Just a short hop over the bridge in the northern part of Phuket and about a 30 minute drive, you will find Phang Nga where the beautiful low-key retreat of Aleenta is situated. In a minimalist style the resort will suit those keen on kicking back in style and seclusion as you pretty much are on your own here. The beach (Natai Beach) is long and white with hardly anyone on it, and with only 30 villas and suites you are unlikely to be tripping over people. The best rooms at Aleenta Phuket are those which face the Andaman Sea. This resort has won a variety of Hot List awards which are well deserved.

Great Thai fusion cuisine and a wide range of spa treatments make this a great place to forget the rigours of your day-job!

Thoroughly recommended (Jan 2008).
Heading out from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok you travel along easy roads towards Hua Hin for 2/3 hours before arriving at Pranburi and The Aleenta. Situated 1/2 hour south of Hua Hin the small fishing village that is Pranburi is a million miles from the hustle and tourists of Hua Hin. Hua Hin is a 600baht (approx £8.50) round trip taxi away which makes a visit to the night market fun, but Aleenta is all about getting away from it all. Situated on a 5km empty beach Aleenta is a small resort which will suit those (me included) who enjoyed the simplicity of huts on Thai beaches in the late 1980's. This time though I enjoyed additional luxuries of a plunge pool, a sun roof, private dining area, lovely bathroom with outside power shower and a good high thread count linen. How my standards have changed!

Aleenta offers terrific value for money and even in the restaurant you are ensured of the most amazing Thai food at reasonable prices. A lot of the delicious ingredients are grown at their nearby "farm" ensuring absolute freshness. There are a range of rooms, the most popular being the 2 thatched huts with sea views. When I got there ELLE magazine was doing a shoot in one of them. The spa room has aerial views across the beach and offers a range of treatments. Other massage venues are found roadside along the beach front and I found these to be excellent. The Aleenta has pushbikes which you can take out and I loved spending the afternoon cycling around this rural area. It really is hard to believe that Hua Hin is up the road. The Evason is at the other end of the beach road but I am afraid I cannot even begin to compare it to the Aleenta; it is just not my sort of thing.

Same relaxed atmosphere as its grown up relative Aleenta up the road but accepts young children. I would say that children under 5 would be Ok here otherwise the pool is too small. The accommodation is well proportioned and clustered around the pool and bar area. This really is an intimate resort and the atmosphere is quiet with mainly 1-2 year olds with parents earning a well-earned rest in convivial surroundings.

One of the suites is different to the other Asian-styled rooms and looks very local and fisherman-cottage like. I liked the situation of this room very much.