Concierge.com's insider take:

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.