One of Thailand’s most popular beach destinations, the island of Phuket is crammed full with luxury villas – some privately owned, others managed by high-end resorts.
The best of the lot have a few common denominators – private pools, ocean views, personal chefs, multiple bedrooms and, as would be expected, lofty price tags.
Luxury resort Sri Panwa’s latest villa, simply dubbed X24, is believed to be the most expensive of them all, costing $8,000-10,000 per night, depending on the season.
Here’s an indicator of the kind of clientele the resort’s management is hoping to attract – last December, prior to the villa’s official opening, Mariah Carey checked in for a stay.
The world-famous pop diva visited Sri Panwa for a holiday before her Bangkok concert, posting a photo of herself and her kids enjoying the X24 on Instagram.
If it’s good enough for Mariah…
Curious to find out exactly what it takes to meet the high standards of Ms. Carey, CNN Travel recently took a tour of this 25,000 square foot mega villa.
Firstly, the bedrooms. There are five of them, all large and offering fabulous views, some with separate living areas, direct pool access and outdoor bath tubs. Each room its own distinct design vibe, with pops of color set against light and dark color palettes being a common theme.
There’s no need to worry about your family being on top of each other. The X24’s multiple common areas – both indoor and outdoor – are filled with seating, great for those needing a bit of quiet time. Huge floor-to-ceiling windows in the indoor living areas can be opened up to let the outdoors in.
There are two main pools and a rooftop pond with its own outdoor seating area, all staggered around the multilevel property, which has its own elevator.
There’s also an entertainment room with a gaming table, theater system and a pool table, as well as a private fitness room, indoor Japanese onsen (hot spring bath) and huge kitchen/dining room, in which your hired chef can cook up gourmet meals.
But it’s the 360-degree views of the Andaman Sea that are the real star of this place. The villa sits atop a ridge, crowning the resort.
“What makes Sri Panwa’s location special is that it’s located on Cape Panwa on the southeastern edge of Phuket,” explains Vorasit Issara, Sri Panwa’s owner and manager.
“This much sought-after slice of paradise is why Sri Panwa offers unobstructed and secluded views unlike any other property nearby.”