Best Of Class 2015-2016

www.bestofvacation.com

THAILAND 2015 - 2016 US $40

E-BOOK

PIMALAI Resort & Spa Koh Lanta, Krabi

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

1

www.bestofvacation.com Thailand’s Hotels and Resorts

2

BEST OF CLASS

2015 - 2016

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

3

4

BEST OF CLASS

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

5

Publisher’s Letter

Krabi,Thailand

6

BEST OF CLASS

2015 - 2016 David Lihn Publisher/Author

Craig Harrington Director of Operation

David Lihn This is the third edition of our book on luxury hotels and resorts in Thailand, and we have made terrific progress.

We have added more island resorts and increased the size, content and elegance of the book.

Kineeya (Bew) Somsuan Director of Sales and Marketing

Frank E. Lihn Copy Editor ________________

I have been writing about luxury hotels and resorts for over a decade as a function of my work with five-star golf resorts around the world.

Tharaporn (Ying) Yokchawee

“Wow,” the golfer would write: “Would love to play that course. Where do I stay?” And the writing about Places to Stay began.

Sairung (Sairung) Rattanasith Jatuporn (Jeab) Keirdporn

When my sedulous partner, Khun Bew, suggested we produce this luxury hotel and resort guide for the Thailand last year, I thought it would be a great opportunity. I was able to delve deeper into the superb options the traveler has when visiting the cities, beaches, coastlines, mountain, islands and jungles of Thailand – two thousand kilometers from north to south.

Prapassorn (Kwan) Seang-Arun

So many splendid, diverse choices.

Well, I flew, drove, walked and talked day-after-day to complete the inspections. I had many thrilling surprises.

And made new friends.

The joy was in meeting the many general managers from around the planet. Dedicated, witty, overwhelmed, in demand – they all excel and bring a passion for achievement. They brought character to the properties.

I aimed at personalizing each review so that the article would not seem like an extension of a Web site. I wanted the reader to know that I had scrutinized and mined part of the soul of each property.

Our thanks to the Tourism Authority of Thailand for providing many of the wonderful photographs of the Land of Smiles.

Sales Manager

Sales Executives Distribution

Lihn’s Best of Class 2015-16

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand is published annually

by Lihn’s Golf Guide (Thailand) Co., Ltd., 199/12 Chicha Castle, Sukhumvit Soi 31 Wattana, Bangkok, Thailand 10110 +66 (0) 2 259 5185 and (0) 87 351 7722 info@lihnsluxurypublications.com All contents Copyright © 2015 by Lihn’s Golf Guide (Thailand) Co., Ltd., All rights reserved.

The production or use, in whole or in part, of any contents of this magazine without prior written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited.

Lihn’s Golf Guide (Thailand) Co., Ltd. is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photography or artwork.

www.bestofvacation.com

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

7

8

BEST OF CLASS

CENTRAL EMBASSY “REDEFINING THE NEW LUXURY SHOPPING EXPERIENCE”

T

he Central group has been an overwhelming retail life-force in Thailand since 1927 when, as a small shop, they began selling a variety of local and international newspapers and magazines. It was called “Central Trading Store”.

In the 1950s, the company grew, with their stores selling imported goods – one of few stores in Bangkok that imported in goods for sale; and was the first to set up merchandising displays.

In 1973, the Chidlom store opened under a new “one-stop shopping” concept, and customers came to Central for convenient shopping.

In 1983 Central Plaza Lardprao opened its doors and became the largest shopping mall in Thailand.

In December 2005, the King conferred the Royal Warrant and the Royal Garuda emblem on the giant retailer in honor of its services.

Central now operates more than 25 branches throughout Thailand as well as several in China and one in Indonesia.

Built on the prestigious (and remarkably convenient) site of the British Embassy in the heart of tony, downtown Bangkok, the Central Embassy Shopping Mall – an 18 Billion Baht investment in retail chic – redefines the über-luxury lifestyle shopping mall in Bangkok.

It showcases 60 designer stores (a third are firsttimers to Thailand), gracious dining options, a remarkable cinematic experience, open and accessible spaces, and a luxurious hotel (the Park Hyatt, I am told) will open next year.

The eight-stories of ultra-retail hedonism are part of the iconic, futuristic design of this 37-floor building featuring a spacious, minimalist, white interior.

Less than a year old, additional fashionable brands keep emerging at Central Embassy to join the seven duplex-featured stars (Gucci, Prada, Hermés, Bottega Veneta, Versace, Chanel and Miu Miu), and other mainstays such as Givenchy, Lacoste, Vivienne Westwood, Paul Smith, Zara and Michael Kors.

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

9

10

BEST OF CLASS

>>

We met in the Embassy Lounge, a capacious, comfortable set of quiet living rooms on the fourth floor – a shopping oasis for a select group of frequent shoppers. “This is the ultimate lifestyle platform,” according to Barom Bhicharnchitr, the young, enthusiastic and energetic managing director. “It is global and modern. It combines art and fashion.

We offer brands not seen any place else in Thailand.”

“Our selection of dining options is innovative and exhaustive: casual and fine dining on Level 5 (including Chinese, Japanese, Italian, American French, Thai), street food, coffee shops, cafes, dessert shops – and Eathai, an upscale Food Court and market in the basement.”

Movies?

“On Level 6 we have five ‘Diplomat Screens’ and offer exclusive privacy, a sumptuous atmosphere and chocolate-banana popcorn!”

Khun Barom smiled. This, however, is not inexpensive with prices ranging from 1,000 to 1,500 Baht per ticket. Not confirmed, but we are anticipating sofas and sound systems foie gras and Beluga cavier!

“This mall is more curated to focus on cuttingedge brands. And we invite our shoppers to stroll, sit down and do homework, walk their dogs, meet for lunch, relax and hang-out.”

It was not crowded during my several visits (which, frankly, was a pleasant plus), but one of the anchor duplex stores claims it makes more money at this location than anywhere else in the country.

“We are next adding greenery throughout the mall; and a big terrace on Level Five; and kiosks will begin to pop up.”

There are direct links between both the Phloenchit and Chitlom BTS (the adjacent Central Chidlom shopping mall – Central Embassy’s eminent sibling – can be accessed directly from Level 2).

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

11

12

BEST OF CLASS

FUN FACTS Stores within Central Embassy are divided into five main groups on seven floors: 1.

Iconic Flagship Stores 4.

Dining 2.

Exclusive Stores 5.

Cinema 3.

First-to-Market Stores The Floors: - LG (Lower Ground) has Eathai, the Thai Food Kingdom with the best quality from every part of Thailand, in the form of coolest Street Food, including Talad Eathai, which gathers all famous premium fruits, sweets and souvenirs for foreigners.

Issaya Cooking Studio, a baking school under the concept of creative and private party service, led by Chef Ian Pongtavach Chalermkittichai, comes with decor and design that reflects the regional identity in modern form unlike anywhere else.

- G Level is home to the Iconic Flagship Stores of seven world-renown fashion brands such as Bottega Veneta, Chanel, Gucci, Hermes, Miu Miu, Prada, and Ralph Lauren (Gucci, Prada and Ralph Lauren have a two-story Duplex Façade). Also, celebrated brands such as Rolex, Hublot, Omega, Chopard; and exquisite jewelry brands such as Anyallerie, Chavana, Pomellato.

- Level 1 is component of exclusive luxury brands with the most complete product lines: Calvin Klein Collection, Isabel Marant, John Varvatos, McQ, Paul Smith and Roberto Cavalli.

Cream, Teuscher.

- Level 4 gathers Lifestyle and Beauty brands such as Dii Wellness Med Spa, Anastasia, Moga Professionals Alliance, Jaspal Home, Motif, AIS, Bangkok Bank. This floor has a VIP Lounge for The Embassy Club Member to enjoy food, drinks and premium service.

- Level 5 collects famous international restaurants like Yuutaro, Hinata, Din Tai Fung, Great American Rib, The Girl & The Pig, Minibar Café. Also, find SIWILAI, a concept store which gathers leading Thai fashion brands to present in new style for the first time as well as SIWILAI Rocket Coffeebar to join and create new dining experiences.

- Level 6 features “Embassy Diplomat Screens”: Ultra First-Class cinema, consisting of five exclusive theaters with only 30 - 50 seats per cinema, and the exclusive design and elegance of Hollywood with Real D screen and the best sound system. The lounge and the service are “six stars”.

- Level 2 represents popular, established, high-end brands and first-to-market stores in Thailand like BCBGMAXAZRIA, The Kooples, Kurt Geiger and Scotch & Soda.

- Level 3 has many High Street Fashion brands such as Levi’s Vintage Clothing Store, Pronto, Onitsuka Tiger, Zara; and dining: Café and Bakery Shop, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Starbucks, After You Ice

Open daily: 10:00 until 22:00 BTS: Phloenchit Station

www.centralembassy.com

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

13

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1

THAILAND INTRODUCTION THAILAND MAP

FOOD & FRUIT ACTIVITIES

BEACHES (Information) BEACHES Places to Stay

66 68 70 72

Layana Resort & Spa (Koh Lanta) Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort Zeavola Resort (Koh Phi Phi) Villa 360 Resort & Spa (Koh Phi Phi)

Hua Hin

74 76 78 80

AKA Resort Hua Hin Guti Resort by AKA Dusit Thani Wora Bura Resort & Spa

82 84

Hilton Pattaya Pattaya Sea Sand Sun Resort and Spa

86 88

The Chill Koh Chang Tranquility Bay Residence

Phuket

Koh Samui

34 36

38 40 42 44 46 48 50

52 54 56 58 60 62 64

Pattaya

FEATURE 20 PIMALAI RESORT & SPA 26 BANYAN TREE GROUP

Koh Chang

2

14

16 17

Krabi

14

Conrad Koh Samui InterContinental Samui Baan Taling Ngam Royal Muang Samui Villas Muang Samui Spa Resort Mimosa Resort & Spa ShaSa Resort & Residences The Scent Hotel Angsana Laguna Cape Sienna Hotel & Villas Dewa Phuket Indigo Pearl Twinpalms Phuket Resort The Village Coconut Island Villa Zolitude Resort and Spa

BEST OF CLASS

3

90 CITY (Bangkok Places to Stay) 91 CITY (Bangkok Information) Riverside 92 The Peninsula Bangkok Downtown Area 94 Grande Centre Point Hotel Ploenchit 96 Grande Centre Point Hotel Ratchadamri 98 Grande Centre Point Hotel Terminal 21 100 Oriental Residence 102 Radisson Suites Bangkok Sukhumvit 104 Radisson Blu Plaza Bangkok

4 5

106 107

MOUNTAINS (Chiang Mai Places to Stay) MOUNTAINS (Information)

108 110 112

DusitD2 Puripunn Baby Grand Boutique Hotel RarinJinda Wellness Spa Resort

114 116 117

Useful Telephone List Useful Sentences Index

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

15

>> T

hailand, the only Southeast Asian nation never to have been colonized by European powers, is a constitutional monarchy whose current head of state is HM Bhumibol Adulyadej. A unified Thai kingdom has existed since the mid-14th century, and Thailand was known as Siam until 1939, when it officially became the Kingdom of Thailand.

Geography Thailand is the 50th largest country in the world; most nearly equal in size to Spain. Located just 15 degrees north of the equator, Thailand has a tropical climate, and temperatures typically range from 19 to 38 degrees C (66-100 F). Thailand’s largest peak, Doi Inthanon, is 2,565 meters (8,415 ft) tall.

Thailand covers 510,890 sq km of land and 2,230 sq km of water. The coastline of Thailand is 3,219 km long. Thailand’s longest shared border is with Myanmar (Burma), stretching 1,800 km.

>>

Weather The weather in Thailand is usually hot and humid: typical of its location within the tropics. Generally speaking, Thailand can be divided into three seasons: “hot” season, rainy season and “cool” season, though Thailand’s geography allows visitors to find suitable weather somewhere in the country throughout the year.

Population The population of Thailand is comprised of roughly 65 million citizens, the majority of whom are ethnically Thai, though peoples of Chinese, Indian, Malay, Mon, Khmer, Burmese and Lao origin are also represented to varying degrees.

Approximately 7 million citizens live in the capitol city, Bangkok, though this number varies seasonally and is otherwise difficult to accurately count.

16

BEST OF CLASS

THAILAND

Area Thailand has an approximate geographical area of 514, 000 sq km (200,000 sq miles). This makes Thailand roughly equivalent in size to France or Texas.

Capitol : Bangkok

border, and hill tribe ethnic groups, such as the Hmong and Karen, who live in the northern mountains.

People

More than 92% of the population speaks Thai or one of it’s regional dialects. While the Thai language is the official language of Thailand, as a result of its cosmopolitan capitol city and established tourism infrastructure, English is spoken and understood throughout much of the land.

The vast majority (roughly 80%) of Thailand’s nearly 65 million citizens are ethnically Thai. The remainder consists primarily of peoples of Chinese, Indian, Malay, Mon, Khmer, Burmese and Lao decent. Of the 7 million citizens who live in the capitol city, Bangkok, there is a greater diversity of ethnicities, including a large number of expatriate residents from across the globe.

Other geographic distinctions of the population include a Muslim majority in the south near the Malaysian

Language

Religion 94.6% of Thais are Buddhist, 4.6% of Thais are Muslim, 0.7% of Thais are Christian.

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

17

FOOD & FRUIT

Pad Thai Moo Satay

Pad Pak Ruam

Seasonal Fruits

Tom Yum Goong 18

BEST OF CLASS

Tod Man Pla

ACTIVITIES

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

19

Maya Bay

20

BEST OF CLASS

KRABI “Jewels of the Andaman Coast�

Krabi Province, which lies along the coast of the Andaman Sea in southern Thailand, is a top tourist destination as a result of its plentiful natural attractions including: white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, extensive coral reefs, numerous caves and waterfalls and over 130 islands, including Koh Lanta and the jewels of the Andaman coast, the six islands of Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park.

While not the top destination in and of itself, Krabi Town is a charming provincial capital located along the banks of a river that leads to the nearby Andaman Sea. Consequently, Krabi is an important port city for both local fishermen as well as boats transporting visitors to the nearby attractions, including Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta and Railey Beach.

>> Koh Lanta Ba Kan Tiang Beach - Koh Lanta Pimalai Resort & Spa

Koh Lanta lies on the east coast of the Andaman Sea between Krabi and Phi Phi Island. It is a large island measuring 6 km wide and over 30 km long, with nine beaches along the sunset coast.

Koh Lanta features stunning scenery, fantastic white sandy beaches (with coastlines which have more than 70 small islands), forests, coral reefs and under-water life.

Stretching from the southernmost district of Krabi province, Koh Lanta consists of 52 islands. The two largest islands are Koh Lanta Yai and Koh Lanta Noi. The others are surrounded by beautiful coral reefs such as Koh Ha, Koh Rok and Koh Hai (or Koh Ngai).

Krabi Beach

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

21

“This stunning resort – with views of forever – provides balance, proportion and excellence...”

W

e splashed along quietly on the upper-deck of the sleek Pimalai craft – refreshed by warm, salty, tropical breezes across our cheeks and cold drinks in hand – gliding south over a mystifyingly Technicolor and translucent sea.

The startling, chameleonic water sparkled aqua, then turquoise, turned blue-green, and then bluesky cerulean and (it seemed) a dozen harmonizing shades of Pantone blue.

22

BEST OF CLASS

Then – out of the blue – towering, enchanting, bewildering, singular rock formations (stalagmites, vertical islands, prehistoric outcroppings?) began to sprout to our front…and left…and right…and charmed us for the entire 45-minute journey to the resort.

We slowed, once, peering down to absorb the aquatic wonder and, remarkably, could see the coral beds deep below and the countless legions of colorful fish.

PIMALAI RESORT & SPA Koh Lanta, Krabi

We rounded the tip of lush Lanta Island as the sun, now in our eyes, began its slow arc into the evening.

Then, rising from a bending beach, the Pimalai Resort appeared, perched on an arboreal hillside facing the Andaman Sea and looking down into the habitually brilliant sunset.

Wow, are you kidding me? Who scripted this?

What a majestic pedigree. Built in 2001, this elegant and stylish resort (a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World) has been cosseted and meticulously cared for. It pampers both itself and its patrons.

Franck de Lestapis, the ubiquitous GM, happily greets and energizes his guests throughout the day.

At breakfast (and don’t miss these views)

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

23

What a majestic pedigree. Built in 2001, this elegant and stylish resort (a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World) has been cosseted and meticulously cared for. It pampers both itself and its patrons.

