Ideal for relaxing and romancing, this secluded Thai beach resort is honeymoon heaven. It’s named after the mythical Lady Sarojin, who represents the concept of welcome, and you’ll be utterly spoilt from the moment you arrive: flowers, champagne, the works!
Sitting on 11km of private sand and surrounded by 10 acres of beautiful gardens, it’s far away from the bustle of Phuket (80km away). There are lots of amazing features, but our very favourite is the on-site ‘imagineer’, who organises treats just for 2 – perhaps sunset diving, lunch by a secret waterfall, or bamboo rafting down jungle rapids.
Rooms: As you’d imagine, the rooms are romantic and elegantly styled, with hand-carved furniture, Thai silk cushions, and open-air bathrooms with oversized tubs and indulgent JUKU toiletries. They also have a deli-bar filled with drinks and snacks such as fresh fruit, cookies, bread, meats, cheeses and even smoked salmon. Of the 3 room types, the Garden Residences are the best value and come with gardens and sundecks. The Pool Residences have their own plunge pools, while the Suites (the most private rooms) have vast sun terraces with sunken onyx pools.
Food: Breakfast is served in the Ficus Restaurant to a calming soundtrack of croaking frogs and humming cicadas. Healthy options include muesli, fresh fruit, porridge and juices, or you can splash out on beluga caviar with blinis and melba toast washed down with sparkling wine. In the evening the restaurant becomes super-enchanting, with tables set out around the ancient ficus tree. We loved the mix of Thai and Italian cuisine, and thoroughly enjoyed our pan-seared king prawns with garlic and rice. For something less formal, The Edge has beautiful sea views and serves delights like spicy soups and steamed fish dishes. Die-hard romantics can choose to have a private dinner with their own chef on the beach, by the pool or in their garden.
When to go: Now! Peak season is from November to April, when the weather is relatively cool and there’s little rain. From March it warms up to around 35C, before the monsoon hits from May to October. If you do decide to visit during the wetter season, the best months are July and August. The Andaman Sea can get rough and the picture-perfect blue can disappear, but The Sarojin’s beach is very secluded so you can swim all year. Expect some strong but short downpours (especially in May, June and September), but keep in mind that it will always stay warm and humid.
Customer review: “This hotel is incredible! The food, location and areas (pool, restaurants, beach and rooms) are all brilliant. I think the corn cakes with tomato, avocado and bacon is one of the best things I’ve ever eaten for breakfast (with delicious freshly squeezed orange juice too). YUM!”
Pamela, South Africa (02.05.15)
i-escape gift: a 30-minute spa massage per person (excluding the Christmas/New Year period).