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| Sat 22 Nov 2008 |
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Tag: Phuket
These items have all been tagged with the tag "Phuket", You can see other tags in the Tag Cloud| RAMADA RESORT KARON BEACH, PHUKET (Kids Themed Rooms) |
| 2007-01-24 02:56:40 |
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Until now, the trend for themed hotel rooms has been limited to boutique and art hotels that are strictly for grown-ups. The recently opened Ramada Resort Karon Beach in Phuket is one of the few that are taking the trend and making it family friendly simply by creating fun and magical themed rooms just for kids. The resort features 14 rooms in three different adventure themes such as the Outer Space Room, the Underwater Room and the Castle Room. These themed rooms are all connected to adult rooms so that the entire family can stay close together and enjoy the amenities of those special rooms. Besides the cute themed decoration, the kids rooms feature play-stations, DVD players and 32" TV. Games and movies are themed as well and specifically chosen for their kid-friendly content. All deluxe rooms and suites are equipped with Kidz-friendly toy boxes, which will keep the kids busy in the evening and during any bad weather spells. Other venues in the hotel are also themed just for kids, including a 1950's style rock & roll diner as its main restaurant, another dining venue called the Magic Castle, which is decorated like a film-set. by Billy T. |
| AMANPURI, PHUKET - REVIEW |
| 2006-06-08 18:53:52 |
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This place has more of a boutique feel to it. The first thing that strikes you is the grand black pool positioned in the centre of the lobby, most indulgent. I'm greeted by my host who provides me with a brief tour of the grounds, I'm then escorted by buggy to Villa 20, which is a fair distance from the lobby itself. At the entrance I'm greeted by 4 people - 3 Thais who I later find out are my servants and Antonio, an Italian manager who's been based here for 6 months. My initial thoughts are that perhaps Mick Jagger is standing behind me and none of this is for me . A quick scan of the room and no massive lips in sight means this really is all for me. Antonio leads me down the pathway which resembles a Beverly Hills home, I hum the tune to 90210 in my head and feel a little Luke Perry but I snap out of it quickly. At the end of the entrance lie 8 Buddha's. I'm getting the sense this place is going to be special - around the corner is a well manicured garden, we walk further, and I'm shown the most amazing black pool setting which has a wonderful Tuscan feel to it. Belissimo!. In front of the pool is an enormous relaxation area, the shear size of this place is beginning to set in.I'm shown 2 mini Thai huts ì2 stories each, accommodating 8 in totalì. Antonio is pleased to point out my villa. A terrible feeling as though Antonio has made a mistake sweeps over me. However double checking with him, he assures me that this Villa which could accommodate both the Brady Bunch and Partridge Family with room to spare is all mine. Antonio introduces me to my three staff members who are here to accommodate my every need. I find this a little embarrassing, but I get over it in about six seconds and allow myself to enjoy the idea of being pampered. I don't know what to do first, explore my villa, go for a swim, eat caviar or sunbake, so I do all four and get stomach cramps in the pool. The cramps immediately vanish when I see my hosts approach me - one offering me a cold towel with infused Lavender, the other pours me a glass of iced water and the other a bowl of fruit. To think I didn't even have to ask . After my relaxing swim in a temperature controlled dream pool, I notice the book from my bag has been subtly removed and placed on my deck chair should I care to read. When I retire to my room, I notice my bags have been unpacked and my clothes neatly hung. This is like rubbing a magic lamp with endless wishes. Back at my lounge chair, I take a moment to realize how easy it is for celebrities to get fat. Still that's no reason to be photographed in track pants eating Taco Bell. After my brief moment of sympathy for fatty celebrities I decide to partake in another swim, this place is overwhelming, while floating on water, I look back at this scene that surrounds me and feel blessed for the experience , a 25 meter pool, 3 servants, a Zen garden, 2 relaxation areas, amazing weather and me.