The Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort and Villas opened today with over 75% occupancy booked for December and January. The second property of Outrigger in Phuket opened on time in an environment where many hotel openings have been delayed. The opening General Manager, Mr Pieter van der Hoeven, attributed exceptional booking levels from Korea, Hong Kong, Japan and Australia to the resort’s unique value plus space proposition.

Until 31 March, 2011 the 229 square meters two-bedroom villa will sell from Thai Baht 6,000 (US$176), the 457 square meters three-bedroom pool villa starts at Thai Baht 9,000 (US$265), and the 604 square meters four-bedroom pool villa is available from Thai Baht 13,000 (US$382).

“We are getting a lot of interest and bookings from visitors who already know Phuket quite well, but want a home away from home where they can find time for themselves in luxury surroundings,” said Mr van der Hoeven.

The 68-villa property is part of the Laguna Phuket destination resort at Bang Tao beach. Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort and Villas guests have signing privileges at 30 food and beverage outlets and spa facilities across Laguna Phuket, and at the nearby Laguna Phuket Golf Course. Outrigger guests also receive free transfers to the resort’s own beach club.

Mr van der Hoeven said butler service, a gymnasium, a kids’ club, free wifi and a conveniently located international poolside restaurant were contributing factors that had driven demand beyond pre-opening expectations.

The special opening rates at Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort and Villas, which are valid until 31 March 2011, can be booked online at www.outrigger.com. Or by calling (+66) 76 336 900. Or by emailing laguna@outrigger.co.th. All rates are subject to 18.7% service charge and VAT and are valid from 1 December 2009 until 31 March 2011.

Source: etravelblackboardasia.com

With 5-star amenities, the fully-serviced residences include 4-bedroom penthouses with private rooftop pools and gardens, along with 2 and 3-bedroom Phuket apartments with pool decks and balconies beside an infinity-edged swimming pool.

Two-bedroom ‘marina and pool view’ apartments of 154 sqm are priced from US$250 a night – up to US$400 in the high season, or US$1,500-2,400 a week. Two-bedroom ‘pool deck’ apartments are from US$250-500 a night, and US$1,500-3,000 a week. Three-bedroom ‘marina view’ residences are from US$400-600 a night, and US$2,400-3,600 a week. Four-bedroom split-level penthouses priced from US$600-800 a night and US$3,600-4,800 a week provide a perfect private holiday retreat, perched atop the four-story complex with spectacular panoramic views.

Along with full servicing, the rental packages can also incorporate boat hire, to explore the myriad of deserted tropical paradise islands in the Andaman Sea on the marina’s doorstep. Monthly rates are also available.

On the boardwalk beside the marina is an array of trendy bars and restaurants, while pampering is available at the Pearl spa, and designer shopping at stylish boutiques. Facilities also include flood lit tennis courts and health club, while Phuket’s main shopping district and five golf courses, including the famous Blue Canyon, are nearby.

News by asiatraveltips.com

Anantara’s collection of 83 villas – each with their own private pool – is framed by magnificent Bill Bensley-designed gardens with enchanting paths meandering down to the sea. Reminiscent of a southern Thai village, each villa boasts a spacious living area, colorful silks, prized Thai furniture, and a beautiful bathroom featuring an Anantara signature outdoor ‘made for two’ terrazzo tub that seamlessly blends with the private pool.

Away from the resort, Anantara will give guests the opportunity to explore the vibrancy of southern Thailand and see Phuket through new eyes with a wide range of cultural experiences. Stepping out on to the soft sand beach overlooking the dazzling blue waters of the Andaman Sea, guests can sit and watch the fishing boats bringing home the day’s haul. In the restaurant, diners can relish fine cuisine from Thailand and around the world and then next morning take a cookery class to learn how it is made.

A diving expedition to the Similan Island reveals the cacophony of colours and shapes beneath the water with world-famous coral reefs. Phang Nga Bay offers stunning views of limestone cliffs that float above the calm waters of uninhabited bays and unspoiled sand – ideal for a castaway picnic.

At the end of the day, adjourn to one of the stylish, high concept dining areas. The beach restaurant features terraced seating and an ultra-chic ambiance. The signature restaurant boasts state-of-the-art lighting and contemporary indoor and al fresco dining. For Thai and European tapas, the bar is the place to be. Let our resident Wine Guru help you select the perfect vintage from the Private Wine Cellar – heaven on earth for the wine connoisseur.

