I visited the Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa recently and stayed in one of the private pool villas (My first!!), of which there are 26, but there are also 150 deluxe rooms, which I also took a look at and will post a pic or two here. You can of course see a lot more photos (51 to be exact) on the Flickr set of the resort.

On the northwest coast of Phuket, north of the airport lies Mai Khao beach, an 11 kilometer stretch of practically deserted tropical beach which is home to a number of luxurious resorts away from the noisy crowds often found on other parts of the island.

Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa opened on March 28th 2010 and was in soft opening mode until its Grand Opening on October 2010.

Location

16 kms north of Phuket International Airport, the Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa is about 20 minutes by taxi (THB 500) or hotel transportation. Opting for the hotel transportation (THB1200) is a good idea for a couple of reasons; Mai Khao beach is quite far from everything on Phuket and public transportation on the island is practically non-existent. Cartels of private taxis are pretty much the only option for getting around Phuket and prices will leave a bad taste in your mouth.

If you do plan on traveling around the island a fair bit, renting your own car could be a good choice economically.

There is a shuttle bus service between the resort and a number of places on Phuket, see below for destinations, prices and timetable.

Rooms

There are 150 deluxe rooms at the Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa, situated on four floors in a “U” shape around the perimeter of the resort. The rooms feature all the standards you would expect from a 5 star resort in the Marriott family, and since it was built recently, they have adhered to the recent trend of the fully glass walled bathroom. All rooms also come with a balcony which overlooks the resort gardens and one of the pools.

Deluxe rooms at The Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa hold 2 adults and 2 children, or up to three adults. There are 14 sets of interconnecting rooms for larger families and a roll-away bed can be requested for an extra charge of THB1600+++ (USD53).

Private Pool Villas

The resort features 21 one bedroom private pool villas, 4 oceanfront pool villas and one 3 bedroom oceanfront pool villa. The photos here and in the Flickr set are of the one bedroom pool villa, in which we stayed.

Upon entering the villa there is the bed and a sofa, both facing glass double doors that open out onto the private pool in the little garden. By the pool there is a pool deck with two deck lounges and a small table between them.

The pool is 1.3 meters deep and has steps around the corner leading to an outdoor shower and another glass door that leads to the bathroom.

The bathroom runs the length of the villa, front to back and is very spacious.

Bathroom

The bathtub in the private pool villas at Renaissance Phuket Resort and Spa is the biggest solid stone bathtub I have ever seen. It’s huge and can easily and comfortably accommodate two people, perhaps even three. It’s like having a second private pool in the villa (O.K, maybe I got carried away there).

Amenities

A nice touch are the bicycles available for free for guests to use in the area. We took a ride around the Mai Khao area visiting other resorts including The JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Sala Phuket Resort, which also has private pool villas. There is also a small shopping complex up the road at Turtle Village near Anantara Phuket Villas where you will find a mini-mart where you can stock up on drinks and snacks if you don’t want to pay mini-bar prices.

There are two pools at the resort, the main pool, measuring 33 meters in length and situated practically on the beach, and the smaller “Kid’s World & Pool” located in the center of the resort complex.

Speaking of kids, babysitting is available for THB214 net (USD7.15 at the time this review was written) per hour and needs to be booked one day in advance.

Dining

Pictured above is Sand Box, a poolside/beachside all day dining spot that turns into a bar and barbeque at night with funky lounge grooves to mellow out to.

Above Sand Box is Takieng, serving classic Thai cuisine with indoor and outdoor seating. The tables on the balcony are popular, so if you want to eat with the sounds of waves gently crashing on the nearby Mai Khao beach, I recommend you make a booking earlier in the day.

The staff at Takieng were very friendly and helpful in helping us choose our food and we were very happy with Kang Masaman Nuea, a tender and mild beef curry with potatoes and peanuts, which melted in my mouth, and the Pla Nueang Manoa, steamed whole fish with lemongrass, lime and chilli dressing.

There was also a nice selection of delicious traditional Thai desserts as well, in which I of course indulged.

Breakfast buffet is served at Loca Vore which has many outdoor tables, some perched over the man made lake in the gardens. Lunch and dinner are also served here.

Shuttle bus service

Renaissance Phuket Resort and Spa provides a shuttle bus service between the resort and three places of interest on the island. Officially a reservation is required one hour prior to departure, however they aren’t going to kick you off if you call 30 minutes before departure.

