According to an independent regional survey commissioned by Napa Valley wine producer Beringer Vineyards earlier this year, one in two Singaporeans forgo four days of annual leave each year because of poor planning. Sure, you’re juggling insane work schedules and bear heavy responsibilities at your job, but it shouldn’t be at the expense of going out and seeing the world.
But if you’re really strung out, perhaps take a quick getaway somewhere nearby. Thailand has seen a smorgasbord of great hotel openings, so whether you’re looking to party it up in Bangkok or to chill on a beach resort in Phuket, we have you covered.
CHIANG MAI
Azalea Village Wellness Resort
Rate: from B1,300/night ($53/night)
Located in Chiang Dao, Chiang Mai, known for its spectacular mountain scenery, the resort comprises 21 adorably old-school cottages, including four very spacious two-bedroom suites, all designed to reflect the local way of life through natural materials and Thai handicrafts. The nightly rate includes breakfast from the on-site restaurant that focuses on traditional Northern food, using only organic ingredients sourced locally. Seasonal fruits are plucked straight from the farm here and also made available for guests throughout their stay.
168 Moo 13, Chiang Dao, Chiang Mai, +66 (0) 89-359-4244.
Villa Mahabhirom
Rate: from B12,355/night ($506/night)
Chiang Mai’s most beautiful hotel opening in a long time sits not too far from Wat U Mong (Tunnel Temple), the hipster outdoor cafe No. 39 and Baan Kang Wat Community Mall. The property is made up of beautiful antique Thai houses that are over 100 years old, many of which come with a view of the swimming pool or of Doi Suthep. Each teakwood villa consists of a bedroom suite, study area, spacious marble bathroom and open-air balcony. Two to three villas can be reserved together to form a “terrace villa” or “private pool villa” that each come with a private saltwater plunge pool and garden courtyard.
62 Moo 10, Su Thep, Muang, Chiang Mai, +66 (0) 53-271-200.
Makkachiva
Rate: from B2,800/night ($115/night)
Three stories of Lanna-referencing accommodation stand around a stunning, open-air courtyard. Foliage cascades from every balcony down towards a central water feature where guests congregate for breakfast each morning. Standard rooms are half the rates of big brand competitions, but come with twice the attention to detail—each has its own custom artwork created by a local artist, while genuine oriental antiques dot the common areas. The location, just outside the weekend night market zone, means the best shopping opportunities are close at hand, but you don’t need to battle tourists each time you leave the hotel.
Phara Sing, Muang, Chiang Mai, +66 (0) 53-285-196.
KOH SAMUI
Khwan Beach Resort
Rate: from B4,000/night ($164/night)
Situated on Maenam Beach, on the island’s north coast, this collection of luxury tents comes kitted out with mod-cons like air-conditioning despite their 19th-century expedition vibe. Think four-poster king beds, oil lamps, vintage wooden chairs, leather trunks and daybeds. The location is close to the weekly walking street on Maenam Road and famous island food staples like Ko Seng. Oh, and it’s adults only.
67/61 Moo 1, Maenam Beach, Surat Thani. +66 (0) 62-565-0796.
Baan Talay Pool Villas
Rate: from B4,300/night ($176/night)
Perched amid coconut trees on a mountain overlooking Chaweng Noi Beach, these villas offer a real tropical hideaway. Both the one-bedroom pool villa and two-bedroom deluxe villa come with a fully-equipped kitchen and private plunge pool.
6/9 Moo 3, Chaweng Noi, +66 (0) 77-422-771-2.
Celes Beachfront Resort
Rate: from B4,125/night ($169/night)
The hotel sits just outside Fisherman’s Village, a former French outpost lined with beautiful old wooden Chinese shop-houses. Its design complements the beautiful natural setting with lightly toned wooden buildings, high ceilings, and white walls and furniture. The standard rooms offer reasonable value for money, while the beachfront villas, with private sun loungers and an outdoor pool, run about B18,500/night ($757/night).
175/3 Thaveerat-Pakdee Rd., Surat Thani, +66 (0) 77-900-999.
Sensimar
Rate: from B3,900/night ($160/night)
Take your partner for an escape at this resort where they guarantee there won’t be a single child in sight. We love the clean, oriental-luxe vibe, as well as the “adults-only” protocol, assuring a peaceful stay. Given the affordable nightly rate, its hardwood floors, spacious rooms and vast, beachside infinity pool are also a notch above many places. The resort sits on Maenam Beach, which is roughly 10km away from Samui Airport.
44/134 Moo 1, Maenam Beach, Koh Samui, Surat Thani, +66 (0) 77-953-035.
KHAO LAK AND KRABI
La Vela Khao Lak
Rate: from B3,800/night ($156/night)
The heavily geometric design is the latest work by TROP: terrains and open space, whose credits include Casa de la Flora, Botanica Khao Yai and Veranda Pattaya. Along with a backdrop that will rock your Instagram feed, most rooms also come with a bath or outdoor jacuzzi, as well as a grand seven-foot bed. Other on-site facilities include Kokulo Beach Club which features all-day live DJs, Spa QaQula which comprises five treatment rooms offering massages and restorative therapies, a picture-perfect, free-form pool and natural landscaping.
98/9 Moo 5, Khuk Khak, Takuapa, Khao Lak, Phang Nga, +66 (0) 76-428-555.
