hero media

Is this Thailand’s most romantic hideaway?

International Traveller

Honeymoons come around only once (hopefully), so it’s fair to say expectations run high. Tatyana Leonov sees if  The Sarojin in Khao Lak, Thailand,  can deliver

 

I’ve got a theory when it comes to Thai resorts. If the welcome drink is delicious, the stay will be good.

So I’m pretty pleased that The Sarojin’s welcome drink tastes marvellous. In fact, once a week the resort hosts complimentary sunset drinks, and fortunately for us our arrival was impeccably timed.

A few hours after our smooth, unhurried check-in we find ourselves sipping yet another welcome drink, followed by a few more, these ones of the rather more potent variety. My welcome drink theory is proved correct.

The Sarojin as it is today is actually attempt number two: the first Sarojin was scheduled to open in 2004, two weeks after the infamous tsunami knocked it down. Because all the planning, design and building elements had been completed previously, version two shot up quickly in just eight months.

Wisely, the star of the design is not the resort itself but the grounds in which it sits; tropical gardens abuzz with a myriad of birds and an ornamental pond complete with scooting fish and singing frogs. Architect Sim Boon Yang has an impressive portfolio that includes W Hotel in Goa and the Metropolitan Hotel in Bangkok. The Sarojin was his first resort and his design ethos is evident through his cohesive lattice of buildings and land.

The 56 residences are housed in seven separate buildings that are scattered throughout the sprawling grounds. As we’re here for our honeymoon, we’ve booked The Sarojin Suite (top floor, baby) for the length of our stay. The room is seriously huge. One hundred and fifty square-metres huge. The spatial generosity is enhanced through balanced proportions and a fresh and simple colour palette – soft beiges, dreamy creams and natural browns.

Hard wood floors complement the contemporary feel in the lounge room and the king-sized bed is just the right level of softness for a comfortable sleep (and beautifully decorated with an elaborate flower arrangement for our first honeymoon night). A pebbled floor takes you through to the modern bathroom where there’s a deep stone bath (that’s scattered with rose petals and lit with candles during turndown service) and a spacious rainfall shower.

The only ‘missing’ facet, in my opinion, is a door between the bedroom and living room. The free-flowing design works on most levels, but my husband is an early riser, and on holidays I definitely am not. A door would have allowed him to make a bit more noise in the mornings.

We spend most of our days lazing by the pool or on the beach, taking leisurely dips at the appearance of the merest bead of sweat, and returning to our sun beds to find our water glasses replenished. The staff is always on hand yet never intrusive. Each one looks genuinely happy to be there.

Breakfasts are all-inclusive and à la carte with no scheduled times. Whether you turn up at 8am or 2pm, whatever menu item you select is cooked to order. I quickly learn that serving sizes are smaller than I’m used to, although it does say the menu is designed with the idea of ordering a few dishes. But as with any extended stay you become accustomed to the differences: after receiving one egg with one piece of toast on the first morning I start asking for two; an easy issue to resolve.

The two on-site restaurants, although expensive by Thai standards, offer quality fare. The beachfront restaurant, The Edge, has some of the best Thai food I’ve ever tasted. At the Mediterranean-style Ficus most dishes are a hit (an entrée of scallops is my foodie highlight) and only one is a miss (the delicate flavours of the lobster meat in a lasagna are lost in a mountain of cheese).

Check-out, like check-in is smooth. There are more towels, more smiles; an employee sneaks cold water bottles into the taxi to ensure our return journey is comfortable. Apparently it’s common for couples to return to The Sarojin (eight times is the record), and although Thailand is home to so many other award-winning resorts, I’m pretty sure we will be back for another welcome drink. Our first wedding anniversary perhaps.

 

DETAILS

• Who
The Sarojin, Khao Lak
60 Moo 2 Kukkak, Takuapa
Phang Nga, Thailand
+66 76 427 900
sarojin.com

• The IT Verdict
Tatyana Leonov, who visited
anonymously and paid her own way, says: “A honeymooners haven. The attention to detail was spot on and everything was thought of to ensure our stay was perfect. In a word… heaven!"

• Info
Tatyana stayed for a week and paid
a low-season rate of $285 per night including breakfast.

Want to see more stories from International Traveller in your Google search results?

  1. Click here to set International Traveller as a preferred source.
  2. Tick the box next to "International Traveller". That's it.
International Traveller

International Traveller

View profile and articles
sunset on the deck of a villa at Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui
Thailand

Live The White Lotus dream: You can now buy a bungalow at the real-life resort

The craze of season three continues with new villas that promise The White Lotus lifestyle (minus the drama and death).

Read more
Woman in pool at Four Seasons Bangkok
Bangkok

What it’s like to stay at the Bangkok hotel rumoured to be the next ‘White Lotus’

This year, the behemoth urban oasis on the banks of Bangkok’s emblematic Chao Praya River is the ultimate in contemporary luxury hospitality.

Read more
an aerial view of the surrounding rice paddies at Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai
Thailand

Review: Four Seasons Chiang Mai

Head to Northern Thailand, where the Four Seasons has redefined itself on a working organic rice farm where guests bathe water buffalo, plant rice and eat exceptionally well.

Read more
Ahsa Farm Stay, Thailand
Thailand

Keeping culture alive at a Northern Thailand farm stay

The hosts of a farm stay in northern Thailand sow seeds of hope in the community with a range of down-to-earth activities.

Read more
hero media

5 things every hotel needs for a more restorative stay

    Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
    Continue
    Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

    The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

    1. Easy access to good food

    meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20
    Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

    One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

    In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

    In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

    Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

    At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

    While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

    It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

    2. Better sleep options

    Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room
    Sleep deeply with Novotel.

    There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

    For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

    The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

    3. More ways to move

    woman hiking around queenstown new zealand
    Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

    Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

    At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

    Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

    4. Better connections

    Novotel Sharm El Sheikh
    Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

    One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

    Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

    A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

    5. Location is everything

    Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld
    Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

    Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

    All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

    Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.