All shuttles require a minimum of two passengers.

* Patong is the main touristy beach strip on Phuket. While the beach itself is nothing to be impressed by – crawling with louty tourists, persistent touts and freelance prostitutes- this is the main commercial hub of the island with many shops, restaurants and bars. I personally am not a fan of the area, but if you are on the island for a number of days, it might be o.k. for a quick visit- especially if you are looking for a Burger King or a Starbucks coffee.

*Central Festival is a huge modern shopping mall in Patong with a huge selection of restaurants, shops, a game center and a cinema. Great place to escape the sun for a day and perhaps keep the kids entertained.

The Bottom Line

Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa on Mai Khao beach is a great addition to Marriott’s lifestyle brand and fits in harmoniously with its quiet environs.

The resort’s target market of couples and families will find the secluded and peaceful area very relaxing, however if you are the type who likes to party, unless you are up for a bit of traveling back and forth, a base closer to the action of Patong might be for you.

Have you stayed at the Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa? What was your experience like? Do you have any photos online that you would like to share?

Read more about and check rates at the Renaissance phuket Resort and Spa.

You might also like:

• JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa
• Ayara Kamala Resort Phuket
• The Adamas Resort & Spa Phuket

I get a lot of traffic from people looking for private pool villas in Bangkok. While there are plenty of private pool villas in Thailand, they are hard to find in Bangkok. In fact, I would venture to say that until this year, there were none. That changes this year with the opening of a new luxury property on the banks of the Chao Phraya River.

The Siam Hotel

Scheduled to open September 1st 2011, The Siam Hotel (website) will be the first hotel in Bangkok (to my knowledge) to offer private pool villas. Located at the base of Krung Thon Bridge in historic Dusit district, between Khao San and Chatuchak, The Siam is the project of the famous Sukosol family.

A member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, you can expect old world charm in the antique filled  39 room art deco luxury riverside residence.

Six room types will be on offer including three suites ranging in size from 77 sqm to 100 sqm, two pool villas measuring 126 sqm and Connie’s Cottage, a 163 sqm Thai residence which was actually transported down the Chao Phraya river by boat from the ancient Thai capital of Ayutthaya.

Opening rates for the pool villas are USD1000 per night for the regular pool villas and USD1200 per night for the riverside pool villa.

Watch this space closer to the opening for more information.

For those who cannot wait until the opening of The Siam later this year, there are a couple of  alternatives in Bangkok. Although not exactly private pool villas, these are the closest you can get to it in Bangkok.

Pool access rooms at the Siam Kempinski

Siam Kempinski, which opened last year behind the most luxurious shopping mall in all of Thailand, Siam Paragon, features a huge labyrinth of a pool that meanders around the grassy, palm shaded grounds of the 5 star hotel.

As you can see from the photo above, all of the rooms on the ground floor have doors that open out onto a small terrace with a table and two recliners. From the terrace guests have direct access to the pool.

The photos above of the Siam Kempinski come from Jordy Chen’s excellent Flickr set. See all 280 photos here.

Baan Davis at the Davis Hotel

Baan Davis is a private section of the Davis Hotel, comprising of ten villas ranging in size from 164 sqm to 250 sqm. Seven of the villas have 2 bedrooms and the remaining are 3 bedroom villas. There is a private swimming pool for guests staying in the villas, offering a quieter, more private experience than guests at the regular hotel pool.

Do you know of any other private pool villas, private pools or pool access rooms in Bangkok? If I have missed any please let me know by leaving a comment below.

You might also like:

• 6 sensational private pool villa resorts
• Space and privacy at the Six Senses Hideaway Samui
• Sala Phuket Resort & Spa

Private pool villas, a growing trend in Thailand and in popular resort spots around the world seem to be popping up at an increasing pace. If you are looking for the ultimate in privacy and pampering, private pool villas could be just what you are looking for.

If you have ever had the unpleasant experience of having to deal with other guests at a resort who get up at dawn, go down to the pool and “reserve” their place by placing a towel and book on a poolside recliner, only to leave it there unattended for 4 or 5 hours so they can come back to claim their spot in the middle of the day, you would certainly appreciate having your own private pool.

Families might also appreciate having their own private pool where they can easily keep an eye on their children in their own personal space.

Check out the 6 resorts throughout Thailand that offer private pool villas below in our first showcase.

