CLOSEUP
phenomenal phuket
52
FAHTHAI
If 2013 was a big year in
the Phuket resort world,
2014 promises to be
even bigger. Last year
saw the openings of the
Pullman Phuket Arcadia
Naithon Beach Resort
(pullmanphuketarcadia.
com), U Sunsuri Phuket
(uhotelsresorts.com/
usunsuriphuket) and
stylish Point Yamu by
Como (comohotels.com/
pointyamu). January 2014
alone saw the launch of
Kata Rocks (katarocks.
com), an exclusive private
villa development on the
west coast and the Hyatt
Regency Phuket Resort
(phuket.regency.hyatt.
com) on the aptly named
Millionaires
’
Mile. Later
this year, the Phuket
branch of Koh Samui
stalwart Nikki Beach
(nikkibeach.com/phuket)
is set to open and there
are rumours of a Park
Hyatt and even a Four
Seasons setting up shop
on the island in the near
future. And lest we forget,
there are plenty of exciting
new properties going
up throughout Greater
Phuket, which includes
the nearby provinces of
Phang Nga and Krabi.
Ones to
watch
Boutique buys
Phuket
’
s retail offerings have
improved enormously in recent
years as a number of niche
boutiques have opened up
on the island
Paul Ropp
Back in the 1960s, Paul Ropp came
up with a simple idea that was to
change his life – stars-and-stripes-
patterned cigarette rolling paper. It
made him his first fortune (he later
lost it), and set him on the path to
becoming a designer of exquisite
handwoven, hand-embroidered
cottons and silks.
paulropp.com
Lemongrass House
A true local success
story, Lemongrass
sells 100% natural spa
products, all of which
are handmade on site.
Founded by American
Bobby Duchowny, the
store sells an intoxicating
array of soaps, massage
oils and lemongrass
mosquito repellent.
lemongrasshouse.com
Re K‡ Ta
The smart boutique
at Re Ká Ta beach
club on Kata Beach
specialises in luxe
beachwear. Stock up
on bikinis by Princesse
Tam Tam, Marie
France Van Damme
’
s
silk kaftans and
Heidi Klein
’
s classic
espadrilles.
rekataphuket.com
Island Bliss
Australian designer
Cassandra Harper
criss-crosses Asia to find
inspiration for her fashion
and interior collections.
At Island Bliss (she has
another branch in Phnom
Penh), you
’
ll find original,
brightly coloured boho-
chic prints and patterns on
clothing and furnishings.
islandblissphuket.com
“It’s amazing
to see how
Phuket keeps
evolving: the
local community
has made a
great effort
to restore the
beautiful soul of
the island with
its magnificent
Sino-Portuguese
houses”
KimSteppe
General
manager,
Blue Elephant
Phuket
