With just a little imagination, the map of Thailand looks like an elephant.
In the north of Thailand, jungle treks reach hilltop tribes living near the elephant’s ear. At the southern end of Thailand, the long, slender Isthmus of Kra reaches into the Andaman Sea like an elephant dipping its trunk for a drink.
Coves along both sides of the trunk used to be important for trading; today, they’re home to luxurious beach resorts where visitors enjoy the waters of the Indian Ocean or the Gulf of Thailand.
If you would like to stay somewhere really special we have put together a guide to the most incredible luxury and boutique hotels with the real wow factor.
Rather than featuring hundreds of places to stay we have focused on some of the most popular tourism destinations in Thailand – Phuket, Hua Hin and Koh Samui.
Think amazing modern rooms, pools and beach some of the most stunning beaches in Asia!
Phuket
Aleenta Phuket Resort & Spa
• 33 Mu 5, Khokkloy, Thakuathung, Phang nga, 82140, Thailand
The Aleenta Phuket Resort in Phang Nga celebrates the sunset in its location on the western side of the isthmus.
Easy to reach from the airport, the hotel maintains a pristine beach. The resort offers 15 suites, and options include poolside rooms and beachfront villas. Children are welcome, with the resort’s A Explorers Club to look after them while you relax and enjoy your vacation.
If you can’t bear to fully separate yourself, free wi-fi throughout the resort keeps you connected, but the resort’s amenities help you leave your cares behind. Rest on a lounger by the infinity pool or lie on the beach and gaze at the seemingly infinite ocean.
Care for yourself with treatments at the wellness center. The spa’s treatments range beyond the ordinary and include music therapy and holistic chromatherapy. Fitness programs include yoga, tai-chi, and Thai boxing.
Should you feel the need to leave the resort, the Blue Canyon Golf Course is only a short distance away. Nearby dive sites take you to coral reefs and shipwrecks. For non-divers, a boat cruise or sailing trip takes in the beauty of Phang Nga Bay.
The resort’s dining celebrates Asian cuisine, with local food including coffee grown by the Ahka tribe near Chiang Mai in northern Thailand. Dine indoors or out, depending on your mood and sample some of the tastiest foods in Thailand.
You can indulge romance with a private candlelight dinner attended by your own private chef. Learn how to recreate these flavors by yourself with a cooking class which starts with a visit to the local market.
Phuket really is one of the best places to visit in south east Asia and by staying at the Aleenta Phuket Resort you will really upgrade your experience.
Hua Hin
Aleenta Hua Hin Resort
• 183 Mu 4, Paknumpran, Pranburi, Prachapkhirikhan, 77220, Thailand
Slightly hidden away from the usual tourist locations, the Aleenta Hua Hin Resort in Pranburi offers 22 suites that make the most of the golden sands of Pak Nam Pran Beach in Hua Hin. Most suites have private pools to enjoy the water without leaving your room.
You can bring children, or escape from others’ children in the adults-only wing. Rooms feature music but no television, helping remove you from everyday life and activities. There is WiFi if you truly need to be connected.
Get an early start to your day watching the sunrise over the beach before heading to breakfast. Dining throughout the day offers both Eastern and Western flavors, with food freshly prepared from local ingredients; you can even visit the resort’s own farm to see the source of the greens. Celebrate a special occasion or just have an intimate meal for two with private dining in your suite or on the beach.
The spa offers a full menu of treatments, including traditional Thai massage, which is like an assisted yoga practice. You can make the spa the center of your vacation with a detox package or yoga retreat package.
The resort staff can help make arrangements for excursions and provide a picnic lunch to take with you on your adventures. You can explore the local area surrounding the resort on the resort’s mountain bikes.
Several golf courses are less than an hour away. Khao Sam Roi Yot is a sanctuary for wildlife including macaques and monkeys; take a boat ride through its mangroves for bird watching.
Koh Samui
Chura Samui Resort
• 99/9 Moo 2 Chaweng Beach, T.Bophut, 84320, Thailand
Koh Samui is one of the most popular islands in Thailand and for good reason.
Chura Samui Resort offers a peaceful retreat in its 61 rooms on the quiet side popular Chaweng Beach on Koh Samui, but all the nightlife, shopping and other action of the resort town is just a short stroll down the beach.
Recuperate after a night on the town in one of the resort’s meditation rooms or yoga classes. Or keep the good times flowing at the resort’s beachfront bar. Enjoy comfort food and cocktails while cooling your toes in the sand.
Daytime activities include elephant treks past waterfalls in the rainforest or snorkeling in the marine park. Kayaking is another popular water activity.
Fishing trips start by fishing for bait (squid) and then fishing for dinner. No worries if you don’t catch anything; the resort’s restaurant captures all the flavors for you. Enjoy a private dinner on the beach.
Plan an Amazing Stay in Thailand
The thought of a country shaped like an elephant may make you smile, and Thailand is known as the “land of smiles” for its friendly citizens. Stay at any of these boutique hotel resorts and you’re sure come home with memories of their smiles and yours.
If you are planning to visit the south you will probably fly into the Thai capital Bangkok. View our recommendations for the best luxury hotels in Bangkok to really upgrade your trip even more.