Sala Phuket Resort & Spa

Sala Phuket Resort & Spa is located on Mai Khao beach on the Northwestern tip of Phuket, which is home to a lot of upscale luxury resorts and an area which is mostly overlooked by many of the tourists who visit the island. The secluded location gives an added dimension of privacy on top of that already afforded by having your own villa with personal pool.

Sala Phuket and Spa is a fairly new resort and was featured in the Condé Nast 2008 Hot List.

63 of the 79 villas at Sala Phuket come with a private pool. The private pools at each villa here are not the all-too-often seen “plunge pools” that are being passed off as pools at some resorts. The management of Sala Phuket claim that they are among the largest guest room swimming pools not only in Thailand, but throughout the world! That is a tall claim considering just some of the competition showcased in this list alone.

Villa sizes are certainly quite large though, ranging from 157 square meters of living space (plus pool) up to a massive 619 square meters.

Sala Phuket Resort & Spa

Aleenta Resort & Spa, Cha Am

I’ve had my eye on Aleenta for a while now. It’s been on my “must stay” list since at least 2007. One of the first in the growing industry of boutique resorts in and around the sleepy town of Cha Am, 2 hours south of Bangkok, the Aleenta features bungalow style buildings with thatched roofs and gleaming white walls. The style of the buildings and the layout of the resort brings to my mind images of a Mexican or Mediterranean village by the sea.

Aleenta has been divided into two sections, with a child-friendly section called the Frangipani Wing and a larger adults-only section. Rooms have iPods with playlists pre-installed as well as a stereo with an iPod dock, so you can chill out to the mellow tunes chosen by the staff, or listen to your own iPod if you prefer.

Picture yourself drink in hand, looking out over the ocean from your own private pool like the one pictured above. The coast of Hua Hin and Cha Am face east into the Gulf of Thailand, so unfortunately there will be no watching the sunset over the ocean from your pool or deck, but that doesn’t take much away from your own private view.

If you can drag yourself out of bed in time one morning while staying here, try to catch a sunrise over the ocean, on a clear morning they are truly spectacular.

Check out Aleenta Resort & Spa Cha Am.

Six Senses Hideaway, Samui

Did somebody ask for space? How about 20 acres of tropical vegetation with incredible sweeping views of the surrounding beaches and islands in the Gulf of Siam?

Six Senses Hideaway (formerly Sila Evason Hideaway & Spa) has won many awards over the past 5 years including making the lists of best hotels compiled by Condé Nast, Tatler and is a Grand Award winner of  the Andrew Harper Hideaway Report.

The Hideaway Villas (130 square meters) have a sunken marble bath with panoramic views of the ocean. The 41 Pool Villas (160 square meters) have bedrooms that look over the large wooden sundeck with covered sala and 2.5 meter x 5 meter pool, in turn overlooking the ocean. See 360 degree view of room, pool and panorama here.

The 300 square meter Pool Villa Suite features a 3 meter by 5 meter pool with large wooden sundeck, two sun lounges, another sunbed built for two, a covered sala and an outdoor dining table big enough for 4 people. Of course like every villa at Six Senses the views are breathtaking.

Six Senses Hideaway Samui

Phulay Bay, A Ritz Carlton Reserve, Krabi

Ritz Carlton Reserve is a new brand of smaller luxury resorts by Ritz Carlton with a focus on individual service, and Phulay Bay in Krabi was the first property to open under this brand late last year.

The new Reserve brand ramps up the pampering ante with a personal dedicated butler for every one of the 54 one bedroom villas, available at your call 24 hours a day.

If you can afford to stay here, the tranquility, service, personal space and luxurious surroundings make it a once in a lifetime experience. At the time of writing this post, Agoda has a promotion upgrading any Resort Pavilion room reservations to an Ocean Pavilion room with private pool. The Ocean pavilion rate is around 250 USD higher than the Resort Pavilion, so this promotion is excellent value.

Phulay Bay, A Ritz Carlton Reserve

Veranda Resort & Spa Hua Hin

Set on 5 acres, The Veranda Resort & Spa offers both regular rooms as well as one and two bedroom villas with private pools. Not far from the above mentioned Aleenta Resort, it is located on the beach facing eastward toward the Gulf of Thailand.

The one and two bedroom pool villas are 158 square meters in size and offer a large-ish pool in a walled-in private area. However I personally prefer the slightly smaller (131 square meters) beachfront pool villas where you can literally step out of your private pool and onto the sands of the beach.

