Kata
Rocks
186/22, Kok Tanode Road, Kata Beach, Phuket; katarocks.com. Thirty-four villas from $1,082
(28,000 Thai baht) a day.
I feel a bit guilty flying more than 24 hours to
Phuket just to hang out in my hotel room, but I’m not leaving. As I move from
the warm embrace of my sun-drenched lounge chair on the terrace to the cool
water of my private infinity pool, I haven’t a care in the world. The only
sounds I hear are the occasional rooster and Jacuzzi jets. Other than a
fisherman or two, the only thing I see is endless ocean. There’s Moët in the
minibar. I’m good right here.
Location,
location
On the southwest coast of the island in quieter,
family-friendly Kata Beach, the resort is a short walk to art galleries,
restaurants and Thai markets, but you probably won’t be visiting them. Carved
into the cliffside, each of the resort’s west-facing villas offers unobstructed
views of the Andaman Sea. It’s incredibly peaceful and relaxing and impossible
to turn away, particularly at sunset, and particularly when your terrace has
its own seven-metre plunge pool.
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Design
Villas start at 1,440 square feet of chic, Miami
Beach-esque space. White walls, ceilings and floors, and carefully selected
decor make the space feel big, bright and airy. The kitchen is fully equipped
with De Dietrich appliances and fine wine. Bathrooms feature an enormous
walk-in rainfall shower and tub built for two. Floor-to-ceiling sliding doors
take you to the outside terrace and bring those stunning views inside. Cabin
fever is unlikely. But if you want a change of scenery, the resort spa is
equally serene, combining traditional Thai techniques with the latest
technology (think chromotherapy chamber, energy pod and massage waterbeds).
Best
amenity
Did I mention you get your own ocean-view infinity
pool? It’s paradise. A close second is the resort’s solution for the extremely
steep and narrow paths that meander between the villas and the restaurant, spa and
gym: golf-cart transportation, 24 hours a day. Because if you’re going to leave
your villa, only VIP treatment will do. Just be sure to hold on tight.
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Eat in
or eat out
Time your stay to take advantage of Sunday brunch.
It’s served poolside, family-style, with the same spectacular views you’ve
become accustomed to, and it may be the only time you meet other guests. The
menu changes weekly, but expect endless oysters, Joselito iberico ham and heaping
plates of seafood and grilled meats. Wine and champagne flow uninterrupted.
Meals the rest of the week won’t disappoint either,
with the Australian chef serving up a dizzying array of Thai and
Mediterranean-fusion dishes. Staff know it’s tough to leave your villa and they
work hard to surprise and delight you if you do. (When my boyfriend mentioned
to the concierge that he was going to pop the question, the staff helped set
the scene with a candlelit table for two set up on an enormous rock jutting out
into the water, with paper lanterns and fireworks lighting the night sky.)
Whom
you’ll meet
Mostly you’ll find moneyed couples looking for the
ultimate romantic getaway. Families and groups of friends celebrating special
occasions make use of the two-, three- and four-bedroom units (the largest of
which comes with a wing for the nanny). Multimillion-dollar yachts anchor out
front, ferrying their well-heeled passengers ashore to use the resort amenities
for the afternoon.
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If I
could change one thing
I’m not sure what the resort has against big feet, but
if your foot is larger than a woman’s size 9, that pair of slippers in your
bedroom closet will go unused. Same with the pair that accompanies your spa
treatment. Your bare feet are out of luck. But something tells me you’ll get
over it.
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