The 30-minute drive to Aleenta takes you away from the resort-clogged circus of Phuket through small towns, rubber-tree farms, and rolling hills of palm trees. But the feeling once you step into your room is pure Malibu. The 30 all-white villas (the larger ones with kitchens and living areas) have floor-to-ceiling retractable glass panels that open onto expansive views of the Andaman Sea. The neutral interiors—polished concrete floors, mocha and cream bedding, beech-wood furniture—keep the focus outdoors, where teak decks open onto infinity pools. And the Cali vibe extends to the service, which lacks the stiffness sometimes found at other luxury properties. Nearly everything has been custom-designed for the resort, from the electro-lounge playlist on the in-room iPods to the complimentary yoga mats and featherlight cotton meditation clothes. The two on-site restaurants benefit from the presence of visiting Michelin-star chefs (pastries and breakfasts are outstanding). You can spend a night at the tasting table, schedule a cooking class, or have a private seafood barbecue on the beach. The hotel donates a small portion of each night's bill to support a nearby sea turtle sanctuary, which guests can visit. Aleenta may lack the laundry list of facilities that come standard at places like Amanpuri and Trisara—there are no dive instructors or tennis pros on the premises, for example—but the thoughtful design, secluded location, and mellow vibe attract the laid-back sophisticated set.

Few hotels in the world make a better first impression than Amanpuri. Upon arriving from the madness of the airport—only 25 minutes as the limo glides—you find yourself in a serene green enclave in a former coconut grove. Amanpuri is the Sanskrit word for "place of peace," and the computer-free, open-air lobby sets that tone, guiding the eye past a midnight-blue pool to the Andaman Sea. Thai sculptures, orchids, and reddish maka wood lend romantic warmth to the otherwise spare decor of the 40 enormous (1,200-square-foot) pavilions and the 30 villas, the latter including a maid, cook, outdoor living room, and private infinity pool. Service is beyond thoughtful: Attendants on the wedding-white beach deliver drinks and snacks; take guests snorkeling, windsurfing, sailing, and kayaking (all complimentary); and spray water on the sand to keep it cool beneath your feet. Buggies cruise around the property 24/7, stopping off at the new cliff-top spa, where guests glide from the black granite steam room to Thai herbal massages to jungle-shrouded beds overlooking the ocean. The resort also owns a fleet of 20 boats, including a 90-foot cruiser featured in Architectural Digest. The isolation and expansiveness of the hotel may frustrate more social travelers, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a resort more perfectly configured for a couple's escape. Even if you can't afford to stay, come for lunch or dinner at the terrace Thai restaurant or at Naoki, the oceanfront Japanese spot, to see how the other one half of one percent lives.

A large private pool, an outdoor tub for two, and an alfresco dining sala are standard room fare at this newly built resort along Phuket's longest beach. The 83 high-ceilinged villas are done up with natural fibers, and there are plenty of plush components: a pillowtop bed canopied by mosquito netting, a walk-in closet, an expansive bathroom with French doors leading to the outdoor soak, as well as overwater decks with daybeds in some villas. Landscape artist Bill Bensley lavished the grounds with indigenous greenery but kept the look authentic. In between the copious breakfast spread and sunset cocktails in the Infinity Bar, guests can venture out for cave canoeing, diving, or touring a village being rebuilt since the 2004 tsunami. A packed schedule of on-site activities includes power walks, batik painting, and Thai language lessons, which come in handy, as the staff still struggle with English.

Between its resorts in the Maldives, the Seychelles, and here, Banyan Tree has nailed the fine art of lounging by the sea. It's got the beachy ambience, but it's also rife with we-take-care-of-you amenities (if Amanpuri is booked up, you'll be quite happy here). The big difference is location: The Banyan Tree is part of the 988-acre gated Laguna Phuket complex, five resorts that share amenities but sacrifice a bit of exclusivity. These 115 luxurious villas, sandwiched between the beach and a par-71 golf course, have sloping pavilion roofs and other nods to traditional Thai architecture. The lobby is a marvel of water and light, with an open roof and a decorative, pebble-bottomed pool. If you're here to relax, request one of the 13 Spa Pool Villas, which have an open-air sunken bathtub, outdoor shower, and in-room space for spa treatments. Or—what the hell—just book the seven-hour "Banyan Day" package, which includes body scrubs, rubdowns, facials, and a spa lunch. Golfers should also take the short drive up Highway 402 to Blue Canyon Country Club, which is said to have the best 18-hole course in Thailand (66-76-328-088; www.bluecanyonclub.com). Restaurant options include Thai, Mediterranean, and spa-minded; Banyan Café is the casual choice, though when we visited, the kids' menu had an item called "Finding Nemo's Fish Nuggets"—which just seems wrong.

