Classic Thailand

Drawing on its reputation for elegance and personalization, the Capella Bangkok is nestled along the east bank of the Chao Phraya River, providing panoramic views from all 101 rooms, suites, and villas. The hotel has also thrown a couple of hats into the capital city’s ring of culinary offerings with two gourmet restaurants and a waterfront patio area that’s perfect for al-fresco dining. Three-Michelin-starred Argentinian chef Mauro Colagreco is the mastermind behind much of Capella’s cuisine, and there is a specialty bar offering desserts and artisan cocktails. Among other amenities, there is an oriental tea lounge, open-air spa, outdoor pool, and even an in-house Capella Library. Finally, in trademark Capella fashion, personal assistants are made available to guests to ensure a luxury stay in Bangkok.

As visually stunning as it is luxurious, the 30-story Rosewood Bangkok occupies a prime location in the heart of Thailand’s bustling capital. But while its striking geometric angles and top-to-bottom glass windows certainly draw attention, the hotel really shines in its stylish, exclusive facilities and accommodations that lie just minutes away from some of the most fascinating activities in Bangkok. Several highly revered temples lie within an easy boat crossing or taxi ride away, some of the city’s most high-end retail establishments are within walking distance, and nearby Lumpini Park – Bangkok’s largest greenspace with a central lake – features recreation from basketball to ballroom dancing. Accommodations are styled in contemporary residential fashion with a focus on making guests feel as though they’re in the personalized comfort of their own manor homes. The uniquely decorated rooms, suites, and houses feature elegant furnishings and indulgent touches, such as private pools and terraces. Travelers wishing to venture out and experience the nearby cultural attractions will enjoy the Rosewood Bangkok’s direct connection to Ploenchit BTS Station and close proximity to Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang expressways.

Overlooking the Chao Phraya river, the iconic Peninsula’s commanding views of the city’s skyline make it one of the most elegant choices in Bangkok. Designed with a blend of modern and traditional Thai decor, the hotel provides all of the comforts of home with an exotic flair, all with the level of quality service and amenities that define the Peninsula. The hotel boasts three restaurants: Mei Jiang for Cantonese cuisine; Thiptara for Thai home-style cooking on an open-air pavilion; and the River Cafe and Bar, located on the banks of the river. The excellent spa, ESPA, offers state-of-the-art treatments, and an extensive fitness center includes a pool set in a garden complex. The Peninsula is located approximately 45 minutes by car from Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK).

The Siam Hotel is set on 3 acres of verdant lawn along the city side of Bangkok’s main river, the Chao Praya. The Siam is a private 39-room luxury retreat with its own unique historical background located in Bangkok’s royal Dusit district. Designed by internationally acclaimed architect Bill Bensley, the property is Art Deco inspired with infusions of Thai antiques and traditional architecture. Guests have an array of amenities at their fingertips: restaurants, a cooking school, bar, café, spa, gym, yoga terrace, Muay Thai boxing ring, beauty salon, library/cinema, infinity pool, gift/antiques gallery, conservatory and traditional Thai houses. The Siam’s 39 suites and pool villas are noticeably spacious and well equipped with modern conveniences. All rooms are outfitted with plush furnishings, super-sized king beds and lofty ceilings. Each suite is individually designed with original turn-of-the-century Oriental artwork and antiquities and is catered for by a personal butler. Complimentary WiFi is available property-wide. Onsite dining options include a Thai restaurant, international cuisine bistro, bar and coffee and cakes shop. The Siam Hotel is approximately 50 minutes from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK).

Located in the heart of Wat Gate, an area in Chiang Mai that was formerly designated to foreigners by the government, 137 Pillars House sits idyllically along the Ping River, adjacent to Wat Gate Khar Rham Temple. Combining the regality of traditional Thai elegance with modern luxury, this boutique hotel offers amenities including high-speed wireless internet access, laundry service, a 24-hour on-call medical professional, babysitting services, a spa, outdoor swimming pool and a fitness facility. The Dining Room offers classic Thai cuisine, one of the many dining options offered at the hotel. 137 Pillars House is approximately 25 minutes by car from Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX).

The Four Seasons Chiang Mai blends with its natural surroundings seamlessly, with trees growing between and around the resort, overlooking terraced rice fields and the mountains of the Mae Rim Valley. The resort has 64 boutique pavilions, each with a private veranda, as well as 16 private luxury residences. The Sala Mae Rim serves Thai cuisine and offers sweeping views of the valley below, and the Terraces have international dishes with a view of the Doi Suthep mountain range. The hotel has a health club with state of the art equipment, including a sauna, herbal steam room, whirlpool, cold plunge pool, 20-meter infinity edge swimming pool, a business center and wi-fi access. There are also mountain bikes available for use, along with maps of trails through the surrounding forest. The Spa at the Four Seasons Chiang Mai has seven treatment suites with rain shower massage tables and private herbal steam rooms. Professional spa therapists can help you choose the best treatment package for your needs. The hotel is 25 minutes from Chiang Mai International Airport.

