Surin, Phuket

The Surin Phuket (formerly The Chedi) lies discreetly hidden in Pansea Bay, one of Phuket's finest and most secluded beaches. The resort is situated in a bay around the beach, tropical palms meet powder white sand and the water is clear and turquoise blue. Surin is the name of the next bay along which doubles back towards the back of the resort.

The beach here is private with access shared by just the Surin and Amanpuri hotels, so its never crowded and there are no vendors. One of The Surins’ key features is having access to this spectacular private beach combined with a range of local restaurants in Surin which is just a 5 minute walk away. This combination is rare in Thailand where a secluded beach often means an isolated location.

With its distinctive design, The Surin incorporates natural colours and elements of historical artworks into its build, with more than a nod to Thailand's 'Wat' temple architecture too. The hotel is built on a hillside with the restaurant, lobby and resort arrival area near the top of the hill. Its 103 cottages and suites are spread down the hillside connected by jungle pathways. Hillside Cottage's are at the top of the hill Deluxe Cottages and Beach Suites are located at the bottom on the beach front. Other categories are located in between. The hotel is child-friendly and its two Bedroom Superior and Deluxe Cottages can accommodate up to four adults or a couple with two children.

All room categories offer a dressing area and outdoor sun deck and all mod cons such as complimentary Wi-Fi and flat screen TV, Beach Suites have the additional feature of an Ipod with Bose sound-dock.

The hexagonal swimming pool dominates the resort’s lower levels, although the quality of the beach may make this a superfluous feature for many travellers. The hotel also has an on-site spa, gym, tennis courts and a dive centre.

The Surin has three restaurants and bars offering cocktails and quality Western and Thai cuisine, but in-room dining can also be arranged. The hotel hosts beachfront barbecues and Thai cooking lessons.

In essence, The Surin combines a superb location with the facilities and levels of service expected from a five star hotel.