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The best hotels in Thailand

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Home to some of the best hotels in Asia , Thailand punches well above its weight when it comes to places to stay. In Bangkok, glossy city hotels rival those found in New York and London, but the country's landmark addresses are saved for the beaches and islands – Chiva Som is regularly voted as the best destination spa in the world , while Aman, Banyan Tree and Six Senses are dotted throughout the best islands in Thailand . There are plenty of boutique and under-the-radar boltholes to be found too, where friendly service and traditional cooking leave you feeling like you've gained a glimpse of life as a local. For a shortlist of our favourites, here we round up the best hotels in Thailand.

The Siam, Bangkok

Featured in our Gold List of the best hotels in the world 2024 .

Compared with many of its rivals, this Bangkok stalwart doesn’t have a location that’s wildly convenient: the postcard sights need a boat transfer, and most top tables are more than a 30-minute taxi ride away. But for me, and the legions of other loyal fans of this monochrome masterpiece by hotel guru Bill Bensley, that’s the point. Pitched up on a lush riverside plot in the hushed Dusit district, The Siam feels like a portal to a bygone Bangkok. Even though it opened a decade ago, it’s easy to imagine it as a plush playground for the city’s erstwhile big guns, the mid-century movers and shakers whose heirlooms – vintage Pan Am posters, tattered travel trunks and chipped ceramics – adorn the marble-floored hallways. I’d be hard-pressed to point friends to a lovelier lunch spot than the hotel’s Thai restaurant, set between the timeworn pillars of three ancient teakwood houses, where butlers in dressy black sarongs deliver the kind of classic Thai hospitality – lilting “sawadee ka” greetings and tables set with fresh orchids – that’s becoming harder to find. None of which is to say that the hotel is stuffy – there’s a tattoo parlour in the spa. An ongoing refurb is keeping suites and private-pooled villas looking fresh. With the opening of a Jim Thompson homeware boutique in the wooden house the illustrious silk magnate helped procure for its former owners, things have come full circle. The Thai capital’s five-star hotel scene gets plusher every year, but this timeless beauty remains in a league of its own. Chris Schalkx

The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon, Bangkok

Featured on our 2023 Hot List of the best new hotels in the world

There were barely any surprises left when I checked in just days after the hotel’s official opening at the end of July 2022 – every one of Bangkok ’s high-heeled fashionistas and socialites had already TikTok-ed every art-studded nook, DJ set, and Drag Queen Bingo party. And that’s unlikely to change anytime soon because this high-voltage clout magnet in the city’s tallest skyscraper draws the Thai and international in-crowd like bees to a honeypot. The Standard is a five-star with a vibe Bangkok’s hotel scene was still missing, swapping out the predictably serene, Thai-inspired interiors and chi-chi fine dining restaurants of most of its competitors for a riot of colours, clubby restaurants, and the country’s highest rooftop bar. That’s not to say it’s all-out debaucherous, though: The swirling pool, with the CBD’s skyline as its backdrop, is a lovely spot to spend a lazy afternoon, and most of the staff (a mix of Thais and peppy young ex-pats) are a chatty, smiling bunch. Chris Schalkx

InterContinental Khao Yai Resort, an IHG Hotel, Khao Yai National Park

Some two hours into the three-hour drive northward from Bangkok, the landscape starts changing. Concrete sprawl morphs into Khao Yai’s undulating hillscape bedecked in thick jungles and fruit orchards, and just off the area’s main road that snakes past pastiche European-looking country clubs and patchworks of farmland, the Intercontinental Khao Yai emerges from behind a hedgerow of towering trees. Dotted around the lush estate, you’ll see railway-themed buildings and train cars – which is the exact theme Bangkok-based hotel designer Bill Bensley was going for. The lobby is built like an old-timey ticketing booth, while suites are set up in upcycled vintage railway carriages and draw inspiration from different Asian railway journeys . Also set up in railway carts are two restaurants and one bar (head to Poirot for champignon-topped mushroom tarts and boeuf bourguignon) and a spa specialising in Thai and aromatherapy massage. Needless to say, this imaginative stay is a hit with little ones, but even grown-ups will appreciate the whimsical respite from busy Bangkok. Chris Schalkx

Aleenta Retreat, Chiang Mai

There's a small-town feel to this northern Thai retreat, which opened in April 2023 in Chiang Mai's leafy Umong district. At its heart, four antique Thai dwellings with their hand-carved gabled roofs and teakwood frameworks still intact harbour the hotel's main facilities, from a four-bedroom villa with breezy balconies and a private pool to a boutique selling local crafts. Pitched between the bamboo-fringed communal pool and a stilted meditation lounge, the wellness centre is a highlight, whether you opt for the week-long mindfulness retreats or a quick reflexology-focused fix-up. The restaurant, taking over one of the Thai villas, is just as wellness-minded: days here start with ginger-turmeric elixirs, good-for-you superfood bowls and tofu-stuffed Thai lettuce wraps, but the rest of the menu is far from hair-shirted: options feature Northern Thai noodles and Lanna-style riffs on comfort classics – think tacos with pulled wild boar belly and fish and chips from snakehead fish with spicy khao soi ranch dressing. And with their bright interiors accented with local textiles and wickerwork, the 44 rooms and duplex suites hit the sweet spot between rootsy Thai and comfortably modern. Chris Schalkx

Six Senses Yao Noi, Phang Nga

Featured on our 2022 Gold List of the best new hotels in the world

Six Senses have perfected the castaway experience on the hilly little island of Yao Noi, poised in Phang Nga Bay halfway between Phuket and Krabi. Shoes are shed on the speedboat ride to the resort, driftwood signs point to the white sand beach, the hilltop half-moon infinity pool and a collection of stilted thatched-roof villas. Everything feels like an adventure – searching for the spa hidden inside traditional long houses in the jungle, traversing the multi-level bamboo and clapboard restaurants for dinner, and watching movies on the beach under the stars. Look out for the pairs of sooty black hornbills and borrow one of the hotel's bicycles to loop the island weaving through the fishing village and rubber plantations. LC

Chiva Som, Hua Hin

Chiva Som is the undisputed queen of the Thai wellness scene – when they arrived on the scene 27 years ago spa breaks in Thailand weren't even a thing. There have been plenty of pretenders since but none have yet managed to usurp the original, with its life-boosting combination of cutting edge-fitness (new machinery includes Iron Man -like Vision Bodysuits), medical diagnostics (blood works, gene testing), traditional Asian healing therapies and hyper-intuitive staff. There are 16 different retreats to choose from – stress and pain management, fitness boost, immune resilience, senior health – each of which will be minutely personalised to meet all of your mental, physical and emotional needs. This is the place to change the habits of a lifetime. LC

Banyan Tree Samui

A lotus flower floats in your villa's private pool, backed by unbeatable panoramic views of Lamai Bay. Buggies ferry guests around winding steep pathways that connect the villas, private beach, spa and elevated restaurant The Edge. Villas rise from the peninsular in different shapes and sizes, but all come with a sea or garden view. In the family and couple villas, rainfall showers are big enough for two, and grand bedrooms open up to reveal private infinity pools. A wooden deck is kitted with beanbags to slump and watch the sun rise from the sea horizon. Spend the day on the private beach with kayak rental and private boat tours, or try afternoon tea at the beach restaurant. Visit between April and May and you might be lucky enough to watch resident turtle hatchlings make their way into the ocean. A visit to the spa is a must, especially for the hydrotherapy massage. The Rainforest treatment includes a steam room experience followed by an ice-cold shower and ending with hard-powered water jets focusing on back muscles. Sophie Knight

Four Seasons Chiang Mai

Treetop pavilions, private residences and pool villas sit in 31 acres of manicured gardens and a rice paddy within the Mae Rim Valley. Come sundown, the rice farmers parade through the fields singing and celebrating the end of a working day. Two buffalo bathe daily in the lake, which acts as a hub for activities from sunrise yoga to pottery making, Thai boxing, tennis and textile dyeing. For guests who prefer to spend their stay wallowing in the sunshine, there are two infinity pools that stretch out into the paddies. It's a lush and serene scene from every angle. Private residence guests can spend the day without seeing a soul, in grand gated homes built for families who enjoy hiding away in pure luxury – private pools, a kitchen space to hire private catering and a wrap-around terrace for al-fresco dining and entertaining. Eating here is a highlight, especially breakfast which draws on colour and cuisine from all walks of the world, from Chinese dumplings to English breakfast, and coffee orders taken by the friendliest of staff. Sophie Knight

Villa Mahabhirom, Chiang Mai

A ten-minute drive from central Chiang Mai, this stay is a welcomed escape from city life and a blissful break in a jungle landscape. Tall bamboo canes and palms line the paths to the 24 traditional Thai teak wood homes, of which 14 are used for guests. With space for only 28 guests at a time, it feels more like a home than a hotel. The villas were once Thai family homes and date back over 120 years, carefully restored and renovated. Built on stilts, each has an open-air living area, dimly lit bedrooms, marble bathrooms and cosy balconies on the upper level. Larger villas have private pools and garden space. Antique furniture and ornaments are displayed throughout the property – vintage chandeliers, shabby-chic wardrobes and grand taxidermy make a walk through the grounds feel like an open-air museum. The pool is a work of art, reflecting its well-designed surroundings of green foliage, clay sculptures designed by a local artist, hanging lanterns and plush sunbeds. Poolside is also where breakfast and supper a served. Dine from the delicious Vietnamese menu and sip cocktails from the daily happy hour – it’s the only time you’ll see other guests emerge. It’s also a chance to see the resident deer who lives and wanders on the grounds. Sophie Knight

Langkhai Garden, Koh Tao

Koh Tao is the sleepiest of the Chumphon Archipelago islands, only a 25 minute ride from one side to the other, so you’ll get to know the island fairly quickly. On the quiet south east coast, Langkhai Garden's four private villas are built for families and couples looking for long stays on the island. The bolthole is the product of a three year project by a French couple who met on the island and dreamed of opening a place – doors opened to guests in 2018. The villas are epitome of modern cool, with polished concrete walls and high wooden beam ceilings that lead up to thatched straw roofs (also home to some local lizards). Huge four poster beds sit next to vases with freshly picked flowers, lounges are big enough to fit the whole family, kitchens come with all the trimmings and there's a wrap around balcony with outdoor dining and a private pool – not to mention panoramic sea views. If cooking isn’t your thing, order in from nearby restaurants that will deliver to your door. Scooters can be rented from friendly reception staff, with the island's coves bubbling with marine life just a short ride away. Time it right and you might be lucky enough to swim with turtles or whale sharks. Once you’ve got into the swing of slow island life, peeling yourself from the villa will be tough. Sophie Knight

Raya Heritage, Chiang Mai

Featured on our 2021 Gold List of the best new hotels in the world

There are no ornate rooftops at this hotel along the Ping river. It’s unlikely that sai oua sausage or khao soi soup, two beloved staples of local cooking, will appear on the menu. Time-worn Buddha statues? Virtually none. Yet no other hangout feels more rooted in place than Raya Heritage, where the typical temple-inspired teakwood-and-gold look has been eschewed for a straight-lined approach to let crafts take centre stage. Terracotta brickwork. Woven reed baskets. Hand-loomed textiles. Jolts of indigo. It’s a celebration of the ancient culture of Lanna, the cross-border kingdom of which Chiang Mai was the capital some 700 years ago. Not Disney-fied but fresh and bright, it’s the sort of place where only your conscience holds you back from stuffing your suitcase with hand-dyed throws or lacquered bamboo catchalls (with that in mind, Raya Heritage opened its Him Gong shop in 2019). But it’s not just the interiors that draw on the region’s cultural patchwork. At the restaurant, linen-clad waiters serve noodle salads from Burma, Chinese kung pao chicken and Shan-style river prawns. The spa focuses on bone-cracking Burmese massages and a steam room uses a rare blend by a master herbalist from a nearby village. Excursions to meet artisans can be arranged, although the 33 rooms – some with private pools – are inviting enough to loll around in all day. This address is exemplary in a country that’s slowly starting to re-appreciate the richness of its crafts, offering a blueprint for Thai design without the tropes. Chris Schalkx

Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Krabi

A short drive around the coast from Krabi, Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve was designed to reflect the area's Muslim history, with soaring red ochre walls, oversized keyhole doorways, candlelit reflective pools and lush gardens redolent with frangipani and jasmine. Looking across Phang Nga Bay's prehistoric landscape of rugged limestone karsts, the rambling villas come with extravagant pillared bathtubs, double-height hand-painted murals and beds so big you could roll around all night and never touch your lover. The resort's movie star good looks have earned it a number of starring roles, including the setting for the wedding in The Hangover 2 . Lee Cobaj

