Set on the tip of Cape Yamu, this wellness-targeted place balances out its straight-lined design with inherently Thai touches (gorgeous Buddhist artworks amongst them) and a pinch of Mediterranean aptitude courtesy of Italian designer Paola Navone. Rooms are sleek, carried out up in crisp whites and electric-blue hues, and have fabulous views over Phang Nga Bay. Sharing the same beach and architect-the late Ed Tuttle-as Amanpuri subsequent door, this long-standing classic on Phuket’s west coast has garnered a loyal following for its nicely-priced rooms and outstanding service. The dramatic Thai-inspired Lomtalay restaurant and sweeping granite staircases main as much as it have Tuttle’s fingerprints all over it, as does the lounger-lined hexagonal swimming pool clad in chalkboard-black anthracite. There isn’t any direct seaside entry, but COMO’s swish beach membership, set on a semi-personal islet some 20 minutes away, greater than makes up for that-as does the stunning 330-foot pool. Rooms, on the contrary, are vibrant and breezy affairs with palettes of white and grey warmed up with touches of gemstone-hued silk.

The Color Kata

From coastal retreats to jungle hideouts, private beaches to personal butlers, muay Thai trainers to twin swimming pools-Thailand’s largest island and longest-standing holiday hotspot has hotel choices aplenty, but picking the correct one can be a daunting process. Phuket is blessed with greater than thirty different bays and beaches, and whereas all of them rating high marks when it comes to postcard prettiness, their vibes (and subsequently, their lodge line-ups) fluctuate broadly. Most of the trip motion occurs around the bays on its western coast, from the laid-back Nai Harn and Rawai beaches in the coral-fringed deep south to the seemingly infinite stretch of crowd-free sand of Mai Khao on the island’s north. In between, there’s buzzy nightlife round Patong, household fun round Kamala, and an impressed restaurant scene around the expat hub of Bang Tao. Cross the island’s jungle-cloaked heart for a culture fix in Phuket City, the place smart cafes and next-gen cocktail bars breathe new life into the Sino-Portuguese warehouses lining its oldest streets.

Built virtually like a Greek lodge-with white exteriors and climbing pink bougainvillea-the property’s visitor rooms are plush and luxurious, and most of them offer panoramic views over the bay from a non-public terrace. The oversized king-measurement beds are impossibly comfortable, however you’ll positively need to rise early to make the most of the resort’s menu of activities. Then there’s the lovely swimming pool, every day yoga lessons, and six-room spa to fill the rest of your hours-those not dedicated to eating, that’s. There’s the aforementioned Nai Harn seaside, for starters, where you may spend the higher part of a day snorkeling or lounging on the white sand. Those belong to the on-site eating places and bars, the place you will discover every part from fresh ceviche to Mediterranean cuisine served right by the waters of the Andaman Sea. Each of its sun-flooded villas, some with multiple bedrooms, is hugged by a private infinity pool lengthy enough for laps and appointed with a butler on call for boating excursions, spa reservations, and floating breakfasts (if that is your jam). With simply 19 villas cantilevered on the hills above Ao Yon Bay on Phuket’s southeastern tip, this straight-lined and excessive-ceilinged retreat is a bijou hideaway that is massive on service and views. And even if you are not sleeping over, the lounge-y, daybed-dotted rooftop bar is price a stop for the spectacular sunsets alone. The primary restaurant, YON Seaside House, serves a Thai-European medley of tuna tartare, tiger prawn-topped noodles, and squid ink risotto. By signing up you agree to our Consumer Settlement (together with the category motion waiver and arbitration provisions), our Privateness Coverage & Cookie Statement and to obtain advertising and account-associated emails from Traveller. This article was originally published on Condé Nast Traveller UK. You’ll be able to unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Coverage and Phrases of Service apply.

Six Senses Sanctuary Retreat Phuket

Considerably confusingly, the villas-basic Thai affairs with pointed roofs and teakwood floors-are unfold over three distinct areas: book the grownup-solely Spa Sanctuary villas for all-you-can-spa perks, or the DoublePool villas for twin swimming pools and heaps of house. This hotel may be positioned inside eyeshot of Patong Seaside-the island’s rowdy epicenter-however from the second you turn up at its monogrammed entrance gates, it feels a world away. However even the entry-stage villas at the principle deal with supply loads of comforts, with open-air bathtubs, walled gardens, and swimming pools lengthy enough for laps. Sprawled over a lush hillside (their explanation) dotted with historical banyan trees and indigenous foliage, the Rosewood Phuket’s 71 elegant villas and suites really feel extra like island houses than hotel digs, due to their cozy dwelling room areas decorated with keepsakes, fresh flowers, and espresso desk books. The Asaya spa is certainly one of Rosewood’s finest within the area, the place severe spa junkies should guide themselves into the Asaya Villa, a spacious day-use spa retreat with a personal watsu pool and Himalayan salt sauna.

Technically not on Phuket, but a 45-minute speedboat trip away on go-sluggish Koh Yao Noi, Six Senses Yao Noi delivers huge on the last word bamboo-hut-in-the-jungle fantasy. The 56 villas, hidden on the jungled slopes and bays of the island’s sunrise-dealing with east coast, are thatched-roof tropical hideouts with mattress posts from solar-bleached driftwood and expansive indoor-out of doors lounges from reclaimed teak. The vibe is Jungle Guide-chic, however that doesn’t suggest you may be roughing it: even the entry-degree villas come with personal swimming pools, and the all-pure spa is fitted with all the bells and whistles (assume: juice bar, smart tech wellness screenings, and a mix-your-own-therapeutic massage oil alchemy lab). There’s also an all-day ice cream counter doling out scoops of jackfruit, basil-lime, and mango sweets. And this being Six Senses, a model with sustainability embedded into its DNA, every part is as inexperienced because it will get-the staff will be comfortable to indicate you around the resort’s organic farm and recycling middle. Situated on one among Phuket’s finest beaches, The Nai Harn Phuket has the whole lot you can presumably need from a five-star Thai resort.

All are open to ocean-dealing with lounge decks, and some include private plunge pools. Another perk: cream-colored Pansea Seashore is one in every of Phuket’s prettiest and is difficult to achieve for non-resort friends, leaving it blissfully empty of vacationer crowds. And for good cause: from the midnight-blue pool at the entrance to the dramatic staircase leading right down to the semi-personal beach, architect Ed Tuttle (a inventive force for the group) made a timeless traditional. Despite its age, Amanpuri still tops the checklist as one of the best inns in Thailand, as spectacular as it was when it opened on a coconut grove on Phuket’s west coast again in 1988. It was the first name in a set that might go on to vary the parameters of luxury travel and hotel design; coming here has grow to be a rite of passage for Aman junkies far and vast. Each of the 40 polished teakwood pavilions is a miniature Thai temple of indulgence, a world of crisp linen, recent orchids, and spa-like bathrooms that take up virtually half its ground space.