Trisara Resort Phuket Where Luxury and Privacy Meet Trisara takes its name from ancient Sanskrit. It means the Third Garden in Heaven and is luxurious and ultra-private. At Trisara, the words are interchangeable, particularly privacy, which is prized by its guests, who include royalty, heads of state and celebrities. The entrance is half hidden among ancient hardwoods, down a tree-lined roadway to a guardhouse, before proceeding to Trisara’s main lobby. Trisara has two lobbies – one for arrival guests, and the second, as a check out for departing guests and visitors awaiting transportation. The arrival lounge is the main contact for guests. The spa also has two reception areas. The first is located opposite Trisara’s arrival lounge, and the second is in a bright, spacious room with large windows within the spa. So do The Spa’s six treatment rooms – 100 sqm in size – each with two treatment beds with white coverings, changing rooms, separate showers, a steam room, their own relaxation area, and a large deck set amid a tropical garden or overlooking the deep blue Andaman Sea. The treatment rooms, with high arched, A-shaped wood ceilings and white walls, are large, bright, and airy and have a distinctly modern look and feel. By industry standards, they redefine our idea of spaciousness. For Trisara, it’s all about “the experience”, not just in its spa but in every aspect of the resort’s 45-acre tree-filled property. Creating the experience means making sure everything works – the small things and the big things. Every time. “We’ve spared no expense, whether soundless air conditioning, super-sized villas and spa treatment rooms or memorable dining adventures, to create ‘incredible’ experiences,” said Raidrawan Boonsompong, Trisara’s spa manager, whose Thai nickname is Kat. That extends to the products Trisara uses in its treatments – Sodashi, known for its 100% organic products, created from essential oils and extracts from the ocean and earth. No chemicals and no preservatives. “But don’t be misled. All of Sodashi’s products, and our treatments, are very luxurious. So are our treatments,” he said, noting that “our therapists train all the time, usually two hours a day, and offer something special. Sometimes, we go through 100 candidates to find the one we’re looking for.”
For Trisara’s guests, relaxation tops the list. Wellness comes second. “We focus more on treatments where we can use a detox. Yoga is a big part of our business,” said Kat. HTXrBc_w60c Making the rounds at Trisara Resort Phuket She says you have to make sure you have enough therapists to run a great spa. If you stay at a nice resort and book a massage for a specified time, you can’t always do
that at some spas because they don’t have enough therapists. Trisara has 18 therapists – more than two for each of The Spa’s treatment rooms. “The same goes for our treatments. They also have to be the best there is.” Trisara’s Jara Spa is a jungle setting in “the Garden of the Third Heaven”. Jara means journey, and it takes its inspiration from a nearby century-old Ficus tree, which envelopes the spa. It’s also the force behind Java Spa’s quest for well-being. “The tree symbolizes the different aspects of Trisara’s spa journey – the roots, the trunk, branch, blossom and spirituality. The origins provide rejuvenation through nutrition and balance and provide the tree’s stability. “The branches represent eternal youth and anti-aging practices. They continue to grow as long as they’re healthy. The blossoms are the spa, beauty and pleasure and represent healthy leaves and fruit. “Our objective,” said Kat, “is to create a haven for those seeking a journey back to balance, rejuvenation and a healthy lifestyle, removed from today’s health fads and gimmicks.” She recommends the Jara Spa Discoveries, which feature treatments from each of the spa’s pillars of well-being. “Our Local Experience, for example, will take you on a journey of discovery, using practices and techniques from traditional Oriental philosophy that remove us from the usual reliance on Western medicine.” The five-hour Jara Local uses nature as its inspiration to rejuvenate you from the inside out, using techniques and practices from Traditional Thai Medicine to calm your mind with the walking meditation of Buddhist monks. The treatment includes a Samunpai scrub and wrap, Thai Thermal massage, Thai stretching, or the Sri Dat Ton and Walking meditation. In addition to the Jara Local Experience, there are two six-hour experiences – Jara Well-Being and Jara Pampering. The Jara Well-Being is a complete holistic journey that can be done in one day or spread over your stay – ideal for individuals experiencing high levels of stress and helps to induce deep relaxation while clearing your mind and improving mental alertness. The package starts with a Thai Luk Pra Kob massage, a Radiance facial, a physical assessment, an Aroma foot soak, personal training, a private meditation and yoga sessions. The Java Pampering – “the ultimate whole body experience” – features highly popular signature beauty treatments, Sodashi Body scrub and facial. This is followed by an Aroma foot soak, a manicure/pedicure, and ends with an Aromatherapy Bubble bath with Champagne and a chocolate platter in your villa.