The jewels in the crown of this resort without a doubt are the two Sky Pool Villas (160 square meters), split-level duplex apartments with 2 bedrooms, steam room, large wooden sundeck and large rooftop infinity pool with sweeping views of the Gulf of Thailand.

Veranda also provides a Kid’s Club from the hours of 10am to 7pm daily, affording you the opportunity for some truly relaxing personal time to enjoy your private sanctuary.

Veranda Resort & Spa Cha Am

Napasai Koh Samui

The pool of the three bedroom private pool residence at Napasai Koh Samui was so beautiful I couldn’t post just one picture. I had to show the view from both angles, showing both the living room, and the view of the ocean.

These are not mid-sized private villas as part of a resort, these are full sized private homes with separate bedrooms and en-suite bathrooms, and large living and dining areas with balconies which overlook the private oceanfront pool. Choose between a one, two, three or four bedroom waterfront residence with large living areas and fully equipped kitchen. Guests also have access to guest services and spa facilities at Napasai resort.

I could just imagine having the whole family stay here for a week for an extended family vacation/re-union. A place like this would also be an excellent place to have a wedding since your friends and family can all stay together, I think it would be an excellent vibe.

http://www.napasai.com appears to have slightly better prices than Agoda at the time of writing this post, but you may like to check again as these things tend to fluctuate.

Have you stayed at any of these resorts? If so, how was your stay? Or perhaps you have stayed at another resort in Thailand that has private pool villas? Comments are welcome below.

You might also like:

• Private pool villas in Bangkok
• Sala Phuket Resort & Spa
• Top 5 Resorts in Cha Am

From the moment you arrive at the Ayara Kamala Resort Phuket you realize that this small resort is different to the norm. Set on a hillside overlooking the Andaman Sea and Kamala Bay provides many rooms with beautiful sea views, and guests can enjoy rooms or villas with private pools or make use of the resort swimming pool or private beach.

With only 27 guest rooms the key here is personal service, and though small, the Ayara Kamala Resort Phuket still offers a range of services and level of luxury that you would expect from a 5 star hotel. There’s a restaurant serving both Thai and International Cuisine that benefits from sea views; and a spa and wellness center with fitness center, sauna and tennis courts.

The quiet location is ideal for couples especially those on honeymoons, yet Patong Beach and Phuket International Airport are both around 30 minutes distant.

For a detailed description, more photos and reservations, visit Ayara Kamala Resort at ReserveThaiHotels.com

You might also like:

• Sala Phuket Resort & Spa
• The Adamas Resort & Spa Phuket
• The Chava Resort, Phuket

The new 5 star Sala Phuket Resort and Spa offers visitors to Southern Thailand a new and unique experience – private villas, most with swimming pools, yet all the facilities and services you would expect from a hotel!

Of the 79 villas, 63 have private swimming pools, and these are not just overgrown bathtubs; these are among the largest guest room swimming pools in the world! The beachfront location, on Mai Khao Beach in north-west Phuket, provides guests with a peaceful setting, yet there’s plenty to do in the vicinity if you want to be more active.

There are three communal swimming pools and a restaurant that serves a range of both international and Thai cuisine in a variety of settings – choose in-room dining, the rooftop terrace, the beachfront, or by the pool.
Other facilities include a relaxing spa, gym, business services, meeting room, gift shop, and library. All rooms and villas are luxuriously modern and comfortable featuring wide flatscreen TV’s, DVD players, and more.

Sala Phuket Resort & Spa

You might also like:

• The Adamas Resort & Spa Phuket
• Ayara Kamala Resort Phuket
• JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa

Alila Resort was the first designer hotel to be built in the quiet beach resort of Cha Am. It has gone from strength to strength and was listed on the prestigious 2008 Conde Nast Traveler Hot List. This recognition will put this hideaway resort firmly on the map of travelers seeking a little peace and tranquility to recharge their energy.

The resort was designed by leading Thai architect, Duangrit Bunnag. The simple design with opaque glass walls, calm water and open spaces is very Zen and peaceful. Each visitor is greeted by the impressive sweeping staircase leading up to the open-air lobby of the hotel. There are touches of natural limestone and marble throughout, to enhance the feeling of luxurious well being. Each spacious room and villa is privately arranged around the pool and gardens of this tropical Eden. Whilst the design remains simple and understated, the amenities are state-of-the-art. Each room has an Apple TV and guests can download movies and music to suit their own taste. There is an Ipod docking station, with an infinite choice of music, and a well-stocked mini bar for those who simply want to enjoy their own company.

