Luxury #Cambodia getaways win worldwide deluxe resort awards

Cambodia used to have the unwanted reputation of a “land of conflict and sorrow”. But that has dramatically changed in recent years. The Kingdom is now known as the place where you can find dome of the best and most alluring luxury destinations in the world.

Last week, that new reputation was strengthened with reports that Shinta Mani Wild and Song Saa Private Island bagged more than a few recognitions in the Destination Deluxe Awards 2019.

The Destination Luxury Awards are the brainchild of Destination Deluxe, a travel and wellness publication that picks and recognizes the top hotels, spas, treatment, skincare and wellness brands in the world. This is the inaugural edition for the awards.

There are 28 categories for the awards. The winners are chosen by a group of distinguished industry experts based on quality, transparency and originality. There are three ranked winners for each category.

Song Saa Private Island is the top awardee in the Eco-Hotel of the Year category. Soneva Fushi in Maldives and Morgan’s Rock Hacienda & Ecolodge in Nicaragua are also on the list.

The Khmer Tonic Spa in Shinta Mani Wild is number one in the Eco-Spa of the Year category. The others in the list are Fivelements Retreat Bali in Indonesia and FieldSpa GoldenEye in Jamaica.
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Shinta Mani Wild itself is the runner-up in the New Hotel of the Year and Hotel Design of the Year awards.

The other winners in the New Hotel of the Year category are Rosewood Hong Kong in Hong Kong and Amarla Boutique Hotel in Colombia.

For the Hotel Design of the Year, the others on the list are Datai Langkawi in Malaysia and Joe Lalli Resort Hotel in China.

“It is both an honour and very humbling that Bensley Collection-Shinta Mani Wild has been the recipient of ten awards in its first year of operation and a tribute to the GM and his team for their dedication, commitment and hard work on a daily basis,” Bill Bensley, the world-renowned designer behind Shinta Mani Wild, said.

“Shinta Mani Wild has an important eco and sustainability message, especially with our Wildlife Alliance partnership and their daily patrols to protect the forest and its inhabitants. These awards also bring much-needed awareness to the work we do in this regard,” he added.

The two Cambodian luxury destinations have reaped numerous international awards between them in recent years.

Shinta Mani Wild, which sits on 160 hectares of land between the Cardamon, Bokor and Kirirom national parks, said that it “provides the highest level of luxury while also working to protect the environment around it”. It opened two years ago.

Last year, it was included in the National Geographic Traveller (UK) Big Sleep Awards 2019, Time magazine’s “100 Greatest Destinations on Earth”, Condé Nast Traveller (UK) Hot List 2019, Harper’s Bazaar Ultimate Travel Guide 2019 (UK) : 100 Greatest Experiences in The World, among other recognitions. Located in Preah Sihanouk province, Song Saa Private Island is an ultra-exclusive and luxury getaway said to be frequented by some of the richest and most famous people in the world.

Last month, Luxury Travel Intelligence named it as among the “top 10 best luxury hotels built this decade”.

Source - Khmer Times

Experience world-class service at Oaks Hotel #Bangkok Sathorn

Located in Bangkok’s business district, Oaks Bangkok Sathorn offers spacious 5-star accommodation with a private balcony. This luxurious hotel features an outdoor pool, 3 dining options and free Wi-Fi in public areas.

 Elegant rooms at Oaks Bangkok Sathorn come with modern interiors and warm lighting. All well-appointed rooms are equipped with a sofa seating area, flat-screen TV and large bathroom with a bathtub.

 

 Guests can work out at the fitness centre or enjoy body treatments at the spa. With a 24-hour front desk, staff can assist with shuttle services, while travel arrangements can be made at the tour desk.

Oaks' guests also receive dining and entertainment privileges at the next door Anantara Bangkok Sathorn Hotel, which provides guests with a range of dining options, including 100° East Restaurant and Zin Bar.

Oaks Bangkok Sathorn is a 15-minute walk from the lively Silom Road. The hotel offers free parking and is a 45-minute drive from both Don Muang Airport and Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

 

 Sathorn is a great choice for travellers interested in culture, sightseeing and temples. 

 *****

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Thian Ok Beach Koh Tao, Thailand

Thian Ok Beach; image of tropical paradise

 

 Thian Ok Beach is quite unusual for Koh Tao, and quite special.  Here the beach has flat land behind, and this is almost fully occupied by a single, sprawling resort that keeps the area as a park-like coconut grove.  It is especially beautiful, and their accommodations here are quite elite. There is a restaurant, bar and beach club, all part of Jamahkiri, the resort lucky enough to have such a beautiful spot almost to itself. Almost to itself, but not quite all – because there is just one other small bungalow establishment on this beach, Rocky Resort, and a few private bungalows at the far west end of the beach.

The look of paradise:  Coconut palms shade the 300 metres of sand here and lush green hills stand tall on three sides behind.  Clear water gently laps at the sand, from which interesting, low trees grow, creating shady niches for beach-lovers, and lovers – it's the classic look of a tropical paradise. Perhaps the only thing that holds off complete perfection is the shallow water.  The standard offshore reef keeps this bay full of sand and coral rubble, and at low spring tides the bay dries out completely, exposing dead coral and sand flats.  Only at high tide is there enough water for swimming.

Getting to Thian Ok Beach is not nearly as difficult as getting to some of the other beaches on Koh Tao.  In 2012 the road was in reasonable condition, and the rough patches were no real danger to motorcycles.  Thian Ok lies in the far southeast of the island, facing the same direction. From high vantage points you can see Koh Phangan, some 33 kilometres to the south. Koh Samui, 54 kilometres off in the same direction, can be seen in clear weather.
 

