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The 2005 Luxe List

For style, service, and surrounds, our picks of the Asia-Pacific region’s best new hotels.

From the former residence of a Laotian prince to a romantic desert oasis in Dubai, the past 12 months have seen a flurry of truly remarkable hotel openings. This year’s Luxe List, compiled from reports from our roving band of discerning contributors, identifies no less than 30 new properties in the Asia-Pacific region that more than make the grade in terms of style, service, and surrounds. Whether a boutique hideaway or a five-star urban address, the lodgings listed here guarantee that the luxury-minded traveler will be spoiled for choice

Hong Kong
Landmark Mandarin Oriental
A boutique-sized property that is every bit as fashionable as its Central district address, Mandarin Oriental’s latest hotel is also the group’s most contemporary entry in Asia yet. With 113 rooms done up in urbane leathers, dark woods, and circular glassed-in bathrooms—plus the proudly advertised highest room rate in Hong Kong—the Landmark is raising the bar very high. L.A.-based designer Peter Remedios crafted both the guest quarters and the 1,800-square-meter spa, where sensuous treatment areas boast mint-scented showers, vitality pools, and heated, tile-clad deck chairs, all wrapped in a Zen-like swath of natural stones and light woods. New York’s restaurant/bar wizard, Adam Tihany, has applied his balanced flamboyance to the glass-backed and champagne-fueled MO Bar as well as to the demure, mahogany-paneled dining room, Amber, already a favorite hangout for CEOs and celebrities. Tihany also created the hotel’s dramatic entrance, a set of off-angled steps that spills onto an Italian marble floor. It’s meant to resemble the sails of the Chinese junks one sees afloat in Victoria Harbour, but be forewarned: you won’t be able to see the harbor, or much of anything else, from your window. Still, with such a smart-looking hotel as this, views outside are probably not the point anyway (Landmark Bldg., 15 Queen’s Road Central; 852/2132-0188; www.mandarinoriental.com; doubles from US$515).

Turkey
EV, Bodrum
The calming all-white interiors of this exclusive hilltop retreat are the perfect antidote to a night’s revelry at Bodrum’s infamous waterside bars and clubs. Set high above the popular Aegean resort town’s picture-postcard Türkbükü Bay, EV is the work of Turkish architect Eren Talu, who has managed to craft something that is both breathtakingly modern and a clear tribute to the whitewashed cubic houses that dot the surrounding hillside. The hotel comprises eight free-standing guest units (and an equal number of heated outdoor pools) divided into 48 spacious rooms and suites, each equipped with plasma TVs, CD players, en suite Jacuzzis, and fully equipped kitchens. When—or if—you tire of all this, there’s plenty to do and see in the area, including sailing, diving, and poking about the ruins of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the world’s seven ancient wonders (Türkbükü; 90-252/377-6070; www.designhotels.com; doubles from US$505).

South Korea
Park Hyatt, Seoul
Japanese design outfit Super Potato may be best known for its sleek restaurant designs (Mezza9 and StraitsKitchen in Singapore; La Scala in Bangkok), but that looks set to change with the unveiling of the firm’s first full-scale hotel project, fittingly located in South Korea’s increasingly hip capital. Park Hyatt Seoul occupies a 24-story tower in the commercial neighborhood of Gangnam-gu, and is the rare five-star address to achieve a cosmopolitan intimacy while being both eye-catching and understated. Korea’s rich culture is referenced throughout, from the top-floor lobby to a wood-clad bar called the Timber House, where live jazz filters through the air and a beautiful crowd mingles over local-style sashimi, sushi, and the sweet potato vodka soju. Guest rooms blend clean lines with high-tech gadgetry (flat-screen TVs, multi-line phones, DVD/CD players) and expansive, granite-floored bathrooms equipped with soaking tubs and TVs of their own. Modernity and escapism are themes that run throughout the hotel, whether in the aerie-like indoor pool, whose ceiling has neon light sticks and panoramic city views, or the signature Cornerstone Restaurant, where the wine list is 3,000 bottles long (995-14 Daechi 3-dong, Gangnam-gu; 82-2/2016-1234; www.seoul.park.hyatt.com; doubles from US$270).

