Bubbly and roses...

Looking back on the most wonderful evening, just one week ago. So much joy! Åke and I exchanged rings as a sign of our engagement and future marriage. It all happened in that incredibly romantic city – Paris.

And the evening began in one of the world's truly great hotels, full of romantic spirit – Four Seasons George V. Our beautiful room just flowed over with champagne and roses!

Bubbly flowed...

We exchanged rings

White roses everywhere -
heart stirringly romantic

That evening we ate at Apicius – 2 Michelin stars heading for 3, housed in a lovely villa with a garden, not far from the Champs Elysees.

Engaged couple dining at Apicius

A lovely dinner...

An evening to remember...

On Layan Beach

Brand new Anantara Layan lies on a golden sandy beach on the West coast of Phuket, surrounded by national park, so nature here is wonderful and the beaches unspoilt.

I was here for dinner and a hotel inspection, and got a chance to try the wonderful spa therapists

Friendly, smiling staff at the spa

Warmly welecomed...

Here the GM Andy Kunz and sales &
marketing executive Ayesha Barker

Anantara Layan has 77 rooms, suites and pool villas. Each room and villa is a bit different in style but all very fresh.

Each room different

One of the courtyards leading to a villa

Fabulous outdoor showers

Lush vegetation all around

We were invited for a special dinner with seafood as the main dish.

Delicious seafood

We had a lovely evening ...

With Ayesha Barker, who somehow knew I liked Pinot Noir...

Lobby lounge bar area

 

Great kitchen with very creative chefs

The signature drink of local rum, mint and lime

Table decoration of small Bonsai trees

Dessert served from a funny glass

And the sun set

Prepared for honeymooners...

Romantic bed decoraton

For honeymooners I recommend the beachside pool villas – step straight out from your deck onto the warm golden sands…

Anantara's beautiful beach

Up Beach

Just five minutes by boat from Trisara there is a very beautiful beach. It is great for swimming and has a lovely place to relax, a beach club called Up.  

Select clients will have free sunbeds there. A perfect spot for lunch by the beach.

Off we go...

Up Beach in front of us - a long sandy beach washed by turquoise water...

Up Beach

Trisara in the background

Back at the villa enjoying the sunset
by our own private pool

Gazpacho and my favourite drink, young coconut

Chilled gazpacho adds some lovely variety
to all the delicious Thai food

Lots of fun with our Trisara friends

Trisara has a nice wine cellar and Åke and I
were invited to enjoy my favourite wine last night

Tomorrow - a blog on another lovely Phuket hotel - and soon we will be back home again.

Garden in heaven

Trisara has long been one of my favourites. This classy resort lies in the less developed northwest of Phuket, embedded in lush jungle and tropical gardens, and it slopes down to its own lovely beach. Trisara means Third Garden in Heaven.

So we arrived to HEAVENLY chocolate truffles

The best I ever had!

Our private pool area

And our private pool with a view

Meals are also a great part of the experience at Trisara.

The restaurant manager Mam is a truly
service-minded, fantastic person

Breakfast meeting

Trisara offers 39 rooms, villas and suites, all with private pools and ocean views. There are also 30 private residences with between 2 and 6 bedrooms and dedicated cooks and other staff. Here are some of the spacious residential villas...

Views

Large pools

And Trisara-style charm

More tropical charm...

Lobby area

 

Lotus signature

 

Lush pool area

Beach area

More about heaven tomorrow…

High and serene

We visited yet another lovely luxury hotel on Phuket for lunch and hotel inspection. Paresa is serenely placed on Millionaire’s Mile high above Kamala Beach, with stunning views.

Welcome to Paresa...

Delicious papaya drink welcome

It was set up for a wedding when we arrived...

So romantic

Paresa offers 49 sea view suites and villas with up to four bedrooms, all with inspiring tropical patios and private pools.

Sensational views

... from the bath too

Stunning infinity pools

Rooms with atmosphere

One of the dining areas in the huge villas

There is a great spa...

...inspired by Thai healing traditions

We had a lovely lunch...

With the General Manager Scot Toon and
room division manager Mirko Corbella

Great Italian chef

There is another restaurant high on the clifftop - a perfect setting  to enjoy magnificent sunsets across the Andaman sea.

Next visit I will time it right…