Nick Walton’s Welcome To Asia, December 2016

Milaidoo Island Maldives. Photo: Facebook

For true luxury in one of the Indian Ocean’s favorite playgrounds, boutique five-star resort Milaidoo Island Maldives has opened on a 13-acre island at the heart of the Baa Atoll, a Unesco Biosphere Reserve. Dedicated to barefoot informality in a destination where glitz has always been the norm, the new resort designed by local architect Mohamed Shafeeq offers a return to the classic Maldivian escape. Just 30 minutes by seaplane from the international airport, Milaidoo boasts 30 spacious over-water villas measuring 2,600 square feet, as well as 20 serene beach villas measuring 3,100 square feet apiece. Each sublime space features a private freshwater plunge pool and an island host to attend to guests’ every whim. Be sure to leave time to enjoy the Milaidoo Moments, a collection of exclusive activities designed for luxury travellers that include snorkeling safaris in protected Hanifaru Bay, a marine reserve that counts whale sharks, dolphins and manta rays as residents. You’ll also dine well, with the new resort boasting three restaurants—including a signature eatery perched over the lagoon and shaped like three traditional Maldivian sailing boats—and two bars. A chic boutique spa rounds out the offering with complimentary daily yoga and meditation classes and a raft of indulgent locally-inspired treatments. 

Located on the “Hawaii of Asia,” Ritz-Carlton Mission Hills, Haikou is set to open next month on the Chinese island of Hainan, bringing new levels of luxury to one of the region’s best golf resorts. The HBA-designed urban resort boasts 201 guest rooms, 21 private villas and a dedicated clubhouse with access to Mission Hills’ 10 championship golf courses. Perfect for weekend escapes or for longer visits for those looking to conquer all the courses, the Oriental-themed Ritz-Carlton Mission Hills features five world-class restaurants and bars, as well as extensive meeting spaces, and is a 30-minute drive from the international airport at Haikou, in the north of the tropical island.  

In nearby Sri Lanka, one of the hottest destinations in Asia for 2017, Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas has opened its second resort, the 141-room Anantara Kalutara Resort, on the island’s southwest coast. An hour’s drive from the capital Colombo, Anantara Kalutara is perched between the pristine coastline and the Kalu River, with guest rooms, suites and villas featuring coastal, river and lagoon vistas. With original designs by the country’s most acclaimed architect, the late Geoffrey Bawa, the resort fuses natural luxury with colonial and traditional Sri Lankan aspects. The main resort building has a Dutch colonial style including soaring gable roofs, while guest spaces offer private balconies and terraces overlooking manicured gardens. Each room boasts a wine humidor as standard, as well as Bose Bluetooth speakers, luxurious linens and spacious bathrooms, while the one-of-a-kind one-bedroom Presidential Suite features a private plunge pool and expansive sundeck. A series of one- and two-bedroom villas features enclosed gardens and private pools and are ideal for families. Cool off with the activities on offer at the comprehensive Watersports Centre, which include jetskiing, water skiing, and banana rides, or work up a sweat in the state-of-the-art fitness center.  

The Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa Merlin Beach has opened on the Thai holiday island of Phuket. Formerly the Phuket Merlin Beach resort, the new Marriott property boasts upgraded public spaces and two exciting new concept restaurants. Located a short drive from the island’s international airport, the new-look resort features 414 guest rooms and suites across 11 categories, as well as a comprehensive spa that offers signature Thai massages, scrubs and wraps. In addition there’s one of the island’s largest kid’s clubs, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and several expansive swimming pools, ensure you can always find a quiet corner in which to sun worship. Leave time for authentic Thai cuisine at Thai Pantry or the best of the Colce Vita lifestyle at D.O.C.G. 

International serviced residence owner-operator Ascott has opened the Metropole Bangkok in Thonglor, the group’s first luxury serviced residence under The Crest Collection in Asia. The Metropole features colonial architecture and neoclassicism design infused with Thai elegance. The property, which is surrounded by trendy restaurants and cafés, is located close to Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok’s main business and entertainment district, and offers 116 apartments, with a choice of studio or one-bedroom flats with soaring ceilings, private balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows with stunning city views. Amenities at The Metropole include an outdoor swimming pool, fitness center with cold onsen, and a signature restaurant with al fresco seating. The serviced residence also offers additional services including laundry, dry cleaning and meal delivery.