented.

Here, that means providing enough within the resort, then allowing Mai Khao to do the rest. A long beach. The Andaman Sea. Space between buildings. A sunset with very little competing for attention.

Radisson Blu Resort Phuket Mai Khao Beach brings the modern selection of restaurants, pools, wellness facilities, family amenities and international standards expected of a resort today.

But its most valuable amenity may simply be the part of Phuket that has not been built yet.

Phuket has plenty of new resorts in places that never go quiet. Mai Khao has long had the quiet, at a price that assumed you came for nothing else. Now there is a place to experience the best of both: the tranquillity of Mai Khao and everything that makes a Phuket escape truly memorable.

For more information and reservations, please call (+66) 76 302 888 or visit the hotel website.