New Zealand
Azur, Queenstown
Forget the nondescript Queenstown subdivision you have to drive through to get here—Azur, set on a bluff overlooking Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables mountain range beyond, is one of the most welcoming new lodges to open in New Zealand for years. Sheathed in red cedar and local stone, all nine villas have dramatic sunset views from their decks, as does the main lodge, which contains a convivial lounge. Interiors are spacious at 75 square meters and have been given a subdued pan-Asian feel by Singapore- based design firm LTW Design Works, the same team behind the multimillion-dollar makeovers of the Oriental hotels in Bangkok and Singapore as well as the Oberoi resorts in Mauritius and Lombok. Expect timbered ceilings, plush sofas, moody black-and-white photographs on the walls, and beds swathed in Egyptian cotton sheets under Thai-silk headboards. Led by general manager Anthony Ross, formerly of the Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa, the staff are of the best caliber, and the concierge service is second to none—which is a good thing when it comes to securing dinner reservations in town. Wisely choosing not to compete with Queenstown’s host of good restaurants, Azur only serves breakfast, though snacks like toasted sandwiches appear miraculously throughout the day (23 McKinnon Terrace; 64-3/442-6360; www.azur.co.nz; doubles from US$625).

Laos
Maison Souvannaphoum, Luang Prabang
In a city—and a UNESCO World Heritage Site at that—where old-world charm can seem almost commonplace, Maison Souvannaphoum manages to leave an indelible impression. The main building, an elegant post-colonial affair that once served as the residence of Prince Souvannaphouma, now sports an airy lobby and a high-ceilinged restaurant, Elephant Blanc, that spills out onto a pool deck. Upstairs are three well-appointed suites (the biggest of which was the prince’s own bedroom) decorated with Indochinese objets d’art and bright splashes of color; they also serve as a better alternative to the somewhat cramped rooms in the adjoining annex. The service is attentive and helpful, particularly at the Angsana Spa, where guests can enjoy essential-oil massages and body polishes in breezy marquees overlooking lily ponds (Rue Chao Fa Ngum, Banthatluang; 856-71/254-609; www.coloursofangsana.com; doubles from US$200).

United Arab Emirates
Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai
The latest in a growing number of Arabian desert hideaways, Bab Al Shams manages to both thrill and sedate with understated panache. First impressions are made somewhat daunting by the towering Kenyan guard who greets guests at the crenellated entrance archway, but inside all is seductively exotic, from the low-slung, sand-colored architecture to an ethnically diverse staff—Balinese bellhops, Uzbek waitresses, Lithuanian pool attendants—that leave you feeling like you’ve stumbled upon a desert trading post. There are 115 simply furnished rooms and suites, all connected by a network of souk-like alleys and shady courtyards. Not all guests will warm to the overtly masculine lounge, where walls hung with antique rifles, leather knickknacks, and assorted equestrian paraphernalia create the ambience of a well-worn gentlemen’s club. But the tented Al Hadheerah restaurant, which serves up Arabic cuisine, belly dancing, and falconry displays in equal measure, is a delight, as is Al Sarab, a breezy rooftop terrace bar where guests converge at night to puff on hookah pipes and gaze across the undulating, star-lit dunes (971-4/ 832-6699; www.babalshams.com; doubles from US$409).

Vietnam
Park Hyatt Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City
At last, a hotel to match the modern vibe of Vietnam’s second city. The French colonial-inspired lobby is decidedly chateau chic, but upstairs at Square One, all is hip as can be with delicate metal latticework walls competing for attention with the upscale surf-and-turf menu. There’s also a 500-bottle wine list, a Cuban cigar bar, and private dining rooms with terraces overlooking the Opera House. The Xuan Spa offers a global pampering program, from an all-natural papaya body polish to Ho Chi Minh City’s first Vichy shower, while a trickling waterfall in the adjacent outdoor pool area blocks out the motorcycle drone from perpetually busy streets three flights below. Guestrooms recall old Saigon thanks to louvered windows, ceiling fans, and four-poster beds. But while amenities like broadband Internet and deluge showers meet modern needs, those expecting the innovative hi-tech toys associated with the Park Hyatt brand may be disappointed. Speedy room service and heavenly scented kaffir lime and ginger bath products should ease the pain ( 2 Lam Son Square, District 1; 84-8/824-1234; www.saigon.park.hyatt.com; doubles from US$208).

