I wanted to check it out for myself.
Located on the west coast, The Amanpuri is the only resort on the island to boast it's own private beach, called Pansea. There are two exclusive beaches actually, divided by a beautiful old tree and restaurant perfectly positioned for seaview dining. Three hotel restaurants are scattered here; Italian, Thai and world flavours, all with stunning seaside views. Looking out to the horizon I spy what looks like a floating cement circle - ‘It's a resting bay' a friendly staffer tells me, ‘so you can swim out to the ocean. We provide water out there, and refresher towels.' Wow.
Active life seems to be alive at this resort. There are Pilate's classes with state of the art apparatus (which I know is hard to find in it's own right around the world,) and an expert trainer to take classes. There is an amazing cliff side gym located with flash equipment including gyrontic and power plates - and 360-degrees of ocean views to die for, while you easily forget about the pain that comes from keeping fit on a treadmill. Six tennis floodlit courts if you're keen for a game. Even the room service menus are health orientated, with a ‘detox' option, highlighting the types of foods and what they are rich in.
I stayed in a stylish traditional Thai abode with shiny wooden floors and mirror and wooded panel walls, called a salas. Complete my own peaceful outdoor floor dining setting, the interior room boasts a low-based bed adorned with huge dreamy pillows - which encouraged the deepest sleep I have had in a while. The salas have a walk-in wardrobe and deluxe bathroom area. A luxurious bathtub is central to the design, set with hotel branded shampoo and conditioning bottles of a generous size, a large tub of scented salt scrub and enormous oversized soft towels, plus glam twin dressing gowns. A rain shower with fancy black tiling is to one side of the room, and to the other - wait for it - a heated toilet seat! One press of the button to wash, one press of the button to dry (or paper if you prefer.) This is luxury at it's best, and I'm not even in Kate Moss's room!
What is immediately obvious is how private the resort is. Walking by forty pavilions scattered though out a jungle of local lush greenery, past a peaceful pool so still you want to walk over it, towards the private aqua beaches adorned with umbrella beach beds, you can see how a celebrity would come here without ever leaving the Resort. The staff are very aware of the hotel's exclusivity and aren't allowed to tell me which names have stayed, (not to worry, everyone in town seems to know anyway - Kate Moss, Britney Spears) so instead I ask the question ‘...if I were a celebrity, which room might I stay in?' And am escorted to the private villa area.
The private villa area faces the ocean and is sectioned off to the rest of the resort. This is where the who's-who of the world stay. These glamorous salas are actually mostly privately owned, and rented out by the resort when not occupied by their owners. Each villa has a separate magnificent salas pavilion for dining, sleeping, and relaxing. The private pools are surrounded by a thick jungle which secures complete privacy for those staying.
During my stay I was lucky enough to experience the Aman Spa, and the two hour signature Awakening massage - which I am sure many celebrities have tried. When I arrived to the Spa salas I was treated to a spicy hibiscus tea and cool refresher towel, then escorted to my own salas for complete pampering. The trained therapist expertly kneaded my body for two hours, with steam room breaks and a hot compression therapy.
Just one nights stay at the Amanpuri is enough to make you feel like a pampered celeb, a week long stay would have thinking you were one. Righties, I'm off to stroll down the catwalk now. I mean beach.

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