Six Senses Yao Noi

If you cry like an Oprah car (or house, or college tuition) recipient when you enter your villa, don’t feel badly: you’re not the only one. Tears of joy are to be expected here, in this IRL paradise. Even the humblest villa is fitted with a pristine infinity pool, terrace, and all the trappings of modern life: satellite TV, espresso machine, wine fridge, and Bose Hi-Fi systems. But it’s the experiences you’ve come for, so don’t be among the honeymooners that never leave their rooms (though we wouldn’t blame you). Here, you can snorkel with a dive master, learn muay thai (boxing), yacht through the Andaman archipelago (with your own private chef, natch) aboard all manner of watercraft, including a new 60-foot Princess motor yacht.

An ultra-luxe, villa-only retreat on a jungly overlook of Phang Nga Bay.

Wasteful. Sure, you’ll have your own private wonderland in the form of a thatched-roof villa, but this place is as eco-friendly as it gets (note the new 3,000 mangrove seedlings and waste reduction programs).

Even wee ones are treated like Thai royalty: kids activities include kick-boxing, batik painting and a tour of the local village by Tuk Tuk.

It’s easy to miss the spa here, tucked as it is into the feral hillside jungle. But don’t. In a country renowned for self-care, this is a standout, with treatments almost guaranteed to drop your jaw. After a morning of bobbing in the infinity pool, feeling like the dolphins you saw frolicking yesterday around your yacht, your face could use some R&R. The 24K Gold Age-Defying Facial is just the ticket, thanks to collagen-pumping mogra jasmine and, yep, 24k gold leaf. You leave as radiant as the sun on the sea beyond.

The Dining Room - fine dining with Organic European Cuisine and features a glass floor with a creek meandering beneath. The Living Room - world cuisine, with an emphasis on Thai, plus tandoori and pizza ovens, and an open grill, while the Chef’s Table offers a very personal dining experience for just eight guests. Bar and Lounge on the property and private bar in your room