Elixir Resort Koh Yao Yai - SHA Plus

You come here for an island stay with the sea close at hand and enough on site to keep the day from becoming a logistical exercise. Elixir Resort Koh Yao Yai sits among tropical gardens on Ko Yao Yai, with 40 villas, a private beach and an outdoor swimming pool facing the Andaman Sea.

Couples have the setting for a quiet few days, particularly if dinner on the beach or a private sunset meal appeals. Families can also settle in, with larger pool villas and services such as babysitting, an indoor play area and child-friendly buffet options. English is spoken by the hotel team, alongside Thai, so you can deal directly with reception, meals and practical arrangements in English.

The resort is on Bo Le Bay, on Ko Yao Yai in Thailand's Phang Nga province, directly beside the Andaman Sea. Villas have direct access to a private 300-metre beach, with loungers, parasols, a beach bar and even a tree swing for anyone whose idea of an afternoon plan is deliberately modest.

This is an island base rather than a town hotel. Loh Paret Beach is about 4.5 miles away by road, while restaurants such as Haris Kitchen, Chantara Restaurant and The Titan Grill are around 5 miles away. Phuket International Airport is about 21 miles away and Krabi International Airport about 29 miles away, measured across the surrounding island and sea routes rather than as a simple road journey.

The accommodation is made up of tropical villas rather than a single hotel block, which gives the resort a more private layout. Air conditioning matters in this part of Thailand, and each villa also has a satellite television, a DVD player and an open-air bathroom with a hot-water shower. Daily housekeeping, room service and free WiFi throughout the resort keep the practical side straightforward when you return tired and salt-covered.

For two, the Superior Villa keeps things simple, while the Deluxe Pool Villa or Villa with Plunge Pool adds private water without moving into the larger family-sized options. The Beach Front Pool Villa is the obvious choice if stepping straight towards the sand matters more than anything else. Travelling with a group calls for the Three-Bedroom Pool Villa, which has three bathrooms and room for a larger party.

The villa layout suits couples who want their own space and small families who would rather not share one compact room. Open-air bathrooms bring the outdoors into the routine; the air conditioning gives you the sensible indoor retreat when the afternoon heat has done its work. A safety deposit box is available at reception, and non-smoking rooms are offered.

Waves Restaurant handles breakfast, lunch and dinner from a beach terrace or an air-conditioned dining room, with panoramic views over the Andaman Sea. The menu brings together Thai dishes, freshly grilled seafood and international favourites. Breakfast covers halal, Asian and American choices in buffet form, so you can start with something familiar or make a more local decision before the day's plans begin.

Food service runs from 7:00 to 22:00, with the last food order at 21:30. That is useful after a full day out, though it is not a kitchen built around very late arrivals. Room service and packed lunches are available when eating in your villa or taking food with you makes more sense.

There is one named bar: Chen's Tiki Bar, an open-air beach bar serving tropical cocktails, signature cocktails, rums and light food from the evening onwards. Billards and darts give the post-dinner drinks a little structure. For something more deliberate, the Private Sunset Dining Deck offers Thai and international food in a private seaside setting, including candlelit dinners and meals served on a villa terrace.

The outdoor pool looks across the Andaman Sea and comes with loungers, parasols, poolside food and refreshments. The private beach gives you another place to stop moving, with 300 metres of sand and direct access from the villas. In other words, you can choose between a swim, a deckchair and the sea without turning the afternoon into an expedition.

The spa offers traditional Thai massage, oil massage and therapeutic foot massage, either in the air-conditioned poolside massage sala or in your villa. There is also an air-conditioned fitness centre with treadmills, free weights, yoga mats and stretching balls. For lighter exertion, table tennis, badminton, volleyball, darts and billiards are available.

When you want to see more of the island, the resort can arrange cooking classes with a Thai chef, cultural visits, nature walks through villages and forest, local market visits, rubber plantations, fishing villages and nearby mosques. Mangrove kayaking, island hopping and boat trips add water time without repeating the day's main activity. Evenings can be kept low-key with board games, magazines and a film library.

Reaching the resort involves both road and sea travel. Elixir arranges airport or hotel transfers from Phuket by car and speedboat, with private and shared options, as well as public speedboats with onward transport to the resort. A private speedboat transfer from Phuket takes about 30 minutes after roughly 30 minutes by car to the pier; shared routes take longer and depend on the boat schedule, passenger numbers and sea conditions. Reserve the transfer with the hotel before arrival, and allow the timetable to be reconfirmed when weather is unsettled.

Phuket International Airport is the more direct arrival point, at about 21 miles from the resort as the crow flies; Krabi International Airport is about 29 miles away. The resort also offers motorbike rental, boat charter, car hire, a tour desk, currency exchange, luggage storage and a 24-hour front desk. Free private parking is available on site, with reservation required.

Check-in starts at 14:00 and check-out runs until 12:00. You need photo identification and a credit card at check-in; cash is not accepted. Children of all ages are welcome, cots are available for infants, and extra beds can be requested according to the selected villa. The resort has a 220V electrical supply, free WiFi and a safety deposit box at reception.