Call us old-fashioned, but we miss the days when a “sea view” room meant you wouldn’t need your imagination or binoculars to see the ocean. So kudos to Cape Sienna Phuket Hotel & Villas where even their basic “studio” units have proper balconies that look out over the Andaman Sea and most of the public areas—lobby, F&B outlets, spa and pools—offer endless opportunities to finally use that panorama app you installed ages ago but promptly forgot.
Located in the posh villa-dotted hills above sleepy Kamala Beach (AKA “Millionaire’s Mile”), the adults-only resort isn’t quite as glamorous as it was when it debuted in 2009 to huge fanfare but frankly we prefer not having to step over a beautiful person to get to a treadmill or beach lounger. Speaking of which, while Kamala Beach is technically “walking distance” away, it’s not really worth the trek (and, don’t forget, an uphill one on the way back).
If we want that sea-level, sand-between-you-toes-type experience, we’ll do Surin Beach or possibly the South of Phuket (but, sorry, not Patong); for extended weekends and other short escapes, Cape Sienna’s cozy cliffside beach club pool and a steady stream of passionfruit mojitos is just the ticket. Current “Hot Promotions”: two nights from B4,199 (S$170) per night or three nights from B3,799 (S$154) per night, both including one-way airport transfer, through November15.