COMO Point Yamu, Phuket

From the outside, COMO Point Yamu's architecture appears almost brutalist, seemingly too grey and severe to suit the curvaceous coastal location. But follow Asia's coolest crowd inside and you'll find the hotel is as light and airy as birdcage; columns of concrete chop the Phuketian sunshine into shards; razor-sharp lines frame a luminous green bay wrapped in rippling limestone hills; a 100-metre long white-tiled swimming pool shoots out towards the Andaman Sea. It's these good looks, along with tip-top service, zingy cuisine and a wondrous spa, that has made this hotel a favourite with LGBTQ+ Thais and travellers. LC

Amanpuri, Phuket

Opened more than three decades ago, Amanpuri was the first resort in the Aman empire and remains one of the jewels in the crown. The location, on Pansea beach, is sublime: a scythe of golden sand studded with gigantic black boulders and palm trees as tall as skyscrapers. From here, a set of monolithic stairs rise to a sultry black-tiled swimming pool and a pretty puzzle of wooden walkways which zigzag to graceful teak villas with sliding doors, outdoor salas and, sometimes, swimming pools. There's a selection of sophisticated restaurants – Thai, Southern Italian and Japanese – and a world-beating spa offering in-depth health and wellness programmes. LC

Four Seasons Koh Samui, Koh Samui

Curling around a private peninsula on the serene northeast coast of Koh Samui, the Four Seasons offers all you could want for a grown-up beach break. Thatched-roof villas percolate down the hillside, some peering into the Gulf of Thailand, some rolling straight onto the beach, all decked out in breezy ivories and teals, with dark wooden shutters, netted beds and egg-shaped bathtubs. Plonk yourself on a stripy daybed by the oceanfront infinity pool and allow attendants to deliver lemongrass-infused cold towels and skewers of pineapple, or at the spa, where treatments incorporate healing herbs plucked from the garden. The more energetic can hire yachts, take up Muay Thai boxing or plant coral babies. Everyone should regroup at the Rum Vault for a tiki-lit tasting as the sun goes down. LC

Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort, Chiang Rai

As the name suggests, the Anantara Golden Triangle's main attraction is its elephant sanctuary, an ethically-run NGO which offers guests the kind of up-close interactions Dumbo -lovers dream of. You can walk with the gentle giants through fields of lemongrass grass and bamboo as the soft morning light, feed them watermelon and pumpkins for lunch, or spend the night inside a bubble room as they wander the forest around you. But, the hotel has a myriad of other attractions, too, not least its plot on the Mekong River overlooking three countries – Thailand, Myanmar and Laos – best viewed at dawn with the amber sunlight refracted through the cloud forest mist. LC

Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok

“It is a lovely place and I am fonder of it than ever,” mused Nöel Coward following his 1929 visit to the Mandarin Oriental. Fast forward a century and a multi-million dollar refurbishment later and Bangkok 's grande dame is arguably even more charming than in the famous wit's day. Most of the creamy wood-panelled rooms have balconies overlooking the gardens, the swimming pool and the Chao Phraya River. Suites pay tribute to the literary giants who have visited in the past, including Joseph Conrad, Graham Greene and John Le Carré. The Bamboo Bar has been around since the 1940s and has still got that swing. Two Michelin star Le Normandie (one of 10 restaurants) is now helmed by Alain Roux. The spa, reached via a carved teak boat, will have you unravelling like a lotus flower in the sun. LC

Trisara, Phuket

Privacy is assured at this indulgent spot, which rolls down a tropical hillside onto a quiet corner of upmarket Layan Beach in the northwest of Phuket . 40 frangipani-scented acres and 2,000 metres of Andaman Sea coast are dedicated to just 39 peaked-roof villas and 30 palatial private residences – all with private pools and panoramic sea views – spaced far enough apart that guests can happily frolic naked without ever being seen. Fully dressed, you can eat at Pru, the only restaurant in Phuket to have a Michelin star and the only one in Thailand with a Michelin Green star, or join one of the buzziest Sunday champagne brunches on the island. Disrobe again for a visit to the temple-like Jara spa to try some integrative Thai therapy, combining massage with wooden hammers and chisels – and perhaps a little bit of magic. LC

137 Pillars House, Chiang Mai

Set within Chiang Mai's ancient city walls, steps from the ornate Wat Gate temple, 137 Pillars House feels like arriving at a beautiful 19th-century countryside oasis that has been future-fitted with every modern accoutrement. Originally the northern headquarters of the East Borneo Trading Company, the main two-storey building is a delight of teak pillars, white painted timber, intricate fretwork and Asian antiques. Echoing the elegant Anglo-Lanna style are 30 suites, with patterned tiled floors, four-poster beds and verandahs with rocking chairs. Throw in the fragrant tropical gardens, outdoor swimming pool, excellent food and atmospheric spa and easy to forget the 21st-century world exists. LC

The Standard, Hua Hin

Featured on our 2021 Hot List of the best new hotels in the world

In a beach town dominated by could-be-anywhere mega-resorts, The Standard Hua Hin brings a much-needed dose of youthful energy to a place usually associated with snowbirding retirees and hi-so (high society) Thais driving down from Bangkok . In lieu of teakwood floors and jasmine garlands, guests are greeted by fresh contemporary art and midcentury-modern furnishings; then pathways palisaded with bamboo and bougainvillea snake to the boho-beachy villas (where disco balls hang in the bathrooms). The main action happens at the pool, where Bangkok’s beau monde lounges under candy-striped umbrellas and two restaurants serve drinks and Thai-with-a-twist bites until until 10. Chris Schalkx

Roukh Kiri, Khao Yai

When it comes to design inspired by foreign destinations, Thai hotels often walk a fine line between clever and kitsch. They can look awkward and out of place, with a there-but-not-really-there feel that’s hard to shake off. Khao Yai, a Hampton -esque hillside hideout about two hours north of Bangkok, harbours some of the worst offenders – a Disneyfied replica of a Tuscan village and a Scottish castle clad in gypsum board. With a brief that read European farmhouse, newcomer Roukh Kiri could have joined those ranks, but young-gun architecture studio Onion gave the concept a refreshing spin. Spread out across a mango orchard, the 12 villas have archetypal gabled roofs and cobblestone walls, even sliding barn doors made from recycled timber, but they’re stripped of all frills, resulting in a small village of elegant houses in a whitewashed and linen-licked rustic minimalism. Picture windows open to indoor-outdoor bathrooms and private sandstone swimming pools are immersed in fields of feather grass that look out over the emerald-green valley below. That same valley is the view from the communal fireplace – nights can get chilly here – and the reclaimed-wood restaurant where the menu draws on the organic garden’s produce and delivers riffs on classic dishes (try the krapow with rosemary). Finally, a Khao Yai resort worth the detour. CS

Capella, Bangkok

In a city where almost every smart hotel brand has already made its mark, it takes something extra-special to turn heads. Yet when this place finally opened after a seven-year tease, the hi-so set swooped in like magpies. Capella’s first foray into Thailand is the only city hotel with villas right on the Chao Phraya river – multi-roomed retreats with private gardens and swimming pools lined with marble. Suites in the main building, a blocky, low-slung affair with 101 rooms, come with private balconies, and the property has tapped star chef Mauro Colagreco of Mirazur in France to head up its signature Mediterranean restaurant Côte. Crystalline coupes of private-label Champagne accompany check-in, brunches and turn-down service, but that’s as flashy as it gets. While the jewel-like tea lounge references Thai motifs in the latticework and a scattering of local antiques, the rest of the space feels relatively subdued with pared-back interiors of blonde wood, taupe and cream. Service is hushed but switched on, and the spa eschews new-fangled treatments for humble, age-old healing practices with tok sen hammer massages and luk pra kob herbal compresses inspired by the Thai-Chinese community just outside the gates. Bangkok’s hotel scene gets more sophisticated every year, but for now Capella has the last word. Read more at our full Capella Bangkok hotel review . CS

Plans for the hotel groups return to Bangkok were hatched long before spontaneous international travel took such a body...

Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River

Plans for the hotel group’s return to Bangkok (its former location closed in 2015) were hatched long before spontaneous international travel took such a body blow, but this Jean-Michel Gathy-designed reincarnation on the banks of the Chao Phraya River feels elegantly tailored to the city’s regulars. For those who have ticked off the usual sightseeing hits, this escape has significant staying-put appeal: there’s a multi-tiered swimming pool with thick-cushioned loungers for all-day lingering, vast bedrooms with deep bathtubs and DIY cocktail corners, and floor-to-ceiling windows on multiple sides that frame knockout views. The restaurants – there are four, plus a vermouth-forward bar – are set for lazy lunches, with sardine tartines and mignonette-drizzled oysters at Brasserie Palmier, perhaps, or citrusy crudo with a crisp rosé on Riva del Fiume’s riverside terrace. It’s a place that feels all-encompassing, right down to the Thai spa , which does hi-tech anti-ageing treatments and lo-tech bamboo massages, with a separate lap pool for aqua aerobics and stand-up paddle-boarding. An urban edge shines through in the contemporary art collection: towering works depict the curves of the Chao Phraya and the folds of a monk’s robe hang from the marble walls of the cavernous lobby, while a rotating exhibition in the gallery wing puts the spotlight on local talent. Over the years, artsy boutiques have transformed this corner of Bangkok into a de-facto design district. Now that Four Seasons has joined the fray, it has reached its zenith. CS

The Mustang Blu, Bangkok

Only a small sign above the door of this crumbling 19th-century building on the fringe of the capital’s dizzying Chinatown reveals that it’s no longer the run-down former bank turned massage parlour it once was known as. Following a slew of young creatives setting up shop in this former spice-trading district, stylist Ananda ‘Joy’ Chalardcharoen took over the lease for her next project, following The Mustang Nero in the Phra Khanong suburb.

In just five months, she and her team transformed this dilapidated late-night spot into the area’s most photographed stay. They renovated only what was needed, keeping relics such as the original vault door intact; the atrium, spanning three floors, was opened up again after being closed for decades. Chalardcharoen shows off her design skill in paint-peeled hallways filled with her signature taxidermy mix – a horse and a glass-encased ostrich skeleton greet guests in the lobby – next to artfully arranged books and European antiques. It’s a style that is continued in the 10 rooms, all of which have marble-tiled bathrooms, freestanding roll-top tubs and velvet curtains.

On the ground floor, the café dishes up treats such as upside-down banana cake and epic breakfasts of herb-rubbed chicken or baked salmon, accompanied by fruit and pastries on ceramics bearing the owner’s illustrations of The Mustang Blu. It closes at night, but finding a top-notch feast in this street-food-dense area is hardly a challenge. For after-dark fun, Soi Nana, home to some of the city’s best cocktail joints – Asia Today and Teens of Thailand among them – is just a short stroll away. If Wes Anderson ’s The Grand Budapest Hotel had been set in Bangkok, it would surely have been filmed here.

9 Hornbills Tented Camp, Koh Yao Noi

One of the best islands in Thailand , with its stilted fishermen’s villages and deserted beaches, is reminiscent of Koh Samui or Koh Phi Phi before the big-brand developments swooped in. On a moped drive around its criss-crossing dirt tracks, visitors are more likely to bump into grazing water buffaloes than sunbathing farang (foreigners), and most of the sand remains blissfully quiet. It feels a world away from buzzy Phuket , a 30-minute speedboat trip across the strait, which was the main reason for Swiss entrepreneur Jean-Michel Germing and his business partner setting up low-key escape Koyao here nearly 20 years ago.

Just up the hill is 9 Hornbills Tented Camp, named after the nine hornbills Germing encountered during his first site inspection. Ten safari tents fan out across a former rubber plantation with their own pools and large gardens, plus four-poster beds and outdoor rain showers clad in salvaged wood – just one of a number of eco-smart design details borrowed from the Six Senses one hill over, which Germing also directed.

The bar at the top of the estate is a lovely spot for sundowners, and the sister hotel offers an excellent restaurant and semi-private beach, connected to the camp by a buggy service. At-the-ready butlers can fix everything from candlelit dinners to island picnics and floating breakfasts served in Thai tiffin boxes. But the biggest draw here is the gigantic, moss-covered karst formations immersed in the ocean – quite possibly the best view in the whole country.