Cambodia
Hôtel de la Paix, Siem Reap
Are swank accommodations, attentive service, and delicious meals not enough anymore? At this 107-room hotel, guests seeking something more meaningful can participate in charitable activities off its “connecting menu”: visiting a rehabilitation program for land-mine victims, say, or spending an afternoon teaching English to war orphans, or buying stunning silver baubles in support of preservation works at the nearby Angkor temple complex. Hôtel de la Paix, however, is no NGO. The first full-scale design project by Bangkok-based landscaper Bill Bensley, this commanding Art Deco–inspired building is as luxurious as they come in Siem Reap. The town’s booming nightlife is just steps away but crowds are already congregating at the hotel’s street-facing Arts Lounge, which does double duty as a bar and cultural center. Upstairs, masculine elegance pervades the room decor, but beds are cradle-soft and oversized showerheads are just the thing to wash off the dust from a day touring the temples. Locally inspired cuisine at Meric is fit for Khmer kings: a green mango salad with grilled Battambang snake outshines standard Thai versions, and the stir-fried eggplant with pork is a deceptively simple dish from the Cambodian countryside that proves equally at home on these five-star tables ( Sivutha Blvd.; 855-63/966-000; www.hoteldelapaixangkor.com; doubles from US$300).

Australia
Capella Lodge, Lord Howe Island
Rising out of the Tasman Sea some 780 kilometers northeast of Sydney, Lord Howe Island is every bit the naturalists’ haven that its place on UNESCO’s World Heritage List suggests. Only 400 visitors are permitted on the island at a time to take in its virgin rain forests and abundant bird life; and only a fraction of those are lucky enough to secure a room at the recently revamped Capella, where, in keeping with the island’s less-is-more philosophy, there are only nine suites. Each is made cozy with timber floors, shuttered windows, and custom-made rattan furniture, and if the decor is not exactly lavish, the lagoon and mountain views from your deck certainly are. The restaurant in the main lodge serves Asian-influenced seafood, while the spa takes its cues from Aboriginal therapies (61-2/9918-4355; www.lordhowe.com; doubles from US$612).

Wrotham Park Lodge, Queensland
Take to Queensland’s outback in style at this serene riverside retreat. Set on more than half a million hectares of ranch land north of Cairns, Wrotham Park Lodge pays tribute to Australian vernacular decor and architecture—corrugated-tin roofs, kangaroo-leather armchairs—without sacrificing 21st-century comforts. The 10 guest bungalows perched along an escarpment above the Mitchell River have been designed as luxe versions of stockmen’s quarters, with muted color schemes, private decks, and large bathrooms. Guests looking for a distraction can choose between birdwatching (there are over 60 species in the area, including kookaburras, emus, and falcons), canoeing, fishing, and touring the ranch itself—it’s a working breeding station with 35,000 head of Brahmin cattle and a team of gregarious herdsmen. Dining is a communal affair at the Homestead, a heavy-timbered building with a wraparound verandah that you must brave to reach the infinity pool. Updated “country fare” includes thyme-dusted spatchcock and Queensland’s own “1824” brand of marbled beef—a far cry from the outback tucker of yore (61-2/9364-8100; www.wrothampark.com.au; doubles from about US$1,380; closed during the wet season from mid-December through March).

Indonesia
Chedi Club at Tanah Gajah, Bali
With only 20 white-brick villas scattered about a five-hectare property, the Chedi Club is sublimely private. Originally built in the 1980s as the family estate of Hendra Hadiprana, one of Indonesia’s most celebrated architects and a prolific art collector, it is now managed by the GHM hotel group (also behind the Chedi Chiang Mai and a host of other posh Asian retreats). Wisely, they have chosen to retain Hadiprana’s original artwork and furnishings—hand-carved settees, Dutch four-poster beds, baroque Javanese-style cabinets that open to reveal a well-stocked minibar—while updating the villas with marbled bathrooms and glorious outdoor showers. The most expensive quarters are equipped with their own massage rooms and saunas, but if you want some private outdoor space, you’d be best to book one of the Pool Villas, which have sundecks and 10-meter pools. The gardens and lotus ponds are a delight, as is the partially open-air spa, which overlooks verdant rice fields. What’s more, the artists’ town of Ubud is just a short (and complimentary) drive away (Bedulu, Ubud; 62-361/975-685; www.ghmhotels.com; doubles from US$280)

