An interesting Phuket relic

all photographs used with permission - timinphuket

The Thavorn Hotel in Phuket may not be the type of place to gets zillions of rave reviews in the major travel websites (like say Cape Panwa or Kantary Bay) - but for a meagre 30 Baht entrance fee, it is well worth a visit to see where the island's hotel industry originated.

Many of you may have read about Leonardo Di Caprio and The Beach being filmed at the ‘On On’ hotel in Phuket Town. (Ed – Leonardo stayed at Cape Panwa Hotel during the filming).

But how many of you know about the oldest hotel in Phuket Town?  The Thavorn Hotel is located in the heart of the Old Phuket Town and was built at the beginning of the twentieth century by an established Chinese family. Its lobby and the attached ‘museum’ showcase the history of the hotel.  They are filled with an eclectic mix of artifacts dating back to this period - from clothing and swords to a piano and slippers.

Another interesting fact I discovered was that the Thavorn Hotel had the first elevator in Phuket…

Definitely worth the 30 Baht entrance.