Aman is to tourism what Bottega Veneta is to fashion. Discrete luxury. Non-ostentatious but exceptional, with insane attention to detail
A glass of iced water appears as I arrive at a tanning lounger. Upon returning to my pavilion, I find a drawn warm bath with a scattering of white lotus blooms, surrounded by candles. Like Santa's elves, the hospitality team works quietly, always a step ahead of me.
The first ever Aman built is Amanpuri, the one that set the tone for the rest of the discrete Amans around the world. Phuket's Aman turns 30 next year, and it was the brainchild of illustrious Singapore-Indonesian hotelier, Adrian Zecha.
Amanpuri marries tradition and technology like no other. The façade, inspired by traditional Thai temples, goes hand-in-hand with the resort’s soothing soundtrack of indigenous instruments played throughout the resort, and poetically by live musicians in the evenings.
Yet its modernity shines: The gym is equipped with the latest (during my Pilates reformer session, I was told that this is only class in Phuket which incorporates the Oov contraption, which works by activating the user's core stabilising muscles), the toilets are decked out with Japanese washlets and the nightly screenings of movie classics is with a top-of-the-line home theatre projector encased in box that resembles a vintage movie projector.
1. First Impressions
After a two-hour flight and an easy 30-minute drive from the Phuket airport, we turned into an unassuming yet grand reception with a roof that is reminiscent of a traditional Thai temple. No signs, no logos.
I immediately noticed the vastness of space: The large lobby had minimalist furniture against its classical exterior which emphasises its pure size. It was completely empty of guests except for a row of staffers, including general manager Paul Linder and wellness immersion manager Graham Rowe bearing warmest welcomes and jasmine flower wrist garlands.
Beyond the lobby: A jaw-dropping view of the Pansea Beach steps down from the pool, surrounded by coconut trees. The resort was built on a coconut plantation in 1988, which makes it a grand 30 years old next year.