Hotel Gahn, Khao Lak

Opening along the rather lacklustre main road instead of the area’s honey-coloured beaches might sound like an ill-informed business move for a boutique hotel , but owner Rabiab Anusasananun felt it was the right thing to do. With a twinkle in her eyes, she explains that she built it as a tribute to her late grandfather who came to Thailand in 1928 aboard a Chinese junk to work in the then-thriving tin-mining industry.

Over time, these migrants blended into the local culture and are now known as the Baba Nyonya people, with their offspring still living in Sino-Portuguese settlements dotting the Malay Peninsula all the way to Singapore . With this project, the family aimed to preserve their rich traditions while simultaneously recasting them for the next generation. They tapped into Phuket-based architecture studio Locomotive’s expertise to realise their vision, taking inspiration from the ancestral home with its terrazzo floors and arched columns but giving it a fresh spin with exposed-concrete ceilings and vintage desk lamps. Artworks on each of the five floors offer interesting insights into Baba culture, while the small shop is stocked with colourful batik items.

In the Juumpo restaurant, decorated with heirlooms from the old family kitchen, Anusasananun herself cooks up staples following recipes passed down by her grandfather – the melt-in-the-mouth moo hong (stewed sweet pork with herbs) is an undisputed highlight. The nearest beach is a five-minute taxi ride away, but that’s a small concession to make for this endearing departure from the could-be-anywhere hotels more commonly found around town.

Phu Chaisai, Chiang Rai

The 45-minute drive from the town’s airport to this hilltop hideaway in the Golden Triangle is a fast-blast tour of the countryside: flashes of neon-green rice paddies, ornate orange-golden temple roofs and tea plantations stacked on slopes set the tone for a stay in northern Thailand in its purest form. Between a jumble of swirling vines and swaying bamboo forest, 33 red-clay cottages look out towards the rolling mountains on the horizon. Inside they’re bedecked with bamboo and proudly local touches such as cushions made from hill-tribe textiles.

It’s back to basics and disarmingly unpretentious – although some cottages have private swimming pools – which makes sense when you meet the venerable owner. After a successful career as an interior designer, with projects in embassies and royal palaces under her belt, she grew tired of the city’s bustle and packed up her household – literally, moving her mansion all the way from central Bangkok – to create this slow-paced jungle retreat where traditional crafts and eco-conscious living play leading roles.

There’s Akha-tribe coffee and jungle honey at the breakfast table, all-natural spa products and marked hiking trails through the surrounding forest. With the help of Aman and Four Seasons veteran Jason Friedman, who zhuzhed up the place five years ago, the hotel has built up a loyal following of insiders and clued-in urbanites who check in multiple times a year. Among them is Bangkok-born British chef and author Kay Plunkett-Hogge, who is due to launch her own cookery school in the building adjoining the restaurant.

Baan Pomphet, Ayutthaya

This temple-studded place might be known as Thailand’s historic capital, but a flurry of eye-catching cafés, dessert bars and cool stays have given it a contemporary edge over the years. One of those spots is the eight-room hotel and restaurant pegged on the T-shaped riverbank where the Chao Phraya and Pasak rivers meet. Taking its name and design cues from the brick-walled Pom Phet fortress next door, Bangkok-based architecture studio Onion has created an MC Escher-esque structure from hand-moulded red brick and salvaged timber, with steps, stairs and roofs each laid out in different patterns.

Intricately carved wooden lights from Chiang Mai and doorknobs in the shape of the monkey god Hanuman balance straight lines with a more organic edge. A scaffolding-like contraption connects the two buildings by way of a footbridge and marks the division to the guests-only area, where an ancient bodhi tree shades a swimming pool from the sun. Contrasting with the tactile exterior, rooms are starkly minimal but snug in jackfruit yellow or leaf green with pod-like beds and black-tiled bathrooms. Those on the ground floor have a small outdoor shower, while the corner room on the second floor is the one to book for its views over the fortress.

Day-trippers from Bangkok, which is only 50 miles away, stop in at the restaurant for passion-fruit- and pineapple- laced smoothies and giant river prawns from the grill. Come sunset, the wooden shutters of the rooftop swing open to reveal a well-stocked bar – order a bael-fruit Shakerato or Mojito with roselle and Thai basil to sip while watching the day’s last boats sputter by on the hyacinth-covered river below.

Hotel Des Artists, Ping Silhoette, Chiang Mai

The glittering temples of Chiang Mai ’s moated Old Town are enchanting, and the buzzing Nimmanhaemin district is on the pulse when it comes to artisanal coffee and local designer boutiques – but leafy Wat Ket, delivering a bit of both, remains one of the loveliest spots in the city. Here, rootsy art galleries line the streets and restaurants on the banks of the Ping river dish up khao soi noodles and cocktails under banyan trees lit up with fairy lights. This is also where some of the most charming boutique stays are found, taking over villas from a bygone era.

The Ping Silhouette, however, is inspired by an even earlier time when this part of the city was still a thriving multicultural merchant district dotted with Chinese-style warehouses. Behind a façade of glazed tile roofs and antique French shutters lies a stone-paved courtyard where large glassless windows frame manicured bonsai trees and cosy tea nooks. A long, goldfish-filled pond is a zen antidote to the frenetic markets, while ancient artefacts from China (ornamental doors, stone horses) extend the theme. Rooms are done up in white and teal, and most have terraces overlooking weeping willows and an inky-blue lap pool in the riverside garden.

The café, where walls are stacked with chinoiserie teapots and blue-and-white ceramics, prepares breakfasts of Thai rice porridge and sweet treats such as pa tong go doughnuts served in bamboo steamer baskets. A striking standout on the teakwood- dominated local scene, and a perfect fit for this curious corner.

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Top 10 best luxury hotels & resorts in Phuket

Monday newsletters always feature top 10 travel lists to inspire.

Today: Top 10 best luxury hotels & resorts in Phuket

Phuket is Thailand’s largest and most popular island. Located a one hour flight south from Bangkok, the Andaman Sea island and its idyllic beaches, coves and bays are recognised as one of the Kingdom’s best tourist attractions. While Phuket has plenty of accommodation for the budget traveler, it has become a magnet for the well-healed and jetset in recent years because of the presence of a string of ultra-luxurious and super-exclusive hotels. Here’s my top 10 list of Phuket’s best luxury resorts (although my all-time favorite resort in Thailand remains phenomenal Soneva Kiri , which sits on Thailand’s 4th largest but least populated island, Koh Kood, in the Gulf of Siam).

There is more information (with review & YouTube videos) below the slideshow. Think I missed a resort in Phuket? Leave a comment .

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10. THE RACHA

The Racha, one of Thailand’s premier deluxe island hideaways, is set on a pristine, white beach on Racha Island, which is located 12 miles (20 km) or 35 minutes by speed boat from Phuket’s Chalong Bay. The island is known for its natural beauty, excellent corals and stunning marine life. The resort features 85 luxurious villas that range in size and price. The Lighthouse is one of the world’s most unusual hotel rooms as it is a superb five storey villa with private pool, terrace, sun deck and observation lounge offering magnificent 360 degree views over Racha Island and the Andaman Sea.

Hotel website: The Racha

9. THE NAKA ISLAND, A LUXURY COLLECTION RESORT & SPA

Nestled among lovely beaches, lush coconut groves, with never-ending views of the emerald-green Phang Nga Bay and idyllic landscapes of the Phuket coastline, The Naka Island is an exclusive boutique resort on Naka Yai Island, a 10 minute speedboat ride from the mainland. The highlight are the 67 magnificently designed, organic shaped villas that combine authentic island details with spectacular views. Guests can embrace a laid-back island life, rejuvenate at Spa Naka, lounge on the resort’s private beach, splash in the very large beachfront pool, or settle in for the sunset with an innovative cocktail or custom-blended juice from the resort’s spectacular Z-bar.

Hotel website : Naka Island
Tip : get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Classic Travel (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD resort credit).
Review : read my review of Naka Island here .

8. COMO POINT YAMU

COMO Point Yamu is a stylish luxury resort located at the tip of Cape Yamu overlooking the Andaman Sea and the dramatic limestones of Phang Nga Bay. Interiors by Italian designer Paola Navone offer a unique expression of contemporary Thai luxury, alongside a COMO Shambhala wellness retreat and two world-class restaurants for Thai and Italian cuisine. Its location above the Cape, overlooking Phang Nga Bay, affords 360 degree spectacular Andaman Sea views, but there is no direct beach access. However the resort does have a private COMO Beach Club on a small island, 40 minutes by complimentary boat shuttle from the hotel.

Hotel website : COMO Point Yamu
Review : read my review of COMO Point Yamu here .

7. ANANTARA LAYAN PHUKET RESORT

Anantara Phuket Layan Resort & Spa is a charming tropical sanctuary in a tranquil bay setting on Phuket’s stunning western coast. The resort opens onto a private stretch of beautiful Layan Beach, where soft white sands are gently lapped by the turquoise waters of the Andaman Sea. There are 30 rooms and suites, as well as 47 pool villas in nine uniquely impressive styles, all combining pure indulgence with Anantara’s renowned hospitality. Guests here spend lazy days at the shoreline pool, plunge into a new adventure with thrilling and relaxing water sports, or unwind into signature Anantara Spa journeys.

Hotel website : Anantara Layan Phuket Resort
Tip : get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, and a complimentary 60 minutes Thai massage session for up to two).

Trisara, in Sanskrit “The Garden in the Third Heaven” is one of Phuket Island’s most special resort experience. Wrapped in a tropical forest and exotic gardens, the 48 spacious ocean facing pool villas and 2-6 bedroom private residences all embrace a lovely bay on Phuket’s sophisticated and natural north-western coastline, just 15 minutes from Phuket Airport. All pool villas, suites and residences are designed with rich interiors and enjoy a wonderful sense of privacy. Attention to detail defines the experience throughout the property, including unique natural grey marble infinity pools in all villas and suites which overflow toward the Andaman Sea.

Hotel website: Trisara
Tip : get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD resort credit).

5. KEEMALA PHUKET

Curving shapes and a highly unusual architecture are the inventive dwellings of Keemala, an all pool villa wonderland nestled well away from the Phuket crowds and overlooking Kamala Village and the Andaman Sea. Shaded by an enchanted canopy of rainforest and connected together by a network of jungle walkways, the resort’s 38 villas are designed for guests wishing to experience a rustic, yet lavish, escape. Some villas are built in the canopy, featuring two floors complete with a private pool, upper level master bedroom, and a large lounge and dining area on the lower level.

Hotel website : Keemala
Other accolades : Keemala also features in my top 10 lists of the most instagrammable hotels in the world .
Review : read my review of Keemala Phuket here .

4. BANYAN TREE PHUKET

Encircling the sparkling waters of a saltwater lagoon, Banyan Tree Phuket is a tropical fairytale where the roads are lined with casuarinas and palms, the fields are bright with Allamanda blooms and the Bang Tao Bay always sparkles in sapphire brilliance. The hotel is a glorious spread of elegant Thai architecture complemented with every modern amenity imaginable. The hotel is cradled within Laguna Phuket’s exclusive community, a 400-hectare former abandoned tin mining site that includes 3 km of sandy shores and is home to more than 30 restaurants and bars (with free use of inter-resort transportation by shuttle vehicle or lagoon boat).

Hotel website : Banyan Tree Phuket
Other 10 accolades : Banyan Tree Phuket also features in my top 10 list of the best luxury hotels in Thailand .
Tip : get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and one lunch or dinner for two).
Review : read my review of Banyan Tree Phuket here .

3. SIX SENSES YAO NOI

Six Senses Yao Noi sets the highest benchmark for island resort living in Asia. The attention to detail and focus on the unique destination reinforces the Six Senses brand’s commitment to sustainability. The 56 pool villa accommodations provide generous personal space and present an uncompromised lifestyle. Some villas overlook the striking limestone monuments that rise out of the Andaman Sea, providing an idyllic backdrop for days of tranquil indulgence. Natural materials used in the modern architecture, together with a beautiful island setting and excellent personal service, support the Six Senses philosophy of creating exceptional experiences.

Hotel website : Six Senses Yao Noi
Other accolades : Six Senses Yao Noi also features in my top 10 lists of the best luxury hotels in Thailand and the best Six Senses hotels & resorts in the world.
Tip : get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and a complimentary 50-minute massage for up to two people, per room).
Review : read my review of Six Senses Yao Noi here .

