Hotel:
Ani Villas, located on the island of Koh Yao Noi, Thailand, one of the many white sand and palm-lined islands between Phuket and Krabi on Thailand’s west coast.
Getting there:
Fly into Bangkok (BKK) to check out Thailand’s capital city for a day or two, and then get a quick flight down to Krabi or Phuket using one of Thailand’s many domestic airlines. The flight is about an hour and costs around $30-50. Transportation from either of those airports will be included in your stay at Ani Villas, just show up and they’ll take care of you from there. You’ll be transported first by vehicle and then by private boat to Koh Yao Noi.
The vibe:
As soon as we stepped off the boat, we were greeted by a smiling staff with fresh juice and cold towels. We knew we were in for a treat. The only concern of our new friends at Ani Villas was making sure that we were comfortable at all times. They went out of their way to cater to our needs.
Perhaps the best part, though (aside from being pampered to the utmost), was getting to know the staff themselves. They displayed incredible professionalism, yet at the same time there was almost never a moment when someone wasn’t laughing on the property. It was obvious that the employees loved their jobs, and to me, that says everything about a place.
The property:
As a private residence, Ani Villas is for one party at a time. This means the entire property is for your group to enjoy the pool, waterslide (yes, there’s a waterslide), gym, spa, and bar, all to yourselves. With 10 rooms, it sleeps at least 20 people comfortably. It is not the place for a honeymoon for anyone with a realistic budget, but with a decent size group, it would be a great place for family reunions, retreats, friend getaways, or any kind of group travel seeking ultimate luxury and privacy.
It sits on a pristine stretch of beach facing an array of islands that look so perfectly like a painting, you might have to pinch yourself. Because it is in a protected bay, the water is calm, ideal for swimming and paddle boarding.
The rooms:
The “Family Room” that I stayed in was bigger than my last apartment. It contained two rooms, one with a plush king size bed and private bathroom, and the other with two twin beds and bathroom. I had more privacy than I needed to feel completely at home and comfortable. Each night when I got back to my room, I’d find some sort of treat on my bed, my absolute favorite being this guy:
My room was one of two Family Rooms, each on opposite ends of the property next to a Master Suite, which was one large bedroom opening up to a beach-facing covered porch, with large private bathrooms that housed their own jacuzzi tubs.
There were also four rooms in the middle of the property, overlooking the infinity pool, which each had their own private courtyards with pools on the inside. They really stopped at nothing with the design of this place.
What I loved:
Am I allowed to say that the waterslide was my favorite? I swear it’s just as fun at age 30 as it was at age 10. This one is two stories high, and as we had it all to ourselves. We were literally doing laps, and I think everyone in the neighborhood could hear us giggling with excitement every time we went down.
Actually, my favorite was getting a full-body deep pressure massage followed by tea every day during our stay. Or perhaps it was the day we went boating to nearby islands to go cave kayaking. No, it was our Muay Thai session. What an incredible opportunity that was! How can I leave out the cooking lesson with the brilliant and hilarious Chef Yao, and the candle-lit dinner on the beach afterwards. I can’t decide. I just can’t pick a favorite thing, I loved it all. It was all over the top and blew me away.
After just a couple of days at Ani Villas, my skin was glowing and healthy, my stomach was spoiled and happy, and my mind was clear and creative. It was truly a fulfilling experience, a treat for my entire being.
Activities not to be missed:
If I can recommend one thing, it’d be to do everything! Take advantage of the activities Ani Villas has to offer. We learned to cook three different Thai dishes, took kayaks deep into hidden caves, had a private yoga session on the property, spent an hour learning the basics of Muay Thai (we left with bruises well-earned), explored the entire island of Koh Yao Noi via tuk-tuk, drank out of coconuts on a farm in the middle of a rice paddy, did laps on the waterslide, enjoyed massages every day, took the paddle boards out in the bay, went for walks on the beach, and still managed to enjoy naps and personal time in between. This is a place to do absolutely everything and absolutely nothing, making the most of every minute.
Where you can eat:
At Ani Villas, all meals are included, and Chef Yao does not disappoint. We not only enjoyed beautifully delicious Thai cuisine, but we also were spoiled with homemade Indian and Italian dishes during our stay. If you feel like venturing out, the staff will take you to eat in town, or you can walk across the street to a local Thai restaurant for some Thai BBQ (this is a must-do in Thailand).
What sets Ani Villas apart:
Ani Villas doesn’t stop at providing luxury accommodations; they also know how to give back. Ani Art Academies is a non-profit organization comprised of local art schools that are sponsored by their four resorts in Thailand, Anguilla, the Dominican Republic, and Sri Lanka. They offer full scholarships and financial aid for students to participate in these intensive, multi-year programs led by accomplished artists. The goal is to promote creative freedom through logic and discipline for aspiring artists around the world. We were lucky enough to visit the Ani Art Academies Thailand on Koh Yao Noi and meet the Head Instructor, Rodney O’Dell Davis, who studied under the AAA program designer Anthony Waichulis. This particular program was up and running even before Ani Villas opened on Koh Yao Noi, and it will be accepting new students every three months.
An over the top luxury resort that puts effort and time into giving back in such a positive and impactful way? Simply brilliant.
To book a stay at Ani Villas, reserve online.
Thanks to Ani Villas Thailand for hosting me during this stay. As always, all opinions are my own.
