Iniala Beach House — Hotel in Phang-nga Province

I can honestly say that my family and I have never stayed at a resort quite like this – truly paradise in Phuket. Iniala delivers on so many different levels that words cannot even do it justice – but I will try. Located about 30 minutes from Phuket Airport, your journey starts off in style – greeted at the airport, picked up in an air-conditioned luxury van, given cool scented towels and snacks for the drive – all a fabulous way to start your stay.||||Upon arrival, you are welcomed by a team of the loveliest people – each one friendlier than the next. The property is not like a traditional hotel with a main building or even several buildings with multiple rooms. It is composed of 4 beach houses – that are called villas, each with its own butler (one during the day and another at night AND a morning butler to special make any coffee or tea that you want), massage room, and direct access to the rest of the staff – a driver, chef, spa therapists, and housekeepers (who will run a lavender bubble bath for you if you ask!). Literally your every need and desire are taken care of…and with a smile. From the moment we arrived to the moment we left, it was complete relaxation and pure luxury in terms of service.||||We were in a 3-bedroom Villa called Siam – and it was super cool. None of the rooms are actually attached and you are walking outside to get from room to room – but it was so hot outside it didn’t matter, and everything was only a few steps from each other. You should know this, however, if you have young children. My girls decided to sleep together in one room, but there is a code to get in and out of the room on the door – it took them no time at all to figure it out, but take note. The villa was great, and we loved having our own massage room with a steam shower so we could get massages at any time – day or night – right in our villa. The Massage Therapists were AMAZING – especially Ing.||||Bo and Palm, our butlers, were the simply the BEST. So professional, polite, and just a pleasure to be around. Incredibly attentive, and learned what we needed so we didn’t even have to ask by day 2 – things just happened! Plus, they are both really amazing with children – which was incredibly helpful. They really made our stay unique and super special. Natty, who came each morning, makes the greatest cappuccinos – and was so sweet with my entire family. The villa staff at Iniala are top-notch – by far the highest level of attention to detail that we have ever experience anywhere. Period.||||The Kid’s Hotel – greatest thing EVER! Jim and Ben, 2 of the main staff there, were really fabulous. They engaged my girls for many hours – and with activities and art projects – NOT video games or TV. My daughters even slept there 2 nights in the cutest bunk beds, giving mom and dad 2 nights to ourselves. Iniala really does an awesome job with their version of a “kids camp” and tailored everything to what a kid would want – smaller bed, showers, bathrooms, benches, etc. and TONS of things to do for all ages.||||From our Thai boxing almost everyday or the Beach Yoga – all with Chai, we were staying active. Chai is an outstanding trainer. Besides being super funny and kind, he is an excellent Thai Boxer – he even taught my kids. We all had a blast in the gym with him and learned a lot. Don’t forget to ask for the “Chai Massage” – which is his take on a Thai Massage. Personally, I thought it was better! Thank you Chai for EVERYTHING…||||If you enjoy food and cooking then you are in the right place. All the meals were A+ and made to order – and you can ask for anything. My family also had a marvelous cooking lesson in the restaurant kitchen where we learned how to make Thai food, and then my husband and youngest daughter did a pastry making class in their bakery – was so special. The restaurant on property, Esenzi, is INCREDIBLE and worth the splurge. We had an unbelievable adult dinner there, as well as a delicious BBQ dinner that we were served inside as it started to rain. Each dish was better than the next, and the entire team at Esenzi from Chef John and his entire cooking team (Chef Loren, Don and Dali), to Behzad and his entire service team – WOW. Truly a culinary experience that you should not miss.||||The Beach!!! It cannot be forgotten. You just step out of your villa and you are on a gorgeous, soft white sandy beach, and can access the warmest water you could possibly imagine. Natai Beach is simply amazing. We walked, boogie boarded daily, watched the sunsets, and simply laid out on the private loungers in front of our villa and took it all in. You really feel like you are on your own private beach at your very own beach house.||||Taii has gotten the Front Office under total control, and was super responsive when it came to requests day or night – really helpful as the family trip planner. It was nice to meet and speak to Wayne, the General Manager, and learn more about the property and the service philosophy. You can tell how passionate he is about what he does and about Iniala – and I can see why…it is a one-of-a-kind resort. Intimate and unique – and all the guests can feel it from the staff around them – everyone is always smiling and so happy – it’s really awesome. ||||Iniala is simply magical! From start to finish you will be pampered and continuously wowed. This is a property that you go to for complete privacy and relaxation – and the beauty is there are also things to do close by if you want to. Temples, Turtle Sanctuary, Night Markets, Boat Trips (we did one to the Phi Phi Island – highly recommend), and much more – but it’s all up to you. The staff and service with a smile (and a bow) was fabulous, and the Thai people could not be nicer. My family and I will always remember our time at Iniala, and hope that we have the opportunity to return to such a hidden gem in such a beautiful part of the world. ...