All the 72 deluxe rooms and 7 pool villas enjoy full length windows, their own personal outdoor space, and are truly private retreats. The opulent bathrooms have a soaking bathtub and a separate shower. There is a comfortably furnished private balcony or terrace each with its own private pool for two.

The Alila Resort is designed with couples in mind, and offers a calming environment in which to chill out and be recharged. There are several pools around the gardens, with comfortable lounge chairs and seating for relaxing and enjoying the calm reflections.
The beautiful landscaped gardens have winding paths for strolling down to the beach, where there are cabanas for resting or enjoying a massage. There is a full Spa, with highly trained therapists who offer a whole-body health experience through their skills and knowledge.

The signature Alila Restaurants offers a delicious array of local Thai delicacies and fresh seafood, created by the Kiwi chef and his exceptional team. Al fresco dining is available poolside at Motion. Alternatively Clouds loft is situated high above the rooftops under the stars. There is also a comfortable bar/pub for socializing with other similarly minded guests.

For a relaxing tropical getaway, Alila Resort offers unadulterated luxury in a calming environment with exceptional staff.

Alila Hotel Cha Am

You might also like:

• Soft Opening of Yaiya Resort Cha Am
• Top 5 Resorts in Cha Am
• Grand Pacific Sovereign Resort & Spa Cha Am

For those of us who have wanted to stay in a luxurious private pool villa but were put off by the cost, I gave good news for you. Yaiya Resort in Cha Am, near Hua Hin will be having a soft opening from December 20th.

If you are not familiar with the hotel industry jargon, a soft opening is when a hotel accepts guests for a few weeks before the official Grand Opening. This is done with little or no advertising so soft openings are sometimes difficult to catch. The purpose of a soft opening is a chance for the management and staff to get used to the day to day running of the hotel or resort before the full onslaught of a hotel full of guests hits them.

Since there is a possibility of a few small snafus during the first few weeks of an opening, hotels often offer rooms for less than the standard room rate. An example is you may find your self waiting a little longer for room service. On the other hand, you will probably have the place pretty much to your self and hotels are usually overstaffed during these times, so you will probably only need to snap your fingers and someone will come running. Imagine having the pool practically to your self!

Yaiya Resort offers some beautiful private pool villas and you could probably snap them up at a great bargain during the soft opening.

You might also like:

• Hilton Pattaya Soft Opening
• Hotel Soft Openings explained
• Alila Resort Cha Am

Panoramic views of the Gulf of Siam over the edge of your private infinity pool from the privacy of the sundeck of your villa (up to 300m²). Personal butler to bring you refreshing drinks, or just about anything you like after a day of exploring the many wonders of Ko Samui.  These are just a few of the things waiting for you at the highly acclaimed five star Six Senses Hideaway Samui, (formerly Sila Evason Hideaway & Spa).

Condé Nast Traveler Magazine recently named the Six Senses the Best hotel in the world! It was voted the best hotel on the Asia and Indian subcontinent, and garnered enough points by readers to push it to the top of the “Best of the Best Top 100“. Referring to the voting readers, Conde Nast Traveler stated:

“Every one of you who stayed there raved about its sophisticated ambiance/décor (93.75), environmental friendliness (97.50), lovely location (97) and extensive leisure facilities (96.25)”.

There are three types of villas available at this stunning resort. Even the smallest villas, the Hideaway Villas, offer 140m² and feature private gardens, an outdoor shower and plunge bathtub with panoramic views.

The 41 Pool Villas (160m²) all feature 2.5 x 5 meter private swimming pools for extra privacy and indulgence.
Finally, for guests looking for the ultimate in luxury, privacy and indulgence, there are the ten Pool Villa Suites, which are massive 300 m² villas with 3.5 meter private pools, 2 bathrooms, one with twin vanities, private sundeck with 2 sunbeds and a Thai sala with 2 daybeds.

Of course all of the villas have wireless internet connections available, and feature CD/DVD players with speakers throughout the villa, including the bathroom, TV, 24 hour butler room service, fridge minibar and other luxurious amenities.

You might also like:

• 6 sensational private pool villa resorts
• Alila Resort Cha Am
• Sala Phuket Resort & Spa