Franck de Lestapis, the ubiquitous GM, happily greets and energizes his guests throughout the day. At breakfast (and don’t miss these views)

24

BEST OF CLASS

he discussed the experience, the awards, the challenges and the fun: “I have been here since the opening and the owners have spared no expense in creating a luxury experience. Service. Our staff is dedicated to service.”

Satisfaction? “We constantly hear: ‘Paradise, serenity, heaven!’” he smiled. “Our guests return.”

Indeed, during a blue-sky-afternoon snorkeling

excursion, a sun-tanned Norwegian couple with two kids in tow, smiled when they told me it was their fifth visit.

“And many awards: Conde Nast, World Luxury Spa, 2014 Travelers’ Choice (Top Hotels/Romance)...”

Elegantly tiled, panorama-blessed, private infinity pools; a marathon beach (nearly one kilometer long) with plentiful water sports; a spa that is a botanical

wonderland: a lush, bosky oasis with landscaping grace and a three-tiered waterfall that sends a soothing, susurrus symphony of splashing music.

Pretty neat.

Water is the leitmotif of this luxurious vacation and defines this experience.

It’s glorious, it’s everywhere: you are transported on it; swim in its waves and tiled shelters; luxuriate

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

25

Rooms: Pools/Beach: Spa: Restaurants:

Fitness: Fun Facts: A WHAT?:

26

121 units (46 one to three-BR villas) two; 46 private villa pools / massive, unspoiled and tranquil beach (a kilometer long) award-winning, stunning garden-oasis – a must four, plus two bars (Spice N’ Rice Thai Restaurant, The Seven Seas Wine Bar & Restaurant, Rak Talay Beach Bar & Restaurant, The Banyan Tree Pool Side Cafe); first-class breakfast buffet with world-class views has it all, plus tennis, dive center, a zillion water sports an aquatic dream; snorkelling, scuba diving, boating a great fleet of boats and yachts to take you islandhopping

BEST OF CLASS

>>

and float on it; dive and snorkel beneath it; sail and kayak and water-board over it – and even listen to it rhythmically waterfalling and cascading as you settle in at the award-winning, garden-themed Spa. Acres of quiescent beach; views of dramatic sunsets and island-dotted horizons; ascending gardened walkways; the lush Spa; boating to the islands; a plethora of water sports (diving, snorkeling, kayaking…); fine-dining; fitness; tennis; and simply unwinding... ...and happy honeymooners, couples snuggling, families frolicking, a tri-athlete churning up the gardened paths, a group of women celebrating a reunion.

And stunning, capacious, hillside pool villas. Holistic.

stylish

and

Pimalai offers luxurious options: 121 units (46 beautifully - appointed pool villas), with an elaborate range of accommodations in both its Beach Side (single deluxe rooms, to beach-front-sumptuous) and Hill Side Estates (with full-pool, duplex, hillside grandeur – one to three-bedrooms).

Four restaurants offer diverse options: beachside buffets (Rak Talay Beach Bar & Restaurant served up a fresh seafoodthemed barbeque) and a more classical menu (The Seven Seas – note a spectacular hand-carved serving table) was paired with a stunning view of the bobbing-boats in the arcing bay that emptied into the skyline.

The Spa is divine.

Life is a composite of balance and proportion.

This stunning resort provides it.

+ 66 (0) 23 205 500 + 66 (0) 23 205 503 Fax reservation@pimalai.com www.pimalai.com

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

27

B

anyan Tree is a classic fixture in the spa and luxury resort cosmos

Sweeping across five continents (and 25 countries) from the Maldives, Seychelles, and the UAE to its home base in China; and across Thailand, Korea, Indonesia and Vietnam (and over the Pacific in Mexico), the 37 landmark resorts and 70 spas all personify understated grace, quiet elegance, and indulgent comfort.

And it is apparent in the Land of Smiles, where Thailand is blessed with three superb Banyan Tree properties (and a fourth, an expansive, family-friendly sister property, Angsana – see pages 52-53), enhances the Phuket resort experience.

All weave a sophisticated, graceful, rewarding and fabulous environment for the discreet, moneyed, discerning, international jet-setters seeking luxury and repose.

28

BEST OF CLASS

•

Phuket – (the home of the Spa Academy, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary) featuring three distinct villa offerings, a renovated resort golf course, a private beach, fine dining and a plethora of pools and activities

•

Samui – terraced and arcing high above a private, splashing cove; bedizened in sunshine; and basking in a cocoon of island romance and tranquility

•

Bangkok – its indoor solitude towering over cosmopolitan Sathorn Road, with an abundance of handsome suites and the stunning, vertiginous rooftop dining and bar (Vertigo)

Phuket

Koh Samui

BANYAN TREE

Bangkok 29

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

BANYAN TREE Bangkok

Saffron

W

ell, it’s an urban jungle out there.

I am a professed city guy – I attended university, law school, made a living and raised a family in bustling New York City. And many years later I gravitated gradually to the thrall and the wonder of Southeast Asia and the frenetic magic that is multifarious Bangkok.

Its rivers and water arteries; narrow, claustrophobic Sois; enchanting alleyways; street food/food courts/ fine dining/dining on rooftops; efficient and daring motorcycles/taxis/anachronistic and noisy tuktuks/modern, overhead and underground trains;

30

BEST OF CLASS

steamy weather/monsoon rains; night markets/ Chatchuchak’s weekend bazaar/a profusion of highend malls; nightlife that defies description.

And – delightfully – an enchanting hotel oasis or two.

Banyan Tree Bangkok towers over cosmopolitan Sathorn Road as it sluices as a boulevard from Lumpini Park, then under the shade of the Skytrain, and pours down into the Chao Phraya River.

I met with my American compatriot, Kenneth Hill, the Director of Sales & Marketing for Bangkok and neighboring Laos. He marvels at the integrity of this hotel: “It is eminently functional and discreetly

Apsara Dinner Cruise

>>

elegant. We are located in the heart of the business district, yet manage to provide comfort and solace to the over-traveled and weary international businessman.”

The 327 rooms and high-ceiling suites offer understated repose and quiet. Try one of three embracing spa suites. Talk about romantic: the scents, the bedding, the amenities – all of the accoutrements of luxury and class.

The world-famous Spa provides respite and is a must; and the pool and Fitness Center on the 21st floor provide both views and salubrious activities for the cardiovascularlydeprived.

“It doesn’t show off. It’s well-appointed and punctuated by service and convenience.

So near to shopping and night-life options.

We provide a shopping companion to help guide our guests through the streets of this metropolis, And food! Great restaurants in our hotel, from basement to rooftop!”

And its 11 restaurants offer a cornucopia of superb dining options (Thai, Chinese, Japanese) highlighted by its famously vertiginous rooftop restaurant and bar. And one more:

Vertigo Rooms/Suites: 327 – Banyan Tree Club Room, Deluxe Room, Pools: Spa: Restaurant & Bar: Fitness: Fun Facts: A WHAT?!:

One-Bedroom Suites, Premier Room, Presidential Suite, Spa Suite, Two-Bedroom Suites outdoor (21st floor) the best – world renowned Apsara, Bai Yun, In-Suite Dining, Juice Bar, Lobby Lounge, Pier59, Romsai. Taihei, Vertigo and Moon Bar, Latitude Lounge & Bar, Saffron Health Club – large in the heart of Bangkok; fabulous dining options spa suites; Vertigo (breathless dining); urban tranquility

+66 (0) 2679 1200 +66 (0) 2679 1199

Fax

bangkok@banyantree.com www.banyantree.com/en/ ap-thailand-bangkok

Kenneth invited me to “cruise under the dazzling stars” on the Apsara Dinner Cruise.

With my partner, Khun Bew, and our guest from Thai Airways, we spent a captivating two hours under those stars (and, many shone) as we glided through nocturnal breezes, under countless bridges, past the Grand Palace, the Emerald Buddha Temple, and were entertained by fireworks. The Thai cuisine was memorable.

A little bit like a fairy-tale.

Another outstanding feature of the Banyan Tree Bangkok is its copious Lounge on the 19th floor. Food and drinks sprout like forest mushrooms throughout each day and sprawling couches, chairs, tables and televisions add to the pervasive comfort.

But make sure you spend an evening at the famous Vertigo, on the rooftop – for dinner or just drinks – and soak in the panoramic views of Bangkok by night.

Banyan Tree Bangkok is a happy confluence of class, convenience and comfort.

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

31

BANYAN TREE Koh Samui

Pool Villas:

88 – Deluxe (130 sqm), Ocean, two-BR Sanctuary (169 sqm), Hillcrest, Ocean-View, Royal Banyan, Presidential (316 sqm) Pools/Beach: everywhere! / intimate private cove Banyan Tree Spa (10 treatment Pavilions) – Spa: sessions are inclusive of 30 minutes Calm Time

32

BEST OF CLASS

>>

T

he luxurious Banyan Tree brand – with its marvelous patrimony – is the quintessential, elegant, Asia-centric resort and spa. It is the paragon of sumptuous, boutique, vacation travel.

Here on the southeastern shore of Samui, this resort exudes a holistic, restorative aura.

They use the sobriquet: “A Sanctuary for the Senses” – and it lives up to the billing. This resort does, indeed, focus on the senses: it provides romance, intimacy, privacy, and hovering, lush surroundings. And the sensible: ecologically aware, it embraces a “green conscience”.

Nestled on a tropical, terraced hillside within a small peninsula (19 kilometers from the airport), the 88 spacious, all-pool villas tumble down lush, gardened terrain to a cove overlooking Lamai Bay. The arcing, private beach invites exquisite solitude – as well as ample water adventure (kayaking, snorkeling and diving).

The Spa and Rainforest are plush enhancements.

The spa service is close to legendary and is a highlight of a trip here.

Save an evening to voyage up to Saffron at the top of the property (it’s Thai and a high) and decide which is more delicious – the view or the awardwinning cuisine. It’s atmospheric romance with a glorious, pacific view.

Restaurants Saffron (Thai), The Edge ( breakfast and lunch), & Bar: Sands (beachfront, seafood); Lobby Lounge;

Fitness: Fun Facts: A WHAT?!:

In-Villa Dining; Samui Episode (softly-illuminated private beach pavilion); Pool Bar yes …and, Yoga Room coral reefs, Kids’ Club…. exquisite intimacy, luxurious environment

If you really seek to indulge in some Lucretian splendor, the two-bedroom Sanctuary Pool Villa (169-sqm) and the Brobdingnagian (316-sqm) Presidential Pool Villa, are two of five opulent options.

Banyan Tree also provides a Kid’s Club, where the tykes can partake in ample activities (baking, painting, sand art) while mom and dad are holding hands; a fitness center, and a library. ..and a perfect venue for a romantic wedding.

Considered the crème de la crème of tropical beach resorts, it delivers luxury and class.

Engraved on this Samui peninsula, it is Nirvana – a true slice of vacation paradise.

+66 (0) 77 915 333 www.banyantree.com reservations-samui@banyantree.com

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

33

BANYAN TREE Phuket

+66 (0) 76 372 400 +66 (0) 76 324 375 Fax phuket@banyantree.com www.banyantree.com/en/ ap-thailand-phuket-resort

A

las, my buoyant weekend in Phuket was good news and bad.

Good: I was at the refreshing Banyan Tree resort, ensconced in a capacious Spa Sanctuary pool villa with more outstanding service then a five-set final at Wimbledon – and a profusion of dazzling smiles (akin to my kids in front of the Christmas tree).

The bad: I was alone. Working. Dumb.

This place is for love, not labor.

But, hey, someone has to tell the story (“Khun David, you are the only one who has ever been in this spa villa alone!” lamented my painfully observant in-room therapist, Khun Natcha).

34

BEST OF CLASS

The Phuket resort is blessed with location and weather – and kissed with an ambiance of pure romance, comfort and relaxation.

It was one of my favorite (albeit, solo…) weekends.

The vacationing options are handsome: a polished, rejuvenated 6,700-yard resort golf course, the nonpareil spa services (I had my first treatment invilla – rapture for 90 minutes), sprawling grounds (89 acres), terrific restaurants, a quiet beach, bicycles, birds and musical frogs serenading the evening.

According to the gregarious and veteran GM, Sriram Kailasam, who has spent 12 years with Banyan Tree (three at this flagship property), the 173-villa

>>

property is divided into sections. “We have three small resorts here: the main resort property with 135 villas circling the lagoon and home to most of the amenities; the Spa Sanctuary with 14 secluded pool villas; and a cluster of 24 lakeside DoublePool villas.”

“The quality of the service is the key. Our well-trained, dedicated staff of 600 cater to our clientele. Our Spa has won countless awards, our golf course [renovated in January 2015] is world-class with superb drainage and greens, and we provide bicycles, yoga and comfort,” he smiled.

Sriram also provides hands-on attention.

He greeted dinner guests at Saffron, well into the long evening. “Don’t you go home?” I asked as I demolished two delicious desserts.

He seems to revel in the contentment.

The entire staff, many of whom have extraordinary longevity, follow his example and add to the courteous charm – and always smile.

A distinct sense of harmony resonates here: a holistic, pervasive calm; an exquisite rapture. Your frenetic and burdened life is transposed within minutes by the aura, the cosseting service and the special, encompassing details.

I spent my weekend at the exclusive Spa Sanctuary, just 14 secluded, one-bedroom pool villas nestled in pampering excellence.

Wow! It was a Thrilla’ in the Villa.

The gardened redoubt had a massive T-shaped pool, with an outdoor sala pavilion perched above it, an outdoor Jacuzzi, indoor steam room, outdoor soaking tub, and a cozy (indoor) bedroom seemingly floating on a lagoon. And a waterfall of helpful, useful amenities: bath scrub potions, iced juice, soft toiletry bags…

It’s all in the details.

Breakfast was served in villa and it arrived hot (poached eggs) and scrumptious. The buffet at Watercourt the next morning was outdoors, cheerful and fulsome. I read and lingered for two hours.

The Spa has 25 treatment rooms (mini-villas) with both outdoor and indoor comforts. It is signature.

Make your pool-villa selection and leap to the occasion: honeymoon, weekend escape, a frolic with the family, a golfing weekend – and let them rub away all of the aches and tensions.

It is idyllic. Gambol.

Villas:

135 villas circling the lagoon; the Spa Sanctuary with 14 secluded pool villas; and a cluster of 24 lakeside DoublePool villas Pools/Beach: everywhere / yes Spa: world-class and unforgettable Restaurant & Bar: Banyan Cafe, In-Villa Dining, Tré, Lobby Bar & Wine Rack, Pool Bar, Saffron, Tamarind, Watercourt yes, golf, biking Fitness: Fun Facts: elegance with happy options; convenient to the airport and Patong A WHAT?!: a sanctuary: spa, food, golf – repose

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

35

36

BEST OF CLASS

BEACHES “Thailand is blessed with natural beauty and its islands are among the most scenic and beautiful in the world.”

Visiting a Thailand beach or island is the preferred holiday for hundreds of thousands of visitors to Thailand every year.

Each Thai beach and island has its own character and identity and therefore draws a specific type of visitor. Each coastal area contains a slice of heaven suitable for a different style of traveler: The west coast of Thailand, along the Andaman Sea, features beaches that appeal to every type of traveler, including the activity-filled resort island of Phuket; the popular backpacker beaches of Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, and Krabi; the family friendly, laid back, and pristine coast of Khao Lak (the launching point for trips to the spectacular Similan Islands); and the remote, undeveloped islands of the far south.

Along the Gulf coast, the resort island of Koh Samui lies nearby the natural splendor of Koh Phangan and the scuba diving paradise of Koh Tao. Closer to Bangkok is the popular resort town of Hua Hin, a favorite among Thais, and its quieter neighbor Cha Am. Finally, to the east of Thailand, the northern Gulf features Bangkok weekend getaway Koh Samet, and the up-and-coming resort island of Koh Chang, which has both upscale resorts and budget beach bungalows.

Phuket, Thailand’s largest island, is a perfect example of this contrast. Phuket is certainly the most developed Thai island, having been the first Thai beach resort destination.

Koh Samui is the prime island attraction in the Gulf of Thailand. The most popular beach, Chaweng, features accommodation from five-star luxury resorts to affordable beach bungalows, and dining includes fine dining on international cuisine and casual beachside seafood barbeques.

Krabi is a province on the mainland Andaman coast, near Phuket. In addition to popular beachside resort areas, such as Railey Beach, Krabi includes a number of spectacular islands, such as the Phi Phi Islands and Koh Lanta, from which some of Thailand’s most popular scuba diving sites are found.

