Situated on Naka Yai, a private island just north of Phuket, Thailand, this spa bans laptops, mobile phones and blackberrys from all public areas and aims to revitalize its wealthy guests with a bespoke treatment program including a raw food diet.

How do they rate it?

The island is “Robinson Crusoe heaven, with its jungly interior and coastline dotted with beaches, coconut groves and mangroves”, says Ian McCurrach in The Independent. The large villas have an outdoor bathroom, private pool, private hot tub, a shower that is also a steam room, and a personal butler service. For a finishing touch, each villa garden includes organic herbs which can be used in the hot tubs.

The Menu

Guests choose between a raw-food menu consisting of dishes such as avocado, fennel and orange salad, and the vegetarian menu. The raw food is “surprisingly tasty” given that it consists of vegetables cooked to a maximum temperature of 42?C.

The Cost

A Hill Pool Villa costs from £830 a night including full board, two 60-minute spa treatments per person per day and a choice of fitness classes. Find out more at sixsenses.com or call 020-8780 3519.

News by www.moneyweek.com

You know that frame of mind when you do not want to know anything, ask no questions? That is the beginning of luxury – not having to think, plan, book tickets, pack ….well, I am taking it a bit too far. I would rather pack for myself than have my husband pack. The last time he planned a surprise trip, he packed backless black cocktail dresses and stilettos for chilly Mashobra. Normally, a killer for information, I was happy being told, “We are off to a beach place.”

At Delhi airport, “We are off to Bangkok.” No surprises. “You will be driven to your hotel in a tuk-tuk.” Now that was exciting. I am all for hopping onto to rickshaws, tongas or trams to get the ‘local’ feel. The tuk tuk was a silky smooth BMW that lulled me into an early morning snooze.

Banyan Tree, Phuket. I took in the lobby and sank into sheer decadence. A golf cart took us through vast greens, ponds, palms to our villa. The pool seemed to stretch and fall into the lagoon at the edge. A waterfall on one side, an open Jacuzzi on the other, the foliage all fused into one to create a picture. A lomi lomi massage at the edge of the lagoon was like a straight dive into the way of life for the next three days.

The massage and steam made us skip lunch. Pink rose tea with finger sandwiches, mini almond-and-fruit tarts served on a tiered platter was a light treat. A walk to the beach to watch the sun going down and surf coming in was all right. The pull of the Banyan Tree proved greater. The hedonist in me was awakening. A swim in the pool to earn dinner seemed to be more the thing to do.

The villa beckoned. Languorous and still drinking in the sounds and smells of twilight, we ‘buggied’ our way to Saffron for dinner. I wanted to taste Tom Yum and Tom Kha in Thailand to assure myself that we get the authentic version in India. Both the soups were amazing, the prawns melting on the tongue, the galangal biting and the lemon grass suffusing the overall taste. The broth was tart, sassy and just sour enough. I have not seen galangal so finely sliced, almost thread-like. The steamed snow fish with lemon and sweet chilly and the sauteed Phuket lobster in dry red curry sauce accosted us with a cheeky mixture of sensations. No room for dessert. Pampered to the point of being silly, we chose to fall asleep on fresh, crisp white cotton sheets and foam pillows. There was a choice of kapok, rayon, satin, cotton sheets along with foam, feather pillows.

Breakfast in bed or breakfast in pool? The huge basket captured my attention with its an endless array of eats – omelettes, fruits, cereal, coffee, juices. A swim later, the action began. A short walk to one of the pavilions was the start. Surrounded by ebony and gold filigreed pillars, birds of paradise blossoms, fish swimming in a lotus pond, I could only feel hands pressing, kneading, sliding the lemony kaffir lime scrub and the massage after that. A four-hour treatment seemed like four moments. Back to the villa on the buggy, my eyes never tired of the orchids flowering carelessly.

We watched the night come in. From peach to orange to a sap green before the colors of purple darkness took over. We decided to dine at Lotus, one of the more famous restaurants in Phuket. We entered to see crabs, shrimps, lobsters, tuna swimming in tanks to be weighed and cooked. We chose to remain faithful to a grilled lobster with Penang sauce, and crab in red curry. Lime and lychee sorbet to round off the hot spicy meal on the beach.

Deep, contented slumber and then a huge Thai and Japanese breakfast. Miso soup, shrimp broth, Thai omelette, wheat noodles and some fruits later, we meandered into another spa pavilion for the Tranquility Hydromist Revitalising treatment. A hot steam and gentle shower on each point of the body later, we were scrubbed with a creamy ginger and honey scrub. I kind of figured out the life that Cleopatra led … something similar to this.

It did not stop here. More than warm honey was slathered on generously. I understood what it meant to be steeped in the satiny finish, feathery in touch and reaching into your very insides. The glow, as they say, went deeper than skin; I made up my mind never to scoff at such romantically sensuous descriptions. An hour’s massage with Bergemot oil and a facial … such bliss. Sensuousness is spiritual here.