The Anantara is a chic luxury retreat perched atop a high mountain ridge overlooking the confluence of the Mekong and Ruak rivers, and close to Thailand's borders with Laos and Myanmar. It has 58 guest rooms and 19 suites decorated in a style that blends the best of the area's rich fabric and woodcarving traditions with contemporary design. The resort includes a sybaritic spa, an infinity pool that looks over the tree canopy to the Mekong River and up towards the hills of Myanmar and Laos, a fitness center with steam rooms, saunas, squash and tennis courts, a Thai cooking school, and an elephant camp, where you can learn about the importance of the elephant in Thai culture and arrange a ride through the surrounding jungle. The Anantara is also home to three food and beverage establishments: Sala Mae Nam (international buffet breakfast and Northern Thai specialties for dinner), Baan Dahlia (authentic Italian cuisine with a wine selection from vineyards around the globe), and The Elephant Bar and Opium Terrace, the perfect setting for a night cap.

An exotic getaway reached by riverboat, the Four Seasons Tented Camp is set in a bamboo jungle at the meeting point of three countries: Thailand, Laos and Myanmar. Fifteen freestanding, luxurious tents are spaced along a half-mile-long hillside trail over the Muak River, each with a large outdoor deck to take in the lush surroundings and the sounds of the forest. The rooms are outfitted with hand-hammered copper bathtubs, and custom-made furnishings that hearken back to the style of 19th-century explorers. The spa offers simple luxury with traditional Thai massages in open-air salas that seem to float in the air amid the trees. The treatments include mountain botanicals and warming spices for a unique and restorative experience. Private yoga classes are also available. A variety of dining experiences are offered and are shared by the small group of guests: breakfast is served at Nong Yao, the camp's restaurant; lunch might be a picnic in the jungle with folding tables, stools and linen napkins; dinner could be a barbecue, a five-course formal meal or a dinner by the campfire. There is a pool and attached whirlpool at the camp that has been integrated into the landscape, surrounded by granite boulders and lush plants. The camp is 90 minutes from Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI).

Amanpuri, which means “peaceful place,” is a magnificent resort created by the architect who designed the Winter Palace of the former Shah of Iran. The resort has 40 secluded pavilions, each with a private outdoor terrace overlooking the Andaman Sea, and come with a personal cook and butler. Dining options include The Restaurant, which serves Italian cuisine, and The Terrace, which offers Thai and European specialties. Amanpuri has a Beach Club, with windsurfing and hobie-cats available, a 20-meter lap pool and a starting point for diving, snorkeling or fishing. Other facilities include a business center, floodlit tennis courts, and a fitness center with state-of-the-art weight training and cardiovascular machines and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the sea. Wifi is available in all rooms and public areas. The resort is 25 minutes from the airport in Phuket (HKT).

Looking out over the sparkling Andaman Sea, this superb five-star resort is one of the most spectacular luxury retreats Phuket has to offer. Set within a peaceful bay on the island’s Western coast, an idyllic shoreline is greeted by crystal-clear waters directly in front of the resort, creating a secluded island sanctuary. It lies conveniently close to Phuket International Airport but far enough to transport guests to their own exotic haven. Anantara’s first-class hospitality is coupled with a collection of 30 opulent rooms and luxury suites as well as 47 indulgent pool villas. Guests can enjoy a balance of the serenity from the private stretch of beach and shoreline pool with the diversity of facilities within the resort, including exciting water activities, fitness center and spa. Days in Thai paradise are accompanied by some of the finest dining options in Phuket, with seductive settings and awe-inspiring island views to match. Professional and talented chefs create fresh and beautifully-presented dishes for exclusive dining experiences, where guests can sample the iconic flavors of Thailand.

The beachside Andara resort rests atop a lush hillside on the west coast of Phuket, offering sweeping sea views from its rooms, restaurants and an infinity pool. Andara’s accommodations include a variety of Pool Villas and a mix of Pool Suites, Terrace Suites and Pool Suite Penthouses. The Silk Restaurant & Bar serves contemporary Thai cuisine focusing on locally sourced ingredients, as well as Western comfort foods and a children’s menu. Andara’s Spa has five individual treatment rooms, two couples’ rooms with jacuzzi baths, and a private steam room, with a diverse menu of therapies including Thai, Ayurvedic, Swiss, Javanese and Swedish massage, as well as a variety of scrubs, detox and body treatments. The resort’s state-of-the-art fitness center has the latest free weights and Precor machines and cardio equipment, and both group and individual yoga and aerobic classes are available as well. Andara is a 30-minute drive from Phuket International Airport.

The Rosewood Phuket, a secluded beach hideaway, sits on Emerald Bay’s sandy shores set amongst lush tropical landscape. The first Southeast Asia property in the brand’s portfolio, Rosewood’s luxe style blends signature polished contemporary fittings with rustic notes of Thai tradition. Each of the 71 pavilions and villas feature soft neutral tones, retractable floor-to-ceiling windows allowing for maximum natural light, and its own infinity-edge pool overlooking the Andaman Sea. Asaya, the wellness center, provides nutritional coaching, fitness activities, alternative therapies and specialized healing treatments, while the state-of-the-art Fitness Center allows guests to workout with a view of the beach. Families can take advantage of the Explorers Club which provides fun-filled activities and facilities for young guests. Guests can choose between Thai seafood, Italian, and a seafood grill for meals, and throughout the day and into the night, lounge at the poolside Bar enjoying music, drinks and snacks with sweeping views of the sea. The property is approximately 1 hour 20 minutes from Phuket International Airport.