13 Best Hotels in Phuket, Thailand
"This is fly-and-flop territory: Anantara Mai Khao’s location, just a 20-minute drive from the international airport, means you can be on your padded lounger within an hour of landing. But there are other reasons to love this long-standing Thai brand favorite, from the feeling of being immersed in nature (a majority of the resort is a lilypad-dotted lagoon, filled with monitor lizards and flowers), to the long golden-sand beach, lapped by fun-sized waves. If you’re seeking privacy, look no further—each of the huge 83 villas is surrounded by tall walls; within is a sizable outdoor pool, shaded shala, and stone outdoor bathtub, big enough for two. Elegant and pared-back interiors create a sense of calm, the spa, with its treatment rooms strung out across the lagoon, will help with that, too. Families love dining beachside, but for a more grown-up evening, try the treehouse, a Japanese omakase, with fish freshly flown in from Japan. —Hannah Summers" - Chris Schalkx
