Where am I – Thailand & Singapore
Destination – Khao Lak, Phuket & Singapore
Duration – Twelve nights
Suitable for – for anyone who desires a combination of both luxurious relaxation and is intrigued by unique cultures! Khao Lak is a very family-friendly resort destination as well!
Khao Lak - JW Marriott Resort & Spa
Nestled in the pristine beauty of Khao Lak, Thailand, the beachfront JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort offers an array of luxurious facilities and provides a truly indulgent experience for guests seeking relaxation and recreation, located approximately one and a half hours north of the island of Phuket. What I found particularly fascinating is that the resort is home to the longest swimming pool in South-East Asia which extends for 2.5 km, winding around the resort facilities and pool access suites! It features spacious rooms with elegant furnishings and modern amenities where guests can enjoy the spa, a refreshing dip in the expansive pool, or make use of the fitness centre. Many local activities are also on offer for those who would like to explore the Andaman Sea through snorkelling or diving excursions, however, I opted to relax at the resort for the majority of my time in Khao Lak! One of my favourite things was simply enjoying a fresh coconut in the swim-up pool bar!
I spent 4 nights at this luxurious beach resort with my family in a 2-bedroom pool access suite. Located adjacent to the resort are a selection of a few local beach cafés, as well as options for a local massage which were very relaxing!! We also ventured into the town of Khao Lak to spend some time at the local Bang Niang markets which offered some local street food and shopping, where I indulged in mango sticky rice and smoothies!
Dining at JW Marriott Khao Lak & Restaurant Highlights
One of the best features of the resort is the plethora of diverse culinary options. The resort hosts multiple restaurants, each catering to different palates. From local authentic Thai cuisine to international flavours, you can enjoy a delightful gastronomic journey. A highlight was the breakfast buffet which had so many delicious options it was hard to choose!
Delicious onsite restaurants & cafés:
Ta-Krai: features the rich aromatic flavours of authentic Thai cuisine offering traditional dishes made from local fresh ingredients — this restaurant was particularly memorable given we were able to observe a traditional Thai dancing performance throughout the dinner.
Olive: combines fresh, high-quality ingredients to create a menu filled with delectable dishes inspired by the coastal cuisines of Italy and the Mediterranean cuisines. Similarly, the café Sala was a fabulous lunch option offering Mediterranean and delicious food by the pool.
Sakura Japanese Restaurant: This Japanese restaurant had very unique modern dishes that were unlike others I had seen anywhere else before including unique flavours of maki rolls and other delights which were great sharing plates allowed us to taste the different signature dishes, with a view of the sunset over the Andaman Sea.
Infinity Pool Bar: provides a refreshing escape for guests seeking light bites and creative cocktails as well.
Surin Beach — Twinpalms Phuket
After a fabulous and relaxing time in Khao Lak, we headed back to Phuket island for a 4-night stay at Twinpalms in Surin Beach. Surin Beach is nestled on Phuket’s west coast and is known for its pristine sands with crystal clear waters and lush greenery, creating a tranquil yet more urban atmosphere than Khao Lak.
Located about 100m from Surin Beach, the Twinpalms Resort, a member of the Small Luxury Hotels group, was a fabulous hotel that combined contemporary and local interior design offering an array of fabulous facilities. The resort features a stunning pool area, a massive fitness centre and 2 onsite restaurants called Oriental Spoon and the Wagyu Steak-House, the former of which housed the delicious buffet breakfast with great views over the local bay. During our stay here, we had a massive 2 bedroom duplex with a private pool which was so nice to be able to enjoy the privacy of the hotel.
One of the great services that the resort offers is daily complimentary fruit platters in the mid-afternoon. Everyone was gathering around the pool bar and the bar with plates of tropical fruits was a small gesture that everyone was loving at the hotel!
On one of the days at Surin Beach, we decided to explore the beach clubs that are affiliated with the hotel, located only a 15-minute shuttle bus ride away such as the famous Catch Beach Club and Lazy Coconut. They are a great way to enjoy some lovely pizzas while enjoying a vibrant atmosphere with local DJs playing tropical music, while watching the sunset over the Andaman Sea.
