★★★[em]This is one of Phuket’s most famous hideaway for honeymooners, sports stars, and high society. Private villas with walled courtyards, many with private pools or Jacuzzis, are spacious and grand, and lavishly styled in teakwood with outdoor bathtubs. The main pool is truly impressive—a free-form lagoon, landscaped with greenery and rock formations—with a flowing water canal. In a small village-like setting, the spa provides a wide range of beauty and health treatments in luxurious rooms. The resort can arrange barbecues at your villa, or you can dine at the Tamarind Restaurant, which serves delicious  health food. The Banyan Tree garners many international awards, especially for its eco-friendly stance. The staff are affable and the concierge is well-connected and informed about day trips to secluded islands and local’s only restaurants.