Keemala

We arrived to a sanctuary of peace and tranquility at Keemala. Set up on the lush hillside - this hidden gem was heaven on earth. We stayed in a Clay Pool Cottage which was absolutely stunning, luxurious and comfortable. The attention to detail was amazing with little special details that made our stay super special like anniversary gifts and a turn down service with a personal touch. The food was amazing with a delicious, healthy breakfast offering each day as well as incredible Thai food for dinner. We enjoyed the pool menu too with delicious pizzas and cocktails. The pool area was a beautiful oasis - we loved relaxing there and taking in the scenery. Our villa had its own pool which was private and kept us cool in the heat. The gardens / grounds are immaculately groomed and absolutely beautiful to walk around albeit quite steep paths. We loved our special stay at Keemala and would love to visit again in the future.

ずっと行ってみたかったホテルに泊まることができた。ツリーハウスに宿泊したが部屋の中にあるナチュラル素材のアメニティ類はとても使い心地も良く、プライベートプールまでついていてとても気持ちの良い滞在ができた。 特にアクティビティや観光の情報を聞き、突然の予定変更にも柔軟に対応してくれたMarchさんにはとても感謝しています。忘れられない記念日の滞在になりました。次は2泊以上できるように頑張ります！ Marchさんもまだいらっしゃるといいな！

Wir waren für 3 Nächte im Keemala und haben es wirklich genossen und würden wiederkommen. Zimmer,Restaurant, Poolbar und Wellness es hat für uns alles gepasst. Ein großes Kompliment an das Personal,alle waren sehr freundlich und hilfsbereit.

This photogenic boutique resort offers distinguished, personalized service, spacious, architecturally interesting accommodations and tasty Thai and Indian food along with a delicious, expansive breakfast including delicate and delicious honeycomb made by bees from the property’s garden. There is an elaborate “resort story” about a shipwreck and the establishment of Keemala by four ancient seafaring clans. It has no basis in fact. I can’t say I have ever stayed at a place outside of Disneyland that took the time to create an entirely contrived “history,” but the name of the resort itself is a creative portmanteau between nearby Kamala and a beloved grandmother of the Somnam family who own the property whose name is Silky but is known as "Kee." Confused yet? Happily, you can enjoy the property without bothering with any of this as it is, “Phuket’s most exceptional forest-based pool villa retreat.” Among forest-based pool villa retreats in Phuket, Keemala is indeed unmatched. Although this is a place of serenity and repose in the forest, it is not off the grid as the cropped Instagram photos might suggest. The restaurant and main public areas of the hotel look out over the condos, hotels and houses built up the hillside from Kamala beach below. There is also a parade of trucks up the hill each day delivering some sort of fuel/liquid. The accommodations are commodious and comfortable, including giant bathrooms with indoor and outdoor showers. In an interesting twist, many of the structures have been constructed out of eco-friendly synthetic materials to make them more sustainable and minimalize ecological impact to preserve the pristine jungle. Thump on what appears to be a massive stone/concrete structure supporting the villa pools and you’ll discover it’s actually a fabricated fiberglass-esque composite material. The water pressure in both the in-room and outdoor showers is just out of sight, allowing you to shower by the light of the moon to your heart’s content. Just massive cascading torrents of water. The showers here are even better than the showers at the Mandarin Oriental NY which I have previously extoled. What’s more, you can enjoy this indulgence with your conscience calmed as each villa has its own water processing equipment to create gray water for use in irrigating the landscape. The fitness center is compact, but well-equipped and did not ever seem oversubscribed. Perhaps guests at Keemala are more focused on yoga mindfulness and meditation (complimentary sessions scheduled throughout the week with resident yogi and meditation specialist Daniel) than pumping iron. It appears that many of the guests do work out when not on property. Where this resort really shines is in the staff. Attentive, kind and ready to go above and beyond to assure guests have a terrific experience. My Personal Villa Host, Yeam, not only made all arrangements on property, she stressed that she was happy to assist with Phuket recommendations even after checkout… and she did, furnishing a variety of much-appreciated local dining options in the Kamala Beach area. Another high point is the spa. The treatment rooms are exquisitely spacious and private. With apologies to Pornchai, the character played by Dom Hetrakul in the White Lotus who memorably treats Belinda (Natasha Rothwell) to a heavenly version of the same in episode one of season three, the Keemala foot massage, administered by a supremely skilled therapist is truly magical and the perfect antidote to 36 hours of travel to Thailand followed by an eight hour exploration of Phuket. You just may enjoy an out-of-body experience where you are transported not just to another plane but to another galaxy. Truly transformative and highly recommended. In marked contrast to the staff, some (but certainly not all) of the guests wore grim countenances more appropriate for one of the nine circles of Dante’s Inferno than a five star resort. Some couples at breakfast exchanged nary a word, staring morosely at their devices. If they can’t be happy here, I’d hate to see what they’re like at home. Their glum expressions, however, are periodically swapped for million watt smiles or provocative pouts for obligatory stylized posts on social media. Let’s just say that most of the posts you see fail to capture to the totality of the experience. But to each to his/her/their own. As for your drone, it is simply not welcome here. Given the prevalence of Instagrammers, this must be a major problem as I was questioned at check-in whether I had brought a drone and FAQ #1 for guests instructs “[D]rone use by resort guests and visitors is not permitted on property or in the airspace above Keemala.” So bring your selfie stick, but leave your drone at home.

The most luxurious resort we’ve ever stayed at! The view is phenomenal and you feel as if you are immersed in the jungle. The service was exceptional and we were treated like royalty. Even from the moment we arrived - we were given a welcome tea/snack and escorted to every part of the resort by cart (if we chose not to walk). The complimentary breakfast had an abundance of options and was delicious, and every night we looked forward to our complimentary “room dessert” that would get dropped off by the villa attendant. March was especially exceptional, and always checked in to make sure we were comfortable with our stay, and if we needed anything he would ensure we got it! We loved our room and every aspect of our stay at Keemala. We would stay here again and again!