The hotel is located within fairly easy proximity, about 30 minutes, from the Phuket Old Town. The Old Town is known for its famous Sunday Markets which attract many visitors and locals from around the large island of Phuket. i found the old town to be a charming district showcasing Sino-Portuguese architecture. The stunning street of Soi Romanee has been dubbed as one of the prettiest streets in the world. The narrow streets are lined with colourful and well-preserved buildings which host a vibrant mix of cafes, boutiques, art galleries and temples with the market extending through the Thalang Road, captivating with local crafts and cuisine. Given the extent of culinary options, I opted for some delicious gyoza and dumplings at these bustling markets and fresh guava juice out of the plethora of fresh fruit stands. We also visited the well-known Patong Beach which is a bustling town full of nightlife and shopping, however, I would personally avoid staying in Patong and instead opt for some of the nearby towns like Surin Beach.
Singapore — Clan Hotel
After a fabulous time in Thailand, we caught a flight from Phuket to Singapore, which I was highly anticipating as I had been excited to explore this famous metropolis. I was initially amazed by the sight of the Jewel in the Changi Airport, the iconic waterfall with lush foliage houses inside the airport terminal. It is simply astonishing how such a famous monument can exist inside an airport terminal!
We then headed to the hotel for our 3 night stay at the new Clan Hotel, by Far East Hospitality, which only opened in lockdown in 2021. This stunning hotel is situated above the Far East Square which features buildings and shops dating back 170 years, located on the prominent Cross Street. The views from the hotel overlook the many skyscrapers and fabulous skyline that Singapore has to offer, inspired by the crossroads of culture and commerce which invites the guests to enjoy the combination of both historical charm and modern luxury.
The hotel offers a welcoming tea ceremony for guests to enjoy on the day of arrival during their stay with a lovely tea master. We tried the unique Oolong tea and traditional Singaporean pastries which was a great way to engage guests in cultural experiences, so we went back several times throughout the stay to enjoy the tea and pastry in the lobby! The rooftop infinity pool and rooftop gym (located on level 30) overlooked the surrounding skyline and provided a lovely place of retreat to cool off in the heart of the bustling city!
During my time in Singapore, one of the best experiences was eating at the Lau Pa Sat markets. I highly recommend these markets to anyone visiting Singapore as they offer delicious cheap street food from many cuisines around the world in the heart of Singapore. All the locals and tourists were visiting this bustling food market and we enjoyed a selection of various food including Japanese and Korean food for 2 nights in a row — we ended up going 2 nights in a row given how delicious the food was! I really enjoyed cruising around Chinatown to explore the fascinating markets and diverse cultures of people, architecture and cuisines in Singapore, particularly with all the decorations with the upcoming lunar new year of the Dragon.
On the first full day, we explored the Marina Bay Area walking past many famous monuments such as the City Hall, Fullerton Hotel, Helix Bridge, and Art & Science Museum on the way to the iconic Marina Bay Sands Hotel. I had booked us in for sundowner drinks for late afternoon which allows you to visit the rooftop without having to pay for the entry fee to the swimming pool area — highly recommend! This rooftop offers sweeping 360º views of the entire Singapore skyline. I enjoyed a pizza and an Aperol spritz on the top of the building before we ventured down to The Shoppes Marina Bay Centre which has a luxurious shopping centre with many worldwide brands where I enjoyed doing some shopping.
Following some shopping, we ventured over in the late afternoon to the Gardens By the Bay where we visited the fascinating Cloud Forest and Flower Dome, some of the world's largest indoor greenhouses with diverse species of flora. The super trees have a fabulous light show at 7:45pm and 8:45pm each night which was great to see and highly recommend for visitors to Singapore, located in the beautiful gardens.
The second full day was another fun day where we visited Sentosa Island for a delicious açai bowl brunch at the Tanjong Beach Club. I found it so fascinating how Singapore has built the entire Sentosa Island from reclaimed land and made it resemble a natural pre-existing beach town. The beaches there were super lovely with lots of dining options, beach clubs and activities. After a fun morning at Sentosa, we made our way back to enjoy the facilities at the Clan Hotel, before exploring the famous Orchard Road shopping strip for some more shopping and dinner on our last night in Singapore. I was amazed at how many shopping centres there are along this road which was a great way to end our time in Singapore! Overall, Singapore was a place I would love to revisit one day given the extensive options of activities to do in this thriving Metropolitan hub.