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

37

BEACHES

38 40

42 44 46 48 50

Samui Conrad Koh Samui InterContinental Samui Baan Taling Ngam Royal Muang Samui Villas Muang Samui Spa Resort Mimosa Resort & Spa ShaSa Resort & Residences The Scent Hotel

52 54 56 58 60 62 64

66 68

70 72

38

Krabi Layana Resort & Spa (Koh Lanta) Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort Zeavola Resort (Koh Phi Phi) Villa 360 Resort & Spa (Koh Phi Phi)

BEST OF CLASS

Phuket Angsana Laguna Cape Sienna Hotel & Villas Dewa Phuket Indigo Pearl Twinpalms Phuket Resort The Village Coconut Island Villa Zolitude Resort and Spa

PLACES TO STAY

74 76 78 80

82 84

Hua Hin AKA Resort Hua Hin Guti Resort by AKA Dusit Thani Wora Bura Resort & Spa

Pattaya Hilton Pattaya Pattaya Sea Sand Sun Resort and Spa

86 88

Koh Chang The Chill Resort & Spa Tranquility Bay Residence

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

39

Conrad Koh Samui

Samui, Thailand

Villas: Pools/Beach: Spa: Restaurant & Bar: Fitness: Fun Facts:

A WHAT?!:

81 free-standing pool villas (see article) ubiquitous (10-22.5 m ); resort infinity pool/small duplex, airy, luminous views; why close your eyes? three two lounges and wine cellar complete (but everyone is relaxing!) complimentary boat excursions to island beaches (3 x daily) views, views, views‌

+66 (0) 77 915 888 +66 (0) 77 915 899 Fax conrad_koh_samui@conradhotels.com www.conradkohsamui.com

40

BEST OF CLASS

“Talk about a lofty experience. Polished, refined and luxurious...”

Samui

T

alk about a lofty vacation. Polished, refined, luxurious, and privately perched atop the world – this is literally an “overseas” experience.

Carved from a stately cliff in the southwest corner of Samui, and rising 350 feet above the quivering-blue Pantone palettes of the Gulf, this may be your best escape for intimacy, sophistication and style.

Seeking cinemascopic panoramas, tranquility, and peace of mind? Float to these tropical shores and rise to the occasion.

Vertiginous. Breathtaking.

Leave your cares behind: no cell phone cacophony, no drowning in digital detritus, no blizzard of messages, no dog to walk, no diapers to change. Just the fleecestreaked sky fading into a luminous, orange sunset, with five distant islands speckled on the horizon.

It is a Mecca for starry-eyed honeymooners.

The animated and proactive GM, Stefano Ruzza, has caressed this property and has added his tasteful, personal touch. “I expanded the beach. It’s a paradise.

What a place to work!” he smiled enthusiastically.

And, what a place to vacation.

Eighty-one free-standing villas edge the cliff, all with private pools. The 65 One-Bedroom Pool Villas (130 sqm of indoor and outdoor living space),14 Oceanview Two-Bedroom Pool Villas, the Conrad Royal Oceanview Pool Villa (the über-deluxe villa at the water’s edge, 434 sqm), and one Oceanview Three-Bedroom Pool Villa (766 sqm), all provide superb, personalized service: thick, soft, fluffy towels, in-room Apple-based TV technology, immaculate décor, shoes polished, fresh fruit, and enveloping smiles.

The Spa is inspirational, restaurants first-rate (terrific breakfast), and the privacy is notably significant.

All the accoutrements of class, grace and luxury.

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

41

InterContinental Samui Baan Taling Ngam

Samui, Thailand

“B

aan Taling Ngam” means “home on a beautiful cliff.” Talk about an understatement.

winning and gracious Spa, long private beach are all first-class.

This southwestern Samui resort – tucked away on 22 acres and hovering on a breathtaking 120-meter cliff – is extraordinary.

The owner, Vikorn Srivikorn, recounted: “I was exploring Samui when I was young and loved it here.

With two successful, properties in downtown Bangkok [Intercontinental and Holiday Inn] it didn’t take much persuasion for me to re-develop this property. This a solid five-star experience – but not elitist. We offer relaxation and nature. Repose.”

The cover of my inaugural Thailand Golf Guide (2004) featured Samui’s only golf course (in the north). I had little chance to wander other cliffs and sweeping beaches. My mistake.

The site of the original Baan Taling Ngam Resort, this property enjoys a legendary status as Samui’s first grand dame resort (1994).

I have visited this vacation aerie many times during the past 18 months and continue to enjoy its elegance, service, tranquility and style. Its ocean and sunset views are spectacular. The seven swimming pools, an award-

42

BEST OF CLASS

The dynamic GM, Stephane Duchenne, was captivated: “An open view from the terrace of the Air Bar, a ballet of waitresses, five islands on the horizon, yachts cruising, a 270º sunset vista... This is spectacular. It’s in that book as one of the 1,000 places to go before you die!”

The 79 guest-rooms, suites (some duplex) and beachfront villas (with private plunge-pools) Spa and fitness center feature outstanding vistas.

“…it has a legendary status as Samui’s first grand dame resort.”

Samui

Rooms:

Pool/Beach: Spa:

Restaurant & Bar: Fitness: Fun Facts:

79 rooms, including suites and Beachfront and multi-BR villas seven + / sweeping, private Best Spa in Asia (Conde Nast) – seductive, meditative Amber (Thai); Flames (seafood); Serene (afternoon tea and pastries) Air Bar; Fireside complete and a treat – overlooking the Gulf

Signature Speedboat whisks you to the Five Islands; World Travel anointed it Thailand’s Leading Beach Resort A WHAT?!: perfect sunset…every night

+ 66 (0) 77 429 100 + 66 (0) 77 423 220 Fax reservations@ickohsamui.com samui.intercontinental.com

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

43

Royal Muang Samui Villas

Samui, Thailand

Suites/Villas: 62 suites – 30 Grand Deluxe Suites (90 sqm)

Pool/Beach: Spa: Restaurants & Bar: Fitness: Fun Facts: A WHAT?:

and 32 Pool Suites (125 sqm) / 15 pool villas – 11 Garden, 2 two-BR Family, 2 Ocean View (160 sqm) many / gorgeous, white-powder sand Cave Rai Ra Beach Spa – eclectic and holistic Spice Zone Beachfront Restaurant, Samui Sailor Grill and Restaurant, Wine & Coffee Corner, Light House: Wine & Cocktail Bar yes space, privacy the finest Thai luxury beachfront resort

+ 66 (0) 7742 8700 + 66 (0) 7741 7470 Fax rsvn_msv@muangsamui.com www.muangsamui.com

44

BEST OF CLASS

“...romantic, idyllic and memorable.”

Samui

This is a charming family affair. A love story!

Khun Chananthip, traveled with her sister to Koh Samui for a vacation on this quiet, undeveloped, tropical island 30 years ago. They stayed at a resort managed by an eager young man, Khun Thitiphan. He diligently took care of the family, and quietly (“He was shy!” she laughed) began his courtship.

The strategy worked, the resourceful suitor proposed, and – as love stories surely go – alas, she accepted.

She moved to Samui and they began their journey to resort ownership. They soon emerge the as hotel pioneers on the island, with Muang Samui Spa Resort on Chewang Beach and several, free-standing restaurants.

Years later they built this genteel resort.

Location, location, location…and lots of elegance.

This spacious resort and charming town are a scant four kilometers from the airport. The beach sprawls out

from the pool; excellent restaurants line the quaint Soi; and tropical weather adds the exclamation point.

This five-star resort is redolent of ancient Ayutthuya: breezes circulate through airy gardens and the openair lobby, soft woods adorn the capacious suites, and gardens decorate the grounds.

It’s luxurious, classy and offers handsome amenities, particularly a clever cave-themed, comforting spa.

If you want extravagance, indulge in one of the one-BR, Ocean View pool villas the third floor. Talk about a sweet suite: a long, private pool overlooks the beach; a kitchen lets you prepare a spontaneous snack; a living room allows quiet entertainment; and the view!

No wonder weddings are popular here: romantic, idyllic and memorable.

It is gracious and welcoming.

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

45

Muang Samui Spa Resort

T

his quiet resort, in the heart of bustling northeast Samui, offers casual luxury, convenience (10 minutes from the airport), comfort (sea breezes, gardens and pool) and a cozy, embracing atmosphere and many smiles. And seek one of many soothing treatment at the innovative Spa. This was the progenitor of all resorts in Chaweng Beach when it was reconstructed nine years ago. It has been a popular and genteel refuge for the casual couple, weary business traveler and buoyant family ever since.

With a fabulous restaurant across the street (Samui Seafood), a new Central Festival a short walk, and lots of action on the bustling street – the resort, and its ameliorative spa and beachfront restaurant, is happily sequestered away from the activity.

46

BEST OF CLASS

Samui, Thailand

Gardens envelop the tasteful property and an earnest calm suffuses the walkways, pool and white-sand beach (…as I write this from a desk in now sweltering Bangkok, I yearn!).

One Eastern European guest told me in the lobby, as he sipped on a cool welcoming cocktail, “I checked out a lot of places for a 10-day visit and this was the best beach and value in the area. My room is large, great pool and beach, and I get to use the facilities to the north at the Royal Muang Samui. This is my second visit. Great choice, great price, great food.”

An understated wedding was in the formative stages: “A beach, a spa, a delicious banquet and all my friends happily in their suites!!”

“Happy” defines it.

“...best beach and value in the area.”

Samui

Rooms:

53: Grand Deluxe Suites (44 Garden – 53 sqm); Royal Suites (9 – 106 sqm with Jacuzzi) Pools/Beach: excellent / excellent Spa: Rai Ra Spa on the beach with 16 indoor / outdoor treatment rooms Restaurants Lare Lae (on the beach); and Samui Seafood & Bars: Grill & Restaurant (across the street) Fitness: small popular, home-spun, in the center of Fun Facts: bustling Chaweng – and a new Central Festival down the street natural, elegant boutique resort A WHAT?:

+ 66 (0) 7742 9700 + 66 (0) 7742 9749 Fax rsvn_msm@muangsamui.com www.muangsamui.com

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

47

Mimosa Resort & Spa

Samui, Thailand

Rooms:

Pool/Beach: Spa: Restaurant & Bar: Fitness: Fun Facts: A WHAT?:

32 – six flora-themed categories all with Jacuzzis: 13 Lotus (36 sqm), 4 Jasmine Senior (48 sqm), 9 Lover’s Jasmine (48 sqm), 4 Meranti Pool Villa (76 sqm), 1 Manikara Family Suite (104 sqm), 1 Mimosa Family Pool Suite (138 sqm) both are private, serene and lovely a charming duplex concoction of art, plants and massage open-air and on the beach cozy, glass-walled facility in the courtyard delightful, playful accents throughout resort a quiet and tranquil beach, only 15 kilometers from the airport

+ 66 (0) 77 247 740 + 66 (0) 77 247 513 Fax info@mimosasamui.com www.mimosasamui.com

48

BEST OF CLASS

“…sparkles with innovative and whimsical design…”

Samui

This is a wonderful touch of cozy and charming beachfront elegance on the north shore of Samui.

at the resort with his wife and two animated boys) – and constant cheer. It’s a family affair.

Family-owned and operated, this 32-unit resort offers sea views, delightful pool villas, playful activities (free kayaking, snorkeling, bicycles); and an openair restaurant and pool on the edge of a undisturbed beach, where waves whisper and the sun glows.

“We happily call ourselves a special, four-star beach resort, but we provide a casual yet luxurious experience serving every member of the family,” he smiles. I agree.

Attentively architected, Mimosa sparkles with innovative and whimsical design and fabulous attention-to-detail (an open-air kid’s room in the expansive courtyard garden, neat lift-up chaise lounges built within the four pool villas; custom-made mimosa wood hangers; and mimosa and teak furniture).

It is a 4+-star treat.

And talk about a welcoming atmosphere! The vigorous and attentive GM, Khun Methee, and his buoyant sister Khun Nalinee (the assistant front office manager), offer hands-on, round-the-clock, kid-glove service (he lives

The resort is purposely family friendly (two Family Suites provide 104-138 sqm) with play areas and activities for the kids and assistance for the elderly.

Charming designs and accents pervade the: innovative courtyard; the creative, duplex spa; the beach-side restaurant; and the secluded, tranquil beach in the evening, when bean-bag cushions and little tables are set on the sand so that guests can watch the mesmerizing sunset with panoramic views of the islands to the north: Phangan, Angthong National Marine Park and Tao. Quiet, private –great for an intimate honeymoon – it is a delight.

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

49

ShaSa Resort & Residences

Samui, Thailand

L

ayered with a quiet, understated charm – but exuberantly spatial – this 32-suite resort exudes cheerfulness and space.

apy pool (this you have to experience) and drifted past the fish pond, the two terraced pools, and down to the small beach.

This is simplistic – but outsized – luxury with ballroom-sized interiors and sweeping balconies extolling sea views.

In the evening, melodious, vintage ‘60s Oldies tunes graced BEYOND THE SEA, which startled me with a memorable meal (lamb in a mesmerizing sweet-curry stew, sea bass brushed in tamarind sauce, a golden soft shell crab omelet, and superb mango and sticky rice with scented coconut vanilla ice cream in a bed of shortbread-cookie dust). The buffet breakfast extended the pleasure.

Eight 3-BR suites sprawl over 250 sqm (the giant bathtub can serve as a kiddie pool); a two-BR, duplex beachfront villa (320 sqm) comes with a butler, plunge pool and a roof-top veranda that could land a Huey helicopter (and urges you to beckon the Spa masseuse to the covered sala).

And 24 convertible one/two-BR “suites” (I call them apartments) offer nearly 150 sqm of magnanimous, comfortable living space (with a washer/dryer).

Music floated in the air. In the morning an orchestral, Mozart-like fugue hovered over the hydrother -

50

BEST OF CLASS

And Omapatt (Tong) Nuntapanish, the gracious GM, showed me the location near the pool where “a new fresh seafood restaurant is being built.” ♫ “But tell me now, and I won’t ask again, will you still love me to-mor-row?”♪ The Shirelles.

You bet I will. A buoyant and happy experience.

“This is simplistic – but outsized – luxury…”

Samui

Rooms:

32 BIG sea view suites (one-three BR villa, with full-kitchen, washer/dryer)

Pools/Beach: Spa: Restaurant & Bar: Fitness: Fun Facts:

three/small cozy BEYOND THE SEA, Siamese Brasserie/ new poolside seafood restaurant coming fully-equipped Fitness Centre with a sea view jumbo-sized Kid’s room (more like playground); awesome pool villa a glorious hydrotherapy pool (no charge);

A WHAT?:

+66 (0) 77 913 888 +66 (0) 77 913 899 Fax unforgettable@shasahotels.com www.shasahotels.com

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

51

The Scent Hotel

Samui, Thailand

Suites:

14 (3 Beachfront, Suites 70 sqm; 11 Sea Breeze Suites, 50 sqm) Pools/Beach: large, facing beach / you and the waves Spa: intimate (“...and affordable!”)

Restaurant: Le Jaroen Fitness: no Fun Facts: near Fishermen’s Village; and so serene

A WHAT?:

intimate and romantic; peaceful and tranquil

+66 (0) 77 962198 +66 (0) 77 962199 Fax info@thescenthotel.com www.thescenthotel.com

52

BEST OF CLASS

“[It] rests in a cocoon of its own tranquility on the edge of a quiet beach...”

Samui

G

racious, romantic and serene. It is a resplendent setting for the celebration of an intimate event: an anniversary, special birthday, that magical proposal or simply a relaxing, romantic weekend.

The Scent Hotel rests in a cocoon of its own tranquility on the edge of a quiet beach, awash in understated luxury. Elegantly done.

This quaint, cozy and blissful boutique hotel sits in sweet repose on Bophut Beach – minutes from both the airport and dining or walking at the charming Fisherman’s Village. The convenience adds to the allure.

James Hang, the GM at The Scent and its larger, sister hotel down the beach (the venerable and comfortable, 122-unit Peace Resort), has been managing this idyllic resort since 2011.

Built five years ago, it had been a Relais & Chateaux property, and is now a Secret Retreat. It should be no secret. It is a halcyon, weekend paradise.

“We have 14 rooms, including three stunning, Beachfront Suites [mine, steps down to the beach and beautifully designed – with an antique brass telescope peering at Koh Phangan] and a world-class restaurant, Le Jaroen, that sits on the beach. It’s for adults. It’s a sophisticated and darling property.”

“And a little spa that helps spread the Scent!”

“We are very popular for intimate weddings,” he continued. “Just look at this setting!!”

I did.

Outstanding.

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

53

Angsana Laguna

W

hat a marvelous spot for the family in the midst of the swank, Laguna integrated-resort compound in northwest Phuket.

This is alternative luxury in a less intimate, more family-friendly atmosphere.