Popular massages include the Thai Thermal, which focuses on re-energizing your body, calming your mind, stimulating circulation, and promoting draining and
detoxification. The treatment was inspired by an ancient Thai post-natal remedy and uses an Aromatherapy massage and heated Himalayan salt packed in a Thai-style clay pot to promote body detoxification and total relaxation. Other massages include the Hot Stone Therapy, which helps to ease arthritic pains and overworked minds; Jara Oil, an Aromatherapy massage using organic massage oils and thumbs, knuckles and elbows to relieve sore muscles. In the Royal Trisara Six Hands massage, three skilled therapists work their magic with a unique combination of Swedish massage and acupressure. The Jara oil massage and the Aromatherapy massage use organic massage and techniques, in which palms, thumbs, knuckles and elbows are used, followed by an aromatherapy massage to soothe body tissues and relieve sore muscles. In the Maya Abdominal, your therapist works on 37 acupressure points around your abdominal area to stimulate circulation. “Many experienced spa-goers know exactly what they want, but for those who wish to try something new, we have a team of dedicated consultants who spend time with you…to recommend a suitable treatment to meet their needs and resolve any issues they may have.” Other massages include the Thai Thermal, which re-energizes your body, calms your mind, stimulates circulation, and promotes draining and detoxification. It starts with the Thai Luk Pra Kob, an anti-inflammatory, a local analgesic and muscle relaxant, followed by a herbal compress to stimulate your body’s Sen Sib lines. It ends with hot stone therapy, a Maya Abdominal massage and an Indian Head massage. Jara Spa’s Anti-Cellulite massage helps to eliminate toxins as well as excess fluid, while the Sukhothai uses long deep strokes, thumb pressure and stretching along your body’s blocked energy channels. Your spa experience starts at spa reception. You’ll receive a welcoming cool towel and chat with a receptionist about your health concerns and be given an opportunity to review the spa’s treatment menu.
At that point, your therapist will step in and discuss what treatments you want and, in the case of health concerns, what treatments might be best suited for your needs at that time. She’ll also ask where you’d like to have your treatment in the spa or, in the case of massages, at a special seafront open-air pavilion, a two-minute walk down the pathway to the beach, past the main pool and an easy stone’s throw from the sea. Many of the treatments are also available in your villa. The Spa is known for its Signature Royal Trisara massage, which uses the skills of three therapists, using a combination of traditional Thai, and Swedish massage techniques and acupressure to work their magic. It starts with a gentle Thai massage at your feet and neck at the same time, with all hands moving in synchronic harmony. Herbal compresses are then applied with long Swedish massage strokes and acupressure, with hands, thumbs, and elbows working together in harmony. It ends with warm organic coconut oil is poured slowly onto your forehead while your therapist wipes it back into your hair and massages your scalp and neck at the same time. Jara Spa’s most popular facial? It’s the Sodashi Age-Defying, an anti-ageing treatment that reawakens your skin’s natural healing. The treatment uses a series of timeless anti-ageing techniques rooted in Ayurvedic traditions. It includes a Rose Quartz Chrystal facial massage to prepare your skin for a powerful Ultimate AgeDefying cream that penetrates your skin for maximum benefits. Other Sodashi facials include the 90-minute Sodashi Facial Rejuvenation. All massage and Sodashi Plant Essence Synergies leave your skin revitalized and fresh. “It ’s more than just a facial. It’s nature’s facelift,” said Kat. The treatment offers an intensive boost to all of nature’s vitamins and minerals, using a warm infusing Sodoshi mask to penetrate the vitamins and minerals into the deeper layers of your skin, restoring elasticity and radiance. The Pure Radiance tailors the treatment to your skin’s needs, using a Sodashi facial.
“Mindfulness is important to us and is a big part of our belief that over-all wellbeing begins from within. We have an in-house yoga master, who can teach different types of yoga such as Hatha and Vinyara and meditation,” said Kat. The Indian Head massage, an ancient Ayurvedic massage, improves blood flow to your neck and head while increasing the amount of oxygen in your system.
