Trisara

Once-in-a-lifetime luxury hotel with truly regal villas, private pools and stunning sunset views on Phuket’s virgin northwest coast

Above a private, sickle-shaped cove just north of Bang Tao, Trisara’s collection of impossibly luxurious villas is built into the steeply jungled hillside. Each has an infinity pool with outdoor shower, its own exotic gardens, at least one bungalow-sized bathroom, and a bed positioned perfectly for the sun to set between your toes.

What’s on offer here is a billionaire-lifestyle: from the Neapolitan ice-cream drapes that curtain you off from the outside world to the original Dali bronze, casually on sale at the hotel’s gallery. Trisara manages to be all things to the lucky few who can afford to stay here: a destination hideaway with a destination spa and a destination restaurant. Gardens sizzle with flamboyant blossoms in the day and hum with frogs and cicadas at night. A dark sapphire pool sparkles above the peachy creamy beach and the glassy waters of the Andaman are heavenly to swim in. Park your sea plane off-shore: Trisara is super-security conscious and it needs to be – plenty of its guests have been whisked through the VIP gate at Customs.

Highs

• Ultimate luxury in sumptuous, tasteful villas (without the merest whiff of bling)
• Unbelievably romantic – queensized daybeds on the beach, snowy linen, urns filled with lotus flowers
• A young hotel in an old forest – environmental policies safeguard the truly beautiful natural ecosystem
• Intuitive and delightful staff - from the limousine driver who meets you off the plane to the smiley housekeepers
• Hidden Kids’ Club, where older children can zone out with the latest computer games and little ones can play
• One of the few places in Thailand where you can sleep with your doors open to the music of the sea – mosquito screens keep out beasties

Lows

• Thailand’s most expensive (though least pretentious) hotel, but if you can afford to stay here, you probably won't mind that an iced coffee will set you back a tenner
• The steep hillside is challenging for those with mobility problems, though you can call for a buggy to transport you
• No wide expanse of sand: the beach is private and empty, but only takes minutes to walk along
• The sea is only nice to swim and fish in December - April
• Once you’ve been to Trisara, it becomes your Gold Standard – make it your last port of call if you’re touring round