Vincent Gerards, the insightful marketing maven, walked me through the casual luxury of the extended 40 acres of pools, lagoons and beach. Children’s activities linger like bedroom toys throughout the handsome property.

“We have a Kids Club that buzzes all day long: computers, video and board games, library, art room, playground, scheduled activities. Kids can eat, stay and play for free!” he smiled.

54

BEST OF CLASS

Phuket, Thailand

But young couples walked hand-in-hand in quiet intoxication; a middle-aged, farang foursome were analyzing a scorecard (check out the double pool villas on the golf side); and a buoyant wedding party dominated one evening.

The Spa is award-winning and serves mom, dad and the off-spring. At an evening cocktail party hosted by the GM, a bevy of masseurs treated imbibers to 10-minute back rubs. Delightful.

“We provide enjoyment for a wide range of guests.

Elegant or relaxed. Enjoy cocktails by the lagoon. Take the kids for a hamburger. Dine on a moonlit beach. Hold a swanky ballroom gala. Organize an exciting teambuilding activity. Celebrate your anniversary. Shape your dream event at Angsana Phuket,” Vincent effused.

“alternative luxury in a… family-friendly atmosphere.”

Phuket

Expansive and congenial, Angsana features: •

a sprawling pool winding its way for 323 meters through the resort;

•

a luxurious private beach club offering dining and entertainment;

•

403 commodious suites, lofts, rooms and pool villas;

•

a world-class spa;

•

seven dining options;

•

boating on a lagoon/lake, and diving and snorkeling;

•

bicycle excursions;

•

loads of kids’ activities (check out the tree house);

•

a top-notch, renovated golf course just a par-5 ride up the road.

400 suites, lofts, rooms and pool villas Rooms: Pools/Beach: a pervasive 323-meter pool weaving around the

Spa: Restaurants & Bars: Fitness: Fun Facts: A WHAT?:

resort / exceptional world-class – Thailand Spa & Well-Being Awards Baan Talay, Bodega & Grill, Kids Café, Loy Krathong Bar, Market Place, Poolside, XANA Beach Club, Around the Resort yes; tennis courts; world-class golf course Tree House Kids Club, Xana Beach Club a plethora of water activities in (and on) the pools, ocean and lagoons

+66 (0) 76 324 101 reservations-lagunaphuket@ angsana.com www.angsana.com/en/apthailand-phuket

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

55

Cape Sienna Hotel & Villas

Phuket, Thailand

Villas: Pools/Beach: Spa: Restaurant & Bar: Fitness: Fun Facts:

A WHAT?:

146; nine luxurious villas on the water the centerpiece / a short journey yes three (with views) the Poolside Bar complete rotating Happy Hours throughout the resort (30% off most drinks); Sienna Rocks by the Beach Club with a Jacuzzi on the cliff overhanging the beach; wine list with over 20 wine labels for under 1,400 B; PLUM has iPad menus; choice of bathroom amenity scents upon check in A gorgeous sea-view in every room!

+66 (0) 76 337 300 +66 (0) 76 337 399 mail@capesienna.com www.capesienna.com

56

BEST OF CLASS

Fax

“It is peaceful, popular, and buoyant...”

Phuket

T

his tropical-urbane resort tiptoes up the serene Kamala Beach hillside. Perched in three ascending tiers on Phuket’s western edge, Cape Sienna boasts space, grace, a wonderfully casual attitude and sweeping views into the deep Andaman Sea sunset.

It is peaceful, popular, buoyant and relaxing – with a subdued, chic swagger belying its poised demeanor and cosmopolitan decor.

The enthusiastic staff sports a delightful combination of serious service and happy bonhomie. They keep it cheerful for the many couples who come to luxuriate (children must be over 12) and hold hands (indeed, it was Travelers’ Choice 2010 - Most Romantic Hotel in Asia).

“All 146 rooms are blessed with sea views,” beamed

Frank Dreist, the GM, gatekeeper and project midwife who nurtured the opening four years ago. “We have nine exclusive, spacious, three-to-four bedroom villas, which sit on the oceanfront cliffs, each with a private pool. Quite a romantic setting for the dazzling sunsets!”

The epicenter of the relaxation is the 30-meter marble pool, infinity Jacuzzi and nests of chaise lounges.

A state-of-the-art health club keeps you buff, while the Balance Spa is a perfect antidote to the all-day stress of deciding which part of your body to tan.

The PLUM Restaurant features authentic Mediterranean and Thai inspired dishes (with more of that impeccable view), and the Vanilla Sky Bar invites for cocktails and tapas to relax and wind down just in time for the sunset.

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

57

Dewa Phuket

T

his is a wonderful example of convivial luxury: convenient, practical, comfortable and marvelously accommodating.

With an ideal location minutes from the airport; steps away from the arcing beach of Nai Yang National Park and a quaint beachfront village down the path; Dewa is more casual than opulent and more fun than formal.

This cozy resort hosts honeymooners and families with playful pools and a sweeping beach out the back door.

Dewa delivers boutique panache and a happy aura that suffuses the entire resort: 34 charming pool villas and 62 one/two-bedroom suites.

“I arrived over seven years ago when we opened and was charmed by the atmosphere,” said Lillian Carpenter, the upbeat GM, who spent considerable time in Phuket running the iconic Blue Canyon CC. “We take pride in our many returning guests. It is a

58

BEST OF CLASS

Phuket, Thailand

testament to the warm hospitality of our staff, many of whom have been with us when we opened. We hear words like: ‘pampering’, ‘privacy’, ‘tranquil’,’ convenient’, ‘oasis’, to describe their experience here.

As a privately-owned resort, we consider all feedback constructive – and make changes. We apply innovative ideas to improve where and when required.”

The intimate pool villas are charming and romantic.

The four-story suite complex forms a crescent around a large pool with views into the sunset (and roof gardens).

Paddleboard, snorkel, try Thai boxing or Pilates, go fishing, learn Thai, enjoy a bike ride, or wander 10 minutes along the beach road to the village shops bedizening the shoreline.

Wind it all down with a Nirvanic moment at the Spa; and a nightcap on the portico watching the sun dip into happy sleep.

Charming.

“...a happy aura that suffuses the entire resort.�

Phuket

Rooms: Pools: Spa: Restaurants & Bars: Fitness: Fun Facts: A WHAT?:

96 units (34 pool villas; 62 suites (24 two-BR) two resort, and at pool villas / Nai Yang Beach Dewa Spa Terrace Grill, Bread & Butter Bakery Bamboo Bar yes Sirinath National Park; minutes from the airport sunsets, water, whispers, happiness

+66 (0) 76 37 23 00 reservation@dewaphuket.com www.dewaphuketresort.com

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

59

Indigo Pearl

Phuket, Thailand

Rooms: Pools/Beach: Spa: Restaurant & Bar: Fitness: Fun Facts: A WHAT?:

177 (eight private pool villas, Bensley Suite (huge) three and villas / access Coqoon Spa six three complete, with bicycles and tennis marvelous tin mine design concept throughout the resort Coqoon Spa Suite with pool, sauna, Vichy shower, masseuse

+66 (0) 76 327 006 +66 (0) 76 327 338 Fax info@indigo-pearl.com www. indigo-pearl.com

60

BEST OF CLASS

“The rooms are an interior decorating showcase...”

Phuket

T

his was a fun reunion. The GM, Chris Oakes, was a luminary at Evason Six Senses a decade ago when I first journeyed to Bangkok. We met again on his star-lit, gardened path en route to the exquisite Black Ginger for dinner.

Later we sat amidst the resort’s flora and shared Bangkok stories. I listened to his plans for the elegant and iconoclastic Indigo Pearl: “We have a unique collection of different elements: unforgettable design; first-class dining; antiques and collectibles; flower shop; and cooking school.”

The designer, Bill Bensley, I met years ago when we were holiday houseguests at the five-acre manse of a mutual Chiang Mai friend. Bill worked on the design and artifacts for seven Thai Lanna-style pavilions. Dynamic architecture with magnificent attention to detail.

Bill’s deliriously creative work at this 177-suite/villa resort (10-minutes from the airport) parlays whimsy and

informality with an inventive, “industrial chic” design, utilizing stark, natural materials: raw timber, brass rivets, and sleek polished metal.

Chris and Bill collaborated on a “beach club” concept that grows as I write.

The rooms: interior decorating showcase. Historical themes incorporating the island’s tin mines and rubber plantations flow throughout the resort.

The combination of colorful objects d’art, antiques and historical bric-a-brac; split-level interior design; and explosive palettes of colors in each of the villas and suites (more here than a candy store on Valentine’s Day: the Coqoon Spa, with its own pool, steam and sauna), and the Presidential Bensley Suite.

Five fine-dining options include Japanese, tapas and Thai.

Classy, stylish, naturalistic and intimate.

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

61

Twinpalms Phuket Resort

Phuket, Thailand

Rooms: Pools: Beach: Spa: Restaurant & Bar: Fitness: Other: Fun Facts: A WHAT?

97 (21: duplexes, penthouses, suites) including pool suites enormous and many Catch beach club and Bimi beach club Sun Spa Esthederm Oriental Spoon, Palm Seafood Wine Room extensive Library, Wine Room 330 trees and 6,491 plants are given water and fertilizer.

Luxury 76’ yacht for maximum indulgence

+66 (0) 76 316-500 www.twinpalms-phuket.com book@twinpalms-phuket.com

62

BEST OF CLASS

“People come here and forget time. They find balance…”

Phuket

T

his is an uplifting, beguiling – and charming – resort success story: a hospitality conglomerate with its expanding business tendrils wrapping around the (twin) palms and beaches of Phuket.

Twinpalms, on the northwestern shore of this vacation island, is a testimony to style, verve, cheer, munificence and solid governance. It had participated in my first Thailand publication (Lihn’s Best of Thailand Golf Guide 2004) and I continued to visit the resort.

I discovered that the consummate hospitality, compassion, style, camaraderie – and the benchmark service – remained after all of these years.

The GM, Olivier Gibaud, a Swiss-French expat, who had worked in high-end Asia resorts for 14 years, has driven its success for a decade – far beyond the typical resort business model. You flip over the back

of his business card and see quite an impressive panoply of hospitality-based entities including the 97-room resort, restaurants, bakeries, radio stations…all of the businesses mingle and merge into an effective operating entity that serves the resort.

“It’s a Garden of Eden,” Olivier muses. “People come here and forget time. They find balance. The pools, the palms, the gardens. This resort performs like an orchestra with all of the instruments blending into a single, serene sound. It flows.” Susurrous, indeed.

Vacationers return in seasonal rhythm.

Burnishing the luster of this 97-room resort idyll are: 21 suites constructed in 2009 (the elegant Residences) featuring luxurious, expansive, duplexes (seven), 10 penthouses (mine, with a roof-top pool, was an exquisite 250 sqm) and a Presidential penthouse.

Three, two-bedroom duplexes round-out the luxury.

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

63

The Village Coconut Island

F

ive hundred meters of private, serene beachfront with breathtaking views far into Phang Nga Bay.

The Village Coconut Island Beach Resort is located a mere 500 meters off of the East Coast of Phuket on Koh Maphrao (“Coconut Island”), a naturalistic, peaceful, and unspoiled island, with all of the hustle and bustle of Phuket just a short boat ride away (a 24-hour water taxis are provided).

It is a tropical island paradise.

The resort offers a marvelous choice of Grand Beachfront or Sea View Pool Villas, 1-2 bedroom Garden or Sea View Pool Villas, and Jacuzzi Suites situated in elegantly landscaped gardens.

Located on that stretch of private beach are the flagship accommodations, the Grand Beach Front Pool Villas, ranging in size from 2-5 bedrooms, these luxurious

64

BEST OF CLASS

Phuket, Thailand

two-story units sport a long-tail fishing boat motif.

But it’s the golden sands, sun loungers and umbrellas, and uninterrupted views out to sea that make this the perfect beach for escaping and relaxing.

Sitting just behind the beach, two, terraced central infinity pools are connected by innovative, cascading water slides, one of which is the exciting Speed Slider.

Other robust activities are sailing, kayaking, tennis, biking and the gym.

The Village Coconut Island boasts delicious Thai, Western and Asian cuisine – all cooked using local ingredients (fishing and farming are the two main occupations on the island and rubber trees, local fruits and vegetables are grown in the central part).

The spa, set in a secluded garden, uses 10 treatment rooms, and is centered around the Hydrotherapy Pool.

“private, serene beachfront with breathtaking views�

Phuket

Villas:

236 - 88 pool villas with sea views; 32 pool villas and 116 suites (outdoor Jacuzzis) overlooking landscaped gardens; Pools/Beach: two central infinity pools with two water slides / awesome Spa: Village Spa Hydrotherapy Pool, 10 treatment rooms Restaurants Tamarind, The Deli, KOKO, and in-villa dining (private chef), beach BBQs Beach Bar / Koko Bar & Bars:

Fitness: Fun Facts: A WHAT?:

yes; tennis with flood-lit courts,Yoga, Muay Thai sailing and kayaking, mountain bikes, Speed Slider private island, private beach with major resort amenities

+66 (0) 76 352 148 res@thevillage-coconutisland.com www.thevillage-coconutisland.com

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

65

Villa Zolitude Resort and Spa

Phuket, Thailand

Villas: Pools:

45 – Deluxe Pool, Grand Pool, 2-BR, 4-BR infinity-edge pool at the center of the resort offers spectacular views Beach: several within a 20-minute drive Spa: yes Restaurant & Bar: 180° View & Grill Fitness: yes, pool table, games pavilion Fun Facts: cozy library with games, coffee corner and snacks; cooking classes intimate privacy and views; dining on A WHAT?! your poolside terrace, in-villa barbecue

+66 (0) 76 521 333 +66 (0) 76 521 330 FAX www.villazolitude.com rsvn@villazolitude.com

66

BEST OF CLASS

“Phuket’s best kept secret”

Phuket

V

illa Zolitude is Phuket’s best kept secret. A luxury rainforest retreat nestled high atop a lush mountainside it has spectacular panoramic views overlooking the lowlands and the picturesque Bay of Chalong on Phuket’s southeast coast.

This romantic hideaway – hidden among the treetops – is just 20 minutes from: Nai Harn, Kata, Karon and Patong Beaches; several championship golf courses; the historic Old Town and shopping and dining in Phuket town. The airport is a 45-minute drive.

This luxury pool villa resort and spa covers more than 10 acres of elevated forestland with each villa carefully positioned to afford maximum privacy.

The magnificent sunrises brighten your pool villa sanctuary, which is designed to blend harmoniously with the fecund landscape. The brainchild of a renowned Thai architect, the villas feature natural materials and inspiring design features with remarkable attention to

detail creating a unique ambiance which is distinctively Thai.

The 45 stylish private pool villas feature four categories ranging from cozy treetop hideaways to spacious open-plan retreats with terrace gardens – all featuring delightful private pools and exclusive vistas.

The grand lobby is an impressive place to lounge and read with wide-open views. Fine dining is available all day at the 180° View & Grill Restaurant. The comforting Zense Spa features quintessential pampering and service.

There is fitness equipment at the Zense Spa, a pool table at the games pavilion, and an elegant Sino-Portuguese style function room available for and private parties.

It is vacationing escapism at its finest: a sanctuary and a retreat.

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

67

Layana Resort & Spa

A

hhh… indulgent romance.

Koh Lanta, in the southernmost district of Krabi Province, consists of two idyllic islands. Koh Lanta Noi, the smaller, is without tourist facilities. Koh Lanta Yai has become a vacation haven with: 40 kilometers of coastline, cascading, forested hills, home to a host of arboreal mammals (tree shrews, macaque monkeys) and over 50 nesting and migrant bird species.

The Layana Resort & Spa, tucked away on the west coast of Koh Lanta on the white sand Phra-Ae Beach, showcases that exquisite beach and mountain backdrop, and offers sophisticated repose and luxurious privacy – as well as a manicured, gardened courtyard; a saltwater infinity pool (a second pool will be added in October); and spectacular sunsets.

Stefan Heintze has been the hands-on GM of this cos-

68

BEST OF CLASS

Koh Lanta, Thailand

seting retreat for four years: “Ours is an adults-only resort with an incredible, private beach. We provide enveloping peace and relaxation – pampered indulgence,” he smiled. “It’s an ideal choice for a long, luxury, romantic sojourn!” (TripAdvisor dubbed it the #2 hotel for Romance in Thailand).

The resort features 51 luxurious, contemporary Thai-style guestrooms (will increase to 57 this October), suites and villas boasting well-appointed, indigenous accoutrements: goose down duvets, elegant terracotta tiles, lush silk and hardwood furnishings. Balconies offer sweeping views over the resort’s lawns, the mountain and ocean.

