9 Best Hotels in Koh Lanta, Phuket and the Andaman Coast

Guests repeatedly return to the Layana for the pampering, understated luxury, and a relaxed peaceful environment. The scenic location, attention to detail, and friendly efficient service make this a top resort, with spacious accommodations kept in tip-top shape. Some suites have beds looking directly out to sea and a top floor terrace with a writing desk, minibar, and sofa, and all have lovely outdoor rainfall showers. The romantic seafront restaurant serves delicious, reasonably priced Thai or international dishes while also organizing wine tasting nights and cooking classes. The impressive spa is highly professional and its unique menu will leave you spoiled for choice.

One of the coolest things about this boutique resort is that some of the rooms are "convertible": If you're too hot you can open up the "walls" and allow the breeze to blow through. That said, it's not over-designy; sustainability is the big theme and some describe it as sort of upscale camping, with air-conditioning and a nice bathroom. The resort is at the northern end of Klong Dao Beach—the quiet end of an already quiet beach. Isolation is a blessing here, as the resort has almost everything you might need, including a pool table and a spa. The water here is swimmable, and snorkeling around Kaw Kwang Cape, while not exceptional, is pleasant and there are fish to be seen.

There are large ponds with water lilies and fountains, and brick paths meander from the villas to the pool to the spa---it's all very chic. Northern Thai–style villas have marble floors, and all but the standard rooms have outdoor garden baths. Honeymooners are greeted with flowers, cake, and bubbly wine. Beachside massage is available for all.

If you're staying in a resort on a beautiful white-sand beach with crystal-clear blue water, you should treat yourself to a room with a view---and at Nakara, you'll have one, even if you end up in a room at the back. Whether lying in bed and looking out through your window or lounging on one of two daybeds on the deck, you'll appreciate the tranquillity of the Andaman Sea. Ask for one of the rooms away from the restaurant and pool to ensure quiet. When it gets too hot, retreat to the air-conditioned bliss of your cottage, which has wooden floors and rattan walls, and enjoy the modern amenities.

This enormous lively resort stretches gracefully across an entire hillside along the road from Klong Khong Beach to Klong Nin. Look for lush green landscaping with palm trees, shrubs, and flowers, a choice of pools, an extensive kids' club, a game room, and more. Some rooms have private pools, and the spa is gorgeous.

With a fun slide plunging into a big pool and several two-bedroom villas (each with large multi-bed rooms), Southern Lanta is understandably popular with families. Standard rooms are bungalows built closely to each other with slightly run-down exteriors but comfortable interiors. Seaside rooms are newer and have sofas indoors and deck chairs outdoors for maximum lounging.

One of the first upscale resorts in the area to market the "less is more" philosophy, SriLanta remains an island getaway for edgy urbanites. Breezy rooms are basic, but have comfortable lounging areas and are tastefully decorated. Sadly, most rooms have no view, and the beach is a short walk down the hill, which can be uncomfortable for some. The spa has massage tables on a platform above a large fishpond. SriLanta is reasonably priced for what you get (one of the nicest resorts on one of the nicest beaches), but the service is quite ordinary for such an extraordinary resort.

This resort is as much an architectural and interior-design exhibition as it is a sophisticated and tranquil retreat. It is both traditionally tropical and innovatively contemporary; occasionally, the two styles meld: deluxe superior rooms have colorful tile floors but incredibly romantic outdoor baths. The resort's main dining area is a feast for the eyes as well as the palate, and the two bars make up for the fairly isolated location on the quiet northern end of Klong Dao Beach.