The Dusit Laguna pulls off the neat trick of projecting warmth and intimacy despite being part of the five-resort gated Laguna Phuket complex. Everything—213 rooms, 13 suites, a pool the size of an aircraft carrier—is tucked away artfully into the 32 acres of landscaped grounds, so the scale of the place isn't apparent until you start padding around. The main building is a three-story affair with a gargantuan lobby filled with ill-advised pieces of "art." Rooms are better: light-filled, with native wood, floor-to-ceiling glass walls, and a decent-sized balcony. The beach—Laguna Phuket fronts a stretch of Bang Tao Beach, about halfway up the island's west coast—is only moderately built up, with one-story buildings along the water. It's shared by resort guests and locals, a nice commingling that prevents a hermetical seal from covering the place. (There's no one touting elephant rides at Trisara, that's for sure.) The Dusit's Casuarina Beach Restaurant is on the beach, too, with tanks holding live fish. Point one out and they'll grill it up.

If the choice between Phuket's teakwood traditional and muted modern hotels leaves you cold, Indigo Pearl on Nai Yang Beach may be the place for you. This is a post-industrial playground of found art with a circus of activities (including trapeze lessons and art workshops) to match. Architect Bill Bensley (of Four Seasons Chiang Mai and Rajasthan's Udaivilas fame) drew inspiration from Phuket's tin-mining past and used materials salvaged from the wreckage of the 2004 tsunami. Old wrenches find new life as knives and forks, rice buckets become rain showers, and abacuses make wall art. In some cases, form trumps function—the polished cement floors of the bathroom can be slick when wet—but there's an overall sense of lightness and whimsy. The look of the 277 rooms varies wildly, from the Arco lamps and midcentury furniture of the Tuxedo Suite to the nautical feel of the Kelly Quarters. Our favorites are the Plantation Villas—set in a quiet spot near the adults-only pool—or any of the second-floor rooms, which overlook the painterly landscaping. There are three pools (one tiled to resemble snakeskin), a cooking school, a spa, a kids' club, a Thai boxing studio, and an outdoor theater built into a grassy hill. You'll be similarly spoiled for choice in terms of eating, from the Black Ginger Thai restaurant built on stilts over a lake to the open-air tapas lounge. The riot of activity could be overwhelming, but the organization of the resort into discrete areas makes it feel more like a series of neighborhoods than a metropolis.

This isn't just any Marriott: It sits next to Sirinath National Park on Phuket's northwest coast, one of the quieter and more beautiful bits of the island. After ten years of planning and another year and a half of building, the three-level, 265-room resort fits harmoniously within its surroundings. A good thing, too: The property was barely touched by the 2004 tsunami, and its humungous pool absorbed the waves that did reach its grounds. All rooms are inside the main building; 13 are suites, but the rest are fairly standard, if a bit larger and more exotic than one you'd find at, say, a Marriott in Houston (JW is the company's luxury brand). Ultimately, the main reason to stay here is the away-from-the-fuss location. The island's longest stretch of undeveloped beach—Hat Mai Khao—is located just inside the park. Oh, and the Lobby Bar has a cedar humidor stocked with Cuba's finest. Light up and you might get to rub elbows with the occasional dignitary: President Clinton slept in a garden-view suite on a tsunami-relief tour.

Phang Nga, the coastal region along the mainland north of Phuket, was slammed by the tsunami. In the years since, the area has not only revitalized itself, it moved straight into a development boom. And while the renaissance is heartening to see, all that hammering can be noisy. Fifty-five miles north of Phuket, one small oasis of serenity is the Khao Lak Paradise Resort, which reopened its doors in late 2005. Of the 30 units, the best are the villas ingeniously tucked into the rain-forested hillside, all intimate charm with palm-frond roofs, huge beds, tubs, and private shaded verandas. Wooden pathways throughout the junglelike grounds bring you up close and personal with nature's finer works. The beachside restaurant, Leelavadee, is a prime spot for watching a sunset and contemplating how fine life can be, given the right landscaping.

