Tranquil Thailand

EL'S KARIN GALLEY heads to pretty Phang Nga province for a resort stay that ticks every box... and then some!

Stunning sunsets on the bay; skilfully crafted cocktails; soft live music performed on the white sandy beach ... the only downside, it seems, of our recent four-day trip to the JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa on the Andaman Coast of Phang Nga was its brevity! This was just the getaway our souls needed to waft into the new year.

Getting There

It's just a two-hour flight from Singapore to Phuket, and an hour's drive north from the airport to the resort on the mainland, so we arrived in good spirits. The hotel's limousine, equipped with an onboard fruit juice bar and local snacks, made the drive all the more comfortable.

We arrived and were warmly greeted by the ever-smiling staff members at the lobby, which is set against a backdrop of the stunning blue Andaman Sea. They made us feel at home within minutes, as we took a first glance at the sprawling property in anticipation of the experience that awaited us over the next few days.

Grounds & Rooms

The JW Marriott recently launched its spectacular resort extension with an additional 127 rooms, along with new activities, experiences, restaurants and bars. Included among the former are family suites as well as a small number of oneand two-bedroom villas, set closest to the beachfront for the ultimate escape. There's also a brand new banquet hall within the grounds, ready to host weddings and corporate events.