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Meet your perfect match, holidaymaker: Le
Meridien Khao Lak Beach & Spa Resort.
An hour north of Phuket International Airport, in Phang Nga province,
the resort feels far more remote than it is. Inside the hotel grounds,
you see nothing but pools, gardens, sand and sea. The task of relaxing
is every guests first order of business, and Le Meridien Khao Lak
is a capable facilitator. Occupying nine vast hectares (22 acres)
of prime waterfront jungle, there’s no shortage of room to
move.
A wonderful welcome
Lobby |
On one side of the lobby is the hotel’s Family Wing, the Spa
Wing to the other. Each U-shaped structure curves around its own
swimming pool. The brilliant blue main pool, centred between the
lobby and the Andaman Sea, joins the Family Wing pool via a canal
that winds past the children’s centre and wading pool. The
pool in the Spa Wing is reserved as a peaceful, adults only haven.
The grounds are expansive enough to feel free and unrestricting,
but not so spread out that you wish for a personal pony service
to cart you around. White canvas umbrellas dot the landscape, providing
guests with just enough shade whether they’re enjoying the
beach, pools, or dining on the terrace.
Choice cuts
Café Lilawadee |
Being a one-stop holiday shop, Le Meridien Khao Lak offers a restaurant
for every taste. Whether you prefer to start your day with fruit
and yogurt, an omelette and bacon, or meat and cheese, Café
Lilawadee’s (the resort’s something-for-everyone, international
dining outlet) massive breakfast buffet will put a satisfying end
to the morning munchies. Afternoon eats in the form of pizza, pasta,
and seafood are served at the poolside Bangsak Grill, or go for
tapas – the trendy food with a trendy name – beachside
at the Bamboo Bar. Evenings see the opening of Baan Thai, the Thai
restaurant (of course) that guests rave about, Khuk Khak, the Indian
food lounge, and the romantic Seafood Grill, where fresh seafood
is grilled to perfection and the sea provides the ambiance.
Roomy rooms
Deluxe Pool Room |
When it comes to resort accommodation, bigger is always better.
And the rooms at Le Meridien Khao Lak are indeed large. Designers
didn’t add sitting areas as cramped afterthoughts. Rather,
the Deluxe Rooms and Deluxe Pools Rooms (which are essentially the
same, but the latter is on the ground floor) have big beds, a couch,
and a table and chair – and still there’s enough room
for a passionate game of Charades. The décor doesn’t
try too hard; it’s tasteful and elegant without being distracting.
Of course, if bigger really is better, 25 luxurious villas stand
ready to indulge your wildest holiday dreams with 42-inch plasma
televisions, comfort filled living areas, and bathrooms you’ll
want to take home with you – they’re that nice. Choose
from Lagoon Villas, Pool Villas, and Oceanfront Villas – all
are secluded, intimate, and they do their names justice.
The showpiece
Le Meridien Khao Lak Hobie Cats
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I could go on and on about the beach, because the beach goes on
and on. Free from noisy motorboats and throngs of people –
and protected by national park status – unbroken solitude is
easy to come by. Floating platforms give swimmers a lounge in the
sea, and complimentary Hobie Cats and windsurf boards are available
for guests to harness a gust and explore the expansive coastline.
Kids love Thailand, and what’s better, Thailand loves kids.
Instead of saying, “Goodbye children, we’ll see you in
a week,” Le Meridien Khao Lak’s Penguin Club lets you
say, “Goodbye children, we’ll see you in two hours.”
The resort has plenty of room to roam and is pure bliss for vacationers
of all ages.
Accessorize your holiday
View from the lobby |
The icing on the cake is sweet; the ‘stuff to do’ list
is long. Tennis courts, mountain bikes, beach volleyball, table
tennis, and snorkelling are all available onsite, as are a fitness
centre, spa, beauty salon, dive shop, tour desk and a bit of shopping.
Step outside the resort and Khao Lak’s many adventures await,
including golf, elephant trekking, fishing, hiking, rafting, and
educational tours that highlight the beauty of Thai culture.
The verdict is in: Families love it. Romantics love it. Leisure
travellers love it. Beach boys (and girls) love it. Le Meridien
Khao Lak Beach & Spa Resort is the complete package; a perfect
ten. A first date is destined to lead to many, many more. Call it
fate.
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