Aleenta Resort and Spa Phuket Phang-Nga, Thailand – Review

We were totally seduced by the sheer beauty, elegance, peaceful ambience and outstanding service we discovered at the tropical oasis of Aleenta Resort and Spa in Phuket. The magnificent 4 kilometre stretch of pristine white sand of the Natai beach eclipses anything that we have ever seen before and we were instantly mesmerised by its charm.

After a tiring journey our spirits were immediately lifted by the comfortable limousine, complete with chilled towels and water, and the very friendly member of staff who filled us in with details of the hotel during our 20 minute trip. Following a very warm welcome and brief check-in, made even nicer by the cold beer we had been able to order on the way to the hotel, we were escorted to our pool suite. ‘Wow’ became a word very often on our lips from then on! The accommodation comprised a spacious modern bedroom with a flatscreen TV, a Bose I-pod music system complete with over 400 songs and CDs, a desk and mini bar and an adjoining bathroom area with rain shower leading on to the outside jacuzzi. The vast comfortable bed was one of the best we have slept in, with its fantastically luxurious Egyptian cotton bedspread and to promote sound sleep and ultimate relaxation, guests are invited to select from a pillow menu, very aptly named `The Aleenta Cares` menu. This included a variety of intriguing sounding pillows, such as little fragrant pillow, tummy warmer, snore reduction pillow and no dust pillow. The awesome floor to ceiling windows looked out on to the most spectacular views of the sea, our private crystal clear blue swimming pool and a patio with a dining area where we could watch the beautiful sunsets. In front of the pool was a grassed area with sun loungers and at the other end of the villa we had an immaculately kept enclosed tropical garden. It’s hard to imagine a nicer start to the day than being able to pull up the blinds and watch the early morning fishing boats gliding through the blue water just steps away from your bedroom. Apart from the occasional swimmer we felt as if we had the beach to ourselves. There are several different types of villas, suites and residences available at Aleenta Resort and Spa. We had the opportunity to view the ocean view loft which, as its name suggests, was on 2 levels, the bedroom being above the living area and having a magnificent sea view. The grounds of the resort are immaculately maintained and with the subtle lighting shimmering on the many beautiful lily ponds, it is hard to imagine a more romantic setting.

One of the outstanding features of Aleenta Resort and Spa is its ethos of respect for guests, staff and the environment. We were instantly made to feel very much a part of the Aleenta family. Wherever we went we encountered huge doses of friendliness and sincere offers of help. We were particularly impressed by the obvious and frequent presence of the General Manager and his management team who were often seen mingling with guests. Every Thursday they host a cocktail hour at the Beach Bar to which everyone is invited. What better way can there be to ensure, first hand, that guests are happy! The Aleenta Resort and Spa pride themselves on being environmentally friendly and socially responsible and actively support the Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation.

There is a tantalizing array of food available in a choice of two main restaurants. Mouth-watering traditional and contemporary Thai cuisine can be enjoyed at the informal 33Mu5 or for that special occasion there is `Level 3` which as its name suggests is located on the third level. We selected the latter and were totally blown away by the uniqueness, creativity and artistry of the Executive Chef, Chef Jean Louis. His tremendous passion and knowledge of food became quickly evident as he meticulously described each dish to us. I began my meal with fresh king prawns slightly cooked with lemon juice. These were wrapped in sundried `buffalo` tomato and Greek Kalamata olive tapenade AOC `Chateau d`Estoublon extra virgin oil. My wife enjoyed the delicately flavoured crab and rock lobster bisque. We were also treated to a demonstration of how to make the very tasty chicken broth `Bloody Mary`, which was shellfish and leek gyoza with soy bean sauce. To follow this I sampled the Australian Lamb Shank Tagine. This was a balance of rich flavours simmered overnight with dried fruits, fresh spices and moist polenta cake perfumed with truffle oil. My wife selected the `Chonburi` Duck Breast, which was cooked to perfection in a rhubarb sauce and accompanied by aubergine tortellini and sautéed fresh spinach. The piece de resistance for my wife, an avid sweet fanatic, was Chef Ake`s Selection of Classic and Modern Pastries which was set on a tiered platter and featured the most delectable looking, intriguingly named desserts you could possibly imagine. These included cactus and tequila iced parfait bar, chewing-gum bavarois, blueberry macaroons, sable Breton with raspberry jelly, peppermint spaghetti, chocolate pralines, homemade marshmallows and mini milkshakes. Her only regret was that she didn`t have enough space to sample them all! We ate breakfast at the 33Mu5 restaurant and again were able to choose from a wide menu, featuring both Thai and Western dishes. An unusual and very nice touch was the way in which each table was presented with a tiered platter of different breads, meats, cheeses and fruits and a dish of Thai sweets and delicacies. These were for guests to sample in addition to the food they ordered. Another innovative idea, and a great gift or souvenir to take home, was the book of recipes that Chef Jean Louis and his team have produced.

The Aleenta Resort and Spa, situated alongside the Andaman sea, is a perfect location for a wedding, a honeymoon or for that special occasion. The beauty of the resort is that you can do all manner of activities, such as mountain biking, Thai cooking, yoga, meditation, taichi, snorkelling, thai boxing and many more, or if you prefer you can enjoy the peace and calm of the Spa, take a solitary walk along the beach or simply enjoy doing nothing! Aleenta will assault your senses in a very positive way and provide you with an idyllic and truly romantic experience in a PERFECT holiday location.

Aleenta is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World