The Best Luxury Hotels and Resorts in Thailand

Thailand is packed with hundreds of islands, each with jaw-dropping turquoise beaches, cliffside restaurants, rustic-chic hammocks and award-winning world-class resorts on every corner. From Koh Somui, to Phuket, to Bangkok to Chiang Mai, It’s no wonder Thailand’s diverse culture and gorgeous landscape have beckoned some of the world’s most elite, and luxurious hotels.

But where do you even begin with planning a trip to Thailand? For me, I always start planning a trip, or planning a honeymoon, with the RESORT. The resort makes all the difference to me, and if I’m looking for a relaxing getaway, I want the best of the best. Which is why I rounded up my top picks for the best places to stay in Thailand, for every type of traveler.

Table of Contents

Koh Samui

Best for: Thailand honeymoons, first-timers, yogis, and anyone looking for the ultimate in island relaxation

Koh Samui is the second largest island in Thailand, but feels worlds away from the party islands it is near. It has local and authentic charm, but five-star appeal, and is home to some of the most exclusive and beautiful resorts in Thailand.

Where to stay in Koh Samui, Thailand

The Four Seasons Koh Samui

Best for: honeymooners, families, anyone looking for a calmer, quieter alternative to Phuket

The Four Seasons is hands down the best place in Thailand to experience the Thai island life in a luxurious private luxury villa, shaded by coconut groves and overlooking the Gulf of Siam and the pristine sands of the Four Season’s private bay. All villas on property have a private outdoor deck, aqua-inspired interiors and a stunning infinity pool. The resort also has a world-class spa, where you can enjoy Thai massages in a serene jungle oasis.

Check the best rates for your dates at the Four Seasons here

Six Senses Samui

Six Senses Samui is a 66 villa, five-star luxury resort set on the very tip of the island. Six Senses Samui is where eco-luxury retreat meets the secluded island paradise of your dreams. Most of the villas have their own private infinity pools, making the Six Senses an ideal Thailand honeymoon destination. The resort also features world-class dining, including an integrated wellness program – something I always love about Six Senses is their focus on eco and active luxury – a vacation that makes you feel GOOD.

Check the best rates for your dates here on Booking .com – the site I always use to get the best hotel rates possible.

Chiang Mai

Best for: jungle seekers and elephant lovers

Where to stay in Chiang Mai:

Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai

The Four Seasons doing what it always does best – with a commitment to staying true to the traditional authenticity of the culture they’re in. Most rooms in the resort are elegant pavilions, each with a beautiful private covered veranda, but there are also 35 gorgeous multi-bedroom pool villas with spacious interiors. Relax at the spa, or try your hand at cooking Thai specialities at their on-site cooking school.

Check out the best rates for your dates here.

Phuket

Best for: sun-seekers, a girlfriends getaway, adventure travelers, anyone who appreciates unpretentious glamour

Phuket is the island that has a little bit of everything – from family-friendly resorts to sleek luxury escapes, stand up paddleboards and beach shacks, to super yachts, cocktails at a swanky beach club, or beers in a hammock — take your pick in Phuket.

Where to stay in Phuket:

Six Senses Yao Noi Phuket

Spread over 24 acres of peaceful, natural luxury, on a cliff overlooking the STUNNING bay, it is impossible to beat the Six Senses when it comes to luxury (as you guys know, Six Senses is in my opinion, the best resort in the Maldives, and one of my favorite resort brands in the world)

This resort is, as all Six Senses resorts are, impressively sustainable and eco-luxe, designed using natural materials that complement the Thai landscape, and each villas built to reflect the sun’s heat yet utilize natural light as much as possible. Each room has a huge private terrace, with the ocean view villas being the absolute best in my opinion – with panoramic views and private pools.

Check the best rates at Six Senses Yao Noi for your dates here

Sri Panwa

Thailand’s celebrity favorite hotel, frequented by people like Gordon Ramsay, Snoop Dogg, Rita Ora, Rihanna and more.Set in a lush jungle, but right on the beach, it has the best of both worlds.

The whole resort is designed to give the feel of being in your own private home, and the options range from one-bedroom pool villas to five-bedroom residences.

and the best part about Sri Panwa? The rooftop bar.

Easily the best rooftop bar in Phuket, and one of the best in the world, this place screams modern chic, with a decidedly Thai twist.

Check out the best rates for your dates at Sri Panwa here.

Koh Kood

Soneva Kiri

Best for: Honeymooners, couples, those looking for a luxury Maldives-meets-Thailand experience

From the same team behind some seriously-epic resorts in The Maldives, Soneva Kiri is easily one of the most exclusive and most beautiful resorts in Thailand.

At Soneva Kiri, you’ll find a five-star sustainable resort that’s an elegant luxury jungle-meets-beachy retreat of just 35 pool villas located on a large, but much uninhabited, island a 1-hour small-plane flight from Bangkok.

This resort is stylish, secluded, and easily one of the best places to stay in Thailand if you’re looking for a retreat in the islands. The food is also INCREDIBLE, and is definitely a highlight of the resort.

Golden Triangle

Best for: adventure travelers, luxury safari lovers, couples and families

Where to stay in Golden Triangle, Thailand

Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle

If you’re looking for a natural paradise surrounded by mountains and in a beautiful bamboo jungle, look no further than the Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle, where you can hang out with elephants, enjoy nature, and discover the customs of northern Thailand’s culture. Four Seasons Tented Camp has just 15 tents, which are often booked – so if there’s availability – jump on it! In your tent, you’ll have 581 square feet of spacious suite, leather chairs, and a beautiful wooden hot tub on the outdoor deck.

Bangkok

Chances are, if you’re traveling to Thailand for the first time, you’re going to go to Bangkok. And while Bangkok gets a bad rap for being busy and hectic, there are some BEAUTIFUL resorts that are oases in the city, and have some of the most epic city views and infinity pools you can imagine.

Where to stay for luxury in Bangkok

Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

I’m always a fan of Mandarin Orientals (my favorite is their hotel in Barcelona), and this one is just amazing. It’s as grand as they come, and is the A-lister favorite in the city. The hotel has a history of over 140 years, and is the longest standing property in Mandarin Oriental’s portfolio. If you’re looking for panache and history, as well as the ultimate in luxe in the city, check the rates for your dates at the Mandarin Oriental here.

Eastin Grand Sathorn Hotel Bangkok

If you’re looking for the best value hotel in Bangkok, without sacrificing luxury, the Eastin Grand Sathorn Hotel is it. Conveniently located in the trendy business district of Sathorn, it’s the best place to stay for easy access to the city. It also is the easiest, most convenient hotel in Bangkok for travelers because of its train access directly at the hotel. You can travel direct by train and BTS from Suvarnabhumi International Airport which will take about 45 minutes to 1 hour to get to the hotel.

It’s also famous for its multiple infinity pools, which have some of the best views in the city, and make for a chic night out at their rooftop.