Trisara’s most popular wrap – Sodashi Detoxifying Marine Body – combines sea plants, algae, marine minerals and plant essences with Sodashi’s Organic Green Tea and Dead Sea salts to create a deeply detoxifying experience. A warm Sodashi Marine Body Mask is then applied before you’re cocooned in the wrap. The Sodashi Refining Body wrap begins with a Sodashi Aromatic Vanilla Sandalwood exfoliation, a full-body mask, a body wrap and a scalp massage. Then, a Sodashi refining body mask of French pink clay and herbal extracts to firm, tone and condition your skin. Great for treating scar tissue and stretch marks. It’s also safe and effective before, during and after pregnancy. The spa focuses on a number of things you can do for physical renewal, including Yoga, mat Pilates, Muay Thai Boxing and full-body stretching. It also has a variety of practitioners available on call to support guests for Tai Chi, Energy Healing and Holistic Kinesiology. The most popular is the Samunpai scrub, which improves your blood circulation and promotes detoxification when it comes to exfoliation. It uses a blend of Thai flowers and herbs – jasmine, cananga, turmeric and plai – to remove dead skin cells and improve blood circulation. It also helps with skin healing. Popular wraps include the Traditional Thai Herbal, which uses local products and mineral-rich Thai white mud, fresh Thai herbs and yogurt to nourish your skin, tighten pores and lighten blemishes. https://youtu.be/2V94LrFKrsI More Trisara Phuket Pix The resort has 39 pool suites and villas, guest facilities and 18 residential villas, situated on 40 acres of gardens that gently rise from its 1,400-metre seafront, ensuring great views of the Andaman Sea and total privacy for each villa and suite, no matter where you are on the resort. Of these, 22 are individual one-bedroom pool villas, offering 240 sqm of total space, designed as either oceanfront or ocean view pool villas, and featuring a private 10-metre Infinity pool, teak sun decks, outdoor showers and a huge bedroom. The 12 Ocean View Pool rooms, set further up the hill and above the Ocean View Pool Villas, offer a four-metre private plunge pool, a teak pool sundeck, an outdoor shower and a large bedroom; three private ocean view spa pool suites, at a higher elevation still, with sea views – 240 sqm in size and featuring bedrooms with en suite and outdoor showers, a separate living room, a nine-metre Infinity pool and open decks. There are two oceanfront pool villas, set directly above the bay, with ocean frontage and two bedrooms, each with an en suite and outdoor showers, a central dining and living space. The wing areas lead out to pool decks and a 10-metre private
pool. All suites include oversized bathtubs and silent air conditioning. Their minibars, by the way, stock Champagne. Trisara also has 18 privately owned residences. Most are situated directly above the oceanfront. They’re pricey, running between $5,000 and $6,000 a night. They come with their own staff, including your own cook, with two-to-five bedroom accommodation, large swimming pools, and living and dining pavilions. When it comes to dining, there are five main options, starting with The Deck, a spacious, airy oceanfront teak deck restaurant that overlooks the resort’s private beach and is shaded by tall coconut trees. Breakfast is available at its outdoor seating area, with popular Western and Thai offerings for lunch and dinner. Special dishes include Pla Nung Manto – white snapper fillets steamed with lime, chilli and coriander sauce; Mong Gone Pon Fai – sautéed Phuket lobster with roasted chilli paste and cashew nuts; Gaeny Kiew Wan Gai – green curry paste with apple eggplant and chicken gai; Gooag Sarone – prawns wrapped in vermicelli rice Deerdles, with honey mustard dipping sauce. Its signature Trisara Grill, a new addition to Trisara, is situated on the main beachfront deck, offering grilled seafood, meat and vegetables in a tropical environment. The Grill is open for dinner only and offers indoor and outdoor seating. The Bar, which serves up tapas and exotic cocktails, overlooks the sea and main pool, a gathering place in the early evening to watch the sunset. It extends to the openair decks over the beach, with sunbeds and lounges. Other dining experiences include an in-villa BBQ and Beach BBQs. “Our philosophy is to take local produce, including seafood, fruit and vegetables, and prepare them to retain all their flavour,” said Kat. Trisara’s bakery produces its bread, pastries and even chocolates. Environmental concerns are uppermost in the resort’s operations. Trisara’s main water supply, he notes, is trucked in from a lake, filtered and treated before it reaches any of its suites or villas. It is treated further before being used to wash fruits and vegetables. Guests are advised to drink only bottled water.
Interesting things to see and do nearby: “Most of our guests are returning guests and tend to spend the whole day in their villas,” adds Anthony. He recommends a half-day cruise or a helicopter flight to Phang Nga Bay for first-time guests, made famous by a James Bond movie. “If you only leave Trisara once during your stay, be sure to do this. It’s truly beautiful.”
