Rating: ★★★★☆

Address: 49 Moo 6, Layi-Nakalay Road, Kamala, Phuket 83150 Thailand

Telephone: +66 76 302000

Email: rsvn@paresaresorts.com or info@paresaresorts.com

https://www.paresaresorts.com/default-en.html

I was planning for a weekend getaway to Phuket and Paresa Resort Phuket comes highly recommended by a friend. Known as one of Phuket’s most romantic resorts, this exclusive and luxurious destination claims to be “the heaven of all heavens”, and at some point during my stay, I believe this is true.

Perched on seaside slopes overlooking the breathtaking blueness of the Andaman Sea, Paresa is a secluded, tranquil resort that operates 49 luxury suites and villas ranging in size from 120 to 660 square metres.

This high end resort boasts infinity pools in each of its units, and the impeccably beautiful and stylish decor has helped the resort win many awards over the years, including the Outstanding Award for Architecture & Design from Thailand Boutique in 2012. Paresa resort is around 45 minutes away from the city centre, which can be inconvenient at times, but it also translates into more privacy for the hotel guests.

During our stay, a wedding takes place at this stunningly beautiful outdoor venue that faces the azure ocean.

There are 6 types of villas at Paresa, and we stay at a Cliff Villa, which is the third biggest villa at the resort. It is worth noting that Aqua Villa, which is one tier below a Cliff Villa, has the same layout but the ocean view is partially obstructed. I will strongly recommend paying a bit more for a Cliff Villa, as a panoramic sea view will make a world of difference.

Our villa is a one-bedroom located on the cliff edge, and it is 160 square metres in size with a private infinity pool. The limitless ocean view from the infinity pool is absolutely spectacular and we can’t stop admiring it during our stay.

Our favourite spot in the villa is the sala – in the morning, we will enjoy a cup of coffee or fresh juice by the pool, and in the afternoon we sometimes switch to cocktails!

The bedroom is only medium sized but very comfortable. During the day, we can open the curtains to see the amazing sea view, but at night, the lighting inside the room is a tad too dim.

The bathroom is rustic and spacious, with homely wooden flooring and two large open closets. The bathroom amenities are from Thann, which is a Thai skincare brand that uses natural ingredients in its products, and they smell incredibly nice and fragrant!

In the bathroom, there is a shower and a free standing stone bathtub which overlooks the cliff.

There is also an outdoor rain shower, but we don’t use it because of the insects outside.

Complimentary breakfast is served at Talung Thai, the resort’s Thai restaurant. There is a large outdoor patio which is perfectly relaxing if you don’t mind the intense sunlight. The breakfast selection is decent, and we particularly enjoy the fresh, juicy fruits and the southern Thai dishes.

The spa at Paresa is located in a standalone villa. Inspired by Thai ancient healing, the treatments utilise natural luxury Thai ingredients and products, such as jasmine, sandalwood, ylang ylang or lemongrass. This spa is a World Luxury Spa Award winner in 2014.

The spa has 5 double suites, each complete with bathtub, steam shower and a private balcony overlooking the Andaman Sea.

We have a massage at the spa – the massage itself is just all right, but the products smell utterly invigorating.

The full price of the Cliff Villa is approximately USD640 per night, but there can be up to 40% discount for non-peak periods (both on the hotel’s own website or on discount websites such as The Luxe Nomad). Our complaint is that despite the hefty price tag, the service is not up to scratch – the airport car pick up is not punctual, our request for towels is forgotten and the service is generally polite but unenthusiastic; though, admittedly, this could be part of the wider problem with Phuket whose service sector seems fatigued from decades of tourism. All in all, our stay at Paresa is enjoyable and this oasis definitely manages to deliver a complete sense of privacy and relaxation.