Canadian Expat Mom

The Best Hotel I Never Stayed At

Don’t worry, you read that right. I’m about to tell you about a really great hotel that I never got the chance to stay at, and why.

Arrangements had been made for us to stay a BYD Lofts in Phuket and from what I saw in the pictures, I couldn’t wait!

But life had other plans for us, so wait I must!

Our daughter picked up a stomach bug right before we left Indonesia. It was pretty bad, but we live in SE Asia-getting a tummy tug now and then seems to be part of the package.  We called the doctor and had him come to the house that night on his way home from tennis. Again, par for the course when you live on a compound in Borneo. He gave us the green light to travel the next day, assuring us that she’d be okay, as long as we kept her hydrated. She seemed to be on the mend the next day, but we still swung by the doctors office that morning to pick up the electrolytes he promised us before we headed to the airport. After a day of appearing to get better, there was a backslide, and 24 hours later we found ourselves in the pediatric wing of a hospital in Phuket. Not exactly how we envisioned the start of our holidays.hospital2

So we did not stay at the beautiful loft that we had planned. Instead, I shared a bed with my sweet little two year old, as she spent four nights in a foreign hospital.  When we arrived in Phuket we actually went straight to the hospital. We arrived later in the evening, so they told us that the whole family could stay, which I thought was really nice for my daughter, making her stay far less scary because the whole family was in the room. But by the second day of sun shining through the windows, I felt it wasn’t fair to keep the family hostage in the hospital, so I sent my husband and four year old daughter to check out the loft we were supposed to be staying in, as long as they sent us a full report back to the hospital. The first picture that came through was an adorable selfie of my husband and daughter wearing fresh flower necklaces as they sipped their welcome drink upon arrival. A smile spread across my face knowing that they were enjoying their time together.

But then I started to wonder why I specifically asked for self punishment?

While I was sleeping here…hospital4

My husband was sleeping here….IMG_9845

And while I was lounging here with one child…hospital3

He was lounging here with the other…IMG_9842

When I got hungry, this is what I was served…hospital5

When he got hungry(or even better, thirsty) he just opened a well stocked fridge…IMG_9867

I couldn’t be mad at the pictures I was receiving-I asked for a full report.  During our four days in the hospital, I kept my perspective. My heart when out to all the parents who spend time in the hospital for things more serious than an IV for dehydration. There is nothing more scary and stressful than having a sick child, and I’m so thankful that our time there was short-lived. Even though it was only four days, when we left, I felt like I was getting out of jail! I had a new lease on life and I wanted to run full throttle into the ocean–which is just what I did!

I arrived at BYD Lofts just in time for checkout. My timing couldn’t have been worse. The staff was very kind and gave us a late checkout so that our now-healthy two year old could have mid-day nap and I could shower and change my clothes before we moved on to our next location.

Even though the staff at the Thai hospital was lovely and did their best to make our stay comfortable, I was tired of staring at the same four walls. So, when I walked into our loft I left like I was walking into paradise!IMG_9863

While my daughter napped, I slipped into a little piece of heaven, and sunk back in an aromatic pile of bubbles. It was just what the doctor ordered. (Bad pun, I know.)IMG_9865

So there you have it! The best hotel I NEVER stayed at. Talk about a bummer! Here’s hoping that if you’re in Phuket, you land in a loft, not a hospital bed.

Thanks to BYD Lofts for hosting us as guests during out time in Phuket, even if our stay didn’t quiet turn our as planned.

2 thoughts on “The Best Hotel I Never Stayed At

  1. Abbie

    This is such a great post – in structure I mean and not that your poor daughter was in hospital. Very clever ‘non review’ review:) Hope she is ok now x

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