2. ROSEWOOD PHUKET

At an exquisite location along a 600 m (2000 ft) beachfront at Emerald Bay, Rosewood Phuket is a tropical beach hideaway akin to an ideal ocean village. Innovative design with subtle Thai influences blends organically into a lush natural landscape, while sun-weathered shores and glistening, crystalline waters help celebrate luxury island living. Featuring 71 pavilions and villas, the resort offers a secluded island escape and celebration of the brand’s ‘A Sense of Place’ philosophy, taking inspiration from the natural landscape, diverse cultures and unique sensibilities of this distinctive southern isle.

Hotel website : Rosewood Phuket
Other accolades : Rosewood Phuket also features in my list of the best new hotels of 2017 .
Tip : get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. villa upgrade, breakfast, early check-in , late check-out,’ a Sense of Place’ amenity and greeting card from management, and $100 USD food & beverage credit).
Review : read my review of Rosewood Phuket here .

1. AMANPURI

This timeless retreat on the west coast of Phuket is in harmony with its idyllic setting. Ancient Ayutthayan architecture determines the design of its pavilions and villas, which overlook lush vegetation, a gorgeous white beach and the pristine Andaman Sea. Interspersed throughout a mature coconut plantation, the Thai-style Pavilions and Villas are approached by elevated walkways, and all have a private outdoor sala (room) for dining and relaxing, shaded by tropical flora. Sloping roof lines frame soothing, spacious interiors, furnished with Thai textiles, art and antiques. The resort is the flagship hotel of Aman, one of the world’s most exclusive hotel brands .

Hotel website : Amanpuri, Phuket
Other accolades : Amanpuri also features in my top 10 lists of the best luxury hotels in Thailand , the best Aman hotels in the world , and the world’s most insanely beautiful hotel beaches .
Tip : get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and one lunch or dinner for 2).
Review : read my review of Amanpuri here .

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The Best Hotels in Thailand, From Wellness Resorts to City Gems

Best Hotels in Thailand 2023 Wellness Resorts City Gems More

Home to some of the best hotels in Asia , Thailand punches well above its weight when it comes to places to stay. In Bangkok, glossy city hotels rival those found in New York and London, but the country's landmark addresses are saved for the beaches and island—Chiva Som is regularly voted as the best destination spa in the world , while Aman, Banyan Tree, and Six Senses are dotted throughout the best islands in Thailand . There are plenty of boutique and under-the-radar boltholes to be found too, where friendly service and traditional cooking leave you feeling like you've gained a glimpse of life as a local. For a shortlist of our favorites, here we round up the best hotels in Thailand.

All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Six Senses Yao Noi, Phang Nga

Featured on our 2022 Gold List of the best new hotels in the world

Six Senses have perfected the castaway experience on the hilly little island of Yao Noi, poised in Phang Nga Bay halfway between Phuket and Krabi. Shoes are shed on the speedboat ride to the resort, driftwood signs point to the white sand beach, the hilltop half-moon infinity pool and a collection of stilted thatched-roof villas. Everything feels like an adventure—searching for the spa hidden inside traditional long-houses in the jungle, traversing the multi-level bamboo and clapboard restaurants for dinner, and watching movies on the beach under the stars. Look out for the pairs of sooty black hornbills and borrow one of the hotel's bicycles to loop the island weaving through the fishing village and rubber plantations. — Lee Cobaj

InterContinental Khao Yai hotel, Khao Yai

I find it hard to believe that this whimsical resort, three hours north of our home in Bangkok and on the cusp of the eponymous national park, wasn’t conceived solely with kids in mind. Spun from the eccentric brain of designer Bill Bensley, the hotel unfurls like a lake-dotted, railroad-themed playground, where every building, from the gingerbread-trimmed main wing to the lakeside restaurants, draws inspiration from the nearby King Rama V–era Pak Chong railway station. Bensley blurs fact and fiction with an inspired tale about an imaginary train conductor, Somsak, whose locomotive-style sleeping quarters double as the hotel lobby. There are faux ticket booths, and moss-covered tracks crisscross the grounds, but it’s the rooms that my son still gushes about: each one is designed like a train carriage, with narrow clerestoried ceilings, sliding cabin doors, and overhead luggage racks. Even more fun are the villas at the jungled back of the lot, built from upcycled rail wagons salvaged from junkyards and kitted out with canvas-shaded patios and private plunge pools. But for all its whimsy, the vibe is still more Orient Express than Disneyland, so while my son joined treasure hunts and Thai dancing classes in the railway cart turned kids’ club, I could sip Negronis in the French–tinged Papillon bar. For youngsters or inner children, this one’s a hoot. — Chris Schalkx

Banyan Tree Samui

A lotus flower floats in your villa's private pool, backed by unbeatable panoramic views of Lamai Bay. Buggies ferry guests around winding steep pathways that connect the villas, private beach, spa, and elevated restaurant The Edge. Villas rise from the peninsular in different shapes and sizes, but all come with a sea or garden view. In the family and couple villas, rainfall showers are big enough for two, and grand bedrooms open up to reveal private infinity pools. A wooden deck is kitted with beanbags to slump and watch the sun rise from the sea horizon. Spend the day on the private beach with kayak rental and private boat tours, or try afternoon tea at the beach restaurant. Visit between April and May and you might be lucky enough to watch resident turtle hatchlings make their way into the ocean. A visit to the spa is a must, especially for the hydrotherapy massage. The Rainforest treatment includes a steam room experience followed by an ice-cold shower and ending with hard-powered water jets focusing on back muscles. — Sophie Knight

Raya Heritage, Chiang Mai

Featured on our 2021 Gold List of the best new hotels in the world

There are no ornate rooftops at this hotel along the Ping river. It’s unlikely that sai oua sausage or khao soi soup, two beloved staples of local cooking, will appear on the menu. Time-worn Buddha statues? Virtually none. Yet no other hangout feels more rooted in place than Raya Heritage, where the typical temple-inspired teakwood-and-gold look has been eschewed for a straight-lined approach to let crafts take centre stage. Terracotta brickwork. Woven reed baskets. Hand-loomed textiles. Jolts of indigo. It’s a celebration of the ancient culture of Lanna, the cross-border kingdom of which Chiang Mai was the capital some 700 years ago. Not Disney-fied but fresh and bright, it’s the sort of place where only your conscience holds you back from stuffing your suitcase with hand-dyed throws or lacquered bamboo catchalls (with that in mind, Raya Heritage opened its Him Gong shop in 2019). But it’s not just the interiors that draw on the region’s cultural patchwork. At the restaurant, linen-clad waiters serve noodle salads from Burma, Chinese kung pao chicken, and Shan-style river prawns. The spa focuses on bone-cracking Burmese massages and a steam room uses a rare blend by a master herbalist from a nearby village. Excursions to meet artisans can be arranged, although the 33 rooms—some with private pools—are inviting enough to loll around in all day. This address is exemplary in a country that’s slowly starting to re-appreciate the richness of its crafts, offering a blueprint for Thai design without the tropes. —C.S.

Villa Mahabhirom, Chiang Mai

A 10-minute drive from central Chiang Mai, this stay is a welcomed escape from city life and a blissful break in a jungle landscape. Tall bamboo canes and palms line the paths to the 24 traditional Thai teak wood homes, of which 14 are used for guests. With space for only 28 guests at a time, it feels more like a home than a hotel. The villas were once Thai family homes and date back over 120 years, carefully restored and renovated. Built on stilts, each has an open-air living area, dimly lit bedrooms, marble bathrooms, and cozy balconies on the upper level. Larger villas have private pools and garden space. Antique furniture and ornaments are displayed throughout the property—vintage chandeliers, shabby-chic wardrobes, and grand taxidermy make a walk through the grounds feel like an open-air museum. The pool is a work of art, reflecting its well-designed surroundings of green foliage, clay sculptures designed by a local artist, hanging lanterns, and plush sun beds. Poolside is also where breakfast and supper a served. Dine from the delicious Vietnamese menu and sip cocktails from the daily happy hour—it’s the only time you’ll see other guests emerge. It’s also a chance to see the resident deer who lives and wanders on the grounds. —S.K.

Four Seasons Chiang Mai

Treetop pavilions, private residences, and pool villas sit in 31 acres of manicured gardens and a rice paddy within the Mae Rim Valley. Come sundown, the rice farmers parade through the fields singing and celebrating the end of a working day. Two buffalo bathe daily in the lake, which acts as a hub for activities from sunrise yoga to pottery making, Thai boxing, tennis, and textile dyeing. For guests who prefer to spend their stay wallowing in the sunshine, there are two infinity pools that stretch out into the paddies. It's a lush and serene scene from every angle. Private residence guests can spend the day without seeing a soul, in grand gated homes built for families who enjoy hiding away in pure luxury—private pools, a kitchen space to hire private catering, and a wraparound terrace for alfresco dining and entertaining. Eating here is a highlight, especially breakfast which draws on color and cuisine from all walks of the world, from Chinese dumplings to English breakfast, and coffee orders taken by the friendliest of staff. —S.K.

Langkhai Garden, Koh Tao

Koh Tao is the sleepiest of the Chumphon Archipelago islands, only a 25 minute ride from one side to the other, so you’ll get to know the island fairly quickly. On the quiet south east coast, Langkhai Garden's four private villas are built for families and couples looking for long stays on the island. The bolthole is the product of a three year project by a French couple who met on the island and dreamed of opening a place—doors opened to guests in 2018. The villas are epitome of modern cool, with polished concrete walls and high wooden beam ceilings that lead up to thatched straw roofs (also home to some local lizards). Huge four poster beds sit next to vases with freshly picked flowers, lounges are big enough to fit the whole family, kitchens come with all the trimmings, and there's a wraparound balcony with outdoor dining and a private pool—not to mention panoramic sea views. If cooking isn’t your thing, order in from nearby restaurants that will deliver to your door. Scooters can be rented from friendly reception staff, with the island's coves bubbling with marine life just a short ride away. Time it right and you might be lucky enough to swim with turtles or whale sharks. Once you’ve got into the swing of slow island life, peeling yourself from the villa will be tough. —S.K.

Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Krabi

A short drive around the coast from Krabi, Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve was designed to reflect the area's Muslim history, with soaring red ochre walls, oversized keyhole doorways, candlelit reflective pools, and lush gardens redolent with frangipani and jasmine. Looking across Phang Nga Bay's prehistoric landscape of rugged limestone karsts, the rambling villas come with extravagant pillared bathtubs, double-height hand-painted murals, and beds so big you could roll around all night and never touch your lover. The resort's movie star good looks have earned it a number of starring roles, including the setting for the wedding in The Hangover 2 . —L.C.

COMO Point Yamu, Phuket

From the outside, COMO Point Yamu's architecture appears almost brutalist, seemingly too gray and severe to suit the curvaceous coastal location. But follow Asia's coolest crowd inside and you'll find the hotel is as light and airy as birdcage; columns of concrete chop the Phuketian sunshine into shards; razor-sharp lines frame a luminous green bay wrapped in rippling limestone hills; a 100-meter long white-tiled swimming pool shoots out towards the Andaman Sea. It's these good looks, along with tip-top service, zingy cuisine, and a wondrous spa, that has made this hotel a favorite with LGBTQ+ Thais and travelers. — L.C.

Chiva Som, Hua Hin

Chiva Som is the undisputed queen of the Thai wellness scene—when they arrived on the scene 27 years ago spa breaks in Thailand weren't even a thing. There have been plenty of pretenders since but none have yet managed to usurp the original, with its life-boosting combination of cutting edge-fitness (new machinery includes Iron Man -like Vision Bodysuits), medical diagnostics (blood works, gene testing), traditional Asian healing therapies and hyper-intuitive staff. There are 16 different retreats to choose from—stress and pain management, fitness boost, immune resilience, senior health—each of which will be minutely personalized to meet all of your mental, physical, and emotional needs. This is the place to change the habits of a lifetime. — L.C.

Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort

As the name suggests, the Anantara Golden Triangle's main attraction is its elephant sanctuary, an ethically-run NGO which offers guests the kind of up-close interactions Dumbo -lovers dream of. You can walk with the gentle giants through fields of lemongrass grass and bamboo as the soft morning light, feed them watermelon and pumpkins for lunch, or spend the night inside a bubble room as they wander the forest around you. But, the hotel has a myriad of other attractions, too, not least its plot on the Mekong River overlooking three countries—Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos—best viewed at dawn with the amber sunlight refracted through the cloud forest mist. — L.C.