At the southern end of Karon Beach, there was once a coconut plantation situated next to the steep, rocky shoreline. In 1985 the Marina Phuket Resort took it over and replanted the grounds with every large-leaf tropical tree and bush it could find, then hid 92 rooms, villas, and traditionally crafted cottages amid the flora. The Marina is one of the smaller and simpler resorts on the island, and it's the kind of place where Thai hospitality is keenly felt. Thai music and dance threatens to break out at every meal. Families like to stay here, but all that natural screening makes it decidedly couple-friendly, too. Indeed, the odds are good you'll witness a wedding, as lavish Buddhist or Western betrothals are performed for those so inclined. Two of the best restaurants in Karon are on-site: Sala Thai overlooks a landscaped pool and serves dishes such as puja, a fried crabmeat dish, and roast duck curry. On the Rock has a panoramic view of Karon Bay and serves seafood. Aesthetes beware: Dino Park, an 18-hole mini-golf joint with animatronic dinosaurs, is less than 200 feet away. Rowr.

The quiet, underdeveloped islands of Phi Phi are kind of a vacation from the vacationland of Phuket, a 90-minute ferry ride away (less by speedboat). Beach resorts on the largest island, Phi Phi Don, are trying to achieve a balance between casual and luxurious, and Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort and Spa—which wisely changed its name from Pee Pee—gets it about right. The 104 rooms include thatched-roof bungalows with terraces, simple beachfront studios, and a hillside villa with a private Jacuzzi and massive terrace. The property is fronted by a half mile of private beach, but the resort offers a lot to do in addition to your basic lolling: tennis courts, a dive center, kayak rentals, even a mini movie theater. Traditional wooden long-tail taxi boats will also shuttle you to dazzling snorkeling spots around the island or to the sister island of Phi Phi Leh, where the 2000 movie The Beach was filmed.

Silence is golden at this hushed resort overlooking Bang Tao and Layan beaches, where staff deliver seamless service without a sound and know when to leave guests utterly to themselves. Set into the hillside, 21 spacious one-bedroom villas have kitchens that allow for in-room meal preparation, while living rooms have woven organic-fiber furnishings and indigenous fabrics, and French doors separate the bed from a big infinity pool. Days are mostly spent lolling around or receiving a massage under your villa's covered veranda—for those who seek the benefits of quiet seclusion it's ideal. The outdoor hilltop bar, 360, attracts a crowd from across Phuket with its cozy rattan chaises and extensive drinks menu. If you can't be bothered even with this nearby nocturnal outing, the well-stocked "maxi-bar" includes Veuve Clicquot and Häagen-Dazs ice cream in an assortment of flavors.

Set on the mainland an hour north of the Phuket airport, the Sarojin puts you within reach of five national parks, including the tropical forests of Khao Lak and Khao Sok and the Surin and Similan marine reserves. Spread over ten acres of gardens and white-sand beaches, the resort is focused on the outdoors: Complimentary mountain bikes, canoes, kayaks, and Windsurfers will appeal to active types (and a free 30-minute massage in the on-site spa will relieve your achy muscles). An "Imagineer"—forgive the cheesy name—crafts personalized experiences like private cooking lessons beside a waterfall, bamboo rafting, and elephant jungle treks (request the hotel's best guide, Aom). A no-kids-under-12 policy means that most guests are couples, and the 56 rooms have a decidedly romantic feel: You cross a small stream to get to your unit, fresh flowers float in the bathtubs, and smooth stones form the floor of the rain showers. The 14 Pool Residences have gardens with outdoor relaxation salas and plunge pools; all others have private outdoor space. There are several dining options: The main restaurant appears to float on a lotus pond around the gnarled limbs of an ancient ficus tree, and the hotel can arrange private beachfront or in-room dining.

