The Surin Phuket

History

The  Surin was only the third hotel to be built in Phuket; Tuttle transformed it at a later date from the floor plan of a previous resort. Working in tangent with Bangkok-based designer Jon Vorapot Somton, Tuttle fused local materials and traditional Thai design with modern functionality, delivering an all-cottage resort.

Once the  Surin threw open her doors, she became a force to be reckoned with and a benchmark by which other five-star and boutique hotels were measured. In her early days she drew a largely French clientele, partly due to Ed Tuttle’s solid reputation in France (the Paris-Vendome is one of his many achievements) and the hotel’s French executive chef.

Today the clientele is spread fairly evenly between countries around Europe and Australasia, yet the Chedi undeniably remains a player on Phuket’s luxury hotel circuit, despite being 20 years young. With a design inspired by the beauty of Thai tropics from botanical gardens on landscaped terraces, to dazzling Pansea Beach itself, where the hotel is located.

Arrival

The  Surin is well hidden. With an approach road lined with causaurina and coconut palm trees, you could be forgiven for wondering where in fact it is. The location, on rolling slopes, means that reception is at the top with the rest of the hotel beyond, scaling down the hill to the sea.

Check in is fast and pleasant with welcome gifts of intricate bracelets made from jasmine flowers and cool, freshly squeezed fruit juice. First impressions are marked largely by the design of the main building; roofs are thatched and in geometric forms working with an old-fashioned herringbone floor pattern.

The reception leads down to the dramatically set restaurant - the umbrella-design ceiling is made from wood, but floors and walls are made out of grey granite, as are the steps that lead to the hexagonal pool, giving a striking yet somewhat intimate welcome.

Cottages

From reception the journey to the room is very pleasant; elevated walkways are surrounded on either side by plumeria trees and other tropical trees and flowers. The hotels 108 rooms are in fact all detached cottages with thatched roofs, the layout and landscaping ensures privacy. All room furnishings have been tailor-made in keeping with The  Surin style which includes lots of heavy dark teak throughout, complemented by earthy toned fabrics.

The rooms are all pretty much the same layout with two different configurations, basically large and small. Some cottages feature two bedrooms and some have a lounge/daybed area instead of a second bedroom. The smaller rooms are the same as the large rooms without the second bedroom/lounge area. All rooms feature a private veranda and sundeck with stunning sunset sea views.

The beachfront suites and rooms have been renovated quite recently and are simply exquisite. The suites are large, airy and modern with a bedroom, a large beautifully finished bathroom with his and hers vanities, bath, separate shower and large wardrobes. Additionally there’s a lounge/daybed room that opens to a balcony with a sofa, table and chairs. The Ipod with Bose docking station and LCD TV’s in the bedroom and lounge are the icing on the cake.

The rooms that haven’t yet been renovated are similar however need some TLC, and room rates reflect this.

Pleasure

On the way down to the pool are some seriously great views of the stunning azure-blue water lapping up on semi private Pansea Beach. There’s only blue sea, white sand and green trees to be seen here – no other significant buildings are in sight; a fact that brings on feelings of serene isolation.

The beach is what this hotel is all about, all beaches in Thailand are public; however this small beach is annexed as there is no public access, and this means that one of the nicest beaches you’re ever likely to see is right there for almost exclusive use by the  Surin's guests. There is another hotel next door that also has access to the beach – the ultra exclusive celebrity hangout Amanpuri, however most Amanpuri guests are content to make do with their villa’s private pool.

En-route to the beach you arrive at the smart black hexagonal pool (which can be clearly seen using Google Earth) just a few steps up from the beach. The pool was crafted using black anthracite which is one of the hardest coals, resulting in spectacular night time reflections. In addition to the main pool, there is an equally cool children’s pool fashioned out of the same material.

In addition to cooling off in the pool, the usual array of facilities is on offer from tennis to sailing to windsurfing and scuba diving to the more soothing strokes of a Thai massage at the hotel spa.

Dining

Serving traditional Thai cuisine and freshly barbequed seafood, Lomtalay Restaurant is spread over two adjacent hexagons, featuring live traditional Thai music. Delights such as deep-fried crab, stir-fried vegetables in oyster sauce cakes and fried fish curry are served to western palettes washed down with one of the selections from the high-quality wine list.

Dishes are served with panache on ornate china and tables are beautifully dressed with heavy bronze cutlery attended to by subtle, polite staff. Additionally, in high season The Beach Restaurant opens its doors to guests with a selection of live seafood as well as fresh pasta dishes and gourmet sandwiches.

Breakfast is an extensive selection laid out in Lomtalay Restaurant, in daylight many tables have sea views and fresh ocean breezes serve to remind you what a wonderful setting you’re in. The breakfast buffet was delicious with a magnificent variety of pastries and breads. The melon wrapped in Parma ham was my favourite.

A point that should be mentioned is that the hillside location means The  Surin is unsuitable for anyone who has difficulty with steps. If you’re staying in one of the hillside rooms right at the top of the hotel the journey to the pool or the beach involves quite a bit of physical exertion. Still, these rooms are perfect for those who like a little exercise as part of their holiday.