From the private bays of Phuket to the hillside villas of Koh Samui, the coast you choose shapes the whole stay
The best luxury resorts in Thailand are shaped by the coast they stand on. The Andaman side, with Phuket and Krabi, has private bays and limestone cliffs, Koh Samui in the Gulf has hillside villas above calm water, and the north offers a very different stay among rivers and hills.
Each coast has its own weather calendar, so the choice of region comes before the choice of resort. This guide covers the main regions, the difference between a resort and a villa stay, and how the seasons shape a trip.
Phuket is the easiest place to begin. Amanpuri stands on its own peninsula at Pansea Beach, on the west coast, about 30 minutes from the airport, with pavilions and villas. Trisara lies on the northwest coast beside a secluded beach reserved for resident guests, and offers private pool villas and larger residences. Rosewood Phuket sits on Emerald Bay and offers pool pavilions, villas, and houses.
Krabi is quieter. Rayavadee stands at the tip of the Phranang Peninsula, inside Krabi Marine National Park, and guests finish the journey by boat. The route is a flight of about an hour from Bangkok to Krabi, a short drive to Nong Nuch pier, and a boat ride of about 20 minutes. Its 94 two-storey pavilions and seven villas sit among tropical gardens. You can see the setting on the Rayavadee website.
Koh Samui lies in the Gulf of Thailand. Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui occupies the northwest tip of the island, with 60 hillside villas, each with a private infinity pool, above Laem Yai Bay.
In the north, Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle stands where the Ruak and Mekong rivers meet, close to Laos and Myanmar. It has 15 tents and one two-bedroom lodge, and it suits travellers who want a change from the beach.
A resort offers service, restaurants, a spa, and a beach under one name. A villa stay offers more privacy and space, often with its own pool, and sometimes a host or a chef.
In Thailand the two often overlap. Amanpuri has villas with their own pools and personal chefs, Trisara offers private pool residences with up to ten bedrooms, and Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui lets you stay in a single villa or take a larger private residence. This suits couples who want seclusion and families or groups who want to stay together, and our guide to luxury family resorts covers that side in more detail.
Many travellers also pair Thailand with another island, and our guide to luxury hotels in Bali covers that route. If the spa is the main reason for the trip, see our guide to luxury spa hotels.
The Andaman coast, with Phuket and Krabi, is usually at its best from November to April. The Tourism Authority of Thailand notes that the Andaman season begins in October, when the sea parks reopen after the monsoon, and that the dry season usually settles in by December.
Koh Samui follows a different calendar. It is usually at its best from December to June, with the heaviest rain towards the end of the year. In November, the Andaman coast is often the better choice, and in May and June, Koh Samui.
Many journeys begin in Bangkok, where our guides to rooftop bars in Bangkok and Michelin star restaurants in Bangkok help plan the first evening. For the airport on either end, see our guide to VIP airport assistance.
Tell us when you plan to travel and what kind of stay you want, and we will arrange the resort or villa
Choosing among luxury resorts in Thailand starts with your dates, your group, and the style of stay. We then recommend a coast and request the resort or villa that fits. We arrange the transfers, including boat and domestic flight connections, plan your days, and stay as your single point of contact throughout. Thailand often sits inside a longer journey, so we can also plan the stops before and after it.
It depends on the month, as the Andaman coast around Phuket and Krabi is usually best from November to April, while Koh Samui in the Gulf is usually best from December to June
A resort offers service, dining, and a spa under one roof, while a villa offers more privacy and space, often with a private pool, and several resorts, including Amanpuri and Trisara, offer both
Phuket has well-known resort addresses such as Amanpuri, Trisara, and Rosewood Phuket, while Koh Samui is a Gulf island known for hillside villas, and the better choice depends on your dates
Yes, a beach stay and a stay in the north can be planned as one journey, and we arrange the flights, transfers, and order of stops
As soon as your dates are fixed, and early for the busy cooler months, especially December and January
