Hidden Gems of Thailand: Top Picks for Luxurious Beach Accommodation

But the more you travel around this gorgeous landscape, the more you'll discover that true quality isn't so easy to find among all the choices available. It's the rare hotel that finds the right balance between modern and traditional, Thai and international design, style and comfort, luxury and freedom, and true convenience without being obtrusive. Of course, the usual variables have a big impact as well in anyone's lasting impression: Location, privacy, transport links, price, restaurant quality, and services included.

With all that in mind, we brought our well-traveled staff together to make up this list. A disclaimer: Times change, upgrades are made, islands change their character and new hotels open all the time. But for us, these are some real standouts of the Thai island scene – the hotels that make you gasp first, relax later, and never want to leave. If you're planning to stay at any of these resorts, and your experience is anything like ours, you are in for a sensational treat.

In no particular order, then, here goes:

Keemala Resort – Phuket



For an entirely different experience, Keemala in Phuket is set in a secluded woodland area where its strikingly designed cottages and villas are found right next to – and inside – the island's incredible jungle. Far from the stresses of everyday life, Keemala brings a spiritual atmosphere to your stay, blending architecture with nature and offering total peace and privacy.

Guests can relax in their own private pools while looking down at the island landscape. The resort specializes in holistic treatments and therapies to purify mind, body and spirit. Candle-lit dinners and fresh, authentic cuisine round out this fully immersive experience, marking a glorious departure from the standard Phuket offering. The sheer uniqueness of Keemala alone makes it an experience not to be missed.

Naroua Resort – Koh Tao



For a true ‘home away from home' in paradise, Naroua Resort and its luxurious villas, private infinity pools and splendid sunsets earns a high place on any list. Go scuba diving by day (or tan yourself on the panoramic sun deck) and enjoy the spacious accommodation by night, with plenty in the area to explore anytime you like.

We especially recommend the in-villa services, such as the private massages and barbecues organized by the staff. With all the luxuries you expect and a stellar location on Thailand's favorite diving island, Naroua is an ideal home base for enjoying the beautiful texture – both around the island and undersea – that Koh Tao has to offer. This is one of those hotels you find yourself wishing you could go back to again and again.

The Library – Koh Samui



At first glance, the minimalist Library Hotel might look like it's a bit too simple. But this place grows on you in a big way, as you quickly start to see the extraordinary – really, revolutionary – design ideas hidden behind that unassuming surface. This place marches to a different tune, and it totally works. There's a good reason why The Library is fast becoming a popular destination for private parties and weddings.

With a truly eye-catching red pool, an excellent cooking class, special dinners arranged right on the soft-sand beach under starlight, a beach bar whose beautifully natural design sets just the right atmosphere, and the memorably delightful fusion cuisine at the hotel's private restaurant, you'll be spoiled for choice even before you remember that there's also a whole island out there to explore.

Seaview Resort & Spa – Koh Chang



With luxury rooms, suites and cottages opening up directly onto a private beach, Seaview Resort & Spa is just about the most elegantly satisfying experience you can have on Koh Chang. The accommodation is spacious and beautifully decorated (for a true delight, try the Honeymoon Suite, complete with Jacuzzi inside the room), and the massages here are out of this world.

Within the hotel grounds there are two excellent pools with world-class views. The Clifftop Pool and the Beachfront Pool are aptly named, but the names themselves don't do justice to the atmosphere they bring, particularly around sunset. We also recommend taking the resort's own private funicular, for guests to move from the beach to Seaview's terrific restaurants and bars.

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Getaways like these are a big reason why Thailand remains such a beloved destination for travelers worldwide. Dozens of countries have sun and beaches, many of those also allow for superb scuba diving, and several are also reasonably affordable. But the pure imagination put on display in Thailand, inspired by the unique variety of landscapes and cultural history, add an invaluable extra dimension to the Thai luxury experience. This playground of ideas brings traditions together with full modern convenience, and it would be a shame to visit the country without treating yourself to at least one of these experiences.