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Amanpuri - umptenth time :) ; to celebrate her anniversary / birthday :)

100   Recommended
Pool pavilion
July 15, 2018 by EXPERT

 Map | 4 Reviews | 50% Recommended
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Amanpuri
 Map | 4 Reviews | 50% Recommended

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Pool pavilion

Liked:
Location
Service
Food
Amenities
Room
Stats
Room
Pool pavilion

Preamble ..

 

This is Amanpuri ‘ s 30 th year !!!

Through the years , it has always felt like coming home , & I hope many more years to Puri even with changes sometimes not for the best ( for guests or staff ) , and numerous Amans to choose from these days .

 

View from 105 .

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With much construction still ongoing , the 1.. ? level is closed / unfit for occupation due to noise / dust , along with some others and many villas .

This includes conversion of some pavilions to pool pavilions on 2 / 3 / 4 series & on spa side .

So for AMANjunkies coming home , like us , it is like moving from one of favourite master bedrooms to another favourite at home when choosing not to move out during a major refurbishment ( arriving home as scheduled but works completion delayed :( )  ..

 

In low season with the SW monsoon blowing , this is what we get often with sun in between . Can be rather blustery but amazing whitecaps , & such .

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With many pavillons closed , occupancy is in our favour :)

 

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Check In

 

After a brief welcome at the lobby by covering GM & some team members . We chose not to transfer to a “ buggy “ but remain in our new Amanpuri MPV to be driven to our ‘ room ‘ for the check in routine .

Smooth as usual in our pool pavilion .

 

Lots of our favourite fruits ( & more ) all ready to eat , cut and uncut .

 

Towards Bang Tao Bay

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Room

Entry to our pool pavilion with 2 salas 

First sala 

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View to the left of the entry . Some works going on below with a glimpse of the Andaman Sea in between the coconut trees .

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We have stayed in this pool pavilion before .

Actually have been in 2 of the 3 originals , the 3rd is not so private . When we come with some of the family , we are in the other as there is a connecting garden door .

As you can see , our TV is set up . Apologies given again that it is on the small side . In keeping with the original Aman ethos , there are no TVs in pavilions unlike in the villas . ( TVs can be requested but may soon be in pavilions )

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Some mangosteens & Thai oranges by the bedside table .

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Our other view & second sala 

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Lower tide ; stronger winds !

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Dining

Seasoned AMANjunkies are ‘ adjusting ‘ to the new normal . Puri , being the flagship & largest of the Amans , now also functions as a testing ground .

Restaurants having names ? Let ‘ s start with the Italian ..

The Italian was always just Italian until now , who wants to remember names when jet lagging ?? 

Arva 

Thankfully , the food is as good as it has been even with some further changes - in the menu & staffing .. muzak , etcetera too . 

It has been too windy to be at the Thai or Nama pop up at the lower bar . So savouring desserts later , see below , before the rains came was also wise .

We were so ‘ stuffed ‘ after a thoroughly enjoyable main meal of Italian & Thai at the Italian , that we had to continue our desserts a fair bit later .

 

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A few photos 

Appetisers that came with drinks

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Tod man pla

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Vitello tonnato variation 

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Favourite zuchinni strips , beetroot ‘ butter ‘ , lamb rack & Normandy butter

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Did not make it to the South American bar lounge “ restaurant “ directly beneath on this visit . 

The temporary in villa spa

Well , the spa is being expanded and will become a Wellness Centre . 

If one had stayed when Puri reopened for the season , treatments would have been in room .

Currently a villa is being used - temporarily .

One of the salas , where the welcome tea is served . We opted to be in the airconditioned lounge .

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View outside the spa room

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View from higher up , note the buildings across the bay . None when Puri first opened . More & more now as this beautiful area is discovered & which provide twinkling light ups at night ;) , other than from fishing boats in the distance ..

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Service

Almost stellar .. as occupancy is low - still with some hiccups . Room is not tidied after one leaves each time .

 

Newer team members are trying , unlike some recent years when it was very “ worrisome “ .

Location

It is where the best beach in Phuket is  . Still somewhat away from the madding crowd .

Perfect when it opened 30 years ago :) .

 

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WIP - for the better ?

 

Come September , these should be ready

 

- The Spa is being expanded & more - Wellness Retreat with various specialties .

The Spa & Wellness Retreat to be

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Still at work at night 

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- The Kids Club or “ Youth Discovery Centre “

With many AMANjunkies now being great grandparents , it is a good move to have a separate area for the children .. in addition to the current children ’ s pool . Even I will look forward to rock climbing ;)

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Too noisy to enjoy the Beach Club now except during lunch break ..

A bit better down by the beach with the sound of crashing waves drowning out some construction noise

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- Some new pool pavilions 

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The gardeners have been moving new plants / trees for landscaping .

The next time we stay , it is highly likely that this new infinity pool pavilion will be out of sight - on the spa side .

 

There are now 3 & when these are ready , there will be 9 pool pavilions .

 

Odds & ends

 

The brand of bottled water is different . Still in glass bottles  . Asking why the change .

Evian ( plastic bottles ) is no more in the BMWs or Vellfires either . To be fair , Evian in glass bottles were provided for us . 

 

The clam shaped soaps are smaller .

Straws are now biogradeable :)

 

In process of going ‘ greener ‘ , but with TVs in pavilions in the works .

 

No password required for wifi , all over this huge property , unlike some other Amans which require name / suite ..

 

The original beach is closed as usual during low / SW Monsoon season , the waves crash even on the lower steps of the iconic steps ! We did not even go on them this time to the tapas lounge . The winds are so strong that holding the iPad Pro to take the photos you see was quite an exercise in itself ..

New HM ( from AmanYY ) & F & B Manager on board by August .

Overall

 

A fond farewell by at least 10 including Karin ( see her at Bagh next ) , Preeya & Davide ..

Another enjoyable stay despite Puri being partially opened . 

 

For first timers though , best wait till October or even November to appreciate Amanpuri in her latest best “ reinvention “ .

 

Will be interesting to see how the youth discovery area will be ‘ managed ‘ as the aquarium , activities , etcetera planned are brilliant if what I heard is correct .

The Wellness Centre seems promising , it might come close to Chiva Som ‘ s san the aqua bit .

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