Other suggestions include a visit to the island’s rainforest, an elephant ride, or a Buddhist temple and being blessed by a monk. The sun can be pretty hot and strong during the day, and many people appreciate the shade after being in the sun for a few minutes. And if you love golf, you’re really in luck. Trisara’s guests can play at Blue Canyon Country Club, an exclusive worldclass championship-quality course 20 minutes away. It’s probably the only place where you need two caddies – one to handle your bag and the other, to carry an umbrella. There are two other quality courses, also about 20 minutes away at Laguna and Mission Hills, and a third, Red Mountain, a world-class course about 40 minutes away. If you don’t have clubs, no problem. The resort also has several new, high-quality men’s and women’s Wilson golf club sets available to guests. Equipment is available from the reception desk on the beach. Also, there’s no end to water activities and adventures, including snorkelling, which is very popular with Trisara’s guests. You have two options: You can snorkel straight off the jetty or take a five-minute boat ride to Koh Wae, a small island just off the resort. If you’re snorkelling off the jetty, head past the teak pontoon towards the northern headland to find incredible species of colourful fish. If you decide to snorkel off Koh Wae, a marine park where both the reef and coral are protected, you’ll find the best snorkelling on the west coast of Phuket. If you prefer to stay close to home, cooking classes for one of two people is a very personal experience. They last about four or five hours, and you get to eat the meal you’ve prepared. And for special occasions, such as weddings, birthday parties, etc., there are candle-lit paper balloons to release into the night sky and even fireworks on the beach to mark the occasion.
Vijitt Resort Phuket Reuniting With Nature Experience old Phuket as it used to be. Stroll through fruit orchards, coconut groves and rubber tree plantations, past fields of flowers, shrubs and grasses, and breath in the fragrances of frangipani, mango and orange jasmine fringing the pathways that wind around the Vijitt Resort on Friendship Beach in Phuket. The resort is built around a sloping, 18-acre beachfront property that has carefully preserved its heritage as a fruit and rubber plantation for more than six decades. Vijitt is much more, of course: Classic dining in its Baan Vijitt Restaurant, set in a shining white 55-year-old Sino-Portuguese beachside mansion; 92 luxury villas with unobstructed views of the Andaman Sea; a great beachfront with white sand; Thaistyle buildings, including wood tile roofs, made from all-natural products, like coconut-based wall textiles, all wood and bamboo fences; lemongrass mosquito spray; herbal spa products; aloe vera-based soaps; visiting Coral Island for other surprises and experiences. The lobby is a huge surprise and in keeping with Vijitt’s theme of reuniting with nature. It has a high-pitched, four-cornered vaulted roof made of straw, open on three sides, with chairs to sink in and look over the grounds and pathway to the beach. The biggest surprise comes at check-in, where your eye is automatically drawn to the strings of various-shaped round decorative objects looking like giant beads suspended from the ceiling behind the reddish-toned wood reception desk. Just as striking is the lighting – an unusual grouping of smaller lamps with shades of various sizes and colours, plus two large spotlights nestled in over-sized shades on each side.
The atmosphere is upbeat and emphasizes the strong holiday mood that prevails throughout the resort. “Our guests like the feeling of open space, of being close to nature,” said Poom Panduahai, V spa’s manager. It takes about five minutes to walk to Vijitt’s beach. The concrete walkway, imprinted with art shapes, walks you through the grounds and gardens, past the pool
villas and the large infinity pool next to the beach. The pool is lined with sun loungers shaded by large red umbrellas on the wood deck bordering the pool. The infinity pool seems to go on forever as it blends seamlessly into the Andaman Sea. But for memorable views, wander down at sunset when the yellow, orange and the red-streaked sky is reflected on the surface of the pool. The grounds in front of the pool are shaded by tall palm trees and end at a stone retaining wall to protect the pool and grounds from flooding on rare days of exceptionally high tides. The spa is on the left as you leave the main lobby. It’s called V Spa and uses the letter V as the first word in the names of its treatments – not as an abbreviation, as you might assume, for Vijitt, but to introduce the philosophy behind its treatments. V also represents the numeral 5 and the five senses underlying its treatments – sight, taste, smell, sound and touch. “Our focus is on bringing our guests back to nature. Our four treatment villas, for example, are grouped in a way that suggests a small village,” said Poom. Its smaller treatment villas are open-air salas, also with straw roofs, which blend quietly into the jungle's natural beauty. The spa’s four treatment villas are located by a small canal in a valley and a tropical garden and feature oversized beds for body and facial treatments. Its walls are made of straw, and white curtains draped from the ceiling ensure privacy. Each villa has an outside private bath, air conditioning and wood flooring. From the open front, you can see the resort’s gardens and down the sloping hillside, the roofs of its villas and the bright blue waters of the Andaman Sea. V Spa is filled with floral and herbal scents. In spa reception, the prevailing scent is lemongrass, but in the treatment rooms, you get to choose from various scents like roses, vanilla and ocean breeze. Background ambience might be the sounds of flowing streams and rivers, the songs of birds or a piano playing at the beach or in the garden. The spa is known for its V Signature three-hour Secret of Vijitt, which features its four-element concept and includes an exfoliation, polish and a full-body massage to help you feel relaxed and rejuvenated. The package consists of a Jacuzzi floral milk, body scrub and V Relaxing massage.