Amanpuri, Phuket

Opened more than three decades ago, Amanpuri was the first resort in the Aman empire and remains one of the jewels in the crown. The location, on Pansea beach, is sublime: a scythe of golden sand studded with gigantic black boulders and palm trees as tall as skyscrapers. From here, a set of monolithic stairs rise to a sultry black-tiled swimming pool and a pretty puzzle of wooden walkways which zigzag to graceful teak villas with sliding doors, outdoor salas, and, sometimes, swimming pools. There's a selection of sophisticated restaurants—Thai, Southern Italian, and Japanese—and a world-beating spa offering in-depth health and wellness programs. — L.C.

Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River

Plans for the hotel group’s return to Bangkok (its former location closed in 2015) were hatched long before spontaneous international travel took such a body blow, but this Jean-Michel Gathy-designed reincarnation on the banks of the Chao Phraya River feels elegantly tailored to the city’s regulars. For those who have ticked off the usual sightseeing hits, this escape has significant staying-put appeal: There’s a multitiered swimming pool with thick-cushioned loungers for all-day lingering, vast bedrooms with deep bathtubs and DIY cocktail corners, and floor-to-ceiling windows on multiple sides that frame knockout views. The restaurants—there are four, plus a vermouth-forward bar—are set for lazy lunches, with sardine tartines and mignonette-drizzled oysters at Brasserie Palmier, perhaps, or citrusy crudo with a crisp rosé on Riva del Fiume’s riverside terrace. It’s a place that feels all-encompassing, right down to the Thai spa, which does hi-tech anti-aging treatments and lo-tech bamboo massages, with a separate lap pool for aqua aerobics and stand-up paddle-boarding. An urban edge shines through in the contemporary art collection: towering works depict the curves of the Chao Phraya and the folds of a monk’s robe hang from the marble walls of the cavernous lobby, while a rotating exhibition in the gallery wing puts the spotlight on local talent. Over the years, artsy boutiques have transformed this corner of Bangkok into a de-facto design district. Now that Four Seasons has joined the fray, it has reached its zenith. —C.S.

Four Seasons Koh Samui, Koh Samui

Curling around a private peninsula on the serene northeast coast of Koh Samui, the Four Seasons offers all you could want for a grown-up beach break. Thatched-roof villas percolate down the hillside, some peering into the Gulf of Thailand, some rolling straight onto the beach, all decked out in breezy ivories and teals, with dark wooden shutters, netted beds, and egg-shaped bathtubs. Plonk yourself on a stripy daybed by the oceanfront infinity pool and allow attendants to deliver lemongrass-infused cold towels and skewers of pineapple, or at the spa, where treatments incorporate healing herbs plucked from the garden. The more energetic can hire yachts, take up Muay Thai boxing or plant coral babies. Everyone should regroup at the Rum Vault for a tiki-lit tasting as the sun goes down. — L.C.

Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

“It is a lovely place and I am fonder of it than ever,” mused Nöel Coward following his 1929 visit to the Mandarin Oriental. Fast forward a century and a multimillion dollar refurbishment later and Bangkok 's grande dame is arguably even more charming than in the famous wit's day. Most of the creamy wood-paneled rooms have balconies overlooking the gardens, the swimming pool, and the Chao Phraya River. Suites pay tribute to the literary giants who have visited in the past, including Joseph Conrad, Graham Greene, and John Le Carré. The Bamboo Bar has been around since the 1940s and has still got that swing. Two Michelin star Le Normandie (one of 10 restaurants) is now helmed by Alain Roux. The spa, reached via a carved teak boat, will have you unravelling like a lotus flower in the sun. — L.C.

Trisara, Phuket

Privacy is assured at this indulgent spot, which rolls down a tropical hillside onto a quiet corner of upmarket Layan Beach in the northwest of Phuket . 40 frangipani-scented acres and 2,000 meters of Andaman Sea coast are dedicated to just 39 peaked-roof villas and 30 palatial private residences—all with private pools and panoramic sea views—spaced far enough apart that guests can happily frolic naked without ever being seen. Fully dressed, you can eat at Pru, the only restaurant in Phuket to have a Michelin star and the only one in Thailand with a Michelin Green star, or join one of the buzziest Sunday Champagne brunches on the island. Disrobe again for a visit to the temple-like Jara spa to try some integrative Thai therapy, combining massage with wooden hammers and chisels—and perhaps a little bit of magic. — L.C.

137 Pillars House, Chiang Mai

Set within Chiang Mai's ancient city walls, steps from the ornate Wat Gate temple, 137 Pillars House feels like arriving at a beautiful 19th-century countryside oasis that has been future-fitted with every modern accoutrement. Originally the northern headquarters of the East Borneo Trading Company, the main two-story building is a delight of teak pillars, white painted timber, intricate fretwork, and Asian antiques. Echoing the elegant Anglo-Lanna style are 30 suites, with patterned tiled floors, four-poster beds, and verandahs with rocking chairs. Throw in the fragrant tropical gardens, outdoor swimming pool, excellent food, and atmospheric spa and easy to forget the 21st-century world exists. — L.C.

The Standard, Hua Hin

Featured on our 2021 Hot List of the best new hotels in the world

Roukh Kiri, Khao Yai

When it comes to design inspired by foreign destinations, Thai hotels often walk a fine line between clever and kitsch. They can look awkward and out of place, with a there-but-not-really-there feel that’s hard to shake off. Khao Yai, a Hampto –esque hillside hideout about two hours north of Bangkok, harbors some of the worst offenders—a Disney-fied replica of a Tuscan village and a Scottish castle clad in gypsum board. With a brief that read European farmhouse, newcomer Roukh Kiri could have joined those ranks, but young-gun architecture studio Onion gave the concept a refreshing spin. Spread out across a mango orchard, the 12 villas have archetypal gabled roofs and cobblestone walls, even sliding barn doors made from recycled timber, but they’re stripped of all frills, resulting in a small village of elegant houses in a whitewashed and linen-licked rustic minimalism. Picture windows open to indoor-outdoor bathrooms and private sandstone swimming pools are immersed in fields of feather grass that look out over the emerald-green valley below. That same valley is the view from the communal fireplace—nights can get chilly here—and the reclaimed-wood restaurant where the menu draws on the organic garden’s produce and delivers riffs on classic dishes (try the krapow with rosemary). Finally, a Khao Yai resort worth the detour. —C.S.

Capella Bangkok

In a city where almost every smart hotel brand has already made its mark, it takes something extra-special to turn heads. Yet when this place finally opened after a seven-year tease, the hi-so set swooped in like magpies. Capella’s first foray into Thailand is the only city hotel with villas right on the Chao Phraya river—multi-roomed retreats with private gardens and swimming pools lined with marble. Suites in the main building, a blocky, low-slung affair with 101 rooms, come with private balconies, and the property has tapped star chef Mauro Colagreco of Mirazur in France to head up its signature Mediterranean restaurant Côte. Crystalline coupes of private-label Champagne accompany check-in, brunches, and turn-down service, but that’s as flashy as it gets. While the jewel-like tea lounge references Thai motifs in the latticework and a scattering of local antiques, the rest of the space feels relatively subdued with pared-back interiors of blonde wood, taupe, and cream. Service is hushed but switched on, and the spa eschews new-fangled treatments for humble, age-old healing practices with tok sen hammer massages and luk pra kob herbal compresses inspired by the Thai-Chinese community just outside the gates. Bangkok’s hotel scene gets more sophisticated every year, but for now Capella has the last word. Read more at our full Capella Bangkok hotel review . —C.S.

The Mustang Blu, Bangkok

In just five months, she and her team transformed this dilapidated late-night spot into the area’s most photographed stay. They renovated only what was needed, keeping relics such as the original vault door intact; the atrium, spanning three floors, was opened up again after being closed for decades. Chalardcharoen shows off her design skill in paint-peeled hallways filled with her signature taxidermy mix—a horse and a glass-encased ostrich skeleton greet guests in the lobby—next to artfully arranged books and European antiques. It’s a style that is continued in the 10 rooms, all of which have marble-tiled bathrooms, freestanding roll-top tubs, and velvet curtains.

On the ground floor, the cafe dishes up treats such as upside-down banana cake and epic breakfasts of herb-rubbed chicken or baked salmon, accompanied by fruit and pastries on ceramics bearing the owner’s illustrations of The Mustang Blu. It closes at night, but finding a top-notch feast in this street-food-dense area is hardly a challenge. For after-dark fun, Soi Nana, home to some of the city’s best cocktail joints —Asia Today and Teens of Thailand among them—is just a short stroll away. If Wes Anderson ’s The Grand Budapest Hotel had been set in Bangkok, it would surely have been filmed here.

9 Hornbills Tented Camp, Koh Yao Noi

One of the best islands in Thailand, with its stilted fishermen’s villages and deserted beaches, is reminiscent of Koh Samui or Koh Phi Phi before the big-brand developments swooped in. On a moped drive around its criss-crossing dirt tracks, visitors are more likely to bump into grazing water buffaloes than sunbathing farang (foreigners), and most of the sand remains blissfully quiet. It feels a world away from buzzy Phuket, a 30-minute speedboat trip across the strait, which was the main reason for Swiss entrepreneur Jean-Michel Germing and his business partner setting up low-key escape Koyao here nearly 20 years ago.

Just up the hill is 9 Hornbills Tented Camp, named after the nine hornbills Germing encountered during his first site inspection. Ten safari tents fan out across a former rubber plantation with their own pools and large gardens, plus four-poster beds and outdoor rain showers clad in salvaged wood—just one of a number of eco-smart design details borrowed from the Six Senses one hill over, which Germing also directed.

The bar at the top of the estate is a lovely spot for sundowners, and the sister hotel offers an excellent restaurant and semi-private beach, connected to the camp by a buggy service. At-the-ready butlers can fix everything from candlelit dinners to island picnics and floating breakfasts served in Thai tiffin boxes. But the biggest draw here is the gigantic, moss-covered karst formations immersed in the ocean—quite possibly the best view in the whole country.

Hotel Gahn, Khao Lak

Opening along the rather lackluster main road instead of the area’s honey-colored beaches might sound like an ill-informed business move for a boutique hotel, but owner Rabiab Anusasananun felt it was the right thing to do. With a twinkle in her eyes, she explains that she built it as a tribute to her late grandfather who came to Thailand in 1928 aboard a Chinese junk to work in the then-thriving tin-mining industry.

Over time, these migrants blended into the local culture and are now known as the Baba Nyonya people, with their offspring still living in Sino-Portuguese settlements dotting the Malay Peninsula all the way to Singapore . With this project, the family aimed to preserve their rich traditions while simultaneously recasting them for the next generation. They tapped into Phuket-based architecture studio Locomotive’s expertise to realize their vision, taking inspiration from the ancestral home with its terrazzo floors and arched columns but giving it a fresh spin with exposed-concrete ceilings and vintage desk lamps. Artworks on each of the five floors offer interesting insights into Baba culture, while the small shop is stocked with colorful batik items.

In the Juumpo restaurant, decorated with heirlooms from the old family kitchen, Anusasananun herself cooks up staples following recipes passed down by her grandfather—the melt-in-the-mouth moo hong (stewed sweet pork with herbs) is an undisputed highlight. The nearest beach is a five-minute taxi ride away, but that’s a small concession to make for this endearing departure from the could-be-anywhere hotels more commonly found around town.

Phu Chaisai, Chiang Rai

The 45-minute drive from the town’s airport to this hilltop hideaway in the Golden Triangle is a fast-blast tour of the countryside: flashes of neon-green rice paddies, ornate orange-golden temple roofs, and tea plantations stacked on slopes set the tone for a stay in northern Thailand in its purest form. Between a jumble of swirling vines and swaying bamboo forest, 33 red-clay cottages look out towards the rolling mountains on the horizon. Inside they’re bedecked with bamboo and proudly local touches such as cushions made from hill-tribe textiles.

It’s back to basics and disarmingly unpretentious—although some cottages have private swimming pools—which makes sense when you meet the venerable owner. After a successful career as an interior designer, with projects in embassies and royal palaces under her belt, she grew tired of the city’s bustle and packed up her household—literally, moving her mansion all the way from central Bangkok—to create this slow-paced jungle retreat where traditional crafts and eco-conscious living play leading roles.

There’s Akha-tribe coffee and jungle honey at the breakfast table, all-natural spa products and marked hiking trails through the surrounding forest. With the help of Aman and Four Seasons veteran Jason Friedman, who zhuzhed up the place five years ago, the hotel has built up a loyal following of insiders and clued-in urbanites who check in multiple times a year. Among them is Bangkok–born British chef and author Kay Plunkett-Hogge, who is due to launch her own cookery school in the building adjoining the restaurant.