“And we have La Maison, a 265-sqm private pool villa with the largest private pool in Koh Lanta. It is the most luxurious villa on the island with pure 24hour butler service.”

“...sophisticated repose and luxurious privacy”

Krabi

Rooms/Suites: Pools/Beach: Spa: Restaurant & Bar: Library: Fitness: Fun Facts: A WHAT?:

51 (will increase to 57 this October) – 44 Garden Pavilion (49 sqm)/3 Beach (59 sqm) and 3 Ocean Deluxe (88 sqm) infinity salt water pool, and poolside Jacuzzi / sweeping and private The Linger Longer Spa beachfront Tides Restaurant and Sundowners Bar open to the gardens and games 560 sqm and fully-equipped surrounded by gardened landscaping, mountain backdrops exquisite, exclusive privacy and idyllic beach

+ 66 (0) 75 607 100 + 66 (0) 75 607 199

Fax

resa@layanaresort.com www.layanaresort.com

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

69

Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort

Krabi, Thailand

Rooms & Suites 276 (180 non-smoking) – 220 Superior (45

Pools:/Beach: Spa: Restaurant & Bar:

Fitness: Fun Facts: A WHAT?!

sqm); 33 Luxury (54 sqm) / 5 Junior (72 sqm); 10 Prestige (100 sqm); 7 Opera with Pool Access (103 sqm); 1 Presidential (160 sqm) the largest in Thailand / yes So SPA with L’Occitane Maya Restaurant, all-day dining; Venezia Restaurant; White Lotus Restaurant, chic signature; Café Vienna, bakery and homemade ice cream; Koh Poda pool bar; Explorer Bar Health Club with gym, aerobics studio, sauna and steam room; tennis courts; water sports nine-hole golf course; Hemingway Club Lounge & Library, wedding pavilion Luxury speedboat to famous nearby islands; sunset cruises; butler service

+66 (0) 75 627 800 +66 (0) 75 627 899 FAX H6184-RE@SOFITEL.COM www.sofitel.com/6184

70

BEST OF CLASS

“...blends the dramatic beauty of Krabi …with wonderful design”

Krabi

S

ofitel Krabi Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort blends the dramatic beauty of Krabi – the Emerald of the Andaman Sea – with French colonial elegance – and adds exquisite design, L’Occitane spa treatments, limestone cliffs, ancient sea caves and beachfront golf to the alluring vacation experience.

The luxurious and well-appointed resort – enhanced with dark-paneled, natural teakwood floors, soaring arches and lofty high-vaulted ceilings – offers 276 rooms (with 23 suites), each with a private balcony overlooking either the expansive gardens or Andaman Sea.

So SPA with L’Occitane invites guests to lavish their bodies with a unique menu of global rituals, ancient Thai traditions and French beauty therapies.

Daily activities abound for adults, while youngsters can recreate and bounce at the colorful Kid’s Club.

Enjoy cooking classes, water sports, and floodlit tennis, Tai Chi and yoga. A fully-equipped fitness center offers an energetic respite from all of the pampering.

Premium services include the luxury Phokeethra speedboat for sunset cruises or personalized excursions to nearby tropical islands. Golf enthusiasts can enjoy the resort’s nine-hole course.

A 7,000 sqm swimming pool – the largest in Thailand – flows through the heart of the resort.

Discerning guests can enhance their stay with the signature Leisure Butler service.

The three restaurants serve Thai, Indian, Italian and international cuisines; or chill-out at Koh Poda swimup pool bar.

Escape to Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort for a romantic getaway, a family holiday, or a “magnifique” wedding in tropical trappings.

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

71

Zeavola Resort

Koh Phi Phi, Thailand

Rooms:

Pools/Beach: Spa: Restaurant & Bar: Fitness: Fun Facts: A WHAT?

53 – 11 Village (40 sqm); 35 Garden, 3 Beachfront (60 sqm); 4 Pool Villas (120 sqm) with views! yes/lovely, long and luminous popular on the beach: Baxil and Tacada none “water, water, everywhere…” and delicious peace of mind a Nirvanic island Paradise

+66 (0) 75 627 025 info@zeavola.com www.zeavola.com

72

BEST OF CLASS

“…this beach-front resort adds a touch of class to Phi Phi’s celebrated barefoot luxury.”

Krabi

“I

t’s the water!” exclaimed the buoyant GM, Florian Hallermann, as we stood on the beach marveling at the sea. We lingered as the multi-blue palette of colors endlessly flowed and gently broke into the shoreline.

Simply idyllic.

“And look at this beach!” he effused, as we peered – under a postcard-blue, cloudless sky – down the bay, which gently arced for nearly 800 soft-white meters.

Long-tail boats bobbed, couples hugged in waist-high water, and novice scuba divers prepared for their morning plunge in the aqua-toned waters.

Informal, casual, exceptional, iconoclastic, serene – and so-oo laid-back – this is the quintessential relaxed beach vacation. On a wonderfully restored island – with roads, but no cars – you walk and you boat. You unwind and slacken and drift into the calm.

“During lunch time the beach gets lively offering great opportunities to watch fellow tourists and the coming

and going of boats around the beach,” Florian added.

Calm prevails from 3:00 onwards easing the resort back into its natural serenity.

An excellent spa; a wonderful, tropical, weekend buffet; a languorous, sapphire-blue, gardened pool; and a plethora of water activities all let you hum in gracious, informal tranquility. “Toss away your shoes [none allowed in the dining room] and enjoy! Life is full of stress.

Too furious!” he proclaims. “Here, simply relax.”

Zeavola (“Love the Sea”) is the romantic, bucolic castle that reigns on Phi Phi Don. The 53 villas (including four double-decked, pool villa suites) are woven into the naturalistic, tropical landscape.

“Although 10 years old, this resort is Thailand 30 years ago in all of its natural grace and simplicity. It is restorative, graceful.”

This tiered, beach-front resort adds a touch of class to Phi Phi’s celebrated barefoot luxury.

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

73

Villa 360 Resort & Spa

Koh Phi Phi, Thailand

I

hopped aboard a small, private speedboat from the southeastern edge of Phuket and journeyed across a – typically – tantalizing, choppy, white-capped sea. As we bounced closer to Phi Phi Don, the late-afternoon water sparkled, preened and calmed in all of its exemplary blue-hued colors.

Omapatt (Tong) Nuntapanish, the active Director of Sales for nearly two years, explained the many changes in the works: “This is a stunning, relaxed, exclusive setting. Idyllic. Romantic. [Why was I here alone?!].

And we are always improving and refurbishing,” he stated.

Gorgeous.

“Next month the resort will build a beach pavilion next to the pier and add a pool bar to our outstanding beach-side pool. Landscaping and renovation of the open-air lobby and the villas are ongoing.”

And, simultaneously, the quiet magic that is Phi Phi descended like the twilight I had been propelled into: almost soundless; hilltops perched like proud Christmas trees with villas hanging from the branches; a beach that quietly horseshoed for nearly a kilometer, welcoming the shallow water; a steep drive from the pier up to the lobby; and, then, views that danced into the sunset.

Villa 360 boasts 33 panoramic sea-view villas, all overlooking the Andaman Sea and the private, naturalistic surroundings.

74

BEST OF CLASS

“By the end of the year,” Khun Tong continued, “Villa 360 will have added five pool villas, and probably 1015 more in 2016.”

Sit on the deck of the open-air, expansive restaurant and enjoy the sunset. It is a lovely work in progress and offers delightful isolation and repose.

“...the water sparkled, preened and calmed in all of its exemplary blue-hued colors.”

Krabi

Villas: 33 (56 sqm – with panoramic sea views) Pools/Beach: infinity-edge and into the horizon with Spa: Restaurant & Bar: Fitness: Fun Facts: A WHAT?:

a sundeck (and massage sala) / steps away yes Thai-international pool bar modest stunning water for snorkeling, diving, boating – and breathtaking seascapes views of forever – and the most romantic dining

+ 66 (0) 75 626 900-10 + 66 (0) 75 626 947 Fax reservation@phiphivilla360.com www.phiphivilla360.com

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

75

AKA Resort Hua Hin

T

he AKA Resort Hua Hin is a private villa, lakeside retreat offering 50 luxury villas inspired, similar to its sister resort AKA Resort Guti, by Thailand’s meditative traditions. It is set reclusively against a gentle hillside just 10 minutes from the historic charm of seaside Hua Hin’s town center.

Its design is elegant chic, blending traditional Thai and contemporary architecture into its exclusive villas.

Fringed by mountains and accentuated by three separate, natural lakes (and a canal), monastic tranquility permeates AKA Resort. The graceful Zen-inspired AKA Spa complements the calm.

A scenic jogging/hiking trail winds its way around the lakes and quiet hills. The 30-meter infinity-edge swimming pool sits restfully in the courtyard, and

76

BEST OF CLASS

Hua Hin, Thailand

those lakes and mountain backdrops further add to its restorative luster.

Enclosed guest villas embroider the 20 acres of landscape and each private villa features an infinity pool, an outdoor sunken bath, and a private courtyard.

The resort offers a range of activities for guests: yoga, aqua aerobics, wine tasting, and painting. The AKA Cooking Workshop provides a two-hour session for gourmands or happy family members to learn about Thai cooking.

If a more dynamic afternoon is required, seven golf courses (two world-class) are available as well as elephant rides, the Night Market and a romp on the long Hua Hin beaches.

Each villa is provides an aura of serenity, which permeates the pools, terraces, and sala rooftop gardens.

“...set reclusively against a gentle hillside...”

Hua Hin

Pool Villas:

50 – private pool villas; one-BR (160 sqm); one-BR Deluxe (350 sqm); two-BR Deluxe (350 sqm) 30m main swimming pool; and 10m Pools: private pool in each villa Spa: AKA Spa Restaurants/Bar: AKA Café, Lake Bar no Fitness: Private pool villa Fun Facts:

A WHAT?:

Get back to nature in an oasis of calm and tranquility with AKA organic food products

+66 (0) 32 618 900 +66 (0) 32 618 999 Fax rsvn@akaresorts.com www.akaresorts.com/aka-huahin

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

77

Guti Resort by AKA

Hua Hin, Thailand

Pool Villas: Pools:

18 – private pool villas; one-BR Deluxe (200 sqm); two-BR DeluxE (255 sqm) 50m infinity-edge swimming pool; and 10m private pool in each villa

Spa:

AKA Spa

Restaurants/Bar: Fitness: Fun Facts:

Guti Café, Guti Pool Bar

A WHAT?:

Private BBQ Dinner of your villa poolside

no 50m Infinity main swimming pool with sunset panorama and mountain backdrop

+66 (0) 32 618 900 +66 (0) 32 618 999 Fax rsvn@akaresorts.com www.akaresorts.com/guti_resort

78

BEST OF CLASS

“…a healing, harmonious and intimate lifestyle...”

Hua Hin

A

luxury, five-star, internationally-acclaimed spa resort, AKA Resort Guti (translated: “Monastery Hill”), offers elegant, secluded villas with a studied emphasis on privacy.

Voted a Top 10 boutique resort in Southeast Asia, AKA Guti nestles gently within the hills above Hua Hin. Its design is “tropical elegance, blending traditional Thai and monastery-styled architecture.”

The attention to detail has been the key to the loyalty of their guests, who, according to the smiling staff that have served for years, return again and again and again.

The resort, artfully spread around 25 acres of verdant tropical landscape, offers 19 spacious, private villas with infinity-edge pools and garden terraces, private courtyards and gardens. These exclusive, holistic villas provide a relaxing sanctuary in the midst of fertile land-

scapes and panoramic, countryside views.

My weekend was relaxing, reflective and restorative.

This, as well as its sister AKA resort 10 minutes down the Soi, was inspired by an ancient hill tribe, the Aka, who originated in the Tibetan Highlands and Yunnan, China and have migrated to many countries, including northern Thailand. The Aka, a deeply spiritual people who desire simplicity, espouse a philosophy of love of nature.

This credo inspires the experience of AKA Guti’s guests: a healing, harmonious and intimate lifestyle in cozy, stylish and discreet villas.

Seven golf courses, many of them world-class (and Black Mountain just up the road) are great options for a vigorous afternoon. Also try the elephant rides and a romp on the long Hua Hin beaches.

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

79

Dusit Thani

Hua Hin, Thailand

This is a class act: aristocratic, stately, luxurious – and a wonderful blend of cozy and grand.

Within the 52-acre expanse, privacy and quiet prevail.

Entering the majestic, lofty, high-ceiling lobby makes you wish you wore your tuxedo and brought your butler. Yet a pervasive sense of relaxation hovers.

Happy faces greet you, inquire about your needs and assist along the way.

It is special. It is looked after by a general manager who has been on hand since the opening 27 years ago. The PR director has been there for 14 years.

Hey, why leave?

This is a complete resort experience with marvelous options: Its long beachfront and capacious swimming pool gleam from the terraces of the 296 rooms and suites spread across seven floors. Those who seek athletic diversity will enjoy the expansive fitness center complex with tennis and squash courts and a potpourri of water sports. Golfers can chose from eight local courses – several are world-class and host international tournaments – all within an easy drive.

And the Spa, in an elegant stand-alone building, is pure class.

80

BEST OF CLASS

I enjoyed the dining options. Four restaurants provide superb choices. Breakfast is a favorite of mine and the Dusit starts off your day in style: hot waffles, smoked fish, fruit, breads…

And the luxurious and essential details: plush bathrobes; thick pillows; a bathtub and shower; personal scales; shoeshine (my sandals never looked so good).

Spoil yourself and jump into a suite: 84 square meters of well-appointed joy with a living room.

An elegant and encompassing experience.

“Aristocratic, stately, elegant and a wonderful blend of cozy and grand...”

Hua Hin

Room:

Pool/Beach: Spa: Restaurants & Bars: Fitness: Fun Facts: A WHAT?:

296 – Superior, Lanai and Dusit Club rooms (36 sqm) / Club (75 sqm); Dusit and Lanai (84 sqm); Presidential (170) huge and luxurious / ditto expansive and classy – not to be missed seven casual, formal and excellent excellent fitness complex complete with indoor squash, outdoor-floodlit tennis courts landscaped grounds with room to enjoy countless activities; easy access to town and golf water views from every restaurant and bar

+66 (0) 32 520 009 +66 (0) 32 520 296 Fax dthh@dusit.com www.dusit.com

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

81

Wora Bura Resort & Spa

Hua Hin, Thailand

Room:

77 – three detached villas and two suites a gardened, double figure-eight centerpiece extending to the sea / yes yes Spa: Restaurants one for breakfast and one overlooking the Gulf & Bars: yes

Pool/Beach

Fitness:

complete

Fun Facts:

arrive by helicopter, Rolls Royce or tuk-tuk

A WHAT?:

each room is decorated in a style of each Thai province, Ayutaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai, etc.

+66 (0) 32 536 999 +66 (0) 32 536 752 Fax sales@worabura.com www.worabura.com

82

BEST OF CLASS

“A pervasive, proud Thailand motif embraces this cultured, rich, colonial-styled resort...”

Hua Hin

A

pervasive, proud Thailand motif embraces this cultured, rich, colonial-styled resort that luxuriously stretches – through gracious, interior gardens festooned with plants – to the Gulf of Siam beachfront.

The resort is redolent of Thai history. It is a paean to King Rama V (Chulalongkorn), who in 1873, at the age of 20, became one of the greatest kings of Siam. His 37-year reign was characterized by the modernization of Siam (massive government and social reforms) as he preempted Western expansionism and prevented colonization, earning the epithet: The Great Beloved King.

His studies in and visits to Europe during the latter part of the 19th century inspired a harmonious fusion of Thai and European culture and architecture. It is on display here.

At Wora Bura, each of the 77 well-appointed rooms

(44-130 sqm), suites and the impressive villas (three) are named after a Thailand province. Beneath and around the tasteful dark paneling, wainscoting and lattice-work, are wall-hangings and sculptures showcasing and depicting antique photomurals of life in a previous century. Balconies boast fabulous views of the manicured landscaping and meandering fish ponds that decorate the grounds.

The three handsome, free-standing villas – Chiangmai (on the beach) and Phuket have one-bedroom; and the two-bedroom Bangkok, a spacious 130 sqm – all are adorned with tasteful Thai accoutrements, have outdoor Jacuzzis and lots of space.

The pool is embroidered within the garden and extends to the beach.

Lovely.

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

83

Hilton Pattaya

Pattaya, Thailand

T

he stylish Hilton Pattaya soars 34 stories above Central Festival Pattaya Beach, southeast Asia’s largest beachfront shopping complex. The 302-room, award-winning hotel offers contemporary luxury accommodations and facilities in a sophisticated, modernist environment.