Treatments, like its four V spa packages, have intriguing names and interesting approaches. Its Toning Treatment with Celestial Spheres combines two spheres – a sun sphere, radiating an intense orange colour “to melt away tension in the heart of your muscle fibres”, and the moosphere, deep indigo blue with iridescent spangles that provide relief and inner peace.
Vijitt’s other special package – the 2.5-hour V Romance Vijitt for Couples – is a honeymoon package in a relaxing and romantic atmosphere. It includes a V Romance Jacuzzi Milk bath, Coconut Paradise Body scrub and a VDeep Cleansing facial. Other packages range from two to three hours in duration, starting with V Relaxing, which includes herbal steam, a body scrub of your choice and an Aromatherapy massage. The V Well-Being also consists of herbal steam, a body scrub, a Jacuzzi Milk bath and a Swedish massage; the Balancing Paradise offers a body scrub and a body wrap of your choice, an Aromatic Hot Oil massage and an Indian Head massage. The three-hour V Refreshing starts with a Relaxing Jacuzzi Milk bath, body scrub and wrap of your choice, an Aromatherapy massage and a Hydrating facial. “Our bodies,” says Poom, “have four identities called elements, which vary according to your birth month – Earth, Water, Wind and Fire. By using the right aromatherapy oil to suit your element, your massage will help you adjust your body’s balance and circulatory system for an overall sense of being.” If you were born in January, February or March, your element is Fire. The best aromas for Fire people come from Geraniums, Roses and Rosemary, and the ideal pressure – medium with light with slow movements. Wind people are born in April, May, or June and should use Ginger, Lavender, and Spearmint oil. Appropriate pressure for this group is heavy with fast movements. Ideal oils for July, August and September persons are orange, lemon and Lavender. They are Water persons and need a massage with slow-moving movements. If you were born in October, November or December, the best oil is scented with herbs such as lemongrass, slow and moderate to fast movements are best suited for Earth people.
Vijitt’s popular massage is its Signature massage, which uses the healing power of the Royal Thai spa massage in combination with an oil massage with a warm herbal compress to enhance vitality while invigorating your whole body and bringing your body back into synchronization. The Aromatic Body Oil massage is deeply relaxing, in which your therapist uses long, slow movements and strokes to quiet your mind and
being. Other massages include the Siamese Massage or Nuad Thai, which dates back to the time of Buddha, using thumb pressure, palm and elbows and pressure points to leave you feeling refreshed, strengthened and rejuvenated. The Thai Reliever combines the Traditional Thai Swedish massages to soothe sore and tired muscles. It begins with a warm-up session where pressure is applied to the key meridian points of your body. Other massages include the Aromatic Hot Oil Deep Tissue, Swedish Jet Lag, Head, Back and Shoulder, which alleviates built-up stress and blocks energy in these areas. Popular facials focus on skin renewal like The Anti-Ageing, a professional strength treatment designed to stimulate cell renewal and reduce signs of ageing by evening your skin tone, softening lines and firming your skin. Next, a special Jurlique massage to lift your skin and leave it feeling soft, smooth and with a radiant glow. The spa’s Hydrating facial delivers intense hydration to protect against environmental damage. “Great for dry and dehydrated skin.” There is also a Rejuvenating Eye and Face treatment that includes an eye massage and eye mask designed to strengthen, soothe and revitalize your face and eye area. The spa also has a number of scrubs and wraps, including Coconut Paradise Cream body scrub, which uses tropical fruit, coconut, and Aloe Vera extracts to moisten and cool your skin after sunburn, while the Coffee Cream body uses ground coffee grains to detoxify pollution from your body. “Great for tanning if used regularly.” Popular wraps – The Vijitt Body and Asian White Body. The Vijitt Body is full of natural stimulates to nourish your skin and relieve stress. “An exquisite treat for your senses,” she adds. The Asian White Body uses Vitamin B1, B2, Vitamin E, and Gammao to shed dead skin cells and anti-oxidants to make your skin smooth, golden, and healthy. https://youtu.be/vFfbf2dlHuc More Vijitt Phuket Pix The resort has 92 large stand-alone villas spaced