We stayed there for 15 days recently as a family of 4 (children 17 and 12).
The resort is definitely NOT a 5 star and has not been up to our expectations in many ways.
First, it has no character, you don't feel yourself in Thailand there, it's just a huge resort full and crowded with no special atmosphere and so big that you need to walk for ages before getting to where you want.
Rooms are ok but nothing special, terraces are ugly, you don't even want to rest there for an hour.
Breakfast is crowded and noisy you have to queue every morning! They don't let you go eat outside even if there are tables available, after a few days we noticed that and started to become irritated.
After a few morning not having had at least 2 seats at the pool next to each other, my husband woke up every morning at 7am to put towels and other stuff on the seats at the pool to book them otherwise no way we could have forgot about it! This was horrible for us! and it was such a pity to see people hanging around at 9am desperately seeking for a seat.
Restaurant are expensive and not that good except the Italian where we went often because of the food and the nice terrace but I am sorry to be picky but we had to listen to the same exactly music each time we went during all our stay, at the end we knew the songs by heart and we had a big laugh about it!
There were smells a bit everywhere particularly around the back offices which disgusted me.
For us this hotel was just a huge and noisy factory with no special flavor and with
a very low level of comfort and facilities.
We bumped into the managers a few times during these 15 days who did not even say hello or smiled.
Definitely not a good spot!

This place is top class and even though it is a JW and you will all the amenities that go along with that, we found Phuket to be especially affordable (and we never left the resort)!

This particular Marriott is very quiet and peaceful. The beach is very private - no vendors as I heard there are on other parts of the island. Everyday was as gorgeous as a post card.

The service, food and the rooms were all amazing too! Probably the biggest reason we never left the resort. We will return without a doubt.

If you want a big hotel stuck in the middle of no where with no soul or character then this is your hotel of choice. The hotel and rooms are not bad at all, the size of the rooms are good, it is not that well kept however (but not many hotels in Thailand/Phuket are); its just a huge hotel which could be in any location or country in the world. The F&B offerings are just ok and the pools are nothing to write home about. The beach is great IF the waves and currents are not strong, otherwise you can not go near it for fear of drowning; all up there are much better offerings in Phuket!

This is truely a great resort. It consists of the JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa and the Marriott Vacationclub Marriott Phuket Beach Club. They both share the same facilities. This trip we stayed at both. Two nights at the JW Marriott and seven at the Marriott Phuket Beach Club. The difference is that the JW Marriott is centrally located and the Phuket Beach Club has building around it (left and right of the JW Marriott). But the facilities are the same. The difference is the rooms. The JW Marriott rooms are very good and big in size. The Phuket Beach Club has villas/appartments with 2 bedrooms and a living area with kitchen. There are 3 pool areas. The big pool (including kids pool) in the center and two other pools (1 quiet adult pool and a pool with bar) closer to the Phuket Beach Club. There are several restaurants. And there is a free shuttle that drives you in 3 minutes to the small shopping mall of Turtle Village. There you can buy groceries in the supermarket (at western prices) and there are several dinner options.

This was our second visit to this resort (this was the first time we actually had a room at the JW Marriott though). The first visit was in 2004 and a lot has changed in these years. There is now more activity around the resort. As mentioned: the Turtle Village and other resorts (such as the Anantara and another Marriott Vacationclub which is not as good as the Phuket Beach Club). There is also a dineroption near the beach. The food there is inexpensive and you can also have an inexpensive massage there from the locals.

Seven years ago there was just this resort and nothing else. You might feel far away of everything now, well it was even more so seven years ago. But seven years ago there was a free shuttle to Phuket Town and Patong Beach. Now you have to pay high prices to get their with a shuttle or taxi. The taxi's seem to be a maffia controlled business. The prices are ridiculous in comparison to taxi prices elsewhere and especially compared to taxi prices in Bangkok (if you stayed there before, as we did). It can be wiser financially to rent a car. It is a shame that the resort condones the taxi business as it is now. Unfriendly taxi drivers that do not use a taxi meter and already raise the price when they know where you need to be. And when you want to go from another place to this resort, some don't even want to bring you to avoid a fight with the taxi drivers that claim to have the right to drive to this resort. A shame. (But don't let it ruin your vacation!)

Service at the resort is outstanding (except maybe for check in and check out or transfer from one room to another... people at the lobby could improve). You do not need to stay anywhere else, you can spent a whole week here with no problem. We did a daytrip though to see more of what the island has to offer (the temple, the big buddha, FantaSea etc).

The resort caters to every age. So if you are a couple of young or old age, or a family: you can enjoy the resort. There is enough on offer for everybody. Prices are more western prices and less thai prices.

The breakfast at the JW Marriott is outstanding. Even though inside the airco could work better, the food options and quality is very good. A really big breakfast. Another tip, especially if you want to and are able to eat out or in your room is Kin Dee Restaurant at Mai Khao Beach (you can Google it). While in the Phuket Beach Club we ordered several times here and loved the food. They deliver at the gate the resort, so easy pickup. Everything we ordered there was tasty and to be recommended. And for a good price! Maybe not as charming as to eat at the beach, but the food quality is better at Kin Dee.

All in all: a great holiday for us adults and our daughter of 2, who still talks about going to Thailand and visit Buddha and swim with Jumbo.