ESCAPE TO: KOH SAMUI
WHO GOES: Victoria Beckham and her family (who own a sprawling villa on the island), plus Mick Jagger, Bar Refaeli and Idris Elba.
DRAWCARD: Located to the east of mainland Thailand, Koh Samui is where (away from its bona fide party spots) you’ll find white sands, the kind of blue waters you’re used to seeing on travel bloggers’ Instagrams and some seriously luxe spas and gourmet restaurants.
WHERE TO STAY: The island is peppered with some of the best luxury beach resorts in the world, including Six Senses Samui, which sits on a peninsula on the northernmost point of the island, with 270-degree ocean views. Because most of its 66 villas face outward to the stunning Gulf of Thailand and are hidden away, treehouse-like, among the surrounding vegetation, you won’t find yourself facing off with guests from the neighbouring villa as you slink from your bed (complete with a much-needed mosquito net) to your private pool, then to the outdoor shower.
Yoga, Pilates and Thai boxing await those whose idea of cardio stretches further than perfecting their “pool jump” Boomerang, and the resort’s focus on locally sourced, sustainable and health-conscious menus means you can finally get a start on that clean(er) eating promise you made back in January. The spa offering includes all the luxe treatments that devotees flock to Six Senses for, and those looking to go a little deeper can tap into healing energy therapies such as reiki, chakra balancing and energy enhancing (the latter incorporates the Tibetan practice of playing singing bowls, for the feel-good effects of their vibrations). Not a spa person? A visit to the on-site farm (hotel staff assure us the only sacrifice the chickens are making is their eggs, as with the goats’ milk) is bound to leave anyone feeling a little happier. sixsenses.com/samui
WHAT TO WEAR: All that humidity calls for fuss-free pieces in cool fabrics, and Albus Lumen fits the bill perfectly. You’ll also need a chic basket from cult label Gimaguas for your fruit and veg haul from the nearby Bangrak market (Six Senses offers tours, along with a local breakfast).