Keemala

Hotel categories aren’t as rigid as they sometimes seem. Where, after all, is the line between a boutique hotel and a luxury resort? Better to follow Keemala’s lead, and call them what they call themselves: an “all pool villa wonderland.” It certainly gets the point across; the point being that every villa here, on the edge of Phuket’s coastal rainforest — perched just above the coastal town of Kamala — comes with its own pool.

Freestanding villas are loosely modeled after the design of tribal dwellings. Tent Pool Villas, for example, take inspiration from the rainforest’s nomadic tribes, featuring tent-like domed roofs and striking oval soaking tubs perched high over the greenery below. Cocoon-like Tree Pool Houses, in contrast, channel the aesthetic of the We-ha (Sky) clan, with two levels and suspended furniture. Clay Pool Cottages are more conventional, similar to the thatched-roof huts you see throughout Thailand. And then there are the fantastical Bird’s Nest Villas. Like elegant, futuristic birdcages built of woven wood and glass, they look out over the sea and the forest.

All of Keemala’s villas and cottages come loaded with the necessities: Egyptian sheets, bathtubs, free wi-fi, minibars stocked with complimentary drinks and snacks, and private terraces with outdoor showers. And did we mention the private pool?

Breakfast can be brought up to your villa, too, so there’s really no reason to come down from your treetop escape. Unless you’re interested in workout at the fitness center, or a massage at Keemala’s spa, or a neon-hued cocktail beside the main pool, or Thai food at Mala, the hotel’s airy restaurant. You could be in town in a few minutes, as well as Patong or Surin Beach, or arrange any number of day trips in the region, but we’ll level with you. When you’re staying at an all-pool-villa wonderland, staying put is very much a live option.