Cliff Villas, Ritz-Carlton Resort & Spa, Bali
Arranged atop a bluff above the Indian Ocean, this newly opened complex at the Ritz-Carlton makes the most of its views. There are 38 butler-serviced villas in all, each with marble floors, granite-clad plunge pools, glass-walled showers, and canopied beds. Floor-to-ceiling windows ensure you can drink in the seascape from the free-standing tubs in the vast bathrooms, as well as from the villas’ bedrooms, plush lounge areas, and poolside gazebos. Book one of the Ocean Front units for the utmost in privacy; they’re set just meters from the cliff’s edge, and afford vertiginous vistas of Bali’s southern coastline. Better still, they are part of a gorgeously landscaped compound that features its own Zen-inspired reception area, a two-tiered swimming pool, a library, and a sleek, limestone-clad restaurant with an adjoining martini bar (Jl. Karang Mas Sejahtera, Jimbaran; 62-361/701-555; www.ritzcarlton.com; doubles from US$850).

Japan
Conrad, Tokyo
Tokyo’s lavish five-star hotel scene has a bold newcomer. Occupying the top 10 floors of the Tokyo Shiodome Building near the posh retail district of Ginza, the Conrad boasts views over Hamarikyu Gardens, Rainbow Bridge, and Tokyo Bay as well as some of the most engaging art and architecture in the hospitality business. The minimalist ground-floor lobby is clad in black granite and features a stunning pair of three-meter-high red-lacquer installations by renowned artist Nobuyuki Tanaka. But head upstairs to the main lobby on the 28th floor for the pièce de résistance: a grandiose painting by Toko Shinoda that updates the traditional sumi style with a bright silver-leaf background and broad strokes of cinnamon. Dining options range from French fare at Gordon Ramsay (see our review on page 73) to exquisite sushi and teppanyaki (and the sexiest Japanese ceramics around) at Kazahana to nouvelle Chinese by Singaporean chef Albert Tse Wei Shin at China Blue. The Conrad is also home to the city’s biggest hotel spa and its most spacious guest rooms—none is smaller than 48 square meters and all have three-meter-high ceilings. In this town, that’s a rare luxury indeed (1-9-1 Higashi-Shinbashi, Minato-ku; 81-3/6388-8000; www.conradtokyo.com; doubles from US$470).

China
Fuchun Resort, Hangzhou
The fast-rising city of Hangzhou boasts natural scenery and nuanced history that even neighboring Shanghai can’t rival. Thanks to the arrival of the high-priced and even higher-style Fuchun, it also has a visually striking hotel (and an impressive golf course) that could well become a destination in its own right. The monumental design—clean-lined and functional, with woods, stone, and bamboo giving it a pan-Asian modernity—fits in well with the misty hills and lush fields that surround it, and it is this sense of space that is Fuchun’s greatest asset. The resort’s 70 rooms and suites are generously proportioned, though not nearly as large as the 17 villas, most of which come with stunning lake views. Soaring ceilings, under-lit pillars, and gaping windows make for one of the better indoor pools in China, while the atmospheric spa offers locally inspired massages that employ lotus blossoms and rice wine. Fuchun’s owners also run Shanghai’s popular T8 restaurant, which is duplicated onsite (86-571/6346-1111; www.fuchunresort.com; doubles from US$230).

Mauritius
Taj Exotica, Flic en Flac
Tamarin Bay may once have been a destination for hippie surfers, but this laid-back corner of southwest Mauritius has been attracting an entirely different crowd since the opening of the Taj Exotica. Distributed across 11 hectares on Wolmar Beach, the resort features just 65 shingle-roofed villas and suites. Each comes with its own daybed-flanked pool and dining terrace, as well as stylish interiors that reflect the island’s mixed heritage—French, Indian, African, and Arabian. The Jiva Grande Spa is the perfect spot to indulge in Ayurvedic therapies, while a moody lounge bar called Breakers and a pan-Asian dining room called Cilantro make the most of Mauritian sunsets (Wolmar, Flic en Flac; 230/403-1500; www.tajhotels.com; doubles from US$1,230 ).

