IF you want a holiday away from the bustle of city life for peace and quiet in luxurious surroundings, check out Trisara resort, set in a secluded hillside development overlooking the Andaman Sea only a 15-minute drive north of Phuket airport. Each of the resort’s 39 pool villas and suites has a private pool where the infinity edge blends into the ocean and is surrounded by an entertaining area.
The suite, which overlooks the pool, has modern furnishings with the accent on spaciousness and luxury touches. There is a large bedroom, separate bathroom with a large spa bathtub, plus indoor and outdoor showers. Lounge around on the couch and relax -– there’s a wall-mounted plasma TV, DVD player and free wifi internet (and if you didn’t bring your own laptop computer you can borrow one from the library).
The library has hundreds of CDs that can be uploaded to complimentary iPods which are connected to the villa’s stereo system. Breakfast and lunch is served on the sprawling open-air deck nudging the beach, while dinner of traditional Thai or western dishes are served in the air-conditioned restaurant. There are local restaurants 10-15 minutes from the resort, but you need to book a taxi to get there and back, which seems almost too much trouble!
For a romantic dinner, book a private barbecue by your pool prepared by one of the resort’s chefs. The spa is situated at one of the highest points of the resort (alongside the gym), with superb views. Private treatment rooms open out to open-air pavilions and gardens. The spa’s signature massage is Trisara Royal, where three therapists work in harmony for 90 minutes using organic oils.
The best way to get around the resort is by buggy. Just ring reception and a driver will be at your front door to take you to the pool, library, salon, restaurant or spa. For a holiday fit for royalty, visit Mon Tri’s Villa Royale, a boutique hotel with stunning architectural style and luxurious facilities, set on a headland in the southern region of Phuket along the beautiful Kata Beach.
Once the private holiday home of Tridhosyuth Devakul, a Harvard-educated architect, artist and descendant of Thai royalty who became known as Mon Tri, today it is a luxury haven for locals and tourists with 26 suites. There are nine types of villas, each decorated in a different style incorporating traditional Thai influences. The rooms have air-conditioning, satellite TV, free wireless internet access, a verandah and are adorned with artworks.
All the villas have spectacular sea views and the manicured gardens are dotted with numerous ornaments. The villas are built on the side of the rocky headland, with stairs galore, swimming pools and sun decks on several levels. A private path leads to the white sandy beach of Kata Noi. Enjoy fine dining in the restaurant, called Mon Tri’s kitchen, which specialises in Mediterranean and Thai cuisine. The restaurant has an open-air feeling with views of Kata Noi Beach and has an award-winning cellar.
If you want to learn how to cook the local cuisine, sign up for the weekend Thai cooking classes at the nearby Mon Tri Boathouse, the sister property to Villa Royale. Pamper yourself at Mon Tri’s Spa Royale, set in spacious treatment rooms amid the peaceful gardens, where the signature treatment is a three-hour “royale” treatment that includes a coconut oil aromatherapy massage.
Mon Tri’s Villa Royale offers privacy and seclusion, but is situated close to the shops, market stalls and restaurants of Kata Beach. Another new development on the south-east coast of Phuket island is the Sri Panwa resort comprising 60 villas overlooking the Andaman Sea on the tip of Cape Panwa. The views are superb since the resort is set on a secluded headland rising 80 metres above sea level.
The most distinctive feature of the villas is the infinity-edge swimming pool that wraps around the glass-enclosed bedroom. What better way to start the day than open the floor-to-ceiling glass slider doors for a refreshing swim. And when it comes time to marvel at the sunset over the ocean and the nearby islands, enjoy the moment from the pool.
The villas have one or two bedrooms, a modern décor and luxury furnishings, plus flatscreen TV and a home theatre system, espresso coffee facilities, wireless internet and a day bed for relaxation and outdoor decks. For groups or large families there are residence villas with three to six bedrooms. Sri Panwa’s Baba restaurant offers Thai and European cuisine and is one of the best spots for pre-dinner cocktails while watching the sunset over the Andaman Sea.
The resort has a private beach and a pool for relaxing, plus a gym and tennis courts with fitness advisors and tennis coaches available. There’s also an internet lounge and library with books and DVDs. At the Sai Spa, traditional Thai techniques are offered alongside modern treatments, which are also available in your own villa.
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