Ask anyone who knows me and they would tell you that I am very much a traveller who cannot sit still and do nothing. So whenever it came to planning for a quick getaway, I would always be that person who was against choosing destinations that came with a beach.
In spite of that, I do appreciate the idea behind some of these destinations that would give me some tranquil and peace, away from overcrowded spaces, and this was something I discovered to be true on a recent trip to Phuket at one SAii Laguna Phuket.
Located between a tropical lagoon and the pristine Bangtao Beach within Laguna Phuket’s compound, SAii Laguna Phuket is a resort that offers bright and spacious rooms and suites along with plush bedding, bathtubs, rain showers, and handcrafted bathroom amenities to become your home away from home.
From the moment you arrive at SAii, you’re greeted by a very airy reception area which provided a bit of a reprieve from the humidity, during Phuket’s hotter months. Coming from a Singaporean who loves her air-conditioning, it was nice to feel the natural cool breeze on my skin, especially since we were so close to the sea.
Much like most resorts, the check-in process was smooth and quick, and before I knew it, I was whisked away to my room to freshen up.
The room which I stayed in for one night was the Club Lagoon View room, which was a decently-sized room that could house 3 adults or a family with 2 small children. For a solo traveller like me, the room was a little too big but I enjoyed having the extra space.
A feature that I particularly enjoyed in the room was the oversized indoor daybed setup near the window. Unlike traditional balconies, I thought this was a rather clever way of utilising the space, offering not just an alternative space to unwind, but also extra bedding for a room with more than 2 guests.
As someone who works on-the-go, I found myself constantly working on my laptop on the daybed than at the desk provided as it was just a comfortable way to work and enjoy the scenery.
Food Options
One of the perks about staying at a resort is to not have to worry about stepping out of the hotel to find food. SAii offers five food options ranging from Thai to Mediterranean and international cuisine, as well as two locations for breakfast, if you were staying at the Club or Suite level.
For dinner, I tried Miss Olive Oyl, which specialises in Mediterranean cuisine. While I may not be a fan of Mediterranean food, I found the dishes rather tasty and was able to pick out flavours that I’ve never encountered before in other Mediterranean restaurants back in Singapore.
I liked that the menu also offered alternative options when it came to some of their dishes, which was a bonus for someone like me who does not take lamb — which is a commonly used meat in Mediterranean dishes.
One of these dishes that I had, which I really enjoyed, was the Vegetarian Tajine. In place of the lamb meat was a mix of vegetables in a tomato sauce that was the right amount of savoury and sour. Combined with the cous cous, it was hard to stop at just one bowl!
As a Club level guest, I was able to have breakfast at The Club, which was an alternative location, away from the main breakfast crowd. Even though there was a select buffet option available, what made The Club a little different from the main breakfast venue was the ability to order a-la-carte breakfast.
Aside from that, it is a great place to start your morning, especially if you’re someone who needs at least a cup of coffee before you can start socialising for the day. The location definitely offered a break from the morning rush to the buffet line, and was a lot calmer and quieter than the main dining area. I found myself being able to actually enjoy breakfast at my own pace, without having to worry about vacating my seat so that the next hungry family could sit down to have their meal.
SAii Spa
One of the things I was really looking forward to during my Phuket trip was the spa treatments, because who doesn’t love a good pampering sesh?
During my stay at SAii Laguna Phuket, I took the opportunity to book a treatment at the SAii Spa — the resort’s in-house spa facility. Prior to the start of your session, I already felt a sense of calm when I first entered the premises and sat down to fill in a form, which included a portion where I could indicate my preferences for the massage. These preferences ranged from the kind of oil I liked to my preferred strength for the massage and the points of focus.
From the moment I stepped into the treatment room, I realised that this wasn’t like the other types of spa experience that I had encountered before. My treatment started with a foot rub and then a small sound bath session before the massage started. I even had a warm towel put on my face to help me relax before and after my massage, which was such a value add and made the entire experience very well thought out.
The cherry on top was the continued care after the massage. In addition to a small snack and tea to round out the spa experience, every guest was given a heat pack for the shoulders which was such a nice touch, as it left me feeling thoroughly pampered after a tiring week.
While I would have loved the opportunity to experience more sessions at the spa, this only left me a reminder to return to the resort again, and enjoy more of what SAii Laguna Phuket had to offer.
