Breaking Travel News investigates: The Pavilions Phuket, Thailand

16 November 2018

With the Thai tourism industry booming, hotels in beautiful Phuket have some competition. A robust ethos is needed to get a unique message through to the many visitors to this tropical island. The Pavilions’ unerring focus on a personalised guest experience makes this property a perfect option for discerning travellers looking for a holiday that will create cherished memories.

A special, transcendent atmosphere is evoked from arrival at the resort. A gong sounds as you walk into reception. Stone animals, as if relics from an ancient dynasty, growl from the doorways, frozen as if for a thousand years. The bar, restaurants and spa peek out enticingly from hidden jungle alcoves, wooing you to enter, as an intrepid explorer. The resort is on high ground, so from various vantage points one can, like an emperor, survey the surrounding land. Dark forested hills lie to the north and south, the distant sea to the west.

The path through The Pavilions snakes throughout the steep, unforgiving winding hills of the surrounding jungle. An ingenious (and fun) mode of transport is therefore available for all guests. To get around, place a simple phone call from anywhere and a golf-buggy will appear to chauffeur you to your desired location. It is an adventure in itself, as you effortlessly ascend and descend the precipitous peaks and troughs of the winding lanes. These safari-esque journeys will leave you looking for excuses to travel around the resort, as the lush tree-lined pathways roll out behind you, Jurassic Park style.

The Pavilions hotel in Phuket is one of nine located in some of the dreamiest destinations in the world, including Rome and the Himalayas. Romance, food, and well-being are prominent themes of the hotel philosophy, aiming to provide guests with the opportunity for bespoke experiences in these utopian locations.

For relaxation, the spa is nestled deep within the trees, the entrance flanked by moss covered stone lions. Here lies a dense green tropical garden, with the gentle sound of fountains. Yoga mats wait on a deck overlooking the floating lilypads, and smiling masseuses bow their greeting. Highly indulgent treatments are available, such as the hotel’s signature massage, which lasts a blissful 2.5 hours. The nearby herb garden provides many of the ingredients for the treatments, and a walk within this secret grove will leave you enchanted by its other-worldly plants and its exotic scents.

For romance, look no further than the villas, said to be some of the finest on the island. The ultimate in luxurious, private sanctuary, they are exclusively located high up on the resort grounds and feel as though they are miles from civilisation. Each boast a sparkling private infinity pool, overlooking the surrounding jungle, the sea glittering in the distance. Vast, plush and secluded, these retreats are a honeymooner’s paradise. Or, also fittingly, an ideal hideaway for a secret agent.

Arrival is punctuated by a welcome foot massage, received on one of the huge sofas, to ensure visitors are well and truly spoilt from the off. Couples, (or secret agents), are then left to their own devices, to enjoy their secluded terrace and pool, the spacious, elegant bathroom of black stone, or the romantic bedroom, the wooden domes arching high in the dark above.

On the subject of food, The Pavilions certainly cater to guests’ gastronomic impulses in a range of ways. In keeping with the theme of providing tailored experiences, in-room dining is available inside the sumptuous residences, or out on your private deck. Get a take away (couriered at speed) or, for the lazy and languorous, a chef can come to your room and cook a bespoke dinner for you and your partner as you lie back and watch the sun set. Bliss.

Should you wish to move from your tropical haven, other options abound. For an enchanting night under the stars, head for the 360 Bar, a lookout perched high over the palm fronds with an ocean view. Delicious Thai tapas of northern and southern style are served alongside exceptional aperitifs. For those in full secret agent mode, dining in the filmic Plantation Club is a must. With its rich, colonial style and serving Thai and western favourites, this sophisticated restaurant spreads out like a fan with open-walled views of the ocean. Dim buttery lighting illuminates the restaurant amid the pitch black of the tropical nights. It is very peaceful here but for the roar of cicadas - perfect for discussing business matters for MI6.

The Firefly Bar & Restaurant down by the hip and funky pool is where breakfast is generously served, with a party spirit. Many guests were pairing their Kra Pow with a Bucks Fizz to kick start the day – and why not, in the name of paradise?

For a day out, the unwavering service extends to a shuttle bus offering residents the opportunity to venture out to the nearby Dream Beach Club. The club offers Pavilions guests great access to the stunning beach - and an impressive brunch spread. Complimentary sun beds and towels are also provided, a great alternative to paying for them on the beach, or lugging your own around. Classic Phuket activities such as island hopping, or visiting an elephant sanctuary, are not far away.

Inviting guests to curate their own experiences, The Pavilions Phuket is an extraordinarily immersive theatre of choice and texture. It’s all too easy to be swept away by the magical, idyllic surroundings, where the senses reign supreme and romance is king.