Winter is a prime time to pack your bags and escape to the ‘Land of Smiles’, renowned for its hospitality and friendliness and one of our top holiday recommendations for a dose of sunshine and Vitamin D.
This is the cooler, dry season here, with temperatures hovering around 29–34°C –perfect for experiencing life on Thailand’s two coastlines and 1400-plus jungle-swathed islands, which together constitute a vast outdoor playground for the likes of snorkelling, diving with whale sharks, scaling sea cliffs and kiteboarding.
One of our favourite places for a winter sun getaway is Khao Lak, a laid-back seaside town in Phang Nga Province, with gorgeous snorkelling and diving spots plus the famously scenic Phi Phi Islands.
A standout option here, Devasom Khao Lak Beach Resort & Villas is a luxury boutique hotel on Khaolak beach with its famed sunsets, sided by a natural freshwater lagoon and nestled amidst rich tropical garden and coconut groves, with a blissful horizon-edge pool at its core.
One of the things we love about the Devasom Khao Lak Beach Resort & Villas is its intimacy – it has just 69 guest rooms, pool suites and pool villas, all with sea views and their own balcony or terrace. Lighted-flooded and spacious, they’ve all been designed with the cultures and ancient architecture of Southeast Asia in mind and feature calming pale colours and natural fabrics and materials.
Among the options are Seaside Junior Suites with private spa tubs on their large balcony, Seaside ‘Pool Paradise’ Suites with their own plunge pools, Beachfront Pool Villas with direct access to the soft sands (one of them with two bedrooms), and the resort’s signature two-bedroom pool penthouse Sky Villas.
Perched at the top of the hotel, the latter have panoramic ocean views, a dining pavilion, a private lap pool with spa jets and a large courtyard with sun loungers. They come with complimentary treats such as in-villa welcome spa treatments and a private bar with gourmet snacks restocked daily, espresso machine and freshly squeezed juice of the day.
This is a resort that takes your wellbeing very seriously, with a divine spa combining Eastern healing remedies with Thai, Indian-inspired and Western treatments, plus complimentary yoga and mindfulness sessions.
If you’re here to blitz your wellbeing and fitness, don’t miss the day-long lifestyle packages embracing an energising workout, spa treatments and healthy cuisine. The Detox Day begins with a Tibetan singing bowl meditation and proceeds to an aromatherapy massage and signature facial, while the Boost Up Day kicks off with some Muay Thai boxing and finishes with a session in the steam room and a deep-tissue or Thai massage. The latter evolved in this country more than 200 years ago and focus on the sen (major energy pathways) to boost energy and restore equilibrium. There are also Beauty Days centred on a private yoga class, a body scrub and wrap, and a customised facial.
There’s also an array of experiences to choose from in and around the hotel, including Thai and Southeast Asian cookery classes and crafts sessions, spice tours of the grounds, kayaking and paddleboarding, and eco-bike tours to local coconut plantations and mangroves.
We particularly love the private beach picnics, private trips to a hidden beach, and excursions to cultural sites and nearby wild areas, with mountain trekking or jungle rafting in Khao Lak National Park among the thrilling highlights.
To book your winter getaway at the Devasom Khao Lak Beach Resort & Villas, call your Travel Counsellor today.
Costa Rica offers so much for such a small country. In ten nights, this self-drive trip takes you from the capital to the base of an active volcano, deep into cloud forest, and out to a quiet stretch of Pacific coastline. With a Hyundai Tucson and inclusive insurance for the full duration, you get to see all this beautiful country has to offer at your own pace.
This ten night journey blends Rome's historic landmarks with the coastal towns of the Sorrentine Peninsula. Explore the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, walk Rome's key piazzas, travel south by first class train and spend a full week in Sant'Agnello, close to Sorrento's harbours, viewpoints and day trip options.
Sun, sea and a long sandy beach on the north east coast of Mallorca. Can Picafort is the quieter, more relaxed side of the island, perfect for families who want a proper week in the sun without the noise and crowds of the busier resorts. Seven nights, great weather and everything the kids could want.