Baan Pomphet, Ayutthaya

This temple-studded place might be known as Thailand’s historic capital, but a flurry of eye-catching cafes, dessert bars and cool stays have given it a contemporary edge over the years. One of those spots is the eight-room hotel and restaurant pegged on the T-shaped riverbank where the Chao Phraya and Pasak rivers meet. Taking its name and design cues from the brick-walled Pom Phet fortress next door, Bangkok-based architecture studio Onion has created an MC Escher–esque structure from hand-moulded red brick and salvaged timber, with steps, stairs, and roofs each laid out in different patterns.

Day-trippers from Bangkok, which is only 50 miles away, stop in at the restaurant for passion fruit- and pineapple-laced smoothies and giant river prawns from the grill. Come sunset, the wooden shutters of the rooftop swing open to reveal a well-stocked bar—order a bael fruit Shakerato or Mojito with roselle and Thai basil to sip while watching the day’s last boats sputter by on the hyacinth-covered river below.

Hotel Des Artists, Ping Silhoette, Chiang Mai

The glittering temples of Chiang Mai’s moated Old Town are enchanting, and the buzzing Nimmanhaemin district is on the pulse when it comes to artisanal coffee and local designer boutiques—but leafy Wat Ket, delivering a bit of both, remains one of the loveliest spots in the city. Here, rootsy art galleries line the streets and restaurants on the banks of the Ping river dish up khao soi noodles and cocktails under banyan trees lit up with fairy lights. This is also where some of the most charming boutique stays are found, taking over villas from a bygone era.

The Ping Silhouette, however, is inspired by an even earlier time when this part of the city was still a thriving multicultural merchant district dotted with Chinese–style warehouses. Behind a façade of glazed tile roofs and antique French shutters lies a stone-paved courtyard where large glassless windows frame manicured bonsai trees and cozy tea nooks. A long, goldfish-filled pond is a zen antidote to the frenetic markets, while ancient artifacts from China (ornamental doors, stone horses) extend the theme. Rooms are done up in white and teal, and most have terraces overlooking weeping willows and an inky-blue lap pool in the riverside garden.

The cafe, where walls are stacked with chinoiserie teapots and blue-and-white ceramics, prepares breakfasts of Thai rice porridge and sweet treats such as pa tong go doughnuts served in bamboo steamer baskets. A striking standout on the teakwood-dominated local scene, and a perfect fit for this curious corner.

This article was originally published on Condé Nast Traveller U.K.

The 14 best hotels in Phuket, Thailand

Fun in the sun is just the beginning for travelers heading to Phuket — one of Thailand 's most popular beach destinations.

The area's resorts include trusty points properties, glitzy independent gems and "if you have to ask the price, you can't afford it" sort of properties.

Whether you're looking to lounge, surf, dive the Andaman Sea or enjoy a spa treatment (or three), there's something for everyone in Phuket. One of the resorts even calls itself the "heaven of all heavens." We can't say we disagree.

Here are the 14 best hotels in Phuket and what to indulge in at each.

Over the years, Aman Resorts has amassed a following of ultra-elite travelers who love the brand's commitment to customer service and its seclusion from more mainstream luxury brands. It all began in Phuket: Amanpuri is the original property of Aman Resorts' elegant hotel empire.

This resort on Phuket's western coast remains one of the more private hotels in the region, despite all the build-up that has occurred on the island since the resort first opened in 1988.

The cliffside hotel is made up of cozy, teakwood-laden villas surrounded by lush greenery. The accommodations may be smaller than those at other resorts in Phuket, but Amanpuri more than makes up for it with service and style.

Many of its private villas feature fresh flowers, private pools and sunken soaking tubs. High-end Latin, Japanese, Italian and Thai cuisine comprises food and beverage offerings.

The Amanpuri staff is well-trained to know what guests want before they even realize it. That level of care is what keeps people coming back after 34 years (and counting). Oh, and if you see a celebrity here? No, you didn't — the resort's privacy is also what attracts travelers.

Rates at Amanpuri, Phuket , currently start at 48,698 Thai baht ($1,400) per night.

From their perch on a hillside, the 71 rooms at Rosewood Phuket offer spectacular views of the Andaman Sea. They also come with amenities like plunge pools and more privacy than you'd expect. Soak up the sun from your personal terrace area or strut directly onto the beach from your accommodation (if you book a beachfront villa).

Rooms also feature minibars and blackout shades, so you can have the best night of sleep of your life. Be sure to wake up in time for that tailored wellness class you booked, though. Yes, the Rosewood team is that attentive to your needs.

Rosewood's Asaya wellness center — the first Asaya in the Rosewood network — might occupy all your time during a getaway. Personal training, yoga and Muay Thai boxing will have you working up a sweat, so save time to unwind with a relaxing spa treatment. Sugar scrubs, 90-minute massages inspired by the seasons and Japanese skin-lifting techniques are all on the menu here. There are even specialists on hand to provide general health and wellness assessments.

Rosewood Phuket's pool scene offers something for everyone. There are lap pools for the cardio-inclined, a tranquil infinity pool and activity pools with sections geared toward children.

Once you're properly relaxed, head to one of the resort's four restaurants . Options include Ta Khai , an open-concept (as in, outdoor) restaurant by the sea serving fresh Thai seafood and Red Sauce , an Italian restaurant with an indoor-outdoor dining area.

More casual offerings include Mai , a poolside lounge, and The Shack , a poolside bar and snack hut (the kind of snack hut with a charcoal grill for charred seafood and chicken satay.)

Phuket may be a draw for tourists from around the world, but Rosewood makes it a magnet for wellness-seekers.

Rates at Rosewood Phuket currently start at 65,634 Thai baht ($1,887) per night.

Keemala is unlike any other Phuket hotel. Thatched and basketweave-style villas poke out from the hillside and appear like anyone's dream treehouse from childhood. But make no mistake: Keemala is more than just an Instagram post waiting to happen.

Lagoon-style pools, waterfalls and a swim-up bar lean more into the fun side of paradise, while interval training and sunrise yoga will appeal to the wellness crowd. Spa treatments — plus classes on photography and cocktail-making — will also keep guests busy.

While it may seem like a romantic getaway, Keemala's villas come in sizes ranging from smaller ones fit for solo travelers to more spacious options for families (though it's likely more fun here for older children than youngsters).

Bird's Nest Pool Villas are a nod to the extravagant, intellectual and creative. (We just like them for their glass walls and views that overlook the Andaman Sea, the surrounding mountains and the rainforest.)

Tent Pool Villas make us finally agree to use the word "glamping." After all, who wouldn't want to stay in a canvas-topped abode where you can swim in a private plunge pool and fall asleep to the sounds of the jungle?

If the imaginative dwellings aren't enough for you, book Keemala for its culinary excellence. Many dishes here rely on produce from the resort's "Enchanted Garden." Basil, chili and lemongrass are just a few of the grown-on-site ingredients. Mala Restaurant is the main place for meals, and it features a fusion of local and international flavors.

Rates at Keemala currently start at 29,539 Thai baht ($821) per night.

Luxury travel doesn't have to be an either-or proposition. Banyan Tree Phuket is one of the more established high-end hotels in the region. However, it still has a laid-back vibe that appeals to a mix of families and couples. Golf, swimming, spa treatments, a kids club and cooking school are just a few ways guests can stay busy here.

The resort's golf course and amenity-rich pool (swim-up bars, water cannons and hot tubs) might make it feel more like Florida than Thailand at times, but this is still very much one of Phuket's most desirable high-end resorts. Banyan Tree's 174 villas offer a little slice of added privacy amid the sprawling property.

If you want further solitude, head to the Banyan Tree Spa — a quiet, peaceful retreat. You can enjoy body scrubs, facials or 60- and 90-minute massages that target work-related stress or sleep quality.

Some guests may opt for trippier options, such as flotation massages and sound therapy. They can also go all-out with the 150-minute Royal Banyan, which blends Eastern and Western massage styles.

Rates for the Banyan Tree Phuket are currently 24,480 Thai baht ($703) per night.

Six Senses Yao Noi isn't actually on Phuket — it's a 40-minute boat ride away from Phuket's harbor. You can use the extra transit time to shed any lingering stress from travel before you arrive at one of the most private getaways in the region.

Six Senses' 56 villas are barely noticeable amid all the jungle greenery — sustainability is part of the Six Senses brand identity, after all.

Villas offer an array of amenities. Depending on how much you're willing to pay, you could score a private infinity pool, 180-degree Phang Nga Bay views or a three-bedroom villa with direct beach access.

Food at Six Senses is as local and farm-to-table as possible, with organic ingredients from the on-site farm, such as eggs, mushrooms and fruit. From top-notch wine menus to Wagyu steak entrees, there are also plenty of indulgent offerings. There are even cooking classes to help you enhance your wellness.

Rates at Six Senses Yao Noi are currently 37,078 Thai baht ($1,066) or 164,000 IHG One Rewards points, per night.

It's hard to get much closer to the pristine sand of Kamala Beach than by staying at the InterContinental Phuket Resort. The guest rooms and suites offer mountain, lagoon or ocean views, as well as vistas of tropical greenery and hills hugging the property.

Here, it doesn't matter if you're a beach person and your travel buddy is more of a pool person: The infinity pool at the InterContinental is steps away from the sandy shores of the Andaman Sea.

It's hard to go hungry at the InterContinental outpost. Start the day with breakfast by the sea at 333 At The Beach while teppanyaki cooking awaits guests at Tengoku. Contemporary Thai flavors beckon guests to Jaras , a stunning restaurant nestled among pine trees looking out upon Kamala Beach.

Those who need a little bit of rejuvenation after all that beaching and dining can make an appointment at the InterContinental's Sati Spa . It offers monthly specials and package deals for treatments like 90-minute massages and 30-minute sea salt body scrubs.

Rates at the InterContinental Phuket Resort currently start at 9,404 Thai baht ($270) or 52,333 IHG One Rewards points per night.

It's been a few years since TPG checked into The Naka Island , but this Luxury Collection property stands the test of time. It's only a 10-minute boat ride from Phuket's Ao Po Grand Marina, so if you want to be a little more removed from Phuket, this is the most convenient option on our list.

The reasonable prices (and points redemption availability) make this property a winner among travelers craving a little more seclusion at a value.

Shortly after guests step off the pier, they are greeted with two bangs of a large brass gong — once to honor the spirit of a dragon that legend says once roamed the island (and to make sure it looks after guests) and a second time for guests to make a wish. From there, it is onto a luxurious island stay.

The villas are nestled into the jungle, offering more privacy. High walls and greenery envelop each villa for yet another dose of secluded bliss. The villas come with an earthy design relying on stone and wood.

The bathrooms have an indoor-outdoor layout with alfresco soaking tubs. Depending on how much you want to spend, some villas even come with private pools, sea views and beachfront access.

Dining options at the hotel are extensive, from the vast morning breakfast buffet at Tonsai to Australian meats and Phuket lobster at My Grill. Z Bar, which serves tapas, offers a more laid-back experience. You can even snag a daybed to lounge in while you enjoy a sunset cocktail (just be sure to stay awake in time for the drinks to arrive).

The Naka Island's beach and infinity pool are ideal places to unwind in the sun, but you can head to Spa Naka for a little more rejuvenation. You'll find a robust lineup of treatments such as facials, massages, body scrubs, and packages, like the 120-minute Sacred Nature anti-aging treatment, that combine all three.

If you can't bear to leave your comfortable villa, consider Naka Bath Collections: The Spa Naka team comes to your villa to set up soaking treatments like an Ocean Detox bath of lavender, sandalwood and pine.

Rates at The Naka Island, a Luxury Collection Resort , currently start at 13,000 Thai baht ($372), or 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, per night.

Extra is the way to go when it comes to accessing Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve.

Sure, you can take a two-hour car service or one-hour speed boat excursion from Phuket International Airport (HKT) — but why not go with the 30-minute helicopter adventure instead? Enjoy panoramic views of monolithic limestone karsts bursting from the Andaman Sea before touching down in paradise.

Moats and lush gardens envelop the property's 54 villas. Decor includes stunning neutral-toned furniture, plus granite and teak finishes. The natural beauty of the seaside views and jungle create a picture-perfect oasis.

This perfection extends to The Spa at Phulay Bay, Ritz-Carlton Reserve . Treatment rooms impress with traditional Thai architecture that soothes just as much as the spa services. Some treatment offerings include stone energy balancing rituals, a coffee body scrub, and caviar and pearl facials.

Couples will find the most decadent offering is a private spa suite for two, which comes with a double steam shower and separate bath for two and loungers. A concierge curates treatment schedules in this 180-minute wellness ritual.