Discovery, adventure, culture, luxury – this is what defines the unique experience that is Anantara. But it isn’t just about discovering the place. At Anantara, guests can discover something about themselves too.

The acclaimed spa at Anantara Phuket is the perfect sanctuary for a journey to inner harmony. Through age-old massage techniques, aromatic elixirs made with indigenous ingredients and in an environment of complete serenity, our therapists can guide clients to a genuine sense of physical and spiritual renewal.

If guests want to leave the luxury of their own private pool, they can head to the lifestyle swimming pool which features a series of water terraces of differing depths, stylish fountain effects and in-built loungers. Nearby, guests can relax in the chill out areas featuring oversized day beds, divine cocktails created by the resident ‘Mixologist’, and the latest lounge mood music. For those who want to be more active, three tennis courts fitted with night-playing technology and a fully-equipped fitness centre and health club are also available.

Opening Special – Stay 4 Pay 3 at Anantara Phuket Resort & Spa, Thailand 1st October – 23rd December 2008

Be one of the first to enjoy an unforgettable getaway at the exclusive Anantara Phuket Resort & Spa opening in early October. Anantara Phuket is located on a quiet stretch of Mai Khao Beach in Phuket’s more secluded and natural northern sunset coast.

Experience Anantara’s stunning new pool villa resort with the special opening offer – stay for four nights and pay for only three at the special ‘Anantara Breeze’ rate. Guests can enjoy absolute privacy in the spacious living area of a Pool Villa and the Anantara signature outdoor ‘made for two’ terrazzo tub that seamlessly blends with the private pool.

Anantara Phuket offers an experience to guests unlike any other, one that couples pool villa serenity with the exoticism of Mai Khao beach, and state-of-the-art convenience with indigenous charm. An experience that celebrates the destination in all its natural beauty and cultural allure.

From now until 23 December 2008, discover a brand new Anantara and a brand new Phuket.

Package includes:

• Private pool villa accommodation
• Sparkling wine and fresh decanted juices on arrival
• Daily tropical fruit
•  Signature breakfast from 7 – 11am in La Sala restaurant

Price: Pricing for a Pool Villa on Anantara Breeze from THB 16,000+++ per villa per night. * Enquire about pricing for Garden Pool Villas, Lagoon Pool Villas and Sala Pool Villas

Conditions:

• Offer is valid from 1st October 2008 – 23rd December 2008.
• All rates are in THB and subject to 10% service charge and 8% applicable government tax.
• Children under 12 years old sharing room with parents receive 50% discount for daily breakfast.
•  The above pricing is subject to availability and a cancellation policy.

For more information on Anantara Phuket and other Anantara Resorts & Spas visit www.phuket.anantara.com.

News by Eye Of Dubai – eyeofdubai.com

A study of the high-end and luxury condominium market by Jones Lang LaSalle research also noted a shift in the buyer demographics. Although U.S., U.K. and Scandinavian investors represent the traditional base of the market, “affluent individuals from China, Russia, India, Korea and the Middle Eastern countries are representing a growing source of demand,” according to the Jones Lang LaSalle study.

If nothing else, both studies suggest that the political issues in Thailand—a coup in 2006; unrest in the South—are no longer dampening foreign interest in the country’s property market.

“The new government has expressed its strong will to attract more overseas capital flows into Thailand,” wrote Dan Tantisunthorn, head of research at Jones Lang LaSalle in Thailand.The government is considering a measure to extend land leasehold periods, he notes. “Should the initiative materialize, we can expect the market to be more robust.”

Written by Kevin Brass on International Herald Tribune Blog – blogs.iht.com

Phuket’s Indigo Pearl is a stylish 5-star distinctive design resort incorporating design inspired by the paradise island’s now redundant tin mining heritage, with everything down to the finest detail subtly themed, extending from the names of the restaurants and bars to the staff uniforms.

Targeting travelers who seek a distinctive cultural experience, the resort is set amidst lush tropical gardens on a secluded Andaman Sea beach front only 10 minutes from Phuket International Airport.

The design, a fusion of modern architecture and Thai tradition, was developed by world-renowned architect, interior and landscape designer Bill Bensley. The landscape is a postmodern transformation of a mature plantation, spiced with modern sculpture and industrial art.