ì I'm S.I.T ( So Into This ). The hosts are back ( I'm thanking Buddha my first name isn't Ed ! ) anything we can get you?', 'No, No, I'm fine thank you', 'Are you sure Mr Bill?', 'Um, yes I'm fine thank you.' I'm feeling totally embarrassed that they have to look after me for three days. I'll seek therapy for it later, right now just enjoy! While I relax by the pool lounge, one of my kind hosts brings me a copy of the Bangkok Post newspaper and a selection of magazines from around the world. He offers me lunch, I order a seafood salad which, which is sensationally fresh. Even though the resort has 2 restaurants, for dinner, I decide to eat in (wonton Soup and Chicken Pad Thai). My personal hosts have set my table, one knocks on my villa and tells me dinner is ready, she walks me to the dining area, they've set up candles, I think ' how romantic', then I remember I'm on my own. None the less, I sit, one pours me a glass of wine, the other places my napkin on my lap, this is certainly the lifestyle of the rich & famous, I am yet to qualify for either category. Two days later, I head down to the beach. Whilst there I make the decision to return to my villa, sitting at the beach just wasn't the same, I felt ordinary there, where as in the villa I felt like a VIP, naturally I called the buggy and go back to my temporary life as a celebrity. My generous hosts are back, this is slightly awkward as I don't need anything as they have given so much, however they naturally await any requests. At the risk of sounding indulgent the thought crosses my mind questioning the limitations of what they can bring for their guests. Are there any limits? Hard to find cuisine? A selection of hand made Belgian chocolates? A ride on a elephant? It seems nothing is impossible here. Later I call Antonio, the assistant manager and ask him to show me the best villa around. He takes me to Villa 23/24 & 17 (Bono's favorite), just as good as my palacial suite I'm in but larger in size. The villas here are as big as the homes in Beverly Hills, huge acres, some up to 9000 square metres. Like all Italians, Antonio is very animated, charming and passionate about what he does. I asked him are there any limits to their incredible service - "We don't like to say no"ù he replies. Just the answer I expect the guests at Amanpuri appreciate. A recent guest who had his mega yacht moored in Asia wanted to experience Amanpuri with his yacht at his disposal but did not want to sail it here himself, no problem, Amanpuri organized to have someone sail it to the hotel for him and back again. And I wanted an elephant ride? Doh! You want Caviar from the best restaurant in France, no problem, we'll fly it inì It's that kind of environment. In terms of social interaction with other guests, I had none as I didn't leave my villa, but come peak period, Dec - Mar (one needs to book months in advance) this place hosts the 'creme de la creme' If your a networker, influential business contacts are a plenty. What a great environment to do business whilst indulging in the utmost of pleasures. It is probably not very often that Belinda Carlisle gets quoted, however it is entirely appropriate at this point. "Ohhhh , Heaven is a place on earth", and Amanpuri is just that, Heaven On earth. by Billy T |
| SLEEPING BEAUTY - OWN YOUR PIECE OF EXOTICA |
| 2006-05-31 23:58:28 |
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| BANYAN TREE SPA - PHUKET |
| 2006-05-31 23:45:28 |
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The hotel spa is no longer just a place to grab a quick massage to alleviate your jet lag. The best hotels in the world have taken the spa concept to a whole new level, transforming their spas into little utopias of relaxation, rejuvenation and pure pampering. The modern spa is a ultra exclusive hideaway, a place where you can retreat from the outside world. Leaders in the new spa concept include the new Four Seasons Langkawi in Malaysia, Kara Spa at the Park Hyatt in Los Angeles and Plateau in the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong. The Banyan Tree resort in Phuket Thailand houses one of the world's most luxurious Spas. Instead of one big area with treatment rooms, Banyan Tree's Spa is actually 14 beautiful villas - four Royal Pavilions and eight slightly smaller Garden Pavilions set along one side of the pool. Each one has a miniature walled garden containing two massage beds, for couples who like to take treatments at the same time. Aside from being beautiful the villas afford guests total privacy and absolute one-on-one attention. Coolhunter's spa experience (the Lomi Lomi massage) certainly lived up to expectations. It was bliss with a capital B and relaxation with a capital R. Afterwards, as I sat in the steam room while my massuer was preparing the shower, I realised I had absolutely no idea what day it was. Needless to say that night I slept the best I have ever slepted in my life. by Billy T |