Iniala is an exceptional property located 30 minutes north of the Phuket airport in Phang Nga. Set on the west coast beach, it is comprised of three 3-bedroom villas (we stayed in the central one called Collector’s) and a penthouse above Esenzi, the on-site prix fixe restaurant. ||This is the type of experience for a family, friends (we were a group of 5) or 3 sets of couples. The Collector’s villa is the first one you approach straight ahead when you make it through the gate. ||Service is exceptional from the moment you land at Phuket airport. Iniala staff collect you at the airport in a well appointed van to drive you to the property. (Check in advance with Iniala where you will arrive at the airport; we flew from Vietnam with a connection in Bangkok, which is a domestic flight and they were waiting for us at international arrivals.)||Once you arrive at the resort, they greet you with fresh juice and leis and give you a tour of the property. Besides your villa, you also have access to a pretty comprehensive gym (we did weight training ourselves as well as held our yoga class with a woman named Jim there) and a pool table room and a kids playroom above both. ||The Collectors Villa is the best one on the property; you enter a courtyard with a pond, and there is a small cinema and spa on either corner. Then you enter the main living / dining area - the walls are decorated with actual blue plates, cups and saucers (very clever). Then you enter the beach front area where you have a large private pool, a floor-to-ceiling glass dining room, sitting area and three bedrooms, facing the beach. ||You are provided with two butlers; we had Bo in the morning until mid afternoon and Nim from mid afternoon until bedtime. Then there is a security guard who can also get coffee for you in the morning. Bo and Nim would accommodate every request and were amazing. I must say I was initially uncomfortable being waited on constantly, but it was so relaxing that I gave in to request their services by the end of the first day. ||Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all included, and you can literally have anything to your heart’s desire. What I loved the most is the chef coming to consult on lunch and dinner requests about an hour before each meal, to allow you to customize your selections. For our four-night stay, we were also treated one night to a 10-course tasting menu at Esenzi. Our first night we had a BBQ dinner on the beach which was magical. ||The beach front property has lounge chairs in front for each villa and the beach itself is white sand. In February, the ocean water was like bath water. As others have said, the beach is not one where you will be alone, as there are several properties next to each other, but it’s not crowded by any means. ||Iniala offers three types of exercise daily; I tried to keep active. In addition to yoga, they offer Thai boxing and bicycle riding. I ended up biking with the trainer to a wooden temple about 10k north of the property one day, and to a waterfall and hilltop view about 6k inland another day. Just the two of us was fun to explore. ||We made use of the cinema in our villa and watched a movie each night. We had really good massages from the spa in our villa as well. ||We had cocktails on the beach to witness sunset everyday, which was also magical and watching the sky turn so many different colors was another key highlight. ||The only counsel is that alcohol is not included in the cost, and the prices are Western/New York prices, so we ended up spending extra for cocktails and wine for dinner, but in the end I didn’t mind because it was important for the entire experience. ||Iniala also offers a 7-hour excursion to Phuket island to see temples and the Big Buddha. Two of us did this on our last day for an additional ~$200, accompanied by Bo as our tour guide. ||I’d recommend a minimum of four nights / five days here and more if you can afford it. You’ll find that the cost will justify the experience. ||Overall, I highly recommend Iniala, for the villa, villa setup, meals, and topped by service of butlers and the chefs. It is one of a kind experience and more intimate vs a luxury hotel chain like Ritz Carlton or...

