Boasting an impressive resume of 10 esteemed designers including Chris Jones, Joseph Walsh, A-Cero, Graham Lamb and the Campana Brothers, the all-inclusive Iniala Beach House located on Natai beach in Thailand will probably make you cry tears of joy upon arrival. Seriously, we wouldn’t lie to you. As the brain child of philanthropist Mark Weingard, the property is made up of three villas and a penthouse suite with a combined total of 10 bedrooms.
Before creating his property, Weingard set out to find designers worldwide who could create organic and unique environments that would mold together to form one hotel. The result? Awe-inspiring accommodations that you won’t find anywhere else.
“Iniala is not just a retreat to relax in by the beach in Phuket, it is also a temple of global design, art and gastronomy. I am delighted that some of the world’s foremost creative leaders are creating Iniala Beach House, the ultimate place to stay in Asia,” said Weingard. “This is just the start of Iniala around the world as we develop a fresh, innovative residence that will be a joy to stay in and dine in.”
While we contemplated forgoing text and just showing you pictures to describe the hotel, we figured it’d be best to at least give some details (even if you do just look at the images; we’ll forgive you). Located just 20 minutes north of Phuket Airport, Iniala beach views out onto the Andaman Sea from just about every corner of the property. Before even getting to the hotel, you’ll be greeted at the airport, whisked through immigration, transported via a luxury vehicle to your villa where you will meet your personal butler, glass of Champagne in hand. This is all part of the Iniala experience.
When it comes to which villa you’ll choose—Villa Bianca, Villa, Siam, Collector’s Villa, Iniala Penthouse—you may have a hard time deciding. But fear not, each has its own spa, personal driver, butler, chef, spa therapist, housekeeper, use of a luxury van and food and beverage credits. Did we mention that you can experience up to six hours of spa treatments per day?
Villa Bianca includes the Beachfront Seashell and Matryoshka Suites which fuse together Western and Easter European décor with a heavy Russian influence. In the former residence, hardwood floors are topped with plush rugs while floor-to-ceiling windows lead out onto your private patio right on the beach. Curved walls give the room movement and are reminiscent of giant seashells.
The three-bedroom Collector’s Villa was designed by four global designers and craftsmen as a modern interpretation of a classic Thai house. As the largest room on the property, the 1,076-square-feet Carpenter's Chamber showcases ephemeral furniture designs by Joseph Walsh, in an open plan bedroom living room concept. There’s also a sexy boudoir suite decorated in golds, purples and blue hues, but does look less like beachside bungalow and more Moulin Rouge-esque.
While this could be a great destination for friends traveling together or sets of couples, we think this is just the kind of hotel that would be perfect for families. Created with the little ones in mind, designer Chris Jones crafted The Island of Iniala, a giant playhouse for children of all ages. The “No-Adults-Allowed” space is a fantasyland of fairytales, pirates and jungles with hidden alcoves to play in and let their imaginations flow.
With the younger members busy, adults can enjoy some the other amenities such as the private gymnasium and boxing ring (so you can be Muhammad Ali for the day, obviously) or grab a cocktail at the Playhouse bar. If you’d rather venture outdoors, consider kayaking through limestone caves, kite surfing the sparkling Andaman Sea or island hopping on a yacht. Because of its location, guests can take part in a wide array of activities that range from shopping tours to golf and surfing.
Iniala’s restaurant Aziamendi is helmed by three-Michelin starred chef Eneko Atxa, the youngest to have ever received the honor in Spain. Chef Atxa’s menu was created by using Thai cuisine and European techniques. Inside the venue, green velvet chairs reminiscent of foliage sit up against wooden tables resting on tree trunks while Timber waves on the ceiling pull all the natural elements together.
There are so many components to this place that really give it that unique-cool factor. It’s so impressive that even the Kardashians chose to stay there during their show (or does that make it less cool?). Either way, after only being open for under a year, the hotel is already making a name for itself among Thailand’s top properties. Individual villas and the Iniala Penthouse Suite are available for hire from $15,000 per week. The whole property available for private hire from $80,000 per week.
