Best luxury beach resort in Southeast Asia
Mar 11, 2019, 9:19 am
#31
formerly known as deathscar
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Mar 11, 2019, 9:57 am
#32
Join Date: Jan 2013
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Last edited by Pausanias; Mar 11, 2019 at 10:02 am
Mar 12, 2019, 8:10 am
#33
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 323
The thing with both Amanoi and Amanpulo is simply that they are quite far from SIN. No, not terribly far away, but we'll be flying from ARN, so we will already have quite some time on the plane.
We then have 10 days on the ground in total, and I want at least 3-4 nights in SIN/KUL, leaving only 6-7 nights for something else. And then Amanpulo/Amanoi simply is quite far. I think it's better to go there on different trips.
We then have 10 days on the ground in total, and I want at least 3-4 nights in SIN/KUL, leaving only 6-7 nights for something else. And then Amanpulo/Amanoi simply is quite far. I think it's better to go there on different trips.
Any comments on the Andaman/Datai? My father recently stayed in both Phuket, Krabi, Khao Lak and the Andaman (Langkawi) and he said the beach at the Andaman was much better than all the other beaches. He’s not a luxury traveler, so I wouldn’t put much weight into how we perceives hotels, but for a beach I’d trust him.
Although both the Datai and the Andaman are owned by the same owner and share the beach, I wouldn't have to think for more than 0.5 of a second to choose the Datai over the Andaman - for the Datai's iconic Kerry Hill architecture and discreet jungle vibe. If you're interested in the Andaman and status benefits or booking on points or whatever I think you're probably missing the point of this forum a bit and you'd probably get more relevant answers on the SPG forum.
Personally I have now given up on SE Asia for any sort of beach experience and I'm just grateful that I saw it at its best (though I do rather hanker after Amanoi). Take that beach for instance on Ko Phi Phi, the one made famous by the DiCaprio movie, we had it just to ourselves. Tourist numbers in the region have reached swarm of locust proportions and hotel development is out of control.
Last edited by ajca; Mar 12, 2019 at 8:15 am Reason: Extra quote typo
Mar 12, 2019, 5:03 pm
#34
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Conrad Koh Samui is in my view a pretty luxurious property - but that is really rare for large chains such as Conrad which I would say according to the consensus in this forum are not generally really "luxury properties". Conrad is still sort of a glorified Hilton in most cases. As you know, the Conrad Koh Samui architecture and views from the rooms are pretty incredible. But that is a bit of an anomaly in the Conrad portfolio and if that has set your expectation for other Conrad level properties (with similar prices) then I think you are setting yourself up to be quite disappointed.
In my view there are two Langkawis - the one perfect unspoilt Langkawi carefully nestled into a beautiful private beach backed up by 10 million year rainforest in Datai Bay (where the Datai and the Andaman are), and the overtouristed Lankawi (everywhere else, including the FS with its views of the concrete factory). I would not go to the overtouristed Langkawi any day, but I would go back to the Datai Bay Langkawi any day.
Although both the Datai and the Andaman are owned by the same owner and share the beach, I wouldn't have to think for more than 0.5 of a second to choose the Datai over the Andaman - for the Datai's iconic Kerry Hill architecture and discreet jungle vibe. If you're interested in the Andaman and status benefits or booking on points or whatever I think you're probably missing the point of this forum a bit and you'd probably get more relevant answers on the SPG forum.
Mar 12, 2019, 8:50 pm
#35
Join Date: Jan 2005
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Have you tried Ngapali? Would be interested to know if it meets your standards. Some colleagues of mine went there last year, and raved about its fine powdery sand and the relative tranquility of the area. No luxury hotel (yet), but supposedly very unspoiled (for now.)
Personally I have now given up on SE Asia for any sort of beach experience and I'm just grateful that I saw it at its best (though I do rather hanker after Amanoi). Take that beach for instance on Ko Phi Phi, the one made famous by the DiCaprio movie, we had it just to ourselves. Tourist numbers in the region have reached swarm of locust proportions and hotel development is out of control.
Mar 14, 2019, 2:08 pm
#36
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
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This thread is really below the level that qualifies for luxury hotels and appears to be trending even further in that direction. So I am going to move it to the Asia forum where it could get a better response.
RichardInSF, moderator, luxury hotels and travel
RichardInSF, moderator, luxury hotels and travel