Amanpuri

Amanpuri is Aman's resort in Phuket, set on a peninsula on the island's west coast by Pansea Beach, in the Cherngtalay area. It is one of the most exclusive addresses on the island, built around quiet, discreet luxury. The resort is around a 30-minute drive from Phuket International Airport.

Guests stay either in pavilions or in villas, and the white-sand beach is the focus of daytime life. The dining choice is broad for a resort of its kind: Akari, Arva, Buabok and Nura are among the restaurants, alongside the Sunset Terrace and the Beach Terrace, so guests can move between more formal dinners and relaxed meals by the sea. Cruises can also be arranged, with the resort's boats including a traditional wooden boat and a speedboat.

Wellness is a central part of the Amanpuri experience. The Spa House offers treatments, and the Holistic Wellness Centre runs wellness immersions, medical services and a Mobility and Recovery Programme developed with the tennis player Novak Djokovic. Guests looking to combine a beach holiday with a structured wellness programme will find more depth here than at most resorts.

Amanpuri suits couples, families who want space and privacy, and travellers for whom service and seclusion matter more than nightlife. It is at the top end of the market, and in the busy season, from roughly December to April, booking well ahead is advisable, especially for the larger villas. The reservations team can be reached by phone to discuss villas, transfers and experiences.

Pansea Beach is on the north-west coast, so Surin, Bang Tao, Trisara and the Laguna area are a short drive away. Patong, Phuket Town and the south of the island are further, so plan longer trips by car. Many guests use the resort as a base and make day trips by car or boat, returning to the quiet of the peninsula in the evening.

Pack light, casual resort clothes with something smarter for dinner, plus reef-safe sunscreen for the beach. For a resort of this kind, a stay of at least four or five nights lets you use the wellness programmes and boat trips properly rather than rushing between them.