Open: Early 2010 for the villas

Vibe: Asajara is set in a lush garden combining a traditional Thai house and three independent pavilions (“villas”). The carefully manicured property slopes towards a stream behind which the mountains forming our border with Burma can be seen. Incredibly quiet, peaceful and verdant, the resort is a mere two hours from Bangkok.

Rave: The main house is worthy of a heritage architecture award. Built in pure Thai style, it’s authentic to the point of not having air-con (not that we needed it during our stay this May). The location is just far enough from the Suan Phueng’s sheep and tourist buses to be absolutely, blissfully relaxing. The owner, who worked at five-star properties (Sukhothai, Four Seasons), acts as kind of personal butler with incredibly attentive service. The rates, given that these are standalone pavilions, and particularly for the F&B, are dirt cheap: B150 massage and B80 cocktails anyone?

Rant: The F&B experience came with some misfires on our last visit: a couple of underwhelming dishes and waiters who made themselves a bit too discreet. And while the Thai house is of the utmost architectural orthodoxy, the mix of Thai, Balinese and even country-home French in the pavilions doesn’t work quite as well.

Neighborhood: Nothing you could reach by foot. But we recommend just holing up in the resort or even heading into the Tanoasri Mountain Range running along the Burmese border, rather than heading to Suan Phueng (about 13km away).

Food, drinks: Thai dishes around B100 and a delicious spaghetti with bacon and shrimp (B200).

Prices: Villas B3,300-B3,500. There’s a two-night minimum stay to enjoy the Thai house with prices ranging from B4,000 for one pavilion to B8,000 for both pavilions.