 Just two accommodations on Thian Ok; 1 luxury, 1 basic

Jamahkiri Spa Resort is certainly one of the most beautiful and up-market sorts on Koh Tao. It occupies one of the most stunning beaches here, yet this is only the beach club and accommodation annex to the main resort, which sits high on the adjoining headland among boulders and trees. The swimming pool and most public areas sit near the top of the hill, with great views across ocean, bay and beach. As the photos show, the buildings, walkways and pool have been crafted to fit into the island's beautiful rocky landscape. This also has the luxury of a private jetty below.
Rocky Resort, which sits on the rocky shore of the headland below Jamahkiri, offers basic bungalows with a nice view down the beach.

 *****

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Indigo Pearl Resort #Phuket, built on the site on an old tin mine, combined history with luxury.

A beachside resort that will appeal to anyone interested in Phuket's past, the luxurious Indigo Pearl plays on the days when the southern island was frequented not as a place to relax but for mining tin. A major source of revenue from the sixteenth century right up until the mid-1900s, tin mining eventually gave way to tourism and while the tin culture has now gone for good, its legacy remains at Indigo Pearl resort.

 The resort is located on Naiyang Beach - a short ride north from Phuket International Airport. The resort was revamped from the popular Pearl Village Hotel by renowned architect Bill Bensley, founder and owner of Bensley Design Studio, who made the most of the site's tin mining heritage before signing off with a luxury statement.

"We wanted the overall feeling to reflect Phuket's heritage as a former tin mining centre while offering a distinctive atmosphere that will intrigue urbane travellers," says Wichit Na-Ranong, owner of the property.

 A member of Design Hotels, the resort has been drawing guests with its distinctive character since opening. For me, though, the attraction was of a more edible nature. Dutch chef Richard van Oostenbrugge was the most recent guest to grace the resort's kitchens and he gave me an excellent excuse for a short sejour.

Van Oostenbrugge is the executive chef at the Michelin two-star Bord'Eau in the De L'Europe hotel, Amsterdam. The master chef's visit was part of the "Rolling Visits by Rocking Chefs" programme that spices up the gourmet food scene at Indigo Pearl and he was offering a six-course gourmet at the resort's flagship Rivet restaurant.

 "Indigo Pearl has a reputation for its unique design and luxurious hospitality," notes Christopher Oakes, the resort's general manager.

"A visit by a master chef complements both the resort and our gastronomic scene. We don't want guests to check into Indigo Pearl just to sleep - but enjoy a fine dining and hedonistic retreat."

The resort itself is stylish with the industrial-chic design evoking the former mining industry but boasting plenty of contemporary details. Its concept has a close link with the Na-Ranong Family whose predecessors were all in the tin mining industry.

 The room is spacious, tucked away at the far side of resort. Bensley worked closely artist John Underwood, a native Australian and Phuket resident in creating the unique furnishings and art pieces seen around the room.

The bathroom boasts plain yet stylish concrete walls mixed with rustic wood poles and a modern rain showerhead in the spacious shower area. A huge outdoor bathtub is available in the "back yard".

Naiyang Beach is walking distance from my room. The sea is high when I check it out, and the beach itself less attractive than the dining table at the Rivet restaurant. 

 The Dutch master chef served his signature dishes including North Sea crab with smoked avocado and glazed beignet, Dover sole with duck liver, Shellfish veloute and duxelles, Red mullet and jus a Becasse and Anjou pigeon with mustard miso. We finish with a balloon of Guanaja chocolate coffee and praline. Beautiful.

Indigo also serves Thai food at the Black Ginger restaurant. We go there on our other night for something that's hot and spicy. The restaurant stands in the middle lagoon, and you need a boat to get there. The traditional Thai house is well made and decorated in black. The light is dim and dark and like all traditional Thai houses feels a little spooky. I find Black Ginger attractive in a gothic way. The Thai chef serves a large selection of contemporary Thai food - varying from miang (a chewy and nutty Thai snack) to famous the tomyam spicy soup. 

 "You better check out the wash rooms," says my friend, after a trip to Black Ginger's facilities. I do and I'm amused by two posters telling the difference between "Gentleman" and Lady" rooms. I won't reveal the secret here but it's worth going out of your way to see it. Indeed, the restroom is a destination in itself, revealing a sense of humour as much as artistic appeal.

Indigo Pearl also serves breakfast at Tin Mine restaurant - a sort of all-day-dining al fresco pavilion surrounded by ponds. The menu has Thai street-style dishes - southern-style coconut curry, wagyu Thai beef salad, grilled king prawns and chocolate fondant. I order phad kraphrao ta-le (pan-fried squid with basil and chilli) with an egg sunny side up on top and immediately wished I hadn't as it is swimming in oyster sauce. Someone should remove the oyster sauce from the supermarket shelves. Seriously. This good, old-fashioned garlicky and spicy dish has been hard to find since the invention of a dark brown condiment made from sugar, salt, water thickened with cornstarch and little oyster essence.

Indigo Pearl, on the bottom line, is a stylish resort that makes a bold statement in design and space. Travellers who revel in industrial chic will love it.

High points: A resort with character that's located beyond the bustling crowds of tourists in Patong. The resort is nestled along the local Naiyang beach and boasts a community path sweeping through a pine plantation. Beach runners will love it.

Low points: Your diet is limited to the resort's outlets and restaurants - which are expensive. 

*****

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