Le Telfair Golf & Spa Resort, Bel Ombre
Set on a 200-year-old sugar estate on the island’s south coast, Le Telfair is one of three new properties to open in this prime—and previously undeveloped—location. It’s also the best. Designed in a gracious colonial style, the resort has 158 rooms and suites housed in a series of two-story gabled buildings, some with river views, others overlooking the beach. The room decor strives for—and attains—a fin de siècle plantation-house elegance, with handsome four-poster beds, botanical prints, white wainscoting, and cane and teak furnishings. A championship-standard golf course, five restaurants—one set in a 19th-century chateau—and a gorgeous Six Senses spa complete the picture (230/601-5500; www.letelfair.com; doubles from US$529).

Maldives
One & Only Reethi Rah, North Malé Atoll
This sun-soaked resort may be less than an hour from the Maldives’ international airport by luxury yacht, but once on its shores, with the azure expanse of the Indian Ocean bending off into the horizon, you’ll feel like Robinson Crusoe. Not that he ever had it so good. Reethi Rah, the One & Only group’s second luxe playground in the archipelago, has 130 thatched villas strung out along the beach or set on stilts above the lagoon. Designed in a contemporary “island chic” style with bamboo ceiling arches, custom-crafted bathtubs, tasteful handicrafts, and mod cons aplenty, none is smaller than 135 square meters, and the best have private pools. You’ll find all the water sports you could want, plus a spa with overwater treatments rooms, a tennis academy, and a seaside dining terrace serving excellent pan-Asian fare. Or you could just spend your time chilling out on the island’s 12 talcum-powder beaches (960/448-800; www.oneandonlyresorts.com; doubles from $625).

Malaysia
Four Seasons Resort, Langkawi
Taking its cues from Malaysia’s rich cultural heritage, this Four Seasons gives luxury a new look. Set between picturesque limestone cliffs and the azure waters of the Andaman Sea, its 91 teak-shingled villas and guest pavilions all afford sea views and are accented with earth-toned batiks, Malaysian objets d’art, and arabesque motifs; some bathrooms feature tubs set under Moorish arches and domed ceilings. Guided boat excursions through the neighboring mangrove wetlands are a must. The spa features six wooden pavilions set above lotus ponds, while romantic candlelit dinners can be enjoyed in a Rajasthani-style tent on the beach (Jl. Tanjung Rhu; 60-4/959-2888; www.fourseasons.com/langkawi; doubles from US$410).

Sri Lanka
Galle Fort Hotel, Galle
Situated in a 17th-century Dutch merchant’s house in the heart of Galle Fort, this gem of a boutique hotel is as hip as it is historic. First-time hoteliers Christopher Ong and Karl Steinberg have made an impressive debut here, not only opening what has become the neighborhood’s most popular bar, the Verandah, but also crafting rooms that are inimitably stylish and comfortable: whisper-silent air conditioning, powerful showers, and mosquito-netted canopy beds made with crisp Indian cotton sheets. Set around a central courtyard, each of the nine suites is unique, thanks to the exceptional shopping skills of the owners, who have scoured Sri Lanka’s markets for Chinese ceramics, Dutch East Indies furniture, and British colonial souvenirs. The two-story, antiques-rich Admiral Cheng Ho Suite, a favorite among return guests, was inspired by the Ming dynasty mariner’s Sri Lankan sojourn in the 15th century (28 Church St.; 94-91/223-2870; www.galleforthotel.com; doubles from US$150).

Amanwella, Tangalle
Location, location, location: the Amanwella has that in spades. One of two new Aman-resorts outposts in Sri Lanka (the other one, Amangalla, is located in Galle) this 30-suite hideaway presides over a gorgeous crescent-shaped beach on the island’s southeast coast. The decor is signature Aman—sleek and simple—and unobtrusive architecture never attempts to compete with the scenery. Service is excellent, the main infinity pool is to die for, and the Sri Lankan menu is delicious, particularly the spicy mango salad (94-47/224-1333; www.amanresorts.com; doubles from US$550).

River House, Balapitiya
Set on three palm-fringed hectares along the briny Madhu River, this modern compound comprises five spacious suites, each exquisitely appointed with antique furnishings and handwoven carpets—book the Singhe Suite to enjoy sunrises from its second-floor plunge pool. Mornings should be spent on the river with the hotel’s amiable boatman, who paddles guests past dozens of isles and outcroppings. Return in time for a lunch of Sri Lankan curries and honey-fried bananas, all served by exceptionally well-trained staff. Lazy afternoons are for lounging by the stone-lined pool, but keep in mind that the surrounding mangroves that make this place a bird lovers’ paradise also make mosquito spray essential. If you can’t stay away from the sea, hop in a customized tuk-tuk for the three-kilometer jaunt to the owner’s beach house: it’s set on what could be the island’s most romantic stretch of sand (94-11/472-4363; www.taruvillas.com; doubles from US$316).