The Hilton conveniently provides instant access to the beach; and the contiguous, massive mall provides a profusion of retail shops (370+), a multitude of restaurants and attractions (16 bowling alleys, 10-screen cinema, video arcade) – and a special children’s section with dedicated shops and games.

Hilton Pattaya was named ‘World’s Leading Design Hotel’ by World Travel Awards 2014 The outdoor infinity pool sits on the 16th floor amidst landscaped gardens with relaxation areas providing

84

BEST OF CLASS

panoramic ocean views of the bay.

Work out in the 24-hour fitness center or enjoy a treatment in the eforea spa. A variety of recreational activities are within easy reach of the hotel, including an exceptional selection of world-class golf courses, water sports and horse-back riding.

Dine in style at Edge, offering indoor and outdoor seating with stunning views of Pattaya Bay. Flare combines traditional tastes of rural Thai kitchen. Enjoy tapas and Caribbean cocktails at Drift, or unwind on level 34 with exclusive rooftop dining and more cinemascopic views at the champagne bar and restaurant, Horizon.

Elegant suites provide unparalleled ocean views.

Executive Room guests enjoy exclusive access to the 33rd-level Executive Lounge offering breakfast, refreshments and evening cocktails.

“...a glorious, beachside, romantic get-a-way and/or a happy family retreat.”

Pattaya

Rooms /Suites: Pool/Beach Spa:

Restaurants & Bar: Fitness: Fun Facts: A WHAT?:

302 – Deluxe and Seaview (46 sqm); Ocean Deluxe and Ocean Suite (78 sqm); Grand Ocean Suite (125 sqm) landscaped outdoor infinity pool on 16th floor / Pattaya Beach across Beach Road Eforea Spa, Best Luxury Destination in Asia and Best Luxury Hotel Spa in Thailand in 2015 World Luxury Spa Awards Drift, Edge, Flare, Horizon and Shore (poolside)

Drift (16th floor); Horizon (34th); Shore (poolside) 24-hour Great access to shopping, entertainment, dining, “All Day” Happy Hour fantastic location and the beach across the street

+66 (0) 38 253 000 +66 (0) 38 253 001 Fax Pattaya.info@hilton.com Pattaya.hilton.com

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

85

Pattaya Sea Sand Sun Resort and Spa

I

visited this gem of a villa-resort many times over the pass years and – how does the soulful song go: ♪ “…love’s more wonderful the second [and third] time around ♫…”

So I told a friend and he has been back twice. For good reason.

A 15-minute drive south of Pattaya, this boutique vacation jewel provides a glorious, beachside, romantic get-a-way and/or a happy family retreat.

I ran on the quiet, private beach in the morning, dunked into the infinity pool later in the afternoon, and enjoy some terrific food for breakfast.

“We are a smaller brand and must exemplify service to satisfy our guests,” says the energetic managing director for the past seven years. “We expect all of our guests

86

BEST OF CLASS

Pattaya, Thailand

to return. They hold hands and walk through the landscaped gardens out to our prive beach. Our staff is excellent.” This is a hands-on operation.

The treat here is 61 spacious villas that each provide a living room, outdoor shower (indoor bathtub) and a Jacuzzi/pool on your private deck (with an awning).

Pretty swank.

And the privacy. Glorious.

A plethora of world-class golf courses (Pattaya is a haven for golf) are close by, as is the famous Nong Nooch Garden.

But closest of all is the cheer, conviviality and attention to detail (check out the amenity box in the bathroom – I took it home! – a great touch) that makes the stay memorable.

“...a glorious, beachside, romantic get-a-way and/or a happy family retreat.�

Pattaya

Room: Pool/Beach Spa: Restaurants Fitness: Fun Facts: A WHAT?:

61 roomy villas in-room and at the private Na Jomtien Beach swanky indoor and at the beach Horizon Sea View Restaurant

yes privacy and intimacy solitude and style

+66 (0) 38 238 654-5 +66 (0) 38 238 657-8 sales@seasandsunpty.com www.seasandsunpty.com

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

87

The Chill Resort & Spa

Koh Chang, Thailand

Room:

Pool/Beach Spa:

38 – 14 Deluxe (50 sqm); 14 Pool Access (50 sqm) / 7 Sky Jacuzzi (100 sqm) / 3 Pool (190 sqm) throughout the hotel/indeed Chill Spa

Restaurants Chill Out Café & Bars: Fitness: Chill Fitness Fun Facts: Library and Screening Room offers free internet stations, books and movie rentals

A WHAT?:

There’s not always tomorrow, let’s Chill out today.

+66 (0) 39 552 555 +66 (0) 39 552 599 Fax chill@thechillkohchang.com www.thechillresort.com

88

BEST OF CLASS

“…the perfect place for total relaxation.”

Koh Chang

K

o Chang, located in the southeast’s Trat province, is Thailand’s second largest island (after Phuket) and is reputed to be the most beautiful and undisturbed: 70% consists of rainforest, waterfalls, mountains (744 meters), complex rock cliffs and ample wildlife.

The resorts (a result of the “discovery” of the island in 2000) stretch along the flexuous, white, sandy beaches of the western shore, which also showcases, splendid coral reefs and an abundance of marine life.

Snorkeling, dive trips, kayaking, fishing, jungle hiking – and unwinding – are the lure.

The Chill Resort & Spa Koh Chang offers a slice of that tranquility and the luminous Kaibae Beach, along with privacy in a luxurious – and spacious – setting. The ambiance truly embodies the spirit of its name.

It is the perfect place for total relaxation. Melt away your stress by simply listening to the rhythmic sound of the waves breaking gently on the shore.

Its 38 rooms, suites and villas are decorated in Thai fusion art. The Chill Deluxe rooms (14 at 50 sqm) are located on the second floor with a terrace. The 14 Splash Deluxe Pool Access rooms (50 sqm) have private access to the hotel pool. The seven Sky Jacuzzi Suites on the third floor (100 sqm) including a balcony.

The three commodious (190 sqm), two-story Pool Villas are located on the beach front, with a private pool and access to the hotel pool, which flows through the resort.

The Chill Spa is also available for relaxing treatments; and the five-star Thai fusion restaurant lets you dine in beachfront luxury.

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

89

Tranquility Bay Residence

T

Koh Chang, Thailand

ranquility Bay Residence stretches along an idyllic beach in quiet but burgeoning Koh Chang, in the Gulf of Thailand, a 30-minute ferry ride from southeast Thailand’s Trat province.

70 residence units with 17 fully-equipped hotel suites now available.”

Koh Chang, while the second largest Island in Thailand, is regarded as a quiet, naturalistic jewel. Only 20% percent of the island can be developed. An enormous interior rain forest and park, waterfalls, mountains (744 meters), rock cliffs, wildlife – and miles of beaches – dominate the terrain. The island was “discovered” in 2000 and has been developing steadily, with several world-class resort properties surprisingly emerging.

This is a luxurious apartment-style alternative to those travelers who have grown tired of over-populated vacation venues. Tranquility Bay is a premier destination for travelers seeking a refreshing experience.

Tranquility Bay Residence is an outstanding example.

“There were so few residential properties on the island when I visited in 2007 and fell I in love with the national forest. It is like Samui maybe 15 years ago,” said Nat Diskul, the owner and master-planner. “We have

90

BEST OF CLASS

The majority of the amenities for the resort will be built by the end of 2015.

“From our beach you see part of the 52-island archipelago. Guests go island-hopping and visit the Bang Bao Village, a true fisherman’s village with all the charms of rural Thailand. Or sit back and watch the eagles soar over the bay every afternoon,” Khun Nat mused.

Snorkeling, dive trips, kayaking, fishing, cycling, jungle hiking – and unwinding – are part of the allure.

This fashionable resort provides the rest.

“...a premier destination for vacationers seeking a refreshing experience”

Koh Chang

Suite /Apartments: Pool/Beach Spa: Library: Restaurants & Bar: Fitness: Fun Facts: A WHAT?:

17 – 9 one-BR (60 sqm); 4 two-BR Duplex (120 sqm); 2 two-BR Suite (104- 120 sqm); 2 two-BR Penthouse (120 sqm) 30-meter infinity pool with 16 Jacuzzi seats, kid’s pool / 230-meter private beach 2016 opening end-2015 Seaview Coffee Lounge and Pool Bar opening end-2015 52 neighboring islands to visit; elephant, jungle and mountain trekking, many waterfalls a private pier, a private beach and a glorious national park

+66 (0) 39 558200/+66 (0) 89 811 9095 +66 (0) 39 558201 Fax www.tranquilitybayresidence.com mgnt@tranquilitybayresidence.com

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

91

CITY

PLACES TO STAY Riverside 92 The Peninsula Bangkok

Downtown Area 94 96 98 100 102 104

92

Grande Centre Point Hotel Ploenchit Grande Centre Point Hotel Ratchadamri Grande Centre Point Hotel Terminal 21 Oriental Residence Radisson Suites Bangkok Sukhumvit Radisson Blu Plaza Bangkok

BEST OF CLASS

CITY (Bangkok) “the political, economic, cultural, culinary, and spiritual capital of Thailand” Bangkok features both old-world charm and modern convenience, at times served up in an apparently chaotic manner, but always with a gracious smile.

Invariably, every Thailand holiday includes a visit to the kingdom’s capital city, Bangkok, or Krung Thep, “the city of angels” as it is known to its inhabitants.

Many tourists who travel to Bangkok are immediately overwhelmed by the sheer size of the city and the vast number of attractions Bangkok has to offer.

Indeed there is a wide variety of Bangkok sightseeing opportunities spanning more than two centuries of rapid development following the city’s founding in 1782 by King Rama I, the first king of the present Chakri dynasty. Since that auspicious date, Bangkok has swelled to a cosmopolitan, 21st century city of more than 10 million inhabitants.

While the immensity of the city and its bustling streets can be intimidating at first, those who spend some time in Bangkok are quickly enamored by the myriad of attractions Bangkok contains, from exotic temples, which underscore Thailand’s strong Buddhist history, to modern shopping malls, which make shopping an integral part of any Bangkok holiday. Bangkok features attractions guaranteed to please visitors either simply passing through the city or spending their entire Thailand holiday in Bangkok.

Beyond Bangkok’s historical district, there are plenty of other attractions that make a Bangkok holiday both enjoyable and memorable. The downtown districts along Silom and Sukhumvit Roads have a convenient electric rail system, including an elevated sky-train and underground subway, that have made travel in Bangkok both easy and enjoyable. Connecting hotels directly to shopping malls and traditional markets, the MRT and BTS systems have literally elevated Bangkok shopping to world-class status.

Of course, no Thailand holiday is complete without experiencing Thailand’s vibrant nightlife. Whether, the purpose of your Thailand holiday is to immerse yourself in Thailand’s unique culture or simply to splurge in Bangkok shopping malls, when you travel to Bangkok you are guaranteed a fascinating experience of both old-world charm and modern convenience and luxury.

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

93

The Peninsula Bangkok

I

f this hotel were a woman, I would propose.

Elegant, sleek, worldly, sophisticated and suffused with Old-World charm, the Peninsula is one of the best in Bangkok. It holds your hand, caresses you and whispers in your ear. It’s love at first visit.

Towering over the frenetic Chao Phraya River – and a rapid ferry ride to the shopping and business enclaves (and the BTS) – this gracious hotel personifies class and luxury.

“We make your visit special,” says Khun Kee, the Director of Public Relations, as she took my impressed Director, Khun Bew and me from room, to spa, to pool, to the restaurants.

Bangkok, Thailand

Royce or a custom, open-air tuk-tuk.

It is grand. Plush. Oozing style. It’s a favorite. And it was honored at the Top City Hotel in Asia in 2012 by Travel + Leisure.

Its 370 spacious guest rooms (each a sumptuous 46 square meters) and classical suites, rising 37 floors, all provide sweeping, river views of the City of Angels.

The three-tiered pool flows toward the river.

Tennis courts and a Fitness Center keep you buff, and the restaurants insist that you indulge (try the idyllic Thiptara, for Thai food by the river; Mei Jiang is award-winning).

The spa is magic.

And much to relate here: it’s eye-opening and superb.

Romantic? You bet. Business? Voted third best business hotel in Asia-Pacific.

Arrive by car, riverboat or helicopter. Travel in a Rolls

A must.

94

BEST OF CLASS

“Elegant, sleek, worldly, sophisticated and suffused with Old-World charm...�

Room: Pool: Spa: Restaurants & Bars: Fitness: Fun Facts: A WHAT?:

370 (All rooms offer River views) flowing toward the River elite splendid: Mei Jiang, Thiptara, River

Cafe & Terrace The River Bar excellent and elaborate, personal trainers, tennis court arrive by helicopter, Rolls Royce or tuk-tuk; Peninsula Academy Programme: Thai Martial Art, Herbal Discovery

+66 (0) 2 861 2888 +66 (0) 2 861 1112 Fax pbk@peninsula.com www.peninsula.com/bangkok

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

95

Grande Centre Point Hotel Ploenchit

T

his is the third of three luxury marquee Grand Centre Point hotels in Bangkok’s extended business core – stretching from nearby swanky Ratchadamri, here on Wireless Road, and up to Sukhumvit Road at bustling Asok – and all provide posh, commodious accommodations.

I first arrived in Bangkok when this exciting property was but a year old and had become the favored, prestige serviced residence. I stayed during my first trip and enjoyed the apartment atmosphere, the glorious location (with the BTS station steps away) and the professional business services.

It just got better.

The newly redesigned, towering, 34-story Grande Centre Point Hotel Ploenchit has converted a 12year old landmark serviced residence into a swank, inviting hotel experience. Defined by its spacious facilities and beautifully finished Thai contemporary

96

BEST OF CLASS

Bangkok, Thailand

style interiors, the location and stylish suites are the high points.

Positioned on the edge of one of Bangkok’s most fashionable and prestigious intersections, the hotel is in walking distance of the US Embassy, and All Seasons office and shopping complex; a jog to Lumpini Park; a mini-walk to the tony Central Embassy mall and connecting Sky Train; and a swift taxi ride to Central World and Siam Paragon.

Now it has a renovated, polished swagger with lush interiors. The staff refers to it in its reincarnation as the: “ultimate space in the ultimate place.”

The 277-room hotel features one to three-bedroom suites with balconies; kitchen facilities and washing machines; an elegant Spa; an outdoor pool, a fitness center and ground floor café.

It boasts convenience, style and patrimony.

“…it has a renovated, polished swagger…”

Rooms /Suites:

277 with private balconies, including – Deluxe (38 sqm), one-BR (67 sqm), two-BR (96 sqm), three-BR (131 sqm), and Penthouse (270 sqm) Pool: outdoor with spacious sundeck and Jacuzzi pool Spa: RarinJinda Wellness Spa - with Herbal Rainforest, Colonic Detoxication, Cellutech and Whirlpool with Chromotherapy Restaurants Piu Restaurant yes Fitness:

Fun Facts:

a rooftop oasis of health and fantastic view

A WHAT?:

an easy stroll to major shopping malls

+66 (0) 2 659 5000 +66 (0) 2 659 5100 FAX PLOENCHIT · BANGKOK

ploenchit@gcphotels.com www.grandecentrepointploenchitcom

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

97

Grande Centre Point Hotel Ratchadamri

Bangkok, Thailand

Rooms: Pool: Spa:

526 with fully furnished rooms and suites large and one for the kids RarinJinda Wellness Spa

Restaurants Fitness: Parking: Fun Facts: A WHAT?:

Mesamis Restaurant complete with sauna and steam room, Jacuzzi yes entertainment room, kids room a most excellent location for shopping and sight-seeing

RATCHADAMRI 路 BANGKOK

+66 (0) 2 670 5000 +66 (0) 2 670 5069 FAX ratchadamri@gcphotels.com www.grandecentrepointratchadamri.com

98

BEST OF CLASS

“...an extraordinary fusion of luxury, service and special amenities.”

O

ne of the principal benefits of visiting Thailand is value. The glory of the trip emerges when that value blends into an extraordinary fusion of luxury, service and special amenities. Then your vacation becomes unique.

During my 10 years of traveling in and out of Thailand (with considerable time in Bangkok), I have been a guest at countless hotels and resorts.

Nowhere in my exhaustive travels have I encountered a country (and major city) with such value-added luxury. It’s a wonderful currency.

Then factor in comfort (large rooms), exceptional service and extraordinary value. Several years ago I stayed with my visiting brother at this new (and imposing) 526-room hotel on a quiet and refined Soi. We dwelled in a spacious (111 sqm) two-bedroom suite and loved the service (the GM even visited my

ailing brother in the hospital – with flowers – and had the staff watch out for him during recuperation!).