Comprising 277 rooms and suites, its facilities include a spa, dive school, gym, beach club, extensive conference facilities, cooking school and no less than eight innovative food & beverage outlets – including a snooker room and bar, and a restaurant designed inside a redundant tin mine.

The Villa Lawana is one of Koh Samui’s newest luxury resorts and features a stylish contemporary design with charming historic Sino-Thai accents, which recall the indigenous history of the region.

Located on the north of Chaweng Beach in Koh Samui, the resort enjoys a secluded beach front location which is nonetheless just a few minutes from Koh Samui International Airport and the main Chaweng entertainment district.

Amid landscaped gardens on the tropical beach, Villa Lawana features 122 guest villas and suites, some with their own private pools and lavish outdoor bathtubs.

The resort features a sumptuous spa with ornate Oriental décor and two stylish beach front swimming pools. Various activities on offer include water sports, a fitness center, yacht cruising and yoga classes.

The hotel’s relaxed bars and restaurants include hilltop fine dining in a series of private “salas” at the Sky Hug restaurant and spectacular sea views from the al fresco beach front restaurant Ocean Kiss, which also features an open show kitchen and a walk around wine cellar.

News by Asia Travel Tips – asiatraveltips.com

Clearly illustrating this are the four Jivana villas on this pristine beach in Phang Nga province, which is very close to Phuket Airport. Each sits on a four-rai land plot with a large beachfront and all are owned by Hong Kong families. Rental rates in the current low season for each of these six-bedroom houses – with two maids and a full-time chef – are US$1,200 a night. That works out to $200 a bedroom and is indeed something four- to five-star hotels have to reckon with. In the high season the rate climbs to $1,800 a night and during Christmas and New Year it’s $3,500.

“So people are starting to get groups together or if you have very large families going on holiday, or even a few couples going away together, they find this a lot more private but still with all the services you find in a fine hotel,” says Mr Craig.

The villa rental market is quite new in Phuket and Phang Nga though many of the new hotels that are coming up also have a villa component. “It’s quite evident that the market is really tending to go more toward the private rental situation and that is where my company comes in,” says Mr Craig. “So if the guests book a villa then we provide all the service that you would find in a five-star hotel.”

Helping this market is the fact that few villa owners actually live in Phuket. A large majority are from Europe, Australia and the US or are expatriates living and working in other countries in Asia. Mr Craig has found that about half of the owners of villas in Phuket and Phangnga are willing to rent out their holiday homes, compared with 80% on Samui.

“We see a lot of people just locking up for the low season and not renting out too much. However, my belief is that keeping villas running full-time and having people staying there keeps them in better condition as you are constantly maintaining them and doing preventive maintenance.”

Mr Craig draws on the experience of Samui Villas & Homes in building up business in Phuket and Phangnga. “Our Samui office just started out managing four homes and providing rentals and then it branched out into property sales and then construction management.” The Samui office now manages about 60 villas with a staff of 180 and Mr Craig aims for a similar number on the Andaman side in two to three years.

Aside from Jivana and other top-end property, Mr Craig has cheaper properties – some at the Laguna estate are $550 a night – but with golf course views and not sea views. “But essentially the price range is the higher you get on the hill or the closer you get to the beach the more expensive it gets.”

At the moment the demand is for the high-end villas because holidaymakers find $1,200 for six bedrooms pretty cheap compared to hotels. While rental returns on villas are not that high, capital values are going through the roof, he says. “I mean, the land has probably quadrupled in price from the time they bought it five years ago.”

The condominium rental market is also growing, but Mr Craig says villas are favoured for their full services. However, some people who enjoy doing some housework and a few Jivana guests like to cook and use the kitchen and also go to the market with the maids. While last year’s coup and lingering political uncertainty compounded by the planned changes to the Foreign Business Act are affecting the overall resort property market, Mr Craig pointed out that as a holiday destination the Phangnga area is getting better every year.

The brave hearts who still dare to buy expensive property are advised by Mr Craig to seek good legal advice so that they know exactly what they are getting into. “Always be aware that there is tax to pay, Thailand is not a tax haven by any stretch of the imagination.”

Written by: Nina Suebsukcharoen
Pubished on: Bangkok Post