Travel blogger Holly O'Sullivan recently tested the family-friendly amenities of the Holiday Inn Mai Khao in Phuket. Here is her verdict.

Located just steps from Mai Khao beach, the Holiday Inn Mai Khao offers everything you would expect from a family-friendly hotel – and to make it even more attractive: children stay, play and eat for free.

The resort offers a wide range of family activities, a large lagoon-style pool, a wide variety of food options, free Wi-Fi and in-room entertainment.

This is one of those resorts that truly is what you make it: a relaxing getaway away from the hustle and bustle of the city, or (thanks to the convenient transfers the resort offers) the opportunity to explore the rest of Phuket.

If you are looking for a secluded holiday, the resort offers 36 rooms and suites with direct pool access from your own private terrace – and this pool is open 24 hours a day.

The children are guaranteed not to get bored: A fantastic kids' club with an indoor ball pit, an outdoor playground and a long list of daily activities ensures the best entertainment.

Back in your family suite, the kids can dash off to their rooms, relax on the comfy beanbag chairs, and play on their PlayStation. They even have their own little bathroom with sunken sinks and toilets. The suites also feature two DVD players and two flat-screen TVs with satellite reception – so there's no more arguing about what to watch!

While the children are having fun in the kids' club, there is also a wide range of activities for adults, including the Tea Tree Spa, yoga classes, Muay Thai classes, batik painting and cooking classes – even cake decorating classes.

The resort also offers a range of activities that families can enjoy together, such as Thai language courses, towel folding courses or a volleyball game.

The Tea Tree Spa also warmly welcomes children and offers spa treatments such as the "My First Package with Mom" ​​or the "My First Massage".

If you would prefer to leave the children in the kids' club, there are also relaxing signature treatments such as the Indian Signature, which begins with a neem peel, followed by a combination of Ayurvedic massage and a soothing Indian head massage.

Or there is the Burmese Signature, which combines ancient Thai, Indian and Chinese techniques, uses trigger point therapy and stretching exercises to relieve musculoskeletal discomfort, and finishes with a traditional Tanaka body wrap and a yogurt splash.

Teenagers are also well catered for with daily activities: there's a dedicated, exclusive teen zone with a pool table, board games, flat-screen TVs, and DVD players. Volleyball, water polo, and table tennis are also usually available, and films are shown in the open-air cinema.

The hotel offers two restaurants and a pool bar. At J's Café & Restaurant, you can enjoy a breakfast buffet overlooking the gardens, while the Pesto Restaurant, located right by the pool and beach, serves delicious Italian cuisine.

The Holiday Inn Resort Mai Khao is located on the tree-lined, white sandy beach of Mai Khao, 10 km (15 minutes) from Phuket International Airport and only 30–45 minutes from Phuket's main attractions. Further information can be found here.