rosewood Phuket, thailand

Among Rosewood’s many openings and updates (including a grand renovation of Little Dix Bay in the British Virgin Islands), this property (which opens in the spring) is its first resort in Asia. On the edge of Emerald Bay in the south of Phuket, one of the few relatively undeveloped beachfront spots left on the island, the resort was built around 150 banyan trees, which were left standing where they were or transplanted to preserve them. The 71 villas are enormous—starting at 1,300 square feet—and have retractable walls to maximize the sea and jungle views. The four restaurants range from rustic Thai seafood on the beach to a refined bistro, and the spa has six villas, one of which has a Watsu pool, and its own garden for flowers and herbs to be used in treatments.