Luxury Hotels - Trisara in Phuket or Six Senses Yao Noi

Planning my honeymoon in Thailand and would appreciate your thoughts on these two options. Both really look great from what I've read on here, other boards and the Visa Signature website.

Does anyone have thoughts on the difficulty of the boat transfer to Yao Noi versus the easy airport transfer to Trisara? This is of particular concern as we'll be arriving after midnight from ICN.

Thanks in advance!

Planning my honeymoon in Thailand and would appreciate your thoughts on these two options. Both really look great from what I've read on here, other boards and the Visa Signature website.

Does anyone have thoughts on the difficulty of the boat transfer to Yao Noi versus the easy airport transfer to Trisara? This is of particular concern as we'll be arriving after midnight from ICN.

Thanks in advance!

Trisara provides complimentary airport transfers, so that may be one consideration.

Took a quick look at the Visa Signature website. Virtuoso amenities seem a touch richer:

Trisara

Upgrade upon arrival, subject to availability
Full American breakfast daily for up to two in-room guests, served in the restaurant (vs. continental breakfast with Visa)
Late check-out, subject to availability
A US $100 spa credit per room once per stay (vs. $25 F&B credit with Visa)


Six Senses Yao Noi

Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Buffet breakfast daily for up to two in-room guests (vs. continental breakfast with Visa)
Complimentary Wi-Fi access in Villa
One Signature 60-minute Fusion massage per person (up to two per room, per stay.) (vs. $25 F&B credit with Visa)

I do not think you can begin to compare Trisara with Yao Noi. Trisara is a much more comfortable resort with excellent service & food. And by the way, they also offer free WiFi in all accommodation.

As the OP is arriving at midnight, Trisara is also a better option as it is an easy drive from Phuket airport.

I would add Amanpuri to your list.

Thank you for the replies. Can anyone comment on the pros and cons of being on the mainland (Trisara) versus on Koh Yao Noi (Six Senses) in terms of off property food, activities?

An additional note of thanks for the replies. I have a similar decision for an upcoming trip and was considering Yao Noi or the Ritz Phulay Bay, which both seem to have good off-season rates this summer. Trisara's 200/night voucher makes that seem more tempting, but it's hard to tell if that would be worth spending an extra 500 per day over the other two.

How much time do you have? Would you consider splitting it between the two?

Thank you for the replies. Can anyone comment on the pros and cons of being on the mainland (Trisara) versus on Koh Yao Noi (Six Senses) in terms of off property food, activities?

Service: Trisara +++, SSYN +
Spectacular Views: Trisara o, SSYN +++
Breakfast: Trisara ++, SSYN +++
Food after Breakfast: Trisara ++, SSYN +
Room Quality: Trisara +++, SSYN -
Bathroom Quality: Trisara +++, SSYN ---
Spa Quality: Trisara ++, SSYN ++
Activities: Trisara ++, SSYN ++
Beach: Trisara o, SSYN o
Private Villa Pools: Trisara perfectly swimable, SSYN only plungable (too short)

To summarize it: SSYN has one of the most spectacular views of any resort worldwide, so it is great to see it. Also great boat trips from there through the fantastic rock landscape with fine snorkeling. But due to its very rustic build quality and some service lapses, it does not feel as much as a luxury resort than Trisara does. Here the build quality of the rooms and the facilities is absolutely fantastic.

For me, the really worst and absolutely hateble thing about SSYN are the non-climatized-open-plan-bathrooms - that means, if you go from the climatized bedroom to the bathroom in the night, you get both heat shock and sometimes even insect/bat/bird-contact... Whereas the quality of Trisaras Villas is fantastic: The most calm air condition in any resort worldwide, highest privacy levels, great service feelings.

If you land at midnight, the boat transfer to Yao Noi is a problem. Maybe you should split and take some nights at Trisara first, and then 2 or 3 more nights at Yao Noi due to the fantastic landscape.

I would not recommend Amanpuri, since both management attention and build quality (very old and loud Aircon!) are not as good as in most other Amanresorts.

I would not recommend Amanpuri, since both management attention and build quality (very old and loud Aircon!) are not as good as in most other Amanresorts.

Have to disagree. Most Aman fans would put Puri at or near the top of the list of best Aman resorts.

definitely not here in this forum, anywhere near

but it may currently be on an upswing here? (amanpulo definitely is, a very strong one here)

Planning my honeymoon in Thailand and would appreciate your thoughts on these two options. Both really look great from what I've read on here, other boards and the Visa Signature website.

Does anyone have thoughts on the difficulty of the boat transfer to Yao Noi versus the easy airport transfer to Trisara? This is of particular concern as we'll be arriving after midnight from ICN.

Thanks in advance!

For a honeymoon I would not be inclined to take risks, I would want to be assured of comfort, excellent service, and excellent food, so my pick would be Trisara. Also, the airport transfers to and from Trisara will be effortless.

It is true that the views from Trisara will not be the same, but one way to compensate for this would be to take some speed boat excursions to places like Koh Phi Phi, Phang Nga bay, or even the Similan Islands.

If you have enough time for both resorts they could be combined, but otherwise Yao Noi can be saved for a future trip.

Agree withMikeFromTokyo. Go with Trisara. We do lots of trips that are cultural and somewhat adventurous eg Burma last time - and we want to couple that with some nice luxury hotels. Trisara always fits the bill in that part of the world. He rooms are perfectly appointed, the private pool good sized, beautiful outdoor space - well I should say go for the ocean view or ocean front villa! Views are not as glorious, but still beautiful. As said previously you can go see on day trip! You will still have a lovely ocean view and fabulous room. Service is good too!
We used to go to Amanpuri. Used to love it. Still want to love it as fantastic beach, setting, and ambiance, but rooms at Trisara surpassed so much IMHO. However, now they have 1and 2 bedroom pool villas so may be worth going back! Great excuse anyway! The bigger private villas did not make sense for two, but the new ones pound intriguing!

Agree withMikeFromTokyo. Go with Trisara. We do lots of trips that are cultural and somewhat adventurous eg Burma last time - and we want to couple that with some nice luxury hotels. Trisara always fits the bill in that part of the world. He rooms are perfectly appointed, the private pool good sized, beautiful outdoor space - well I should say go for the ocean view or ocean front villa! Views are not as glorious, but still beautiful. As said previously you can go see on day trip! You will still have a lovely ocean view and fabulous room. Service is good too!
We used to go to Amanpuri. Used to love it. Still want to love it as fantastic beach, setting, and ambiance, but rooms at Trisara surpassed so much IMHO. However, now they have 1and 2 bedroom pool villas so may be worth going back! Great excuse anyway! The bigger private villas did not make sense for two, but the new ones pound intriguing!

I have stayed in one of the new Pool Villas at Amanpuri. The exteriors are very spacious, but the interiors are exactly the same as all the other pavilions at Amanpuri. if you want great accommodation, then an ocean-view pool villa at Trisara is unbeatable.

Great to know! Will stick with my villa 207 at Trisara! Going again after Sri Lanka in Jamuary and want a " for sure" thing! Trisara is certainly it after what is a maybe in Sri Lanka!

Try both if you have the time.

Larkin is right. The villas are nicer at Trisara, but everything else is better at Amanpuri especially the beach. Read the multiple threads in this forum which compare the two... especially

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxury-hotels/1341069-trip-report-amanpuri-trisara-amanpulo.html?highlight=trisara

which in my opinion is very complete and for the most part (except re food) very accurate.