The Thai resort where the room is as mind blowing as the view


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.

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.

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.

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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