Virtuoso Life - September/October 2008 - (Page 47) Hotel of the Year AmANpURI, phUkET, ThAILANd NATURAL WINNER When Amanpuri opened in 1988, it blazed a first-class trail to the soft white sand of Phuket’s Pansea Beach – and to the pioneering concept of exclusive yet unfussy five-star accommodations. Two decades on, Amanpuri retains its cachet as a jewel of privacy, beauty, and impeccable service. Moreover, it sets the standard for hotels that complement their natural and cultural surroundings: Amanpuri is an intimate and breezily beautiful hideaway rather than an ornately gilded fortress. Forty decadent pavilions and thirty two- to six-bedroom villas dot the hotel’s hillside coconut grove overlooking the Andaman Sea. Built in the central Thai style, with sharply peaked, multitiered roofs, the graceful abodes pay homage to the country’s architecture. Pavilion rooms have private outdoor salas for secluded sunbathing (book number 103 or 105 for the most spectacular Andaman Sea views); villas come with private cooks and housekeepers. The resort’s signature pools tiled in midnight blue contrast with the idyllic turquoise of the sea. Amanpuri’s success led to the creation of the Amanresorts chain, now 18 properties strong. It’s a winning combination that proves good taste, superlative pampering, and gorgeous beaches don’t go out of style. Doubles from $585, including breakfast daily and one lunch for two. Bathing beauty: Amanpuri’s Beach Club by night. SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2008 47
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.