PROTECTED PARADISE

Far from the madding crowd, the recently opened MELIÁ PHUKET MAI KHAO offers stylish stays on an undisturbed stretch of island coastline. BRUCE SCOTT checks in for a relaxing, health-focused holiday

- BRUCE SCOTT

As our Bangkok Airways Airbus A320 descended on its approach to Phuket International Airport, the flight path took us directly over Mai Khao Beach; an impossibly long strip of fine white sand that runs straight up the far northwest coast of the island. There’s not a lot of development along this particular beach, as the coastline here is considered an extension of nearby Sirinat National Park and is therefore protected. In fact, it’s so undisturbed that sea turtles still use the beach for laying eggs (and the Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation make sure as many as possible make it to the hatching stage).

For vacationers seeking a quiet getaway this portion of Phuket is perfect, and the latest luxury resort to open here is the Meliá Phuket Mai Khao. Launched in December 2021, it’s one of three five-star properties now in Thailand under Spanish hotel group Meliá Hotels International – the others being in Koh Samui and Chiang Mai (the latter of which officially opened only just this month).

The Meliá Phuket Mai Khao’s contemporary design has a modern, minimalist feel – think clean lines, high ceilings, and lots of white – accented in places with some decorative metalwork façades that add a Thai flourish. Accommodations consist of 30 one-bedroom suites measuring 78-square-metres, and 70 one-bedroom villas measuring 85-square-metres. All feature outdoor bathtubs, open-air showers, and spacious terraces, with the suites offering cosy outdoor cabanas, while the villas tempt with private plunge pools.