By Ute Junker
The Slate in Phuket is centrally located but feels more like a far-flung oasis.
There is no contest, really. With its graceful welcome, its gorgeous islands and endless coastline, not to mention its flavour-packed cuisine, Thailand will always be one of our best-loved tropical escapes. These resorts are some of our favourite places to land.
The Slate, Phuket
What sets The Slate apart from Phuket’s many other family-friendly resorts isn’t just the eye-catching steampunk-inflected design (by uber-designer Bill Bensley) or the lush landscaping that makes the centrally located resort feel more like a far-flung oasis; guests at The Slate also get to enjoy an enviable range of facilities including three pools, complimentary classes in yoga, Pilates and more, a cooking school and a spa. Its Black Ginger restaurant, set in three wooden houses in the middle of a torch-lit pond, is a highlight. theslatephuket.com
Rayavadee, Krabi
Some of Thailand’s best resorts blend the beach vibe with a jungle ambience, but few do it as well as Rayavadee. Pavilions and villas are nestled in among the trees (keep an eye out for gambolling monkeys), while each of the three sandy beaches offers magnificent views across the area’s dramatic karsts. All three of the restaurants are excellent but the seaside Krua Phranang, with its mood lighting and soundtrack of waves murmuring against the shore, has to be one of Thailand’s most romantic. rayavadee.com
Cape Kudu Hotel, Koh Yao Noi
In parts of southern Thailand the resorts are lined up next to each other like dominoes. Yao Noi is not one of those places. Sitting between Phuket and Krabi, this secluded island is home to just a small number of resorts and Cape Kudu is among the most memorable. Your transfer from the jetty to the hotel might be in a vintage Porsche cabriolet or a Vespa with a sidecar, and the resort also runs a nice range of excursions, including a sunset kayak to a hidden cove where you can toast the day with a glass of champagne. capekuduhotel.com
The Standard, Hua Hin
If your perfect tropical getaway is less about cocooning and more about dialling up the fun, slide on in to The Standard. The Hua Hin outpost of this party-loving brand features zesty pops of colour throughout, and quirky features include the spa’s communal Mud Lounge. Standard rooms come equipped with a balcony looking into the courtyard, or you can upsize into one of the standalone villas. The resort’s perch on the main beach puts it walking distance from the night markets and restaurant strip, but the real action happens around the expansive pool and the adjoining bar. standardhotels.com
Milky Bay Resort, Koh Pha Ngan
There is more to the island of Koh Pha Ngan than full moon parties. This pretty island near Koh Samui has idyllic beaches and a lushly forested interior, as well as a number of good dive sites. If you are looking for centrally located lodgings on a budget, the beachfront Milky Bay Resort delivers great value for money, with a range of accommodations including bungalows and apartments. The resort has a pool, a quality restaurant and even a massage pavilion, and its friendly staff can help organise a range of excursions.
Pimalai Resort & Spa, Ko Lanta
No, Pimalai Resort & Spa isn’t the easiest place to get to, but if you have any doubts about whether the two-hour transfer from Krabi airport – including a breathtaking speedboat ride – is worth it, put them aside. Nestled into the jungle and fringed by a photogenic beach, Pimalai exceeds expectations at every turn. The elegant villas are perfect for cocooning, the spa is set in a gorgeous garden, the restaurants are superb, but perhaps the most enjoyable thing to do in this resort is to simply be. As the afternoon gives way to evening, the fireflies start dancing and the frogs start their chorus, you will understand what we mean. pimalai.com
The Library, Koh Samui
How do you feel about a blood-red pool? If you think there is something seriously wrong with the concept, skip this entry and move on to the next resort. If you think that sounds like a cool design, The Library may be for you. Perched on Samui’s lively Chaweng beach, The Library’s interiors are less polarising than that pool, with rooms and villas taking a sleekly minimalist approach. There is, of course, an onsite library with more than 1000 volumes to choose from, but if you want a massage, you will have to visit one of the neighbourhood spas. thelibrarysamui.com
Read our full review here.
Iniala Beach House Villas, Phuket
Here’s one for design fans with deep pockets. Some of the world’s top designers have let their imaginations run free at this over-the-top retreat, where your villa – there are only four – may have a crystal dining room or a mother-of-pearl spa. (Did we mention that each villa has its own spa?) The food is as fabulous as the interiors, with the Esenzi restaurant helmed by Tim Butler, known for his Bangkok restaurants Eat Me and Bunker. inialathailand.com
Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas, Hua Hin
If you enjoy a resort with a Raffles vibe, the Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas is calling your name. It is the latest incarnation of the century-old Railway Hotel, and delivers a period spin to a beachside holiday. The hotel’s contemporary luxuries include no fewer than four swimming pools and a kids’ club, but the signature touches have a distinct 1920s vibe. Settle in for an elegant afternoon tea experience, or kick off your evening in the vintage vibe of the Elephant Bar. centarahotelsresorts.com
Read our full review here.
Aleenta Phuket Resort & Spa, Phuket
Credit: AndoShah+LightWorx
This all-suites resort, well away from the bustle of downtown Phuket, delivers so many wow moments that it’s hard to know where to start. Perhaps with the pleasure of lying back on the loungers set not beside but in the spectacular infinity pool? Watching the sun set over the water from the privacy of your suite? Or simply following the walkways above the water garden that winds through the resort? And that’s before we even mention the spa and its array of indulgent treatments. aleenta.com
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