The 5 best things to do at Andara Resort, Phuket

One of the best bits about visiting Phuket is that it allows you to completely drift out of everyday life and simply enjoy the moment – and this is never more true than at Andara. The secluded, peaceful location on the island’s west coast means you’ll have all the privacy you want and all the comfort you’ll need to make it feel like a true home from home – like a 24/7 concierge service, for example. If you need a reminder of just how much you’ve escaped everyday life during your stay, take a minute to consider the fact you’re nestled in tropical greenery up on a quiet hillside overlooking beautiful Kamala Beach. Who needs the rest of the world when this is your base?

Staying at Andara means you get the A-list treatment without the bother of becoming an A-lister. Make the most of indulgent services and features, like a 24/7 private chef, private infinity pool and villa attendant if you stay in one of the sumptuous villas, and personalised service to make you feel utterly spoilt. If you want to really push the boat out, simply hop aboard Celebrity – the hotel’s private 107-feet yacht – for a day spent jetting out to magical Phang Nga Bay. After all, what else would you expect from a hotel set in the area of Phuket known as Millionaire’s Mile?

There are few things in life as relaxing as a good bath, and you’ll find some next-level bathing available at Andara. Sink into a super-sized tub and take your pick from the bath menu, which includes a Phuketian floral bath, a vitamin C tropical bath and a romantic rose bubble bath for couples, featuring a bottle of prosecco. Other wellness options at Andara include a beauty salon, Thai herbal steam room and extensive spa, where you can enjoy a traditional Thai massage. If you need to work up a sweat to justify all that pampering, try out the on-site gym, tennis court or yoga studio.

Eating local is the smart way to eat when you’re in Phuket, and this is made deliciously easy at Andara’s wonderfully elegant Silk Restaurant, where chefs utilise local ingredients and create seasonal menus based on the best produce – all complemented by a carefully selected wine list. If Silk’s fusion of Thai and Western cuisine gets you inspired, book on to one of the restaurant’s cooking classes, where experts will teach you how to create your own Thai delicacies. That means you’ll never have to go without good Thai food for too long when you’re back home.

Andara’s location means you’re close to some of the island’s finest restaurants, boutiques and bars, if you can tear yourself away from all of that luxury happening at the resort. First up is an unmissable essential: enjoying a sunset from Phuket’s branch of famous Café Del Mar, found on Kamala Beach (there‘s even a complimentary shuttle service available to the bar from Andara on request). You’ll also be within easy reach of must-see sights and attractions, like the striking ‘Big Buddha’, standing 45 metres high in white marble, and Phuket’s vibrant Old Town, filled with colourful buildings and buzzing street markets. Golfing fans will also love the hotel’s proximity to several acclaimed courses, some backdropped by mountainous scenery to further lift the experience.