On a secluded island reached by a 40-minute powerboat cruise past the limestone outcrops of Phang Nga Bay, these 56 pool villas all have private butlers, and most have panoramic views of the azure Andaman Sea. (Interior villas are shaded by untamed vegetation and enhanced by birdsong.) Some of the signature features of the Six Senses brand—soft organic-cotton bed linens, oversized colorful daybed cushions, an eco-chic design aesthetic—are on display here, and those who enjoy playing pampered camper will find many other pleasures as well: homemade jams in exotic flavors, a sultry spa set among rice terraces, rock climbs, reef dives, and private dinners. The glassed-in two-story wine cellar, a gourmet deli, and an organic vegetable garden keep culinary options world-class at this remote address. Rustic signs throughout the hillside property point toward the Hilltop Reserve, a 16,000-square-foot, three-bedroom wooded palace with a dedicated staff of four and a 500-bottle wine cellar. But even standard villas are private havens, with a Bose music system, an infinity pool, a deep-soaking tub, and an indoor-outdoor shower with all-natural bath amenities.

You don't get a room at hyperstylish Trisara; you get a freestanding villa with a teak sundeck and generous marble infinity pool (as if there's any other kind these days). Swim to the edge for an unobstructed view of the Andaman Sea—the same view you'll see from your outdoor rain shower or oversize king bed. Located on the upscale northwest coast of Phuket, Trisara feels more like a private community than a resort, with a vibe that attracts celebs like Kate Moss. With in-room Thai massage, sprawling bathrooms, and plasma TVs, there's hardly a reason to step outside your villa. But that sense of sexy privacy can be a bit of an illusion—the dense vegetation can't hide everything, and it's not unheard of to glimpse your neighbors flitting about au naturel. In all, the property has 39 villas and 18 residential units, each with the same contemporary color scheme of rich European creams and deep espresso-and-gold Thai accents. However, the relative formality of the decor doesn't always jibe with the beachy setting—beware placing your wet bathing-suited bottom on a silk-upholstered chair. The beach fronts a reef, which keeps out noisy WaveRunners but also makes swimming a little rough. However, boats ferry guests to a deserted island a quick two minutes offshore for swimming and snorkeling. Privately crewed yachts and a PADI dive staff are available for longer trips. One warning: Trisara has only one on-site restaurant, with a Thai-European menu designed by Australian chef Neil Perry. It's excellent, but the cuisine could get repetitive over the course of a longer stay, and the resort is far enough away from other eateries to make regular off-site eating a drag. But the service at Trisara more than makes up for any of those inconveniences. Every villa has a private servants' entrance, you'll never see or sign a bill till the end of your stay (staff remember your room number and keep a tab accordingly), and you're nearly always greeted by name.

The 21 new residence suites at the Twin Palms hotel eschew the cliff-top isolation and fawning service of Phuket's poshest resorts in favor of a make-yourself-at-home brand of luxury. When you wake in your airy triplex loft, you don't have to wait for your room service espresso. Instead, you can brew one of the four blends stocked in your private kitchen. Later, you can pull a bottle of white from your private cellar (and perhaps a Cuban from your humidor) and bring it up to your rooftop infinity pool. A residence host is available 24/7, but the villas are so well equipped (two flat-screen TVs, bedside controls for temperature, sound, and light) that you could quite happily exist without ever needing to make use of this resource. The rest of the 76 rooms, located in two buildings flanking a meandering, free-form pool, have fewer bells and whistles but a similarly easygoing mentality: First-floor guests can step right into the water. At the main pool, lounge chairs are positioned in the water itself, like inviting little islands. The onsite Oriental Spoon is the island's hottest brunch ticket. Reserve a month in advance during high season. The hotel's location in the rapidly developing west coast area of Surin Beach means that its stretch of sand can be a bit crowded—and you have to cross a road to get there. This can be a plus, however: You're able to get a feel for Phuket's freewheeling beach culture—where locals hawk fresh pineapples, massages, and sarongs—and then head back to the relative serenity of the hotel. And the affiilated Catch Beach Club adds some Miami style with haute seafood barbecues and nighttime bonfires. Soon guests will be able to split their stay between the hotel and a new $4 million yacht that will be used for both day and overnight trips.

A speedboat whisks guests to Zeavola's 52 wooden beach huts, which, though simply furnished, are a far cry from the backpacker accommodations so prevalent on Koh Phi Phi. The generous air-conditioned villas have hand-painted murals, outdoor rainwater showers, and an evening turndown service that leaves a profusion of flowers. Though the lean-to architecture of Tacada restaurant has its summer-camp charms, the candlelit meals served on woven mats on the sand are especially enjoyable. The atmosphere is casual, but with Wi-Fi access available throughout the ten-acre property, guests can still connect to the realities of distant shores.