New Zealand
Bolton Hotel, Wellington
This apartment-style gem in downtown Wellington breathes refreshing new life into the capital’s corporate hotel scene. Beyond a dramatic foyer, 144 elegantly designed studios and suites (the latter with private laundry facilities and well-equipped kitchens) are adorned with black-and-white photographs and a feast of sensuous textures: “feather” rugs, white waffle bedspreads, padded suede headboards. If the tiny lobby café seems like an afterthought, the same cannot be said for the chocolate-hued Bisque on Bolton, where chefs Steven Harris and Stephen Morris—both of whom earned their stripes at the acclaimed Huka Lodge—prepare European-inspired dishes that make the most of fresh New Zealand produce. There’s a good gym and a heated indoor pool, and guests with a mechanical bent will want to spare some time for a visit to the hotel’s car park, to watch the country’s first car-stacker in action (cnr. Bolton and Mowbray Sts.; 64-4/472-9966; www.boltonhotel.co.nz; doubles from US$109).

Peppers On the Point, Lake Rotorua
Australian-based Peppers Retreats & Resorts are renowned for their indulgent escapes in stunning locations, and this one is no exception. Occupying an 80-year-old mansion on two hectares of prime lakefront land, On the Point has been converted into a luxurious hideaway that oozes class and comfort. Nine exquisitely furnished suites offer a restful marriage of antique and contemporary fittings (think raised marble spa baths) in a cocoon of creams and chic appeal; guests staying in the adjacent chalet have the added benefit of an outdoor hot tub. An opulent, timber-paneled dining room serves lavish gourmet dinners, while tennis and fly-fishing round off the list of diversions (214 Kawaha Point Rd.; 64-7/348-4868; www.onthepoint.co.nz; doubles from US$840).

Singapore
The Scarlet
Set in a row of 19th-century shophouses in a quiet corner of Singapore’s Chinatown neighborhood, this is a refreshingly brazen addition to the city-state’s lodgings scene. The understated elegance of its colonial facade belies daring interiors. Crimson, jet black, and gold feature prominently in the color scheme, while dramatic high-backed armchairs, plush velvet sofas, and a perfectly placed chandelier adorn the lobby. One thing is clear: there is nothing demure about this sultry little number. Book one of the five suites for the true Scarlet experience; the Opulent Suite in particular wears its name well, with a chic boudoir-style bedroom, cozy living room, and a bathroom replete with designer fittings and a soaking tub made for two. An all-day dining outlet dubbed Desire serves up libidinously named menu items such as Bed Fellows and G-string, while the defiantly uppercase BOLD bar draws a hip crowd for its potent cocktails and crimson-and-black booths ( 33 Erskine Road; 65/6511-3333; www.thescarlethotel.com; doubles from US$119).

Thailand
The Chedi, Chiang Mai
The arrival of The Chedi gives the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai something it has long lacked in one fell swoop: design-driven accommodation right on the banks of the Ping River. Architect Kerry Hill has called upon a spare, Zen-inspired design for the main structure, a four-story building clad dramatically in teak slats. Floor-to-ceiling windows and marble decks keep the 84 rooms bright during the day, while rich color schemes, comfy daybeds, and deep-hued woods give the interiors a sensuous warmth. Still, it’s an adjacent building that is bound to draw the eye: a charmingly squat, 19th-century Anglo-Thai landmark that once housed a British consulate. The Chedi has put it to fine use for a moody series of public spaces, doing nothing much more than adding intelligent detailing to bring it into the 21st century. There’s a lofted bar with pebble-colored pillows and opium beds; downstairs, a dark, mirror-lined pub serves as an anteroom for a restaurant whose menu spans Indian, Thai, and Western dishes. Outside, lines of colonial-style deck chairs make the perfect spot from which to admire the 50-meter swimming pool, the stylish grounds, and the nut-brown, slow-flowing Ping River ( 123 Charoenprathet Rd.; 66-53/253-333; www.ghmhotels.com; doubles from US$254).