| BANYAN TREE PHUKET - REVIEW |
| 2006-05-30 19:30:59 |
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Forget Europe's hot spots, if you're aching for a moment of pure, indulgent, unashamedly hedonistic bliss you MUST put a stay at Phuket's exclusive Banyan Tree resort on the top of your to-do-before-i-die-list. The gods were smiling upon me this week when I got to sample this slice of super-luxe-heaven myself. My real-life fantasy began like this: The Banyan Limo awaits at the airport, a gentle smiling chauffeur greets me. Within 30 minutes I arrive, greeted by a barrage of staff bowing to me as if I am some kind of Buddha, one of whom hands me a bracelet made out of Jasmine flowers (very Fantasy Island). They form a phalanx around me like protective body guards, escorting me through the grand foyer. So this is how Mick Jagger feels, I think to myself. But the star treatment is no act, it's sincere and endearingly polite - so humbling to be on the receiving end. A golf buggy awaits, the resort is so big that they require the buggies to ferry guests to their villas. I arrive at Villa 205. The Pool Villa (pic above). Sonthaya, my private host welcomes me. I'm completely blown away. The bed, ever so inviting, faces out to the pool. I've stayed in numerous 5 star resorts in my time but this one is exceptional. Sonthaya explains where everything is, a beach bag with a towel and sunscreen is prepared for me, a fruit bowl with some exceptional fruit sits on the table, my own toiletry bag with everything in it. They have thought of everything, even an outdoor bath to soak in later. After Sonthaya leaves I decide, like a scene out of Porky's, I strip naked and jump right into the pool. It's extremely private and not only can nobody else see in, it feels as if I have the resort to myself. But then I've barely left the villa, it's that kind of place. On the second day, I head out to the beach just a two minute walk away. I spot a French couple enjoying an $8 per/1 hr foot massage on their lounge chairs. By the end of the day I have a golden tan. Later I spot the Presidential suite, or what I've dubbed The rockstars VILLA. It has its own private drive-away entrance so paparazzi shy-celebs can glide straight in from the airport. I'm told Liz Hurley, Olivia Newton John and Pierce Brosnon have stayed there recently. The following morning as I head out for breakfast walking pass numerous staff who, bow after bow, greet me in Thai 'Sawatdi Kha'. Their smiles contagious and its then I realize what makes this place so special. It's the exceptional service. The Banyan Tree more than deserves its perpetual place on Conde Nast Traveller's HOT LIST. It's the service, those gently sincere smiling faces, are like nothing I've ever experienced before. At the extraordinary breakfast buffet I mouth the words OH MY GOD over and over as I swallow bite after bite of the perfectly made omelette, poppy seed pancakes, the fruit, the yoghurt, washed down with pineapple and mint juice. The waitress asks if I would like a copy of the paper, another one passes asking if I would like champagne, "coffee or tea Mr Bill". I order peppermint, I pour a cup, spilling a drop on the plate and it's replaced a second later. The attention to detail by the staff is incredible. I'm not surprised The Banyan Tree Phuket is one of the most traveled destinations in Asia. The privacy of one of the 127 private walled villas creates the feeling of utter seclusion. I'm told it's a favorite amongst celebrities, royalty, and other VIPs because it's so paparazzi-proof. It's difficult to avoid hyperbole when talking about the Banyan Tree. It has earned its reputation through its indulgent service, radiant beauty and spectacular setting. We have hunted cool before and will again, however my stay at the Bayan exceeds the word cool and encompasses something brighter, deeper and stronger which resonates within you long after you have parted ways. by Billy T |
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