Heralding a new class of private luxury travel, the Ani Villas model is one of true exclusivity; guests pay to book out the entire property, with a fully-staffed service crew that will cover all your holiday needs, including a dedicated chef, massage therapists, and butler.

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L U X E S T A Y
YOUR LUXURY HOLIDAY
PROPERTY ON THAILAND
ANI VILLAS THAILAND OFFERS A HOME AWAY FROM HOME EXPERIENCE - TRULY

3. 77
TEXT:MELISSACHUA
PROFILE
What first started out as a billionaire’s
vacation home has now become a full fledged
portfolio of holiday properties scattered
across the globe. Heralding a new class of
private luxury travel, the Ani Villas model is
one of true exclusivity; guests pay to book
out the entire property, with a fully-staffed
service crew that will cover all your holiday
needs, including a dedicated chef, massage
therapists, and butler. Perfect for extended
family getaways, groups of friends holidaying
together, and even a luxury corporate retreat,
Ani Villas Thailand on the island of Koh
Yao Noi is a ten-bedroom property that is
wonderfully removed from the bustle of
larger tourist destination, and a great way to
experience true Southeast Asian hospitality.
An hour’s journey from both Krabi and Phuket
international airports, transfer to the Ani Villas
estate is via private boat or - if it tickles your
fancy - helicopter.
ROOM
There are no rooms at Ani Villas Thailand
- only villas. While the estate consists two
Ocean Front Master Suites and two two-
bedroom Family Suites with private living
room on site, I opted for one of the four
one-bedroom Master Pool Suite instead. With
its high ceilings, extensive use of wood in
its construction, and expansive bath area
complete with two separate showers and
stand-alone tub, the accommodations exude
the warmth of home. Its open air pool is a
great place to cool off after a hot day, and is
perfect if you’d rather have some privacy.
DINING
There are a variety of spectacular dining
venues on the property, including a main
dining sala that floats above the pool at the
beach’s edge, but they all share one thing
in common - Chef Yao. A native of Thailand
and well-trained in international, fusion,
and Western cuisine, Chef Yao truly excels
at creating dishes that feature a beautiful
balance of flavor, texture and spice. He makes
a mean kao tom poo, a local version of soup
with rice that is flooded with thick chunks
of fresh de-shelled crabmeat, sourced from a
neighborhood fisherwoman. Guests are also
invited to go on a tour of the local markets
with him, and learn how to make their own
Thai dishes such as pad thai and tom yum
goong.
FACILITIES
A favorite amongst families with young
children is the kids’ pool with 45-metre long,
5-metre high double-helix water slide. There
is also a wide beach front pool for you to
take in the full magnificence of the karsts in
the distance. The property houses a private
spa, where you can book a massage (or two,
or three) with an in-house therapist - it is
possible to grow addicted to the “free flow”
of massages that come with your stay. In fact,
almost everything here is free flow within
reason, from food and drinks (alcoholic and
non-alcoholic), to transport and activities. The
concierge can book you a muay thai class,
call in a yoga instructor, hire a yacht for some
island-hopping, or provide sea sports and div-
ing gear. Whatever you can dream, Ani Villas
Thailand will try their best to make it happen.
SUMMARY
One of the best experiences of a stay at Ani
Villas Thailand is the relations you grow with
the staff. Interacting with them on a daily
basis, it’s hard not to grow attached to their
warm and hospitable demeanor. Chef Yao is a
particularly raucous and endearing character,
and if you egg him on enough he might even
join you for drinks at the nearby pub. It’s truly
like vacationing with family, and in a world
filled with fleeting connections, this experi-
ence is something to be treasured.