The location is superb: a short walk from major shopping malls (Siam Paragon, Siam Center, Central World, Pratunam and Platinum) and the Skytrain (Ratchadamri). Excellent location for eating, shopping, movies and soaking in the local culture.

Luxurious lobby, attentive service, comfortable rooms make it a delight.

and

large,

And wonderful facilities: swimming pool, fitness center, sauna/steam, Jacuzzi, Entertainment Room, Reading Room, Residence Lounge, Playgroup and Kids room.

The RarinJinda Spa is an award-winning facility (home spa is in Chiang Mai).

Impressive. Special. Service at its finest.

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

99

Grande Centre Point Hotel Terminal 21

Bangkok, Thailand

Rooms:

498 (five categories, 32-70 sqm) with city or lake views Pool: large outdoor infinity-style featuring panoramic view Spa: Let’s Relax Day Spa Restaurants BlueSpice Restaurant tennis court, jogging track, sauna and Fitness: streamroom yes Parking: Fun Facts: in the heart of the action; direct access to Terminal 21 and the BTS and MRT mini-putting green, execellent access to A WHAT?: the city.

TERMINAL 21 · BANGKOK

+66 (0) 2 681 9000 +66 (0) 2 681 9100 FAX terminal21@gcphotels.com www.grandecentrepointterminal21.com

100

BEST OF CLASS

“This has been a popular luxury addition to the pantheon of central Bangkok’s five-star hotels.”

I

t towers in the heart of popular Bangkok and is a fabulous complement to the burgeoning, classy neighborhood that continues to throb with activity: restaurants, shopping, nightspots and recreation.

The Grande Centre Point (it is grand, and it is in the center – that’s the point!) has been a popular, luxury addition to the pantheon of central Bangkok’s fivestar hotels.

I like it for many reasons: an excellent location, refreshing city panoramas, wonderful architecture, a host of services, access to Bangkok’s hotspots, and an abundance of fun playthings.

It offers: cosseting service; commodious guestrooms; kitchens; an outdoor park; sprawling pool, a kids room; spa; Executive Lounge; fitness center and outdoor facilities (tennis court and jogging track); and a broad array of recreational facilities.

If this soaring hotel were your blind date you would be pleased with the sparkling glamour and the warm personality.

And a bonus…golf!! Who would believe that – at a luxury hotel in the pulsating heart of metropolitan Bangkok – a guest could enjoy an outdoor, six-hole, mini-putting green.

It rests above the Skytrain and the underground MRT at the Asok junction. You can easily access the entire city. So convenient.

The studios (32-46 sqm), one-bedroom (70 sqm) and executive suites house short and long-term guests, a hallmark of the Centre Point brand (which has nine hotels and serviced apartments throughout Bangkok).

A wonderful, multifaceted property.

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

101

Oriental Residence

T

his is an exclusive, luxurious serviced residence – with a touch of boutique grace – in the heart of Bangkok’s prestigious shopping and Embassy district.

Oriental Residence Bangkok is tucked away in one of Bangkok’s most fashionable and desirable venues: bestride the US Embassy, across from All Seasons office and shopping complex; a stroll to Lumpini Park; a short walk to the tony Central Embassy mall and connecting Sky Train; and a swift taxi ride to Central World and Siam Paragon.

It is convenient, classy and comfortable. It personifies casual elegance and traditional luxury.

The vibrant and polished GM, Sukamal Mondal (one of the youngest executive hoteliers in Bankok) beams as he ruminates: “This hotel is exceptional. We have a lush, quiet location, but instant access to the core of the city.

Our residences are refined and spacious,” he smiled. “We espouse a culture of warm and attentive service, which extends to guests of all ages, including special amenities

102

BEST OF CLASS

Bangkok, Thailand

for the kids.” [NB: great teddy bears] Sukamal’s initiation into the hotel world was in F&B and his enthusiasm spills over to his exemplary Cafe Claire: “Our food is exceptional. We emphasize fresh and healthy food.” And the delicious breakfast buffet – and the lunchtime crowds – demonstrates it. Their weekend brunch now features an innovative Seafood Tower.

The 32-story building is comprised of 46 private ownership units and 145 well-appointed serviced residences (half of which are elegant one-BR suites). The 30 twoBR and four three-BR residences (ranging to 188 sqm) feature all of the indulgent accoutrements: equipped kitchens; imported furnishings; and city vistas.

The fourth floor showcases an open-air, 30-meter mosaic pool and lounging and dining area. Enjoy the Play Deck and gym (a fitness buff, Sukamal tells me it will soon expand) with personal trainers.

A swanky, yet tranquil, enclave in the city’s center.

“It personifies casual elegance and traditional luxury.”

Suites:

145 – 41 Grand Deluxe (45 sqm); 70 one-BR (70 sqm); 30 two-BR (120 sqm); 4 three-BR (160 sqm) [*46 private residential units with exclusive pool and sky terrace on top floor] Pool: 30-meter open-air and children’s pool Restaurants in-residence dining, Café Claire, Savelberg & Bars: Thailand

Fitness: Fun Facts:

with trainers – soon to be expanded;

A WHAT?:

location, convenience, style, luxury and service – Jaguar XJL whisking you about

fully-equipped kitchens; washer/dryer; Shopping Butler for exclusive service; fasttrack service at airport

+66 (0) 2125 9000 +66 (0) 2125 9111 Fax reservations@oriental-residence.com www.oriental-residence.com

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

103

Radisson Suites Bangkok Sukhumvit

Bangkok, Thailand

Rooms:

150 rooms – 54 Superior (32 sqm.); 31 Studio Deluxe (41-55 sqm.); 59 One Bedroom Suites (55-65 sqm.); 6 One Bedroom Premiere Suites (82 sqm.)

Pools: Rooftop with sundeck and Jacuzzi Spa: Suntaree Massage Spa Restaurants Newly upgraded Mauve – Thai and International cuisine; Aromas, coffee & bakery; Indian restaurant coming soon & Bar: Newly upgraded Asqu bar, Rooftop poolside bar Fitness: Rooftop Gym overlooking the pool Fun Facts: Tuk-Tuk shuttle service; free underground parking; outstanding swimming pool the Premiere Suites are exceptional 120+ A WHAT?: Square Meters, and apartments with Kitchenettes are also available!

+ 66 (0) 2 645 4999 reservations.sukhumvit@radisson.com www.radisson.com/bangkokth_sukhumvit

104

BEST OF CLASS

“Smiles and cheer seem to be the hallmark of this buoyant and impressive hotel.”

I

t is always a pleasure to find your overloaded luggage and your sagging, jet-lagged body falling into the arms of a courteous, supportive, cheerful and welcoming hotel staff.

Something very reassuring about hospitality at the end of a long flight. Comfort.

Smiles and cheer seem to be the hallmark of this buoyant and impressive hotel.

This five-year old luxury property is in the heart of the bustling Sukhumvit sector of Bangkok, and a short walk from the Nana BTS. A plethora of restaurants, nightclubs, entertainment, shopping, spas, a park and lake all orbit this quiet Sukhumvit Soi 13 hotel.

A complimentary tuk-tuk service shuttles you around to Terminal 21, the Skytrain and local restaurants.

Or take a walk and enjoy the late-evening buzz on

frantic Soi 11.

Eight stories house 96 contemporary rooms and suites (do check out the 85-sqm Premier one-bedroom suite – this is comfortable). Additionally, a second building offers 54 long-term options for the more committed travelers.

I shared a few Aussie jokes with the hands-on GM, Benjamin Krieg, and then enjoyed a convivial twoperson tour lead by Patitta Chinin Adinolfi, the director of sales and marketing.

“Our rooms are spacious and comfortable,” asserted Patitta, as we wandered through one of the 30 suites (55-85 sqm). “Our rooftop, outdoor pool and fitness center also provide lots of space.”

It’s a gracious, affordable option in the midst of central Bangkok.

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

105

Radisson Blu Plaza Bangkok

R

adisson Blu Plaza Bangkok stands as the brand’s flagship property in Thailand. Indeed, since opening in 2014 – and only the second Radisson Blu in the country – the hotel has come to exemplify the blend of upscale style and modern comfort.

The hotel rises 29 stories high above the Sukhumvit skyline within easy walking distance of three celebrated shopping malls: Emporium, the new and dramatic Em Quartier, and (10 minutes in the other direction), Terminal 21 – which sits atop the MRT (the underground) and elevated Sky Train.

The expansive lobby and reception, the smoothly integrated cocktail bar and dessert lounge, the glittering butterfly mobile – all contribute to an initial impression of well-conceived function, urban calm and imaginatively composed pleasure.

Seven creative food and drink venues – Grab ‘n’ Run

106

BEST OF CLASS

Bangkok, Thailand

breakfast provides travel-ready meals for guests heading out early to see the city sights, while Radisson’s sumptuous Big Blu Brunch rewards those with the time for a lavish Sunday brunch – add dining luster.

The hotel’s 290 rooms and suites consist of 120 Deluxe, 121 Grand Deluxe, 25 Business Class, 20 Junior Suite and 3 Executive Suites ranging from 36 to 72 square meters.

Every room provides highly functional comfort amid understated design palettes enlivened by vivid splashes of color. Room features include marble bathrooms with separate rain showers and tubs along with advanced work-stations and entertainment technologies.

The hotel’s state-of-the-art fitness center, outdoor swimming pool, and Spa Esc (with four treatment rooms and massage stations) are located on the sixth floor.

The” Yes I Can!” service mantra is practiced to perfection.

“upscale style and modern comfort”

Rooms/Suites: 290 – Deluxe (36 sqm) to Executive (72 Pool: Spa: Restaurants

&Bars: Fitness: Fun Facts: A WHAT?:

sqm) and Royal Deluxe suites (144 sqm); Business Class, 25 to 27 floors outdoor, 6th floor Spa Esc Attico (Italian), China Table, Twenty-Seven Bites, Vintage, B/Sharp and B/Sweet Live (jazz nightly) Bar Esc (poolside) yes views, dining, walk to three shopping malls “100% Guest Satisfaction Guarantee” – if any disappointment goes unresolved, guest receives a full refund on the room or service

+66 (0) 2302 3333 +66 (0) 2

Fax

reservations.bangkok.blu@radisson.com www.radissonblu.com

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

107

MOUNTAINS

PLACES TO STAY Chiang Mai 108 DusitD2 110 Puripunn Baby Grand Boutique Hotel 112 RarinJinda Wellness Spa Resort

108

BEST OF CLASS

MOUNTAINS “For any traveler wishing to explore the wonders of nature, a Thailand National Park is an outstanding destination” There are many forest parks if you long to explore the tropical rainforest or travel deep into the wild jungle to see some of the exotic animals in Thailand. If you prefer scuba diving, snorkeling, or sea kayaking there are a number of national marine parks in the south and east of Thailand that are simply stunning.

In fact, Thailand has over 100 national parks, including more than 20 marine parks; each park in Thailand contains unique flora and fauna as well as basic amenities, including some bungalows with electricity and grounds for camping (even if you don’t bring your own tent). Most of these parks are easily accessible and admission fees are relatively modest, though booking ahead is often recommended as some parks are very popular with Thai visitors, particular over long holiday weekends.

Eco-oriented activities at a national park in Thailand range from trekking, kayaking, nature photography, camping and snorkeling to spotting exotic birds and other animals in Thailand unlike those found elsewhere in the world.

However, simply relaxing and enjoying the pristine beauty of unspoiled Thai nature may be the most rewarding experience of all.

A few of Thailand’s more popular national parks are: Doi Inthanon National Park in Northern Thailand features Thailand’s highest peak and contains waterfalls and forests containing numerous species of orchid. The area is also inhabited by indigenous hill tribe villagers.

Pha Hom Pok National Park, the highest hill in the park is about 2285 meters above sea level. On the top of the hill, there is granite and a shallow layer of soil. It is quite windy all the year. and the ridge road being parallel with the border of Thailand-Myanmar. It is interesting to visit the national park in winter because of the cooler weather, mountain mists and migratory birds such as purple cochoa, brown-breasted bulbul.

Sam Roi Yot National Park is a favorite for bird watchers as the coastal region of the park features marshes that are home to a variety of waterfowl and other marine life.

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

109

DusitD2

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Rooms:

130 – 63 deluxe; 39 club deluxe; 27 studio suite; 1 D’ suite Pools: outdoor pool Spa: ‘Devarana’ spa Restaurants Moxie, modern world cuisine; & Bar: Mix Bar Fitness: ‘DFiT’ health club – rooftop gym with spectacular city/mountains views Fun Facts: in the heart of the pulsating Night Bazaar smack-in-the-heart-of the-city convenience; A WHAT?: a skillful concierge staff

Need Logo + 66 (0) 53 999 999 + 66 (0) 53 999 900 Fax d2cm@dusit.com dusitd2chiangmai.dusit.com

110

BEST OF CLASS

“irrepressible whimsy, up-beat playfulness and sly sophistication”

I

visited the new Dusit D2 in 2006, the month it debuted. It happily projected a trendy, buoyant, casual and cheerful ambience.

Over the years I have returned – always to discover that it still has its irrepressible whimsy, up-beat playfulness and sly sophistication. It remains engaging, vibrant and dynamic. The cheer emanates along with the refreshing smiles and the enthusiastic service.

If the parent hotel in Bangkok were a concert, it would be classical music. D2 is hip-hop.

D2 was one of only three hotels in Thailand to make it to the ‘Top 10 Trendiest Hotels in Asia’ by TripAdvisor. The hotel was described as a: “Great hotel in an excellent location,” providing an “amazing services experience.”

Dusit D2 is the brand extension of Dusit Internation-

al, blending the traditional with the contemporary, and integrates Thai culture and modernistic design. It is the only urban lifestyle hotel located in the heart of bustling, downtown Chiang Mai. It rises on the edge of the famed and kinetic Chiang Mai Night Bazaar.

The nine story hotel features 130 rooms and suites.

Guests staying at club deluxe, studio suite and D’suite have access to the Club Lounge, with complimentary continental breakfast and private check-in/check-out.

Enjoy the elegant spa, the rooftop fitness center and the fine-dining at the award-winning Moxie restaurant (praised by Tatler as: “…a casual, hip and cool venue”).

A fabulous destination from which to explore the fulsome city life, handsome scenery and the beautiful Lanna culture of northern Thailand.

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

111

Puripunn Baby Grand Boutique Hotel

112

Chiangmai, Thailand

+ 66 (0) 53 302 898 + 66 (0) 53 243 805 Fax

Rooms/Suites: Pools: Spa:

27 / 3, elegant and up to 280 sqm

info@puripunn.com www.puripunn.com

Restaurant & Bar: Fitness: Fun Facts:

Veranda, with bar and lounge

A WHAT?:

delightful repose in a city oasis

BEST OF CLASS

with Jacuzzi yes

Yes serene, cozy, great breakfast

“…stylish, intimate, colonial-architected, boutique resort.”

T

his is a restful, thoughtful, elegantly decorated hotel tucked away discretely in Chiang Mai, minutes from the Night Market. A definite feel-good experience. Holistic.

It seemed that every guest I met was here because a friend told them to come. And the word-of-mouth referrals were certainly well-deserved. The many encomiums are – as one guest volunteered with a nice vocal lilt – “spot on.”

This 30-room, boutique oasis is tucked magically into a narrow, hidden soi (like an intriguing alleyway; or winding, inner-city London-like mew) in the historic Wat Gade community just across the Ping River from downtown Chiang Mai. Puripunn Baby Grand Boutique Resort is the inspiration of Khun Att and his wife, Khun Koy, who both chose to leave the corporate bustle of big-city Bangkok nine years ago and begin – from scratch – building this stylish, intimate, colonial-architected, boutique resort. Featuring three exquisitely decorated suites (the Grand Suite is 280 sqm of quiet, expansive, tasteful grace), no decorative template was used here. Each room has been touched by a different palette.

Khun Att was animated and smiling. He certainly enjoys making his guests happy. “It’s about caring and sharing: nam chai – a swirl in the river, warm water coursing through the heart. People come to relax and reflect and take in the calm.”

Di from London – via Sudan and South Africa – (I met her briefly at dinner in the charming and cozy open-air Punna Café), David from Washington, DC (he was back-packing through the lobby en route to an elephant excursion), and me – all had that spiritual sense of being watched over and cared for.

A pool with a Jacuzzi, a pool lounge and bar, a spa, fitness center, a little library, and the tiny courtyard that accents the veranda of that delicious restaurant (sensational breakfast offerings – buffet and ala carte; one or both; your daily choice) all blend comfortably.

Ohhh…and the back-story on the interesting name: “We consider our hotel grand and elegant, but we are boutique, smaller – and, therefore: ‘baby grand’”.

