We step out of limpid, tropical air into
the rich, dark-wood, terraced lobby.
Several staff take everything from your
hands, sit you down and give you a cup of Wonderful Sky. Instantly refreshed,
you wonder why you've never had it before. It's because they invented it:
spring water, cinnamon, honey, lime juice and pandanus (a Thai herb). Like
everything at the Tongsai Bay resort in Thailand's Koh Samui, it's exceptional.
With 83 rooms nestled into 28 acres of
green hillside, each room, family cottage and villa overlooks Tongsai Bay
beneath a sky that alternates between shades of blue, green and flaming sunset
amber.
Enjoy your own private space in a Beach Villa
Of nature's glory my children take no
notice, and yours won't either. What they do immediately see and love are two
pools. One for adults and one for kids.
Then there are the family activities for
all ages; kayaking, tennis, sailing, paddle-boarding, windsurfing, Thai music,
dancing, language and, err, fruit carving - the children loved hacking at
nutritious fruit without having to eat it. You go to your room, or better still
to your villa with an oversized bathtub on a deck with a stunning view. Maybe
first you'll have a massage.
Massage is to Thailand what wine is to
France. The interaction between you and the masseuse is a cross between
thermodynamics and yoga. It's serious.
Relaxing at the spa at Tongsai Bay Resort
And then there are the wonders produced in the
kitchens. Whether it's Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Italian or European cuisine,
they've got it all.
The kids exclaim: 'This is the best burger,
waffle, ice cream etc ever!' You're
astounded by the wonder that is Kha Soi Kai (curried chicken with egg noodles).
I had the Tongsai Bay eggs benedict with
hash browns and Penang curry and immediately booked a private cooking class.
While I learned to whip up a four-course
Thai lunch, my husband learned to do nothing and the children played ping-pong
and billiards. Then they all devoured the lunch.
Managers Martin Heiniger and Mark Harrison
lead an award-winning team who have a deep, eco-responsible respect for the
environment, including running their own organic garden.
We toured it with Earng from reception and
chef Golf (her nickname - almost everyone has one, including 'Guitar' at
reception).
They displayed all their herbs, including
Morning Glory. Yes, I know what that phrase means and so do the ladies here.
They giggled and then showed my husband the organic cucumbers.
The family-owned, family-friendly Tongsai
Bay resort may be secluded but it is just a short drive to all manner of
adventures. The rainforest Skyhawk zip line turns you into a superhero.
The freeform pool at Tongsai Bay Resort overlooks the sea
You can have a day trip to a pristine
emerald lagoon with snorkelling, kayaking and lunch.
You can go crazy in banging, neon clubs and
then return to the calm of the Tongsai Bay, and this exclusive tranquillity is
at the heart of its magic. You always feel as if they have all the time in the
world for you and that you're the only ones there. That's their secret.
The resort celebrated its 30th anniversary
in 2017, still with employees from when they opened as the first luxury hotel
on Koh Samui.
We left Koh Samui for 'the greatest city in
the world'. At least that's the view of Bjorn Richard Richardson, manager of
137 Pillars Suites & Residences, in the heart of Bangkok. This
hotel-cum-residence is inventive, cool and busy.
137 Pillars and Suites offers a variety of luxury facilities and a rooftop pool
The clever design touches include details
such as a check-in lounge with a massage chair, shower and sleeping pod, and a
digital golf facility with a resident pro. The hotel's London cab runs you to
and from all nearby hotspots and Nori and the reception team will take care of
all your planning.
The 27th-floor pool is a crowning touch and
the Nimitr restaurant is elegant and inventive. In Bangkok, one must go to
Chatuchak (world's biggest market), Chinatown (the world's biggest) and the
reclining Buddha statue (the world's biggest). And then return to the
tranquillity of 137 Pillars.
First published in the Mail on Sunday - August 2018
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