Jump to: Bangkok I Samui I Phuket I Phang Nga I Chiang Mai

Bangkok

Credit: rosewoodhotels.com/en/bangkok

Rosewood Bangkok

In March, Hong Kong-hailing Rosewood strengthened its foothold in Thailand with a property in Phloen Chit. The hotel boasts 159 swanky suites, ranging from 42-to-291 sq meters and decked out in cream, blue and gold, as well as a 26th-floor Sky Pool Studio with its own private terrace and outdoor plunge pool. After dark, head up to Lennon’s to sip on Asian-inspired cocktails while you browse the bars 6,000-strong vinyl collection.

1041/38 Phloen Chit Rd., 02-080-0088. rosewoodhotels.com/en/bangkok

Credit: capellahotels.com/en/capella-bangkok

Capella Bangkok (COMING SOON!)

                       
The arrival of this ultra-luxury hotel brand along the Chao Phraya in early 2020 will continue the reinvention of Bangkok’s riverside. All 101 suites in the low-rise development come with sweeping river views, as well as Thai textiles and accents. The hotel’s F&B is equally exciting, from Côte Capella, a Mediterranean-leaning restaurant from lauded Italian-Argentine chef Mauro Colagreco, whose three-Michelin-starred restaurant Mirazur in Menton, France, currently stands at no. 1 on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list; to Stella, a cocktail and dessert bar overlooking the river.

300/2 Charoenkrung Rd., 02-658-7888. capellahotels.com/en/capella-bangkok

Credit: fourseasons.com/bangkok

Four Seasons Hotel (COMING SOON!)

Opening right beside Capella in early 2020, Four Seasons promises 299 rooms, alongside modern Italian restaurant Riva del Fiume; a French brasserie and oyster bar; a high-end Cantonese restaurant; and BKK Social Club, a bar led by the hotel’s high-flying beverage manager and mixologist, Philip Bischoff—former bar manager of Singapore’s esteemed Manhattan—which is set to offer Latin American and pre-prohibition era concoctions. 

300/1 Charoenkrung Rd., 02-032-0888. fourseasons.com/bangkok

Samui

Credit: avanihotels.com/en/samui

Avani Samui

At the very end of 2018, Avani Samui unveiled an upscale escape in Samui’s Phang Ka Bay area. Sleek, light gray interiors with vibrant splashes of blue feature in both the pool villas (68-to-227 sq-meters) and the 42-sq-meter deluxe rooms with private balconies. To make the most of your stay, upgrade to one of the beachfront villas. Other facilities include a beachside restaurant, a cafe and a cocktail truck next to the pool.

53/5 Moo 4, Phang Ka, 077-485-299. avanihotels.com/en/samui

Credit: lubd.com/samui

Lub D

Though best known for its hostel on Chaweng beach, Lub D expanded into hotels this year. While the social vibe remains, the deluxe rooms offer greater privacy. Decked out in jazzy, tropical themes, all rooms come with balconies, swing chairs and outside tables. The hotel also features a swim-up pool bar with a floating DJ booth, a gaming area, cabanas, and a beachfront bar and restaurant.

159/88 Moo 2 Chaweng Beach, 077-230-326. lubd.com/samui

Phuket

Credit: montazure.com/site

TwinPalms MontAzure

This latest mixed resort and residence project from the upscale Thai Twinpalms Hotels & Resorts group is set directly on family-friendly Kamala Beach, a five-minute drive from the original Twinpalms Resort on Surin Beach. Offering just 46 rooms, accommodation ranges in size from a 70-sq-meter suite to a 300-sq-meter two-bedroom penthouse with a private pool and uninterrupted sea view. Designed by Martin Palleros, of Singapore’s Tierra Design, the hotel fully embraces its setting that combines beach and mountainside with palm trees and running streams found throughout. Two pools, a traditional southern Thai restaurant and a beach lounge complete the list of facilities.

100/210, Kamala, Kathu District, 076-689-900. montazure.com/site

Phang Nga

Credit: 9hornbills.com

9Hornbills

Koh Yao Noi is now home to 9Hornbills, a sumptuous glamping retreat with giant safari tent villas. The villas are absolutely massive (108 sq-meters), and include four-post beds, open air rain showers, clawfoot bathtubs and minibars, as well as private gardens and swimming pools. The facilities are highlighted by a private beach, with kayaking and paddle boards for the active-minded. Yoga, meditation classes, snorkeling, diving and cliff climbing are also available.

37/3 Moo 2, Koh Yao Noi, Phang Nga, 065-640-0064. 9hornbills.com

Credit: www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/hktml-le-meridien-khao-lak-resort-and-spa

Le Meridien Khao Lak Resort & Spa

The peaceful shores north of Phuket just got another major player with the opening of Le Meridien Khao Lak Resort & Spa. Located along Bang Sak beach, the 269-room hotel features 10 types of rooms-including private pool villas and suites—all with their own spacious balconies (from B3,400/night). The rooms are centered on three impressive lagoon pools that overlook the Andaman Sea. Adding to the laid-back but luxurious holiday vibe are a slew of casual restaurants, including an open-air beachside grill, a tropical beach bar called Coconut Joe’s, a poolside bar and L’Uccello Pizzeria, which slings wood-fired pizzas and unique antipasti at dinnertime.

31 Moo 7 Bangmoung, Khao Lak, Phang Nga, 076-429-000. www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/hktml-le-meridien-khao-lak-resort-and-spa/

Chiang Mai

Credit: fb.com/littleshelterhotel

Little Shelter

This small, boutique hotel is distinguished by its Lanna architecture, rooftop deck and its stunning views of the Ping River. The 14 rooms are painted in four different shades—black, white, green and brick orange—and feature minimalist furnishings and dazzling mirror tiled walls. Facilities include a modern cafe, a restaurant specializing in northern Thai fusion, a cocktail and wine bar, and a compact riverside pool.

208/25 Lampoon Rd., 081-611-9797. fb.com/littleshelterhotel

Raya Heritage 

This contemporary wood-and-stone venue set along the Ping River reinterprets classic Lanna design. The curated furniture pieces are all handmade by local craftsmen, while terracotta tiles, vintage hardwood structures and handwoven textiles evoke regional traditions. The 33-room resort also bakes social causes into its ethos, giving back to the local community through scholarships, and working with local weavers, potters, woodcarvers and artisans to bring designs to life.

157 Moo 6, Tambon Donkaew, 02-301-1861. rayaheritage.com