The spoilt-for-choice syndrome is on rampage here. The spa treatments are many and attractive. I need to be here for another week to try each package and those purse strings as well. The food at the Water Court with its Mediterranean flavors in citrus salad with garlic prawns and charred aubergine cappuccino or the intimate dinner at the Sala Terrace. There is too much to eat, drink and get massaged.

We giggled like teenagers as the Banyan Tree staff moved noiselessly to set up the ‘Intimate Moments’ evening. The entire passage through the villa was lined with purple orchids and candles right up to the open bath. Orchids floated in the water. Wine glasses and a wine bottle waited silently on the side. Bath salts, aroma sticks et al, we slipped into the bath. Stepping into the bedroom had some more delights unfolding. A sinful chocolate mousse bedecked with a chocolate rose await.

Phuket has a range of tours from coach trips to private excursions. Island tours leave daily stopping at places like national parks, temples and areas of interest. Some specialize in giving a flavor of local island life with stops at rubber and coconut plantations, while others focus on shopping and visiting spas.

Phuket has some of the world’s finest beaches like Patong Beach, Kamala Beach, Kata Beach, Surin Beach …

Whether they are held to honor a religious belief or just for fun, the festivals of Phuket are exciting, sometimes bizarre spectacles. The island’s most distinctive event is the annual Vegetarian Festival.

Most hotels are within close proximity to the beach, entertainment, restaurants, shopping and activity centers, which makes getting round on foot the best bet.

Written by MITA KAPUR
Published on The Hindu – beta.thehindu.com

The stylish new resort which is located on the unspoilt shoreline of Maikhao Beach in the north of Phuket has just been open since December, but is already becoming one of the most talked about new resorts on the island.

The resort’s relaxing SALA Spa, a chic haven offering a wide range of relaxing and therapeutic spa treatments in a spacious and tranquil environment, was also separately featured as one of the world’s hot new spas.

Following on from the huge success of SALA Samui, the first resort by SALA Hotels and Resorts, SALA Phuket offers the same signature style of spacious private pool villas, contemporary Asian-influenced design and great service, designed to makes guests feel like they are at home rather than in a hotel.

SALA Phuket is located amongst national parkland and 9km of pristine beach, and presents a sophisticated resort experience which is remote from mainstream Phuket, yet easily accessible from the airport.

The stunning new resort offers 79 luxurious villas and suites, of which 63 have their own spacious private pools. The villas range in size from 158 to 619 sqm, offering guests the ultimate in five-star luxury and privacy.

Features include stunning outdoor bathrooms with large freestanding bathtubs beneath custom designed chandeliers, relaxing daybeds and sun loungers overlooking a private lap pool. The resort’s main public area is grouped around two large beachfront swimming pools, and a stylish beachfront restaurant, lobby bar and beach bar.

The SALA restaurant serves a delicious mix of Thai and international cuisine devised by LA born chef Jan Hollister who was previously the executive chef of SALA Samui and now brings the same refreshing culinary creativity to SALA Phuket. Chef Jan focuses on identifying quality local suppliers of quality fresh produce. His menus are a mix of brasserie style international comfort food, delectable Thai dishes and succulent local seafood and grills.

Guests can choose to dine at the SALA Restaurant, poolside, in their own villa or on a candle lit beach table. By special arrangement they can also dine on the restaurant’s rooftop dining nook, where they can enjoy a stunning sea view dining experience in private.

The Beach Bar serves a great range of wines and cocktails and has oversized white day beds for guests to sink into and watch the sunset. Additional amenities include a library, gift shop, meeting room facilities and an activities desk.

SALA Phuket also sees the launch of SALA Hotels and Resorts’ own spa brand, the SALA Spa. A cooling mist-filled walkway leads guests to the contemporary oversized treatment villas. Both modern and ancient treatments are offered in this tranquil setting, designed to pamper and rejuvenate.

SALA Phuket’s unique and chic architectural style has already started to win the resort design awards. The multi-award winning designers from Thai-based Department of Architecture have drawn inspiration from the Sino-Portuguese heritage that is indigenous to Phuket to create a compelling blend of Chinese accents and a neutral contemporary colour palette.

Whites and olive greys are the predominant colour scheme, with splashes of red and the traditional Sino Portuguese patterned tiles which are indigenous to the area. The unique interiors have won SALA Phuket the prestigious ASA award (Architectural of Siamese Association), a prominent accolade for Thai architects. This is in keeping with SALA Resorts philosophy to create resorts with a strong sense of place, drawing heavily on the talents of local architects, designers and suppliers.

Some of the other unique design features of the resort include large custom-made Chinese style bird cages, with glittering chandeliers inside, and in-room furniture inspired by traditional Chinese medicine cabinets. Billowing white canopied day beds around the pool area also give the resort a chilled out and contemporary vibe.

