Why Thailand is the ultimate Christmas escape – and where to stay

Christmas is always a fabulous time to visit Thailand. With hot days and balmy evenings, you can swap wintry British nights for sultry sunsets, eschew roast turkey for excellent pad thai, and sip coconut water instead of hot cocoa. And right now, there has arguably never been a better time to do so.Roughly a month into its official reopening, only a fraction of the usual high-season crowds have trickled in, meaning that those who visit will find the country in a sweet spot. Beach bars and night markets have kicked back into action, with tourist strips in Bangkok, Phuket and Koh Samui livening up again – but you won’t have to compete for the best tables, there will be no queues at the sights, and the beaches will be quiet.

And while we have been gone, a slew of enticing new hotels has opened. From a sprawling resort on Krabi’s golden sands to a high-design hideaway on the banks of Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River, here is our pick of Thailand’s best new hotels to book for a much-needed dose of winter sun.

Banyan Tree, Krabi

Taking over a golden stretch of sand at the far end of Tubkaek Beach, Thailand’s latest Banyan Tree resort has perched itself on one of Krabi’s most photogenic corners. With unobstructed views of Phang Nga Bay’s dramatic karst formations, the hilltop lobby is a highlight, but the 72 suites and villas offer a lot to love too: all come with their own pool and hot tub, separate living rooms and spa-like bathrooms swathed in marble. The beachfront is home to a lounge-y, beanbag-strewn lawn and two sets of swimming pools (one is a mini waterpark for children), plus a fabulous full spa.

Staying here: Doubles from £330 including breakfast (00 66 7581 1888; banyantree.com)

Capella Bangkok

With just 101 rooms, this intimate riverfront retreat might be one of the smaller players in the field of five-star properties around town, but its perks are top-notch. Rooms here come with unobstructed river views, some with private plunge pools on their balconies. There are riverfront villas – a Bangkok first – with private pools and indoor-outdoor bathrooms, and the hotel tapped chef Mauro Colagreco, behind three Michelin-starred Mirazur in France, to lead its signature coastal Mediterranean restaurant. Guests also have a small army of “Capella culturists” on call to fix everything from monk-guided meditation sessions to private training with a Muay Thai pro.

Staying here: Doubles from £600 including breakfast (00 66 2098 3888; capellahotels.com)

V Villas, Phuket

Featuring just 19 straight-lined villas cascading down a hill along southern Phuket’s Ao Yon Bay, V Villas Phuket is one of the island’s swankiest – and priciest – new stays. Each villa is fitted with one, three or four bedrooms, an infinity pool and spa-like bathroom(s), while they have a butler on speed-dial for round-the-clock dinner parties and spa treatments. Apart from private dining, there’s an art-deco-infused all-day diner dishing up European and Thai seafood specialities, and a lounger-lined rooftop bar with 360-degree views of the Andaman Sea and Cape Panwa’s jungle-clad interior – magical at sunset.

Staying here: One-bedroom villas from £499 including breakfast (00 66 0766 30939; vvillasphuket.com)

Roukh Kiri, Khao Yai

The hills around Thailand’s oldest national park are peppered with quaint hotels, but few can match the rural charm of this new villa resort. Built around a mango orchard, Roukh Kiri’s 12 villas riff on European barn houses with sliding farm doors, gabled roofs and whitewashed cobblestone walls. All come with indoor-outdoor bathrooms and private pools flanked by feather grass – both brilliant vantage points for views over the sloping valley beyond. A sense of place shines through in the bamboo furnishing, while the restaurant dishes up Thai classics made with produce from its own organic farm.

Staying here: Doubles from £146 including breakfast (00 66 4400 1300; roukh.com)

VALA, Hua Hin

This design-forward beach retreat set on a forested plot of land between Hua Hin and Cha-am delivers a leafy alternative to the chock-a-block high-rises lining the beaches closer to town. The floor-to-ceiling windows of its 97 rooms frame views over the Gulf of Thailand, while their designs – natural-hued with a 1970s touch – offer minimal distraction. Guests after a little more private space should book one of the tent-inspired villas with private saltwater pools, tropical gardens and butlers on call. At the heart of the resort, the Olympic-sized pool and all-day diner offer little reason to leave.

Staying here: Doubles from £115 including breakfast (00 66 32 70 6777; valahuahin.com)

Kimpton Kitalay Samui, Koh Samui

Following the October 2020 launch of Kimpton’s first hotel in Thailand (the Kimpton Maa-Lai in Bangkok), the boutique hotel group will soon add an island sibling to its Thai family. Hugging Koh Samui’s Choengmon Beach, Kimpton Kitalay Samui will comprise 138 rooms and pool-equipped villas, five bars and restaurants, and a nautical-themed kids’ club covering two floors. Designs will combine Thai wood and wickerwork with jolts of indigo, and rooms will have spectacular views over the Gulf of Thailand.

Staying here: Opening Dec 20. Doubles from £150 including breakfast (00 66 7795 1999; kimptonkitalaysamui.com)

The Standard, Hua Hin

Party-hard hotel group the Standard made its Thailand debut earlier this month with the opening of the Standard Hua Hin. Its 178 rooms and 21 pool villas blend the brand’s signature Hollywood glam (think disco balls in the bathrooms) with mid-century Thai design and artworks by American painter Rostarr. Restaurants cover casual Italian at Lido and “Thai Izakaya” at Praca, the latter occupying a restored heritage house by the beach.

Staying here: Doubles from £100 including breakfast (00 66 3253 5999; standardhotels.com)

Meliá Phuket Mai Khao, Phuket

Spanish hotel group Meliá is on a roll. After opening its first Thai outpost in Koh Samui in early 2020, two new Thai properties have been added to its portfolio this year. One is up north in Chiang Mai; while down south, Meliá Phuket Mai Khao opened earlier this month along the island’s longest stretch of sand. Its 30 suites and 70 villas come with separate bedrooms, Mediterranean-inspired designs and outdoor bathtubs, while wellness buffs should eye one of the 15 “wellness villas” fixed with outdoor vitamin C-infused showers, private pools and daily massages.

Staying here: Doubles from £250 including breakfast (00 66 0765 63550; melia.com)

For more recommended places to stay, see Telegraph Travel's guide to the best hotels in Thailand.