The ShellSea
Rate: from B5,900/night ($241/night)
This resort links directly to the Shell Fossil Beach, known for its distinct natural formation of shell fossil plates. Only two other fossil beaches of its kind are known to exist. Sea View and Beach Front rooms also come with their own balcony. The resort’s Otium Spa features six treatment rooms, as well as a fitness centre on the upper deck, with floor-to-ceiling windows for a view of the resort.
999 Moo 6, Sai Thai, Muang, Krabi, +66 (0) 75-819-519.
CENTRAL THAILAND
Sriwilai Sukhothai
Rate: from B3,500/night ($143/night)
The 54 rooms are garnished with Sukhothai-Lanna lanterns, colorful cushions contrasted with white-washed walls and four-poster beds. Touting eco-credentials, the resort uses solar panels to heat its water and a zero-chlorine system for the infinity pool. Its location is gold, too, right opposite the UNESCO-protected Sukhothai Historical Park, meaning you can begin exploring first thing in the morning.
214/4 Moo 2, Muang, Sukhothai, +66 (0) 55-697-445.
Kwai Tara Riverside Villas
Rate: from B3,500/night ($143/night)
Kanchanaburi’s latest floating paradise comprises 20 modern loft-style villas. While the Canal Access Villas give you beautiful views of the mountains, we love the spacious 80-meter Floating Villas, which bob over the water complete with their own stylish hammocks, river terrace and upper deck. It doesn’t have to be just down-time, though—jungle rafting, elephant riding and kayaking are all on offer, while free rafts leave the resort at 4:30pm everyday if you fancy a tour down Kwai Noi River.
214 Moo 6, Wangkrajae, Sai Yok, +66 (0) 93-925-8883.
PHUKET
Marriott Merlin Beach
Rate: from B3,600/night ($147/night)
The resort is huge—414 rooms huge—and with the beaches around Phuket becoming increasingly busy, you’ve got here your own private beach that’s only accessible by hotel guests. Newbies to scuba diving can even take a three-hour introductory course without having to leave the resort. They also offer three massive swimming pools, a modest spa, muay Thai, kayaking and paddle boarding.
99 Muen-Ngoen Rd., Tri-Trang Beach, Patong, Phuket, +66 (0) 76-335-300.
Mai House
Rate: from B4,750/night ($194/night)
Patong’s newest boutique hotel looks to Phuket Town’s Sino-Portuguese culture to create somewhere elegant and different. Mai House Patong Hill is an alluring blend of turquoise walls, opium den-style daybeds and dangling steel lanterns. The Grand Deluxe Rooms feature bathtubs in the bedroom, or go one step further for the Grand Deluxe Jacuzzi room, which has its own outdoor Jacuzzi hidden behind a veil of tropical foliage overlooking Patong Beach.
5/5 Phrabarami Rd., Patong, Kathu, Phuket, +66 (0) 76-637-770.
The SIS Kata
Rate: from B2,399/night ($98/night)
This swanky stay comes at a refreshingly low price point. The name means “Stay In Style” and the resort’s 124 guest rooms and two suites come in a nautical white and blue color scheme with contemporary chevron patterns throughout. You’ll find six restaurants and bars on-site that serve up local dishes with international twists and take advantage of the Kata sunset over the Andaman Sea.
255 Kok Tanode Rd., Karon, Muang, Phuket, +66 (0) 76-609-555.
Avista Hideaway
Rate: from B6,600/night ($270/night)
The southern end of Patong Beach is currently one of the hottest places to stay on the island. This resort boasts clean lines with a luxurious tropical edge, its 150 guestrooms coming with rich local woods and natural stones. Three saltwater swimming pools are split over different levels, while food and drink ranges from Sizzle steakhouse and Vista all-day dining to the Rendez-Vue Rooftop cocktail and tapas bar.
39/9 Muen Ngern Rd., Patong, Kathu, Phuket, +66 (0) 76-681-681.
Akyra Beach Club Phuket
Rate: from B2,500/night ($102/night)
Just a 20-minute drive from Phuket International Airport, the Andaman-facing hotel goes with a deep blue theme for its 42 rooms and 17 villas, the highlight of which is the 125-sq-meter beachfront two-bedroom villa. The decor features Sino-Portuguese patterned flourishes on everything from the floor tiles to the cushions, matched with dark wooden furniture.
32/7 Moo 5, Kokkloi, Takua Thung, Phang Nga, +66 (0) 76-592-500.
2Rooms Boutique House
Rate: from B3,000/night ($123/night)
Designed and owned by Phuket’s Dhamarchitects, the two rooms are situated on the second floor of a 100-year-old twin shop-house on Soi Rommanee that was formerly an old-school coffee shop. These days, it stands out not only for its bright pink facade, but also its relatively shallow nature compared to other shop-houses in the area. The large, suite-like rooms consist of dark blue walls, a king bed and breezy balcony. Downstairs you’ll find popular dessert cafe Torry’s Ice cream.
Soi Rommanee, Thalang Rd., Phuket, +66 (0) 76-354-335.
Maiton Private Island
Rate: from B2,900/night ($119/night)
You can now stay on the Andaman Sea’s largest private island, Koh Mai Ton, which sits about 9km from Phuket. Maiton Private Island operates more like a family-run Airbnb than a resort. Activities on the island include outdoor massages with a view, and diving at the underwater reef. You can also kayak, snorkel and take a boat around the island for a dolphin-sighting trip.
100 Moo 7, Wichi, Muang, Phuket, +66 (0) 85-835-3456.
