Khaolak Wanaburee Resort ★★★★

So far so good, our location is like a scene from The Man with the Golden Gun, with our hotel being lined by the thick rainforest and fronted by a paradise beach. I feel a little clumsy after the long haul flight but the big smiles that radiated from the hotel staff make me feel like a celebrity rather than my groggy self. The hotel’s buildings are dressed in typical Asian wooden style; the reception boasting a high, triangular wooden beamed ceilings with comfortable, rich coloured sofas. Dark woods decorate the communal areas and gave a pretty contrast to the bright natural light streaming through the windows.

We had chosen an Estate room, part of the villa which sits beside a rainforest lagoon. The Estate villa is a collection of rooms that can be reserved as a group or individually, and the connecting doors between rooms make them perfect for families. We, however, only need one of the spacious 40m² rooms, with its delightful terrace. The smooth tiled floor spans out to our little furnished terrace which leads directly onto the verdant garden full of exotic plants and blossoming flowers, and we can also spot the reddish-brown triangular roofs of the other hotel buildings. The décor of our boudoir is simple yet sweet, drawing on soft golds and light beiges. The bathroom has a large walk-in shower with a long wall mirror which reflects the light around the room making it feel spacious.

It is decided, I feel like an elegant mistress of the decadent James Bond. From the outside landscape gardens we could see the other triangular shaped villas with warm, yellow lighting – what a romantic view! This little resort was a splendid puzzle of lagoons, fountains, greenery and traditional Asian buildings with a modern twist.

Wanting to make the most of our day, though we had arrived in the afternoon, we quickly change into our swimming gear and take one of the meandering walkways to the beach. Without a chance to settle on a hotel sun bed my husband decides to throw me into the ocean, the warm Andaman Sea, and I feel rather like Bridget Jones all over again but laugh it off anyway and enjoy the afternoon on the soft and sandy beach.

Needless to say all our gallivanting around builds up quite an appetite, so after freshening-up we head to the restaurant for some tantalisingly tasty seafood. This is when we took time to admire the azure pool that stretches lazily out to the beach. Next to it lay the restaurant, a choice of sitting inside with cool air-conditioning or appreciating the sea view alfresco. We, naturally, choose to dine with the view of that beautiful ocean sparkling in our eyes whilst delighting in delicious Thai food that suits all tastes.   

“Do you know what I have planned for tomorrow?” my husband cheekily grinned. Was it a petal bath? An elephant trek? A traditional market tour?

“A professional massage for two by the beach with only the sounds of the waves to interrupt us.”

Oh Mr Bond!