Iniala is an exceptional property located 30 minutes north of the Phuket airport in Phang Nga. Set on the west coast beach, it is comprised of three 3-bedroom villas (we stayed in the central one called Collector’s) and a penthouse above Esenzi, the on-site prix fixe restaurant. ||This is the type of experience for a family, friends (we were a group of 5) or 3 sets of couples. The Collector’s villa is the first one you approach straight ahead when you make it through the gate. ||Service is exceptional from the moment you land at Phuket airport. Iniala staff collect you at the airport in a well appointed van to drive you to the property. (Check in advance with Iniala where you will arrive at the airport; we flew from Vietnam with a connection in Bangkok, which is a domestic flight and they were waiting for us at international arrivals.)||Once you arrive at the resort, they greet you with fresh juice and leis and give you a tour of the property. Besides your villa, you also have access to a pretty comprehensive gym (we did weight training ourselves as well as held our yoga class with a woman named Jim there) and a pool table room and a kids playroom above both. ||The Collectors Villa is the best one on the property; you enter a courtyard with a pond, and there is a small cinema and spa on either corner. Then you enter the main living / dining area - the walls are decorated with actual blue plates, cups and saucers (very clever). Then you enter the beach front area where you have a large private pool, a floor-to-ceiling glass dining room, sitting area and three bedrooms, facing the beach. ||You are provided with two butlers; we had Bo in the morning until mid afternoon and Nim from mid afternoon until bedtime. Then there is a security guard who can also get coffee for you in the morning. Bo and Nim would accommodate every request and were amazing. I must say I was initially uncomfortable being waited on constantly, but it was so relaxing that I gave in to request their services by the end of the first day. ||Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all included, and you can literally have anything to your heart’s desire. What I loved the most is the chef coming to consult on lunch and dinner requests about an hour before each meal, to allow you to customize your selections. For our four-night stay, we were also treated one night to a 10-course tasting menu at Esenzi. Our first night we had a BBQ dinner on the beach which was magical. ||The beach front property has lounge chairs in front for each villa and the beach itself is white sand. In February, the ocean water was like bath water. As others have said, the beach is not one where you will be alone, as there are several properties next to each other, but it’s not crowded by any means. ||Iniala offers three types of exercise daily; I tried to keep active. In addition to yoga, they offer Thai boxing and bicycle riding. I ended up biking with the trainer to a wooden temple about 10k north of the property one day, and to a waterfall and hilltop view about 6k inland another day. Just the two of us was fun to explore. ||We made use of the cinema in our villa and watched a movie each night. We had really good massages from the spa in our villa as well. ||We had cocktails on the beach to witness sunset everyday, which was also magical and watching the sky turn so many different colors was another key highlight. ||The only counsel is that alcohol is not included in the cost, and the prices are Western/New York prices, so we ended up spending extra for cocktails and wine for dinner, but in the end I didn’t mind because it was important for the entire experience. ||Iniala also offers a 7-hour excursion to Phuket island to see temples and the Big Buddha. Two of us did this on our last day for an additional ~$200, accompanied by Bo as our tour guide. ||I’d recommend a minimum of four nights / five days here and more if you can afford it. You’ll find that the cost will justify the experience. ||Overall, I highly recommend Iniala, for the villa, villa setup, meals, and topped by service of butlers and the chefs. It is one of a kind experience and more intimate vs a luxury hotel chain like Ritz Carlton or...