strategically among the trees on its sloping 18-acre hillside site. All have outstanding sea views, large balconies and/or terraces. There are 72 Deluxe Villas, 72 sqm in size, with a bedroom, supersized baths, a large outdoor rain shower, and a private terrace with sunbeds. The 13 Prime Pool Villas, 178 sqm, feature an upper level with an upstairs living room, a seven-metre pool, a large terrace, and an outdoor rain shower. The lower level is accessed by an exterior staircase within the villa’s walls and includes a bedroom, living area, and a walk-in closet with a bathroom and rain shower. There are three 182 sqm Two Bedroom Pool Villas with a master bedroom, an en suite bathroom, sunken Jacuzzi, bath and rain shower. The bedroom also leads to the
living room, overlooking a private pool. A second bedroom features a large terrace and a 10-metre pool. The four Vijitt Pool Villas – 162 sqm in size and on the beachfront – feature a large bedroom, a bathroom, and an 11-metre infinity pool with fibre optic lighting. A separate living room opens up to a large private garden that runs down to the beach. In addition to in-villa dining, which offers restaurant-quality cuisine plus in-villa barbeques, Vijitt’s two main restaurants offer a variety of dining options: The Savoury, located next to the main pool and close to the beachfront, provides all-day dining and an extensive buffet breakfast. It also has a delicatessen and bakery, and for evening dining, live music from the resort’s Trio Band. Signature dishes at the Savoury include lemon-garlic shrimp with brie cheese, red snapper fillet with pesto crust and grilled Australian lamb chop with rosemary sauce. The original Vijitt family weekend home has been transformed into an upscale authentic Thai restaurant featuring Southern Thai specialties. Vijitt’s signature dishes: Rock Lobster Satay, Goong Tom yumhang (wok-fried king prawns served in caramelized tamarind sauce) and mas-sa-man-kaw (slow-braised lamb in massaman coconut curry sauce). Interesting things to see and do nearby: For starters, Vijitt’s rubber-tapping experience – a unique opportunity to experience geApplene local culture in a hands-on way in huge stands of cool, green rubber tree plantations, where trees grow up to 24 metres. You’ll be able to try your hand at tapping and even create your own rubber-based mementos. Proceeds from the rubber tapping are donated to local community projects. Some of the plantations in Phuket have been lost to commercialization. “At Vijitt, we maintain our rubber trees as an integral part of our environmental program,” said Poom.
Other on-site activities include Vijitt’s beach Marine Walk and Botanical Walk. At its 250-metre long beachfront, you can explore a variety of marine life exposed in the shallows of Friendship Beach at low tide. The Botanical Walk features more than 300 types of trees, shrubs, grasses, flowers and fruit trees carefully preserved by Vijitt’s gardeners during the past 60 years. Twenty-four types of flora line the network of pathways on the resort, including the Foxtail Palm and lemongrass, one of Thailand’s most distinctive flavours. Not to miss is a day trip to Coral Island. The resort offers a complimentary Coral Island trip every day – a round trip shuttle bus to the pier, where a speedboat takes you to Coral Island. They’ll even provide you with a beach chair, beach umbrella and snorkelling equipment. The island is home to colourful reefs and marine life. There’s also a wide variety of speedboat tours to nearby islands, offering incredible snorkelling adventures There’s also a shuttle bus service to Phuket Town, Nai Haw Beach and Patong Beach. Local seafood and upscale restaurants and Prom Thep Cape, a famous place for incredible sunsets, are five to 10 minutes away. Closer to home, there are classes in Thai cooking, napkin folding and flower decoration. Other activities include water sports like kayaking, kite boarding, beach volleyball, mountain biking and horseback riding. About the Author He returned to journalism and now, in retirement, acts as associate editor of Spa Canada magazine and a freelancer for other publications. He writes a blog about Thai Retreats and spas, which is featured on Spa Canada’s website.. Three other mystery novels, Abbot’s Moon, Gravediggers, and Death Star and his book of short stories, Betrayal, are available as ebooks and as print books. His other books include Betrayal, which features seven short stories; a wartime romance, There’s Always Tomorrow and a historical romance, Yesterdays. .