Kirimaya, Khao Yai National Park
The 56-room Kirimaya has become the weekend getaway of choice for Bangkok’s pampered campers. Its Thai owners canvassed the best of Balinese resort design—those in the know will recognize more than a passing resemblance to Ubud’s Alila Manggis—and returned to create the first five-star lodging on the doorstep of Khao Yai National Park, Thailand’s oldest and second-largest public preserve. Rooms bring the nature theme indoors with chic raffia throw pillows and bamboo headboards, but be sure to nab one of the four tented suites for the ultimate in comfort. Kirimaya’s concierge can organize hikes to waterfalls (the park boasts more than 40), early morning bird-watching tours and elephant treks, and private wine tastings at local vineyards. Those preferring to stick closer to their digs can take a swing at the Jack Nicklaus–designed golf course or indulge in a 90-minute Maya massage, the resort’s signature blend of acupressure and aromatherapy (1/3 Moo 6, Thanarat Rd.; 66-44/426-099; www.kirimaya.com; doubles from US$180).

Mandarin Oriental, Dhara Dhevi, Chiang Mai
Situated on 24 hectares of landscaped grounds on the outskirts of town, this ambitious property aims to showcase the various architectural styles that have influenced northern Thai culture over the centuries. Hence, you’ll find Luang Prabang–style mosaics and Chan rococo detailing, lavish French colonial-style suites and teak rice barns remodeled as villas, and an expansive spa modeled on a Burmese royal palace. How successful this mishmash is will largely depend on your own aesthetic outlook, but few will gripe about the level of service and indulgence. Only 64 of the 144 rooms have yet opened, but guests have their choice of three superb restaurants: Le Grand Lanna for Thai cuisine; Fujian for contemporary Chinese; and Farang Ses for fine French dishes served against a back drop of rice fields (51/4 Moo 1, Chiang Mai–Sankampaeng Rd.; 66-53/888-888; www.mandarinoriental.com; doubles from US$385).

Sila Evason Hideaway, Koh Samui
A hideaway in every sense, the Evason sits pretty on a breezy headland above Samui’s Samrong Bay. Its 66 bamboo-sheathed villas may look like beach shacks on the outside, but within, they are awash in rustic elegance with funky details like hand-pounded brass lampshades, coconut-shell sink basins, and rough-hewn wood furniture. Most have their own infinity pool and sun deck, which is a good thing considering the beach below the resort is narrow and rocky. Still, the staff are young and energetic, the food is first-rate, and the spa is as seductive as you’d expect from a Six Senses resort (6/21 Moo 5, Baan Plailaem Beach Bophut; 66-77/245-678; www.six-senses.com; doubles from US$389).

Trisara, Phuket
Fifteen years of attending to some of the world’s most demanding guests gave ex-Amanpuri general manager Anthony Lark priceless insights into the vacation expectations of the rich and famous. At Trisara, located just north of Amanpuri on one of Phuket’s few private beaches, he aims to put that experience to good use. All 42 villas and suites boast unobstructed views of the Andaman Sea. In fact, the entire retreat is oriented around that ever-changing spectrum from turquoise to lapis, equally breathtaking from your plush bed, soaking tub, or 10-meter infinity pool. With rooms outfitted with latest surround-sound technology, wireless Internet access, flat-screen TVs, and a well-stocked (and free-of-charge) minibar, most guests will find little reason to venture outside. For those who do, sleek customized carts are on call to whisk them to the glass-walled gym or the adjacent spa (60/1 Moo 6, Srisoonthorn Rd.; 66-76/310-100; www.trisara.com; doubles from US$575).

Zeovola, Koh Phi Phi
Phi Phi Island’s post-tsunami recovery is bound to get a shot in the arm from the opening of the island’s first upscale resort, Zeovola, which presides over the powder-soft beach of Laem Tong Bay. Quanchai Panitpichetvong, the hip young Thai behind these 52 beach bungalows, brought Bangkok design firm Beyond Living on board to create stylish room murals and beach cushions that update traditional weaves. The biggest coup was luring away the spa manager from Phuket’s Banyan Tree, assuring this island’s best rubdowns right from the start. Though the lean-to architecture of the Thai restaurant has its campy charms, candlelit meals enjoyed waterside while lounging on woven leather mats make the best memories. For commanding views over the Andaman Sea, splash out on the mountainside duplex pool suite (11 Moo 8, Laem Tong; 66-75/627-000; www.zeavola.com; doubles from US$260).