Maikhao is a quiet spot on the northern tip of the island, making SALA Phuket the perfect place for hiding away and relaxing, away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Patong yet within easy access of sophisticated pastimes such as the Yacht Haven and the Royal Phuket Marina, the Blue Canyon Golf Course and picturesque Phang Nga Bay. The resort is less than twenty minutes drive from Phuket international airport which makes it the ideal place for a long weekend escape.

About SALA Resorts and Spas

SALA Resorts and Spas is a home grown Thai hospitality company which owns and operates two luxury resorts in the Kingdom, and has plans for further expansion domestically and internationally. SALA is also the majority shareholder of the Six Senses Hideaway in Koh Samui.

The company’s first resort, SALA Samui, has become one of Koh Samui’s most successful resorts, with a total of 69 luxurious villas and suites of which 53 have private swimming pools. The resort is located on pristine Choeng Mon beach on the northeast corner of the island, just 10 minutes from Koh Samui international airport, Bo Phut’s quaint Fisherman’s Village and Chaweng Beach shopping and nightlife district.

Contact Details
Name: Lucy Haslewood
Email: lucy.haslewood@ghcasia.com

Published on arabianbusiness.com

“From anchan extract to ylang ylang and straight off the farm,” said the American owner, Bobby Duchowny, about his product line during a recent interview at his store. Around him, tourists brushed past to grab from wooden buckets overflowing with just-made lavender soap (from 150 baht, or $4.67 at 32.15 baht to the dollar) and butterfly pea conditioner with aloe vera and green tea (100 to 300 baht).

A former film executive who found the smell of popcorn more intoxicating than the movies he was producing, Mr. Duchowny set off to sniff the world, focusing on natural aromas like Indian ayurvedic oils and Brazilian herbs. His innovations included a lemongrass mosquito spray that caught on with an eclectic clientele from Unicef workers along the Thai-Burmese border to Amanresorts, the luxury Asian resort brand.

After testing the marketability of his wares in Bangkok at the Chatuchak weekend market, Mr. Duchowny opened a closet-size Lemongrass House in Phuket, steps from Pansea Beach, home to three of the island’s top hotels. Their well-heeled clientele quickly spread the word, and expansion was needed.

Opened last year with a spotless mixing station, this latest address is an airy emporium with homespun product stickers that even include the first name of whoever blended the batch. Standard products include jasmine-mandarin Mommies’ Body Scrub with jojoba beads and shea butter (280 baht) and Lemongrass Kids’ Blue Chamomile Body Wash with green tea (250 baht).

Custom orders have put the mixologists to the test, like the recent request for bacon-scented room spray and body lotion made from Swiss chocolate, 24-karat gold flakes and Japanese sake.

Lemongrass House, 10/2 Moo 1, Srisoonthorn Road, Cherng Talay, Ampher Thalang, Phuket, Thailand; (66-76) 271-233; www.lemongrasshouse.com. Open daily, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Written by CYNTHIA ROSENFELD
Published by THE NEW YORK TIMES – travel.nytimes.com

Located in the hotel’s beautiful grounds Cape Spa is the newest and most exclusive spa on Cape Panwa, Phuket. The Spa is a stylish and spacious facility where sunlight, space and tranquility blend exquisitely with refreshment, attention to detail and superlative service. Guests can indulge in traditional Thai massage, Indian head massage and reflexology, body scrubs, polishes and wraps. Offering superlative service, highly skilled body technicians use only the finest products and techniques to ensure that each guest is pampered to perfection. Jacuzzis, steam rooms and saunas, as well as a soothing relaxation area complete the experience.

After a day at the Spa guests can relax on their spacious balcony that commands panoramic views of the Andaman Sea and offshore islands. Rooms are equipped with modern facilities; air conditioners, satellite television, mini bar and refrigerator, tea and coffee maker, complimentary toiletries and other bathroom accessories, IDD telephone connection and internet access on request.

Cape Panwa has five restaurants and five bars that offer both sumptuous international cuisine and local Thai cuisine as well as tempting cocktails and fine wines. Offering seclusion without isolation, guests can do as little or as much as they like at Cape Panwa. Swim, sail, snorkel, surf…or simply lie on the peaceful and secluded beach surrounded by a lush tropical coconut grove. The Cape Panwa beach offers year round swimming in the crystal clear waters of the Andaman Sea. Only ten minutes drive from historic Phuket town, Cape Panwa is a tranquil area, away from the hustle and bustle of the tourist strips, where sandy beaches and tall coconut trees still outnumber the hotels.

It’s never too early to book your summer holiday and with great savings now on offer from the Cape Panwa Hotel and Spa, your summer break never looked more enticing and affordable.

Published by: e-travel blackboards