You might need another wellness ritual after working through the dining lineup at Phulay Bay — there is a lot to sample. East meets West at Jampoon , which serves international cuisine with a Thai twist. Snag a spot at the Chef's Table to be at the center of the culinary action. At the 22-seat Lae Lay, which has a more intimate environment, guests can enjoy seafood alongside sea views. Classic Thai cuisine is on the menu at Sri Trang .

Rates at Phulay Bay, Ritz-Carlton Reserve , currently start at 29,333 Thai baht ($842) or 120,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

A wellness getaway with some private time doesn't always have to make a massive dent in your wallet. The Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa offers a little bit of everything (including a surprising degree of seclusion, as TPG discovered when we checked it out back in 2021 ) for a value compared to other resorts.

It's an even better deal when you see some of the points redemptions for this Marriott property.

Guest rooms are spacious and feature stand-alone soaking tubs and garden views (or lagoon views if you pay a little more). Private villas come with plunge pools, outdoor showers and (with a little upgrade) beachfront access. Villas offer more privacy and seclusion than guest rooms.

While the Renaissance's pool and beach access are major perks, the property's Quan Spa is arguably the biggest draw here. The massage treatments are top-notch, and the spa's water garden and post-treatment tea service extend your rejuvenation well after the treatment is over.

Rates at the Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa currently start at 10,420 Thai baht ($299) or 42,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

You won't have to set foot off the JW Marriott Phuket property after checking in, as this resort has just about everything you can imagine regarding food and activities. The JW Marriott comes with a whopping 10 restaurants and bars (plus the Cooking School by JW to finesse your own culinary skills).

American travelers will recognize Benihana and its entertaining teppanyaki chefs serving up Japanese fare — another reminder this is a resort well-suited for families.

Other great offerings include M Beach Club , an indoor-outdoor venue on the water featuring global cuisine, and Cucina , the JW Marriott's Italian restaurant. Ginja Taste is the property's go-to spot for Thai staples. There are also several bars — including the swim-up Splash Pool Bar — with views of the Andaman Sea.

The sprawling resort includes guest rooms, suites and villas. Some rooms even include direct access to the hotel's Grand Premium Pool — another nice amenity for those traveling with kids.

Rates at the JW Marriott Phuket currently start at 15,092 Thai baht ($434) or 63,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

Come for the pool villas and stay for the incredible views, activities and food. Trisara sits on Phuket's northwest coast, a less-developed stretch of the island. The location is a draw for those craving a more off-the-beaten-path feel while still being close to everything Phuket offers (and only a 20-minute car ride to the airport).

All suites and villas come with an ocean view and private pool, large bathrooms and outdoor showers. The resort exudes a one-with-nature ambiance thanks to its gardens and relatively private beach. It's incredibly easy to unwind from day-to-day life with a stay here.

Be sure to indulge in the farm-to-table creations at Pru , Trisara's restaurant, which sources local ingredients and turns them into masterpieces. River prawn with Indian plums and aged duck with tamarillo and grapefruit are just a few of the recent dishes. Seafood at Trisara is a concept inspired by Thai family recipes passed down for generations — like Phuket lobster and shellfish stir fries with secret sauces.

Those looking for more activity than pool or beach lounging can hit the resort's Jara Wellness Spa , which has an extensive treatment lineup. Look no further than the signature Royal Trisara — a six-hand massage. Trisara also offers cruises of various lengths, from one-hour island hopping tours to full-day excursions.

Rates at Trisara currently start at 27,937 Thai baht ($803) per night.

Hidden in the jungle on the northwest corner of the island, Anantara Layan Phuket Resort's public spaces, 30 suites, 46 pool villas and 15 pool residences feature awe-inspiring designs.

A stay in a residence is a decadent indulgence, as it comes with a live-in butler who can cater to any whim. Not to mention, Anantara Layan has a secluded stretch of sandy beach with crystal-clear water.

Those looking for a romantic dining experience should book a table at Dining by Design , which serves intimate meals like private barbecues and Southern Thai fare for two at the water's edge. Age offers local seafood, fine cuts of meat and an extensive wine list. It's also widely known as one of Phuket's best places for a celebratory meal.

Beach House Layan offers three venues under one roof. Rooftop by Anantara is a fabulous spot to grab an alfresco cocktail and watch the sunset. Dee Place is the best spot for Thai cuisine at the resort, and Breeze by Anantara is a pool bar worth visiting.

Anantara resorts are known for its spas, and the Anantara Spa here certainly lives up to the brand's reputation. It's invigorating enough to just stay at this resort. However, the spa's two-night Sleep Restoration Program will put you on a better path to staying well-rested well beyond checkout. Consider it the ultimate souvenir to take home from Thailand.

Rates at Anantara Layan Phuket Resort currently start at 33,276 Thai baht ($957) per night.

Luxury living, seclusion and an appreciation for nature combine to create Anantara Mai Khao. Here, lily pads dot lagoons that sit a stone's throw from golden beaches. Private pool villas with dark teak features and elegant furnishings add a pop of elegance to all the greenery.

While the Anantara Layan is a good option for those craving a little more time in the sand, the Anantara Mai Khao leans more into the indulgence of pool-by-the-sea culture — whether you're swimming in the main resort pool or a private one back at your villa.

We do recommend leaving your villa for a romantic dinner on the beach which you can plan through the resort's Dining by Design feature.

Guests can taste the world at Anantara Mai Khao. Enjoy Mediterranean cuisine at Sea.Fire.Salt. or stick to Thai food at La Sala. The restaurant's Tiffin by La Sala menu even features Indian-influenced fare, while Tree House (named for its location around an old Banyan tree) serves up Japanese counter-style dining.

Want to take a taste of Anantara Mai Khao home? Book a cooking class at the resort's Spice Spoons cooking school, so you can play chef even when vacation is over.

Rates at Anantara Mai Khao currently start at 48,246 Thai baht ($1,386) per night.

True relaxation is the name of the game at Paresa, which is on a cliff on Phuket's western coast. This location along Kamala Beach is known as "Millionaire's Row," and the resort's nightly rates certainly reflect the moniker.

Of course, those high rates come with luxe ocean and spa pool suites. Those willing to pay even more can enjoy grandiose villas with more living space or two-bedroom suites with infinity pools.

The resort's motto is "heaven of all heavens," and while nobody likes a braggart, it certainly backs up its self-label. After the bang of a Burmese gong to announce guests' appearance, heavy wooden doors swing open, and new arrivals are led out to a pavilion with incredible views of the Andaman Sea from Paresa's cliff perch.

Try not to swoon at the utterly one-of-a-kind vista. First impressions matter, after all.

Lounge by the infinity pool overlooking the Andaman Sea, take a cooking class or snag a reservation at Talung Thai , Paresa's Thai and international restaurant that works to utilize local ingredients for its culinary creations.

The Spa by Paresa includes a myriad of treatments, from manicures to 75-minute restorative facials. Even a visit to the gym is awe-inspiring here, as it has a cliffside perch overlooking the sea.

Rates at Paresa currently start at 50,700 Thai baht ($1,458) per night.

Guide to Phuket
The best hotels in Phuket
Luxe for less: A review of the Hyatt Regency Phuket

Sindhorn Wellness by Resense awarded Thailand's Best Hotel Spa

Sindhorn Wellness by Resense awarded Thailand's Best Hotel Spa at prestigious Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2024

Sindhorn Wellness by Resense, the renowned spa facility at Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok, continued to be recognised the second consecutive year as the 1st Thailand’s Best Hotel Spa at the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2024 held recently. This prestigious accolade further solidifies the hotel’s commitment to providing exceptional wellness experiences for its guests.

Travel + Leisure’s reader-voted awards celebrate the finest in hospitality across Asia-Pacific. The winners span a variety of categories, from urban luxury to beach resorts, unique spas, picturesque pools, top airlines to cruises, travel agencies, and immersive experiences.

Nestled in the heart of the multi-award-winning Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok, this urban temple of self-discovery and well-being is the Kingdom’s most extensive wellness offering. Spread over two floors with over 4,000 sqm of facilities, it is the perfect combination of spa, fitness, and wellness experiences – a retreat from the everyday with its wide variety of effective treatments and health modalities designed to help one live and feel better.

A unique highlight is a thermal facility featuring saunas, a cold chamber, a tepidarium lounge, a Moroccan hammam, a Vichy shower, a flotation tank, Rasul mud room, allowing one to benefit from the earth, water, heat, and cold.

The members’ club includes high-performance gym equipment, individualised coaching by personal trainers, group classes that include HIIT, virtual spinning, body combat, bungee fly, Pilates reformer and Presso recovery, and access to the stunning 25-metre saltwater pool overlooking the city.

Christian Ruge, General Manager of Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok, expressed his delight at receiving the award, saying, "It is a pleasure that Sindhorn Wellness by Resense has received this prestigious award for the second year. This achievement was made possible by the joint efforts of all employees. It is gratifying that Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok is recognised and admired for its world-class wellness offerings and excellent standards."

To learn more about Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok and its award-winning spa facilities, please visit www.kempinski.com/en/sindhorn-hotel

Vietnam's Hoi An among Asia's best cities: Travel + Leisure

I ndustry leading magazine Travel + Leisure's Luxury Awards Asia Pacific featured Hoi An and its Hoiana Resort & Golf listed on its lists of best cities and resorts.

In the Best Cities category, Bangkok, Thailand, secured the top position for the second consecutive year.

Japan featured prominently with three cities in the top five, which are Osaka, Tokyo, and Kyoto.

Hoi An, Vietnam, claimed the 6th spot, a position previously held by Hanoi, another Vietnamese city.

Last year’s Luxury Awards Asia Pacific featured Hanoi and Hue from Vietnam as top contenders, but in 2024 only Hoi An made the list.

Hoi An, situated on Vietnam's central coast, is a UNESCO World Heritage site with a preserved historic Old Town intersected by canals. The town features Vietnamese, Chinese, and French architectural influences.

In the Best Integrated Resorts category, Hoi An’s Hoiana Resort & Golf secured 3rd place for the second consecutive year.

Galaxy Macau took the top spot, followed by Crown Perth in Australia.

Others in the top 5 Best Resorts are the Sands Resorts Macao and Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore.

The Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia-Pacific is an annual event celebrating excellence in travel and hospitality across the Asia-Pacific region. Launched in 2023, the awards are determined by the votes of well-travelled readers, who evaluate a wide range of experiences including hotels, resorts, spas, and pools.

Here is the complete lists of the 2024 Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific:

Best cities:

1. Bangkok, Thailand

2. Osaka, Japan

3. Tokyo, Japan

4. Dubai, UAE

5. Kyoto, Japan

6. Hoi An, Vietnam

7. Hong Kong

8. Seoul, South Korea

9. Singapore

10. Taipei, Taiwan

Best integrated resorts:

1. Galaxy Macau

2. Crown Perth, Australia

3. Hoiana Resort & Golf, Vietnam

4. Sands Resorts Macao

5. Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore

6. Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

7. Crown Melbourne, Australia

8. City of Dreams Manila, Philippines

9. City of Dreams Macau

10. Okada Manila, Philippines

Part of Hoi An's historic Old Town. Photo by VnExpress

Centara Hotels & Resorts claims top spot as Thailand’s strongest brand of 2024

Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator, is thrilled to announce that it has been recognised as the strongest brand in Brand Finance’s prestigious “Thailand 50” report for 2024. This marks the second consecutive year that “Centara Hotels & Resorts” has topped this distinguished list, after its flagship five-star concept, Centara Grand, was named as Thailand’s best brand last year, reaffirming the group’s position at the pinnacle of customer satisfaction and service excellence.

Brand Finance’s Thailand 50 report evaluates brands based on a range of criteria, including brand equity, trust, and financial performance. Centara’s achievement (as a corporate brand, rather than its popular Centara upscale hotel concept), reflects the significant strides this proud Thai company has taken towards becoming a top 100 global hotel operator by 2027.

The success of Centara Hotels & Resorts in the last 12 months was demonstrated by the realisation of several major projects including the launch of Centara Grand Hotel Osaka, a spectacular 33-storey urban icon which marked the group’s debut in Japan. This important opening reflects how Centara is continuing to introduce its industry-leading brands to key global destinations. Whilst in Thailand, the launch of Centara Ayutthaya underscored the company’s commitment to bringing world-class hospitality to all parts of the kingdom, and the recent opening of COSI Vientiane Nam Phu, Laos, marked the international debut of COSI, the innovative and affordable lifestyle brand.

