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Concierge.com's insider take:
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.
From the readers of Condé Nast Traveler:
(40 rooms)
—2009 Gold List
Overall Score: 88.9
- Rooms: 89.7
- Service: 94.9
- Food: 82.1
- Location: 92.3
- Design: 92.3
- Activities: 82.1
View the entire 2009 Gold List of the world's best places to stay ›
Also appeared in the Gold List in 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005
Amenities: Beach, Pool, Spa, Tennis, Water sports
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