In need of a holiday and some serious R&R? Head to Phuket and treat yourself to a stay in this luxury meets cool boutique hotel
Phuket: The island of spectacular hotels, Thai food, and beaches makes for the perfect escape from Singapore (or anywhere in the world, for that matter!). In search of some ‘time out’ and a break from city life, I booked a weekend trip to the renowned Sri Panwa resort and stayed in its most recent development, The Habita. Having proved so popular by appearing in endless ‘top 10 best hotels’ lists and on lots of celeb Instagram feeds, I was keen to find out what all the fuss was about, and boy, did it live up to the hype!!
Hotels surely don’t get trendier, more tranquil or more spectacular than this. The Habita is a boutique resort which can be found subtly wrapped around Cape Panwa’s cliff edge, amongst 40 acres of lush tropical jungle and overlooking the turquoise and seemingly infinite Andaman Sea.
After driving for just over an hour from the airport and up the long, steep and winding private driveway of Sri Panwa, we found ourselves at the glass reception – a calm oasis surrounded by water lily-filled pools and the perfect introduction to the rest of the hotel’s simple, sleek, stylish and spacious design. We were greeted with huge smiles and handed delicious ice cold teas and chilled mint scented face towels before being shown to our tuk tuk, which took us slightly further up the hill to our room. Within less than five minutes of arriving at this hotel, I felt the most relaxed I’d ever been. Maybe it was because I’m not that familiar with five-star treatment or maybe it was due to the fact that Sri Panwa is one of the most serene places on earth. So much so that it’s almost hypnotic.
Our spacious bedroom had floor to ceiling windows and was simply amazing; modern and minimalist but equally luxurious, and included everything you could possibly need… and so much more. The attention to detail was second to none – from the carefully curated iPod and Bose speakers, to the complimentary sun lotion, mini bar, Nespresso machine and incredible bed linens. Oh, and not forgetting the best bit – our own private infinity pool on the balcony, which looked out to sea and was surrounded by mirrors to reflect the breathtaking views. It’s so easy to just roll out of bed and into the water (and I can assure you that I did just that!).
Not only does each room at the Habita have all of the above, but you can also order room service 24/7 from any one of the many amazing restaurants within the resort (our favourite was the Japanese Baba Iki). This gives you little incentive to ever venture out, and that’s why you’ll rarely see another guest here, all adding to Sri Panwa’s air of seclusion and calmness. That said, I would recommend exploring its beautiful manicured grounds, especially because you can get a tuk tuk anywhere, and at any time if you’re feeling lazy (which I can almost guarantee you will be!).
If you do just three things during your stay, make sure they are the following:
Breakfast at Baba Pool Club: A wide-open café del mar-style space that oozes cool with minimalist design and soothing music. This was the perfect spot to enjoy the first meal of the day. From tropical fruit platters to Full English or European breakfasts, you can eat and drink delicious juice, tea or coffee to your heart’s content, whilst daydreaming and rocking back and forth in the insanely comfortable rocking chairs.
Cool Spa: Without a doubt the most luxurious and beautifully designed spa I’ve ever seen – prepare for some serious pampering! It boasts an extensive treatment menu, which includes facials, signature massages, a hair and nail salon, and even the option to have an edible scrub inspired by the local dishes. Yum.
Baba Nest: Infinity pools were made for hotels like Sri Panwa (which is probably why there are over 150 of them!). Each one seamlessly appears to flow into the sparkling sea in this magical place, and every view we saw just got better and better. The pool and panoramic view that surround the Baba Nest really are the crème de la crème. Perched up on the deck at the very top of the hill, you feel as though you are floating in the sky – it’s the ultimate yoga spot for sunrise, and has to be one of the best places in the world to have a refreshing sundowner. Make sure to book in advance though – the space is small and, unsurprisingly, very popular.
Thank you so much to Sri Panwa and all of its lovely and attentive staff for hosting my boyfriend and I for the weekend. It was a truly unforgettable one!