Thirty years of turquoise
Recently the Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort celebrated its 30th anniversary, having been one of the earlier properties to offer a peaceful getaway from the perennial hustle of life in Patong Beach. A small, single lane road leads off Wiset Road on Karon Hill, an almost blink-and-you’ll-miss-it affair, to this landmark – an oasis of hospitality in Thailand’s premier island destination.
The latest upgrade to the sprawling resort complex can be found in its centre, in the embrace of the blocks of rooms, oceanfront suites and decadent beachfront villas. A free-form swimming pool with its own tropical garden landscape, recently completed, offers a variety of depths and a bridge to cross its massive depth. Purpose-built pool loungers are found submerged for cooling relaxation from the warmth of Phuket’s Sun, while a jacuzzi features alongside an interactive fountain for the more junior guests at the resort.
With the surf within sight, this pool offers guests an interesting compromise. It is as close as possible to the open sea and, with such generosity in size that there is nary a hint of feeling restricted, yet within the privacy of the resort. Its private beach is just as beautiful, an undisturbed alternative of fine sand to those of nearby Patong and Karon.
Upon request, the resort will accommodate a party on the beach for a casual seaside barbecue with fresh catch straight from the Andaman. This, of course, can become a more intimate proposition in the form of a romantic sunset dinner complete with personal butler and a bottle of bubbly.
A selection of no fewer than 10 restaurants and bars within the hotel ensures that guests will unlikely run out of dining choices before the end of their getaway. Of these options, Wang Warin provides an authentic Thai experience in both cuisine and decor while Ariake reaches further away for a taste of Japan. La Fiamma’s wood-fired pizza brings the heat to balance the breeze of the beachside, while Portofino is available for an indoor Italian affair. Pakarang and Latest Recipe cater to those who want the world on their dinner table with a gratuitous buffet and international cuisine respectively.
For those who want to be within vicinity of Patong and all its colourful attractions, Le Meridien Phuket is the obvious choice, convenient but yet providing welcome solitude as the night draws to a close. With the striking of such a balance and its recognised presence here, Phuket’s pearl will likely shine bright for many years to come.
