The Credentials:
Overlooking the Gulf of Thailand, this award-winning boutique hotel – boasting just 22 all-suite villas – is located south of Hua Hin in an area often referred to as the Thai Riveria, regularly frequented by members of the Thai Royal family.
Aleenta Hua Hin-Pranburi Resort and Spa is all understated luxury with impressive eco credentials. The resort is currently run at 87 per cent self-sustainability: buildings are made from local materials by locals – even the hammocks have been made by a local fisherman – and there’s a clear commitment to the community. Locals are invited to visit, pick and eat from the resort’s organic farm in exchange for helping out on the farm. The majority of the staff come from the local area while James (who is from west London), the GM, previously worked as Mick Jagger’s private chef and speaks fluent Thai.
Dine:
With much of their food grown, reared or baked on-site and a 30km import policy, Aleenta is a foodlover’s destination. The focus is on nutritious wholesome food and a collision – not [con-]fusion, as James pointed out – of Western and Thai influences. Breakfast is served English high tea-style, a fun alternative to the usual wasteful buffets offered at most hotels, with a tier of delicacies from the garden, bakery and animal produce. There’s also a full menu, including indulgent dishes such as cinnamon French toast with grilled bananas and a Spanish-style omelette with garden salad and Asian pesto, plus a generous selection of smoothies and teas.
Its charming indoor-outdoor dining room with open kitchen catches the cooling sea breezes and the sound of the waves. We also experienced an unforgettable dinner (based on our food preferences) for just the two of us on the beach with the full moon shining over the sea.
Sleep:
Our whitewashed villa with its thatched roof, stunning bamboo ceiling, wraparound windows, spacious outdoor shower and outdoor space certainly had the wow factor. The low bed and perfectly placed sofa made the most of the views, while beautiful design features (such as the white tiered wall-headboard and a waterfall-style stone tap) made me assume a well-known designer had been brought in for the job. We fell asleep to the sound of the sea and spent more time in our room than should probably be spent on any holiday.
The hotel had bags of personal style: the well-stocked mini bar offered mainly healthy options; silk PJs hung in the wardrobe; a sand-pad offered daily messages from the staff; there’s free WiFi, plus books, games and an iPod dock – it took a couple of days before I noticed there wasn’t a TV in the room.
Who Goes There?
The resort boasts 75 per cent repeat business of guests from around the world. It’s the perfect honeymoon hideaway and also hosts one or two weddings per month.
Out & About:
Check out the Night Market and Arts & Crafts Centre at Thailand’s first beach resort, Hua Hin, which is a 30-minute car journey away; there are six international standard golf courses in the vicinity; Khao Sam Roi Yot (which translates as ‘Mountain of 300 Peaks’) National Park is south of the resort. You can borrow one of the resort’s mountain bicycles to explore the area or learn to kite surf with the locals instead of watching them (like I did) from your sunlounger.
We did, however, trek up a beachside mountain to a famous cave called Tham Phraya Nakhon where we saw the lush vegetation growing in the shaft of light passing through the hole at the top and Phra Thi Nang Khuha Kharuhat, a pavilion first constructed in Bangkok in 1890 during the reign of King Rama V, then dismantled and moved to the cave where it was reconstructed.
The Worst Thing:
If you like a daily swim, you may be disappointed that the shallow sea waters are more suited for kite surfing. The upside is that the beach feels totally unspoilt by tourism. Next to the bar and restaurant there is a small infinity pool overlooking the sea and we also took a golf buggy to the pool at Frangipani, the family-oriented wing located up the road.
The Best Thing:
To get this far in the review without mentioning the two spas suggests how special Aleenta Hua Hin-Pranburi Resort and Spa is. It’s confident enough to be a bit different and, in doing so, offers a truly relaxing and beautiful experience for discerning travellers.