It is a lovely sanctuary

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

113

RarinJinda Wellness Spa Resort

Chiang Mai, Thailand

T

excursions: trekking, day trip to Chiang Rai and sightseeing to the Sankampaeng district.

This five-star spa resort has 35 luxurious deluxe rooms, suites and a villa, which offer private verandas, ceiling fans, and gives a view of the swimming pool, Doi Suthep mountain and the Ping River.

The pleasure of the resort lies in its state-of-the-art Spa facilities (winner of World Luxury Spa Awards 2012, Best Luxury Destination Spa - Thailand) and offers a sensational variety of programs ranging from hydrotherapy to sauna. As a pioneer of the spa industry in Thailand, they have leaped to the next level by incorporating a unique Onsen experience. Their new, semi-outdoor Onsen area consists of three pools (Hot Springs Pool, Soda Carbonated Spa Pool and Cold Pool), each providing its own distinctive features and benefits.

he antiquities of Chiang Mai can be discovered in a visit to this gracious resort in Chiang Mai (historically known as the Kingdom of Lanna, which played a significant historical, cultural and commercial role during the 13th to 18th centuries).

An even more historical highlight is the 140-year-old, elegant, antique Thai teak-wood home that houses the resort within the compound of the Wat Ket Community.

The location of RarinJinda is exceptional as it is just a 10-minute walk from the Night Bazaar and a 15-minute drive from Chiang Mai Airport.

The Deck 1 restaurant located across the street overlooking the river will entice you, then end your day with the full moon under Chiang Mai’s skyline.

Beyond the cultivated facilities, one can do countless

by Salinthip (Joyce) Tangpanjapon

114

BEST OF CLASS

“The pleasure of the resort lies in its state-of-the-art Spa facilities...”

Rooms:

35 (29 deluxe, deluxe pool rooms – 46 to 53 sqm; five suites – 93 sqm; villa – 164 sqm) Pools: indoor and outdoor pool, kid’s pool, Onsen (hot springs pool, cold pool and soda carbonated) Spa: Wellness Spa – herbal steam room, Jacuzzi, hydro pool, detoxifying, chromo therapy Restaurants: Deck 1 Restaurant complete; yoga studio Fitness: Fun Facts: Chiang Mai’s most comprehensive and technologically innovative spa facility a fabulous Spa beside the river, with A WHAT?: historical architecture and pond

+66 (0) 53 247 000 +66 (0) 53 303 030 Fax info@rarinjinda.com www.rarinjinda.com

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

115

Useful Telephone List Emergency & Information Ambulance and Rescue Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Crime Highway Police Immigration Department Medical Emergency Call

1554 1555 1195 1193 02-287-3101 1669

National Disaster Warning Centre 1860 Police (General Emergency Call) 191 SOS - Police And Fire Department 199 Time Service 181 Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation 1784 Tourist Assistance 1337 ext 9

Embassies & Consulates in Bangkok Argentina 02-259-0401 Australian 02-344-6300 Austria 02-303-6257-8 Bahrain 02-636-7892 Belgium 02-108-1800 Brazil 02-679-8567-8 Bangladesh 02-390-5107-8 Brunei 02-714-7395-9 Bulgaria 02-108-1800 Canada 02-646-4300 Chile 02-260-0045-8 China 02-245-0088

02-245-7043-4 Czech Republic 02-250-9223-4 Denmark 02-343-1100 Egypt 02-726-9831-2,3 Finland 02-207-8700 France 02-657-5100 Germany 02-287-9000 Philippines 02-259-0139

Poland 02-645-0367-9 Portugal 02-234-0373 02-234-2123 Romania 02-240-2522-3 Russia 02-234-9824 02-268-1169 Saudi Arabia 02-2639-2999-60,63 Singapore 02-286-2111 Spain 02-661-8284-7 Sri Lanka 02-261-1934-5,7,8 Sweden 02-263-7200 Switzerland 02-674-6900 Turkey 02-274-7262-3 United States 02-205-4000 United Kingdom 02-305-8333 Vietnam 02-251-5838 Yugoslavia 02-391-9091 Japan 02-207-8500 Korea (South Korea) 02-319-2686-7

Transportation Airport Information Suvarnabhumi airport

02-132-1888

Don Muang Airport (DMK) Bangkok

02-535-1192

Domestic Airline Thai Airways (TG) 02-356-1111 Bangkok Airways (PG) 1771 Thai Air Asia (FD) 02-515-9999 One-Two-Go (OG) 1126 Nok Air (DD) 1318 Car Rental Krungthai Car Rent & Krungthai Operating Lease PLC. Master Car Rental Co., Ltd. Petchburee Car Rent (1978) Ezy Rent A Car

Bank & Credit Card

Bangkok Bank PCL Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) Krung Thai Bank PCL

116

BEST OF CLASS

02-291-8888 ext 130-133 02-663-3030 02-318-8888 02-615-1103-9 ext 104, 217 02-638-4000 02-777-7777 02-208-8699

Skytrain / Subway BTS Skytrain Call Center BRT Call Center MRT Subway Call Center

02-612-2444 02-643-8855 02-354-2000

Taxi Services Taxi Services Center

Bangkok Taxi Cooperative Issara Taxi Cooperative Krung Thai Taxi Cooperative Siam Taxi Cooperative Arsa Samak Taxi Cooperative Suvarnabhumi Taxi Cooperative Taxi Borvorn Cooperative

1681, 1661, 1668, 1545 02-424-1859 02-270-1716 02-509-8510 02-944-5061 02-433-3231 02-618-2680-2 02-410-3495

Train Railway of Thailand (Pathumwan Office)

02-621-8701

TMB Bank Public Company Limited 1558 Kasikorn Bank 02-888-8888 Bank of Ayudhya Public Company Limited 1572

Picture from Zeavola Resort

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

117

Useful Sentences Hello สวัสดี (sà-wàt-dee) How are you? สบายดีไหม (sà-baai dee mai) I’m fine. สบายดีคร้บ (sà-baai dee króp) - m สบายดีค่ะ (sà-baai dee kâ) - f What’s your name? คุณชื่ออะไร? (kun chêu a-rai ?)

My name is ... ผมชื่อ ... (phom chêu ...) m เราชื่อ (rao chêu ...) f

Sorry

ขอโทษ (kor tôht) Thank you

ขอบคุณครับ/ค่ะ (kòp kun krub(m)/ka(f)) I understand

เข้าใจแล้ว (kâo jai láew) I don’t understand

ไม่เข้าใจ (mâi khâo jai) Please speak more slowly พูดช้าลงหน่อย (pôot cháa long nòi) Please say that again พูดอีกทีได้ไหม (pôot èek tee dâai mai) 118

BEST OF CLASS

Please write it down

ช่วยเขียนลงให้หน่อย้ไหม

(chûay kian long hâi nòi dâai mai) Do you speak English? พูดอังกฤษได้ไหม (pôot ang-grìt dâai mai) How much is this? ราคาเท่าไหร่ (raa-kaa tâo rài?)

Too expensive แพงมาก (paeng-mark) Can you give a discount? ลดหน่อยนะ (lod-noi-na) Picture from Zeavola Resort

INDEX Beaches Krabi Pimalai Resort & Spa + 66 (0) 23 205 500 + 66 (0) 23 205 503 Fax 99 Moo 5, Ba Kan Tiang Beach Koh Lanta, Krabi 81150, Thailand. reservation@pimalai.com www.pimalai.com

Phuket

Conrad Koh Samui +66 (0) 77 915 888 +66 (0) 77 915 899 Fax 49/8-9 Moo 4, Hillcrest Road, Tambol Taling Ngam, Amphur Koh Samui, Suratthani, Thailand 84140 conrad_koh_samui@conradhotels.com www.conradkohsamui.com

Layana Resort & Spa

InterContinental Samui Baan Taling Ngam Resort

+ 66 (0) 75 607 100 + 66 (0) 75 607 199 Fax 272 Moo 3 Saladan, Phra-Ae Beach, Koh Lanta, Krabi 81150, Thailand resa@layanaresort.com www.layanaresort.com

+66 (0) 77 429 100 +66 (0) 77 423 220 Fax 295 Moo 3, Taling Ngam Beach, Koh Samui Suratthani 84140 Thailand reservations@ickohsamui.com samui.intercontinental.com

Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort

Royal Muang Samui Villas

Angsana Laguna +66 (0) 76 324 101 +66 (0) 76 324 108 Fax 10 Moo 4 Srisoonthorn Road Phuket 83110 reservations -lagunaphuket@angsana.com www.angsana.com

Cape Sienna Hotel & Villas +66 (0) 76 337 300 +66 (0) 76 337 399 Fax 18/40 Moo 6, Nakalay Road, Kamala Kathu, Phuket, Thailand 83150 mail@capesienna.com www.capesienna.com

Dewa Phuket

+ 66 (0) 75 627 800 + 66 (0) 75 627 899 Fax 200 Moo 3 T.Nongtalay A.Muang Krabi 81000, Thailand h6184-RE@sofitel.com

+66 (0) 77 428 700 +66 (0) 77 417 470 Fax 89 Moo 5, Choengmon Beach, Koh Samui, Suratthani 84320 Rsvn_msv@muangsamui.com www.muangsamui.com

Zeavola Resort

Muang Samui Spa Resort

+ 66 (0) 75 627 000 + 66 (0) 75 627 023 Fax 11 Moo 8 Laem Tong, Koh Phi Phi, Ao Nang, Krabi 81000, Thailand reservation@zeavola.com www.zeavola.com

+66 (0) 77 429 700 +66 (0) 77 429 749 Fax 13/1 Moo 2, Chaweng Beach, Bophut: Koh Samui, Suratthani 84320 Rsvn_msm@muangsamui.com www.muangsamui.com

Villa 360 Resort & Spa

ShaSa Resort & Residences

+66 (0) 76 37 23 00 +66 (0) 76 37 23 99 Fax 65 MOO 1, Tambon Sakoo Road Amphur Thalang, Phuket 83110 , Thailand reservation@dewaphuket.com

Indigo Pearl +66 (0) 76 327 006 +66 (0) 76 327 338 Fax Nai Yang Beach and National Park Phuket 83110, Thailand Info@indigo-pearl.com www. indigo-pearl.com

Twinpalms Phuket Resort

+ 66 (0) 75 626 900-10 + 66 (0) 75 626 947 Fax 58 Moo 8 Ao-nang, Muang, Koh Phi Phi, Krabi 81000 Thailand reservation@phiphivilla360.com www.phiphivilla360.com

+66 (0) 77 913 888 +66 (0) 77 913 899 Fax 116/1 Moo 2 Tambon Mared, Laem Set, Koh Samui, SuratThani 84310, Thailand unforgettable@shasahotels.com www.shasahotels.com

Koh Samui

The Scent Hotel

The Village Coconut Island

+66 77 962198 +66 77 960123 Fax 58/1 Moo 4, Bangrak Beach, Bophut, Koh Samui, Suratthani 84320 info@thescenthotel.com www.thescenthotel.com

+66 (0) 76 352 148 +66 (0) 81 326 2703 51/7 Moo 6, T.Kohkaew, A.Muang Phuket 83200, Thailand info@thevillage-coconutisland.com www.thevillage-coconutisland.com

Banyan Tree +66 (0) 77 915 333 99/9 Moo 4, Maret, Samui, Surat Thani 84310 www.banyantree.com reservations-samui@banyantree.com

+66 (0) 76 316 500 +66 (0) 76 316 599 Fax Surin Beach Road, Cherng Talay, Phuket 83110 book@twinpalms-phuket.com www.twinpalms-phuket.com

>> Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

119

INDEX Beaches Villa Zolitude Resort and Spa +66 (0) 76 521 333 +66 (0) 76 521 330 Fax 53/25 Moo5 Soi Bann Nai Trok, Chaofa West Rd, Chalong, Muang, Phuket 83130 Thailand info@villazolitude.com www.villazolitude.com

Hua Hin AKA Resort +66 (0) 32 618 900 +66 (0) 32 618 999 Fax Moo 7, Baan Nhong Hiang Hin Lek Fai, Hua Hin, Thailand rsvn@akaresorts.com www.akaresorts.com

GUTI Resort by AKA +66 (0) 32 618 900 +66 (0) 32 618 999 Fax Moo 7, Baan Nhong Hiang Hin Lek Fai, Hua Hin, Thailand rsvn@akaresorts.com www.akaresorts.com

Dusit Thani Hua Hin +66 (0) 32 520 009 +66 (0) 32 520 296 Fax 1349 Petchkasem Road, Cha-am, Petchburi 76120 dthh@dusit.com www.dusit.com

Wora Bura Resort & Spa +66 (0) 32 536 999 +66 (0) 32 536 752 Fax 83/199 Soi Moo Baan Nonggare, T. Nonggare, Hua Hin Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand 77110 rsvn@worabura.com www.worabura.com

120

BEST OF CLASS

City (Bangkok) Pattaya

The Peninsula Bangkok +66 (0) 2 861-2888 +66 (0) 2 861-1112 Fax 333 Charoennakorn Road, Klongsan Bangkok 10600 Thailand pbk@peninsula.com www.peninsula.com/bangkok

Hilton Pattaya +66 (0) 38 253 000 +66 (0) 38 253 001 Fax 333/101 Moo 9, Nong Prue, Banglamung, Pattaya, Thailand 20260 Pattaya.info@hilton.com Pattaya.hilton.com

Pattaya Sea Sand Sun Resort and Spa

Grande Centre Point Hotel Ploenchit

+66 (0) 38 238 654-5 +66 (0) 38 235 611 Fax 78/4 M.8 Sukhumwit K.M. 163 Nachomtien, Sattathip, Chonburi 20250 rsvn@seasandsunpty.com www.seasandsunpty.com

Koh Chang The Chill Koh Chang +66 (0) 39 552 555 +66 (0) 39 552 599 Fax 19/21 Moo 4, Kai Bae Beach, Koh Chang, Trat 23170 Thailand chill@thechillkohchang.com www.thechillresort.com

Tranquility Bay Residence +66 (0) 39 558 200/+66 (0) 89 811 9095 +66 (0) 39 558 201 Fax 119, Moo 1, Koh Chang Tai, Thailand Koh Chang, Trat 23170 mgnt@tranquilitybayresidence.com www.tranquilitybayresidence.com

+66 (0) 2 659 5000 +66 (0) 2 659 5100 Fax 333 Charoennakorn Road, Klongsan Bangkok 10600 Thailand ploenchit@gcphotels.com www.grandecentrepointploenchit.com

Grande Centre Point Hotel Ratchadamri +66 (0) 2 670 5000 +66 (0) 2 670 5069 FAX 153/2, soi Mahatlek Luang 1, Radchadamri Rd., Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330 THAILAND ratchadamri@gcphotels.com www.grandecentrepointratchadamri.com

Grande Centre Point Hotel Terminal 21 +66 (0) 2 681 9000 +66 (0) 2 681 9100 FAX 2, 88 Sukhumvit Soi 19 (Wattana), Sukhumvit Rd., Klongtoey Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110 terminal21@gcphotels.com www.grandecentrepointterminal21.com

Oriental Residence +66 (0) 2 125 9000 +66 (0) 2 125 9111 FAX 110 Wireless Road, Lumpini Pathumwan Bangkok 10330 Wattana, Bangkok 10110 reservations@oriental-residence.com www.oriental-residence.com

Radisson Suites Bangkok Sukhumvit + 66 (0) 2 645 4999 23/2-3 Sukhumvit 13, Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok 10110 Thailand reservations.sukhumvit@radisson.com www.radisson.com/bangkokth_sukhumvit

Radisson Blu Plaza Bangkok + 66 (0) 2 302 3333 489 Sukhumvit Rd, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110 reservations.bangkok.blu@radisson.com www.radissonblu.com

Mountains Chiang Mai DusitD2 +66 (0) 53 999 999 +66 (0) 53 999 900 FAX 100 Chang Klan Road Amphur Muang, 50100 Chiang Mai d2cm@dusit.com dusitd2chiangmai.dusit.com

Puripunn Baby Grand Boutique Hotel +66 (0) 53 302 898 +66 (0) 53 243 805 FAX 104/1, Charoen Mueang soi 2, Chaoren Mueang Rd, T. Wat Gate, A. Muang, 50000 Chiang Mai info@puripunn.com www.puripunn.com

RarinJinda Wellness Spa Resort +66 (0) 53 247 000 +66 (0) 53 303 030 FAX 1, 14 Chareonraj Rd., T. Wat Kate, A. Muang, 50100 Chiang Mai info@rarinjinda.com www.rarinjinda.com

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

121

122

BEST OF CLASS

Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Thailand

123

124

BEST OF CLASS