For years it seems, Thailand has had a reputation as a Mecca for noisy tourists, cheap hostels and wild bachelor parties - but all that’s changing right now. At the moment, there's a distinctive trend towards a very different experience.
It began, perhaps unsurprisingly with celebrities. There has been a definite shift in the star power making this their destination of choice. Kate Moss has been there frequently in recent years, (she prefers the white sanded beaches of Phuket), Bear Grylls has bought a villa there, Blake Lively just left and Beyonce and Jay Z are also semi-regulars. Not to mention the entire Kardashian family who set up camp back when Caitlyn was still Bruce at the posh new Inlala resort in villas that ran around $150,000 per week.
ndeed, at the moment, visionary hoteliers are finding fantastic, unspoiled spots in which to build exactly the kind of places you might find in far pricier parts of the world, such as the traditionally well-trodden by the wealthy enclaves in Mustique or the Maldives – and creating getaways that offer a level of luxury and style that feels very new for a place that's been a tourist attraction for a very long time. Thailand is getting a luxury makeover at the moment, and if you want to get in on that action there’s still time to find some incredible places to stay.
The first is Panacea –
On a green and grassy hilltop overlooking the Gulf of Samui and tropical forests lies Panacea Koh Samui, an extraordinary destination that has reinvented the private villa experience. Recently opened, Panacea Retreat has already established itself as one of Koh Samui’s most extravagant destinations. Created by a wealthy French businessman who, upon discovering that he could never find exactly what he was looking for when he planned his own family’s holidays, decided to build it himself. Here it’s about privacy, luxury, a bespoke experience and more privacy. Private chefs cook meals in villa and the spa treatments and yoga instructors come to you. A collection of really stylish and secluded villas, all have glass walls to allow as much of the outside in as possible. Each villa is immense - the smallest is 14,000sq ft and the largest 43,000sq ft –and every residence includes a minimum of four bedrooms, manicured private gardens and stylish grounds with at least one 20-metre infinity pool. And it’s a bespoke experience - every villa has at least 10 full-time staff assigned to help, so there is never a need that goes unmet. Whether it’s sailing or diving, swimming or lounging, the experience is custom made. For example, if you want to spend a day just lying at the beach, staff will organise a beach butler to bring along sun loungers, towels and spf along with champagne on ice and a packed lunch. For eight guests B&B accommodation with various complimentary services starts at £1,365 per night (£170 per person per night).www.panaceasamui.com
Over on Phuket, Kata Rocks is ultra chic, new and a real game changer for Thailand. Sleek and chic, offering a minimalist vibe with contemporary apartment sized suites Kata Rocks is unlike anything else on the island. Newly opened in November of last year, Kata Rocks is a stylish hotel offering a minimalist vibe, a really stunning spa, 'Sky Villas' private infinity pools, fabulous Andaman sea views and a spectacular cliff-side location. The hotel is located near Kata, a clean-cut resort town, popular with the yachting crowd, on the south west coast of Phuket. The furnishings are sleek and Italian-made, a lot of white-on white; it’s a far cry from the décor from the kind of silk screens and bamboo you might expect in Thailand. Here are there white linens, white umbrellas shading white sunbeds beside a white-tiled pool - it feels like the best of Miami found in the Far East. The spa is incredible with eight treatment rooms housing everything from energy pods to light-emitting treatment beds, which combine beautifully with Ila products and traditional Thai wellness philosophies. There are 43 one, two, three and four-bedroom sky villas stacked across the hillside - big, bright and beautiful, they come with fully-fitted kitchens, living and dining areas, and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors opening onto private infinity pools, each of which is a minimum of seven-metres long. They have private chefs who will prepare fine dining for you in the privacy of your villa, celebrity DJ’s playing over brunch and TV’s that come down from the ceiling over the bed. Not to mention a killer view from the bathtub. Their ‘Rock Stars’ are concierges whose job it is to make sure that each and every need is met at all times. Ocean Front Sky Villas start from £380 per night, including breakfast www.KataRocks.com
And last but certainly not least is the incredible Indigo Pearl. This is an ultra stylish, luxury boutique hotel in Phuket designed by American designer Bill Bensley, comprised of super-luxe suites and villas with a rather spellbinding industrial-chic décor. Sea fronted, with lush green gardens everywhere, it oozes a local, authentic almost colonial feel – and every single detail is considered. The Pearl Suites are gorgeous but I recommend the private villas. Encased within lush walled tropical gardens, there are separate livings and sleeping areas in two pavilions, linked by dark timber decking dotted with exotic blooms and frangipani trees. Sunloungers and day-beds abound, and with a private pool, bar, dining room, Jacuzzi, spa, sauna, steam room and a 24-hour butler service, there’s little reason to leave. There is also the Coqoon Spa - a must-try for all spa enthusiasts. The Spa has to be seen to be believed and consists of multiple luxurious spa suites called 'The Nests - huge spherical structures seemingly suspended mid-air. The treatments are incredibly luxurious with purple frangipani oils, jasmine essence and native Andaman elixirs that work magic. Pool Pavillion starting price from £185 per night www.indigo-pearl.com
Getting there:
There is no reason not to start your luxury Thailand trip in style from the moment you arrive at the airport. Renowned for their unparalleled luxury, Singapore Airlines’ First and Business Class flights include the option to ‘Book the Cook’, chose your own personal in flight food (with choices such as Lobster Thermidor) as well as access to their comfortable and stylish Silverkris lounge. On August 29th, Singapore Airlines launched its brand new premium economy cabins with a range of luxuries such as larger seats featuring leg and calf rest, champagne on tap, priority bag tagging, check-in and boarding, as well as book the cook. Singapore Airlines flies four times daily from London Heathrow and daily from Manchester to Singapore for onward connections to 4 destinations in Thailand. Standard economy fares to Phuket start from £740pp and to Koh Samui from £790pp. For the latest promotional fares and to book, visit www.singaporeair.com
One Bedroom Villa 
