By Sara Liss
Resorts Expert, about.com
[post_ads_2]On the secluded island of Kood, a 90-minute private plane ride from Bangkok, the Soneva Kiri has a best-of-both-worlds location, wedged between jungle and beach. Celebrity-style amenities abound at this luxe resort (private butlers, refined Thai cuisine served in and overwater shack, private infinity pools in every villa), but it's tree-top dining service is arguably its most exotic feature.
In a eucalyptus tree 26 feet above the ancient Koh Kood rainforest, the simple steel-and-woven-rattan Treepod can seat four, and boasts epic views of the ocean.
While
you’ll be comfortably hoisted into the canopy inside a basket-like,
pulley-and-lever contraption, your waiter will accomplish incredible
feats by bringing you food and drinks via zipline.
More about the Soneva Kiri resort:
Built
from teak, bamboo and acacia, Soneva Kiri’s 28 vast villas blend into
their rain forest setting. Each one is spread over two floors of
open-air platforms, with separate self-contained rooms for sleeping,
bathing, showering and dressing.
And much of the living space — dining table, kitchen, deck shower, private infinity pool — is outdoors.
[post_ads]The
breathtaking villas are super-sized and each has a very large pool, so
there’s enough space for families who want a bit of privacy. Got a
little tyke or two? They’ll be happy in the bayside, one-bedroom
Oceanfront Pool Villa Suites, where up to two extra beds can be made up
in the dressing room and you’ll enjoy a luxe bathroom, separate living
area, outdoor deck and generous wraparound pool. Numbers 1 to 5 are very
close to the main restaurant and the Den, too, and all offer simple
tropical styling, easy beach access and sea views. The more spacious
two-bedroom Cliff Pool Villa Suite or Ocean Pool Villa Suites will be
best for teens and larger families, with room for up to four adults and
two children in extra beds. Both bedrooms boast ensuites, one with a
huge bath, the other toting a rainshower, plus there are lavish decks
and pools.
The list of activities goes on and on: diving,
snorkeling and sailing. Yoga and meditation classes in the spa. Movies
are shown in a pop-up cinema over a lake, with staff handing out
popcorn, soft drinks and Thai beer. There’s even a chocolate room, an ice cream parlor and an observatory —
all just for the resort’s handful of guests. And while this is
honeymoon heaven, children are discreetly catered to in the
extraordinary Den, a soaring teak building that looks like something out
of a Tim Burton movie, with slides, games, activity rooms and a staff
that knows how to keep kids of all ages happy. Be sure to book a night
at Benz, a gourmet Thai restaurant in an overwater shack. Try
contemporary Thai-inspired dishes at the View, where local organic
produce takes center stage in slow-food recipes.
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The hotel can arrange a little island tour to
see the local fishing villages and the island’s tiny waterfall. Visit
nearby Mai Si Island and see where Soneva Kiri gets its organic honey;
the island is also home to beautiful cultured pearl farms. For those
inclined to get active,
the resort has a tennis court and well-equipped fitness center; there's
also a PADI dive and training center for visiting Thailand’s
spectacular reefs. Alternatively, the therapists at Soneva Kiri’sspa are
genuinely among the best in the world. Do not miss a 60-minute watsu
water massage, a series of stretches performed while you float in warm
water.
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