Opened in 1961 by the then tin-mining Phuket Chinese–Thai Thavorn Wong Wongse family, the Thavorn was Phuket's original five-star. It's one of the oldest hotels around still operating. Although the facade is pretty unimpressive, the wood-panelled memorabilia-packed interior is an instant throwback to earlier times. A grand wooden staircase leads off the wide lobby and there's a dusty museum full of tin toys, musical instruments, old movie projectors and historical photos.