Now, Centara will continue to strengthen its domestic and international portfolio with a series of key openings and upgrades in 2024 and beyond. In Thailand, Centara Life Lamai Resort Samui will start welcoming guests in August this year, and two of Centara’s flagship Thai hotels – Centara Karon Resort Phuket and Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya – are set to emerge from comprehensive renovations to enhance every aspect of their accommodation, facilities and services, and reaffirm their positions as two of the nation’s favourite resorts.

Internationally, the unveiling of Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives in November will mark the first phase of The Atollia by Centara Hotels & Resorts, a brand-new multi-island destination in the Indian Ocean. The world’s fourth Centara Mirage project, this underwater-themed resort will feature a full range of family-friendly facilities centred around a waterpark with lazy river. Then in 2025, it will be complemented by Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives, a sophisticated upper-upscale resort.

Looking ahead, Centara is now seeking opportunities for the expansion of all six of its brands in key markets, including Thailand and the broader ASEAN region, the Middle East, Indian Ocean, Japan and China, all underpinned by its unique style of warm, family-centric Thai hospitality.

Thirayuth Chirathivat, Chief Executive Officer of Centara Hotels & Resorts, stated: “It is a true honour to be recognised as Thailand’s strongest brand. This important accolade marks another major milestone for Centara, and highlights our commitment to sustainable growth and delivering unparalleled guest experiences on the global stage. Our achievements over the past year are a direct reflection of our strategic focus and dedication to showcasing Thai hospitality excellence to the world.”

Centara Life Lamai Resort Samui’s exclusive opening offer

Centara Hotels & Resorts partners with Central Restaurants Group to enhance…

Centara Hotels & Resorts redefines travel in the heart of Laos with the opening…

Centara meets GSTC Criteria and receives approval for Certification from Bureau…

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Minor Hotels Announces First NH Collection Property in Thailand

Minor Hotels, a leading hospitality group, has announced the upcoming rebranding of Peace Resort Samui into NH Collection Samui, marking the arrival of NH Collection – an upscale brand synonymous with European refinement – to Thailand. From 1 st January 2025, following a property upgrade, the resort will start operating as NH Collection Samui.

The 122-key property enjoys a prime location directly on Bophut Beach, nestled along the northern shore of Koh Samui at the foot of a lush hill, offering privacy and tranquillity while remaining conveniently close to shopping and entertainment. Originally established in 1977 by the Pupaiboon family, the property has been independently operated ever since, becoming a popular holiday destination for generations of Thais and international guests.

The resort is strategically positioned within easy reach of the vibrant Fisherman’s Village that is home to numerous restaurants, bars and shops. A mere 400 metres from NH Collection Samui, a sister property, Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort, offers a host of upscale leisure and dining options, suggesting an opportunity for shared facilities and additional benefits.

Catering to a wide variety of travellers, from solo vacationers to extended families, NH Collection Samui offers a mix of deluxe rooms, bungalows and villas, some with private swimming pools and direct beach access. The all-day-dining restaurant serves local and global flavours alongside ocean views; the bar pours passionate drinks from its strategic position between the pool and the beach; and the lobby-side Indigo Lounge is an elegant haven of tea and cakes. Seafood and meat lovers can also request a private in-villa BBQ experience.

Recreational facilities abound, including a fitness centre, water sports centre, and kids’ and teens’ facilities ranging from cinema and indoor play area to a shaded outdoor playground. For necessities, there is a thoughtfully stocked retail shop, while flexible meeting and event spaces will showcase NH Collection’s signature blend of intuitive service, top-range technology and unexpected design touches.

“We are thrilled to partner with the esteemed Pupaiboon family to bring the first NH Collection hotel to Thailand as part of the brand’s expansion outside of Europe and Americas,” said Mark O’Sullivan, Vice President of Operations - Bangkok, Samui, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. “Our joint vision for the beloved resort includes potential further development down the line, including stand-alone villas or branded residential units for sale to meet a growing demand for upscale holiday homes and investment properties. I look forward to welcoming guests to this exceptional addition to our collection of resorts in Thailand.”

Samui Airport is approximately 15-20 minutes by car. Nathon Pier, which connects Koh Samui to Bangkok, Phuket, Koh Phangan and other popular destinations, is a 25-minute drive away. NH Collection Samui joins Minor Hotels’ portfolio as the fifth property on the island and over twenty in Thailand.

About NH Collection Hotels & Resorts:

NH Collection is Minor Hotels’ upper-upscale brand, noteworthy for its unique and emblematic hotels in principle cities of Europe, the Americas and Middle East. Based on the chain’s premium value proposition, these hotels retain their local character to inspire and captivate their guests. Striving for going beyond ordinary, NH Collection Hotels are thoroughly designed for those who want to make the most of their stays and live moments truly extraordinary through unique, creative and innovative experiences.

At NH Collection hotels, the staff provides the utmost attention to detail, ensuring that guests continuously enjoy extraordinary experiences and personalised service. Whether for business or leisure travel and for those seeking relaxing moments, NH Collection hotels offer inspiring, versatile and stimulating venues that maximise creativity and enjoyment.

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About Minor Hotels

Minor Hotels is a global hospitality group operating over 550 hotels, resorts and residences in 56 countries, pursuing its vision of crafting a more passionate and interconnected world. As a hotel owner, operator and investor, Minor Hotels fulfils the needs and desires of today’s global travellers through its diverse portfolio of eight hotel brands – Anantara, Avani, Elewana Collection, NH, NH Collection, nhow, Oaks and Tivoli – and a collection of related businesses. Minor Hotels is rapidly accelerating its global growth ambitions, aiming to add more than 200 hotels by the end of 2026.

Minor Hotels is a proud member of the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) , the world's largest alliance of independent hotel brands, and participates in the GHA DISCOVERY loyalty programme.

For more information, please visit minorhotels.com and connect with Minor Hotels on Facebook and LinkedIn .

Contact details

Mark Thomson
Group Director of PR and Communications
[email protected]
+66 (0)2 365 7678

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3 Lesser-Known Thai Cities to Experience the Rush, Creativity, and Calm in 2024

These 3 cities might be lesser known, but your memories there will be second to none.

Asia Thailand Travel

When people talk about Thailand’s southern destinations, Phuket is usually the first choice, just as Chiang Mai is for the north. However, there are several secondary cities filled with pristine environments, cultures, and lifestyles that will leave you with a lifelong impression. It’s time to explore these three secondary cities you’ll definitely fall in love with.

Pristine forests with plenty of land-based adventures. (© Shutterstock)

For thrill-seekers: Surat Thani’s abundant National Park

Land-based activities: You can hike and trek through breathtaking trails, observe rare wildlife and trees, and explore the spectacle of various waterfalls, rivers, and caves at Khao Sok National Park. Visitors can also take photos on a suspension bridge with a heart-shaped mountain peak in the background and visit Khao Sok Viewpoint for a panoramic view of Cheow Lan Lake.

Don’t forget to explore water-based activities while visiting Khao Sok. (© Shutterstock)

Water-based activities: At Khao Sok National Park, you can enjoy bamboo rafting, riding long-tailed boats, and kayaking. Visitors can soak in the beauty of the emerald green water surrounding limestone islands that give Khao Sok the nickname 'Guilin of Thailand'. Capturing the scenery around Rajjaprabha Dam can help keep your memories alive. Spending nights in floating raft houses is a must, with options ranging from simple bungalows to luxurious houses that can satisfy everyone's budget

Tips: You can visit Khao Sok National Park all year round, but in some areas, you need expert guides. Plan your trip wisely with the help of trusted local travel agencies or by contacting the National Park Office directly.

Songkhla is a lovely city filled with history and culture. (© Shutterstock)

For art lovers: Songkhla’s cultural heritage

An apothecary from the time of King Rama IV was transformed into an art gallery and café. (© The Apothecary of Singora)

Ancient temples: Songkhla has an abundance of temples, but one not to be missed is Wat Machimawas, also known as Wat Klang. This sacred site was constructed 400 years ago during the late Ayutthaya period. The architecture resembles that of Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram (Wat Phra Kaeo), albeit on a smaller scale. The murals decorating the ordination hall showcase a harmonious blend of Chinese and Thai art, still in impeccable condition. The hall itself was erected centuries ago during the reign of King Rama I.
The Apothecary of Singora: This place was an apothecary during the reign of King Rama IV. It has since been transformed into an art gallery with a chic café. There is also a souvenir shop for taking home some good memories.

The 300-year-old Baan Nakhon Nai Museum and vibrant street art in the old city of Songkhla are must-visit attractions. (© Shutterstock)

Baan Nakhon Nai Museum: This establishment comprises a 300-year-old house with Chinese architecture and a white Sino-European building. Inside, valuable antiques are on display, including vintage Chinese beds, cupboards, chairs, benches, and ceramic wares.
Street art: Along Nang Ngam Road and Raman Road, the history of Songkhla is vividly portrayed. The classic Sino-Portuguese architecture provides a charming backdrop, exuding the irresistible charm of this old port town in every photo you take.

The unique Jungle Bubble Lodge. (© Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort)

For wellness enthusiasts: Chiang Rai’s tranquil escape into nature

Self-care activities amidst the natural setting. (© Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort)

Rebalance: Amidst the Lanna heritage, the resort’s spa offers several massage options, including Ayurvedic treatments that incorporate Lanna wisdom for deep relaxation. You can also indulge in a Milky Bath for added relaxation.
Exercise your mind and body: Enjoy yoga classes in a pavilion overlooking the paddy fields. Stretch, breathe, and be mindful as you immerse yourself in the serene surroundings. For a more energetic workout, try Muay Thai. Afterwards, cool off with a swim in the infinity pool surrounded by nature.

Embark on a once-in-a-lifetime experience with elephants through tours offered by the resort. (© Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort)

Morning walk with friendly giants: This luxurious resort is part of an elephant welfare charity, offering guests the opportunity to observe and connect with elephants through various activities. You can take a morning stroll with them, ride around the elephant camp in a Royal Enfield Classic sidecar, and learn about mahouts and their elephants. For a truly unique experience, you can even plan a wedding with elephants as witnesses. Create experiences that are unique to you.
Enjoy nature: Make the most of your time here with tours offered by the resort. Visit Doi Chang and Doi Mae Salong to learn about tea and coffee plantations amidst scenic views. Ride long-tailed boats along the Golden Triangle. Let nature heal your body and soul.

Now that you're acquainted with these three secondary cities, it's time to pack up for your 2024 trips! For updates on travel destinations, contact the TAT Call Centre at 1672, or visit the Facebook page TAT Contact Centre. RELEVANT: Chon Buri City Guide: Uncover Bangkok’s Nearest Seaside City Illustration image: © Shutterstock, Courtesy of Brands, Sunantha Maidee/ MICHELIN Guide Thailand

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Samui Airport is approximately 15-20 minutes by car. Nathon Pier, which connects Koh Samui to Bangkok, Phuket, Koh Phangan and other popular destinations, is a 25-minute drive away.
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The Siam, Bangkok

The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon, Bangkok

InterContinental Khao Yai Resort, an IHG Hotel, Khao Yai National Park

Aleenta Retreat, Chiang Mai

Six Senses Yao Noi, Phang Nga

Chiva Som, Hua Hin

Banyan Tree Samui

Four Seasons Chiang Mai

Villa Mahabhirom, Chiang Mai

Langkhai Garden, Koh Tao

Raya Heritage, Chiang Mai

Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Krabi

COMO Point Yamu, Phuket

Amanpuri, Phuket

Four Seasons Koh Samui, Koh Samui

Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort, Chiang Rai

Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok

Trisara, Phuket

137 Pillars House, Chiang Mai

The Standard, Hua Hin

Roukh Kiri, Khao Yai

Capella, Bangkok

Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River

The Mustang Blu, Bangkok

9 Hornbills Tented Camp, Koh Yao Noi

Hotel Gahn, Khao Lak

Phu Chaisai, Chiang Rai

Baan Pomphet, Ayutthaya

Hotel Des Artists, Ping Silhoette, Chiang Mai

Top 10 best luxury hotels & resorts in Phuket

Today: Top 10 best luxury hotels & resorts in Phuket

10. THE RACHA

9. THE NAKA ISLAND, A LUXURY COLLECTION RESORT & SPA

8. COMO POINT YAMU

7. ANANTARA LAYAN PHUKET RESORT

5. KEEMALA PHUKET

4. BANYAN TREE PHUKET

3. SIX SENSES YAO NOI

2. ROSEWOOD PHUKET

1. AMANPURI

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