PHUKET: Is the villa gradually replacing the boutique resort at the upper end of the tourism market? Yes, according to the publishers of 'The Asia Villa Guide.'
The appearance of the first edition of the book is an indication that a fad has become a trend. The guide, in faux leather, offers almost 300 pages about villa accommodation across Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
Samui, Pattaya and Phuket are all featured, although people who know their villas do say that Bali still perhaps does villas best.
At one page to each villa, those with the cash to lash out on top-of-the-range accommodation do not lack for choice. Each villa's sleeping capacity, staff, amenities and price are listed prominently, together with a rating out of 10.
At first I thought the prices quoted were in baht, but then the full enormity of what people are prepared to pay struck home when I realised I was actually looking at dollar signs.
Do people really go on holiday with 10 or a dozen people they already know? Do people have 10 or even 12 family members who can tolerate each other on holiday for more than a couple of days at a time?
Apparently so.
I tended to turn the pages fairly quickly, merely noting that one Samui villa comes at $4000 a night. It may sleep 10 or 12, and I guess a shrewd entrepreneur could split the cost and perhaps even come out ahead.
Given that some families are not that well-heeled, it's worth noting that the Sri Lankan villas, probably still pockmarked with bullet holes from the civil war, are substantially better value.
The Old Lady at the Sea, for example, may only rate a 6.9 but at $400 a night and with room for 16 to 18, four or five generations could effortlessly be housed.
It's a bit of a cliche to say it again but it's never been said better: the rich, as writer F. Scott Fitzgerald noted, are different from you and me, and this book emphasises that point.
A review of The Istana, the Bukiut, Bali, (Rating 9.3) notes: ''With its dazzling two pools, five suites, spa, cliff-edge dining and lounging gazebo, and a wing devoted entirely to children - to say nothing of executive chef Jamie Thewes and his small army of staff - The istana attracts international jetsetters and celebrities who flip to and from the golf course courtesy of a helipad just up the road.''
And to think I cleaned the bathroom floor and sink at Villa Slog myself just this morning.
Of the Phuket entries, a lot of villas appear to mass at Natai beach, which is actually in Phang Nga, north of Phuket. Oh Phuket, how could you be so careless as to let some of your most prestigious villas escape?
Villa Chan Grajang at Surin, which is actually on Phuket, rates 9.0, sleeps 12 and costs $2648.25 per night. I guess the rich are so different because they do watch the cents that carefully.
For anyone looking for villas on Phuket, it's all here, from Amanzi and Ananda to Yin and Zamani. For anyone looking for colorful phrases, there's a fair chunk to choose from as well.
And perhaps, as the authors of the guide suggest, villas are the taste of luxury that is becoming more affordable. For those who fear the march of mass tourism, this volume presents the ultimate in escapism - especially if you can actually afford to choose a villa and go.
At more than 230 villa entries, it's the kind of guide that should be read one page at a time by every nervous resort manager, just to scare them to sleep each night.
The authors might just be right, though, when they write: ''In the beginning was the word, and the word was hotel. Then it changed to five-star hotel. Then boutique hotel. And then in a quantum leap it metamorphosed to Villa . . . ''
Be afraid, be very afraid.
The Asia Villa Guide, S$27.95 at most good book stores or online at theasiavillaguide.com
The appearance of the first edition of the book is an indication that a fad has become a trend. The guide, in faux leather, offers almost 300 pages about villa accommodation across Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
Samui, Pattaya and Phuket are all featured, although people who know their villas do say that Bali still perhaps does villas best.
At one page to each villa, those with the cash to lash out on top-of-the-range accommodation do not lack for choice. Each villa's sleeping capacity, staff, amenities and price are listed prominently, together with a rating out of 10.
At first I thought the prices quoted were in baht, but then the full enormity of what people are prepared to pay struck home when I realised I was actually looking at dollar signs.
Do people really go on holiday with 10 or a dozen people they already know? Do people have 10 or even 12 family members who can tolerate each other on holiday for more than a couple of days at a time?
Apparently so.
I tended to turn the pages fairly quickly, merely noting that one Samui villa comes at $4000 a night. It may sleep 10 or 12, and I guess a shrewd entrepreneur could split the cost and perhaps even come out ahead.
Given that some families are not that well-heeled, it's worth noting that the Sri Lankan villas, probably still pockmarked with bullet holes from the civil war, are substantially better value.
The Old Lady at the Sea, for example, may only rate a 6.9 but at $400 a night and with room for 16 to 18, four or five generations could effortlessly be housed.
It's a bit of a cliche to say it again but it's never been said better: the rich, as writer F. Scott Fitzgerald noted, are different from you and me, and this book emphasises that point.
A review of The Istana, the Bukiut, Bali, (Rating 9.3) notes: ''With its dazzling two pools, five suites, spa, cliff-edge dining and lounging gazebo, and a wing devoted entirely to children - to say nothing of executive chef Jamie Thewes and his small army of staff - The istana attracts international jetsetters and celebrities who flip to and from the golf course courtesy of a helipad just up the road.''
And to think I cleaned the bathroom floor and sink at Villa Slog myself just this morning.
Of the Phuket entries, a lot of villas appear to mass at Natai beach, which is actually in Phang Nga, north of Phuket. Oh Phuket, how could you be so careless as to let some of your most prestigious villas escape?
Villa Chan Grajang at Surin, which is actually on Phuket, rates 9.0, sleeps 12 and costs $2648.25 per night. I guess the rich are so different because they do watch the cents that carefully.
For anyone looking for villas on Phuket, it's all here, from Amanzi and Ananda to Yin and Zamani. For anyone looking for colorful phrases, there's a fair chunk to choose from as well.
And perhaps, as the authors of the guide suggest, villas are the taste of luxury that is becoming more affordable. For those who fear the march of mass tourism, this volume presents the ultimate in escapism - especially if you can actually afford to choose a villa and go.
At more than 230 villa entries, it's the kind of guide that should be read one page at a time by every nervous resort manager, just to scare them to sleep each night.
The authors might just be right, though, when they write: ''In the beginning was the word, and the word was hotel. Then it changed to five-star hotel. Then boutique hotel. And then in a quantum leap it metamorphosed to Villa . . . ''
Be afraid, be very afraid.
The Asia Villa Guide, S$27.95 at most good book stores or online at theasiavillaguide.com
Villas & apartments... infinitely better value than a small, boxy hotel room....
Posted by Ian on January 7, 2012 06:56