Seven hotels with a story to tell

Many of our accommodation options offer so much more than just a good night’s rest. Some provide a glimpse into the past, while others are riddled with romance, glamour and secrecy.

From a lovingly restored mansion to a secret eco-retreat, and from a tin mine-inspired luxury resort to vintage cruise ships, here are seven fabled accommodations with a unique tale to tell…

Villa Mahabhirom – Chiang Mai, Thailand

Villa Mahabhirom certainly lives up to its translated name of a ‘villa of great pleasure’! A collection of antique teakwood houses dating back over a century have been meticulously restored and adorned with objet d’arts and antiques from the private collections of the three owners. Raised on stilts and topped with a distinctive gabled roof complete with handmade clay tiles, the restored villas reflect the social, cultural and religious beliefs as well as the traditional way of life of the Thai people.

The result is eclectic but charming – like staying in a living history museum. You’ll find this hidden luxury retreat in the leafy Wat Umong area of Chiang Mai, away from the tourists, yet close enough to walk to the hot spots of the city.

The Slate – Phuket, Thailand

The Slate was built to reflect Phuket’s tin mining history and to pay homage to those pioneering times. This is reflected in the bold, industrial design and décor – the work of hotel design guru, Bill Bensley. It’s a fusion of mining paraphernalia with a steampunk aesthetic set amongst lush tropical gardens. This theme lives all the way through to the cutlery, custom-made with spanners, sockets and bolts all making an appearance.

The main restaurant, Black Ginger, is located in a traditional Thai mansion and accessed across a lagoon via a hand-pulled raft replete with flaming torches. The spa features a treatment room in a spectacular woven ‘tree nest’ that hangs from an age-old Banyan tree. Awaken your imagination in the fantastical world of The Slate!

137 Pillars House – Chiang Mai, Thailand

Before this historic house became a luxury hotel, it was home to the East Borneo Company headquarters. Built in the 1880s, 137 Pillars House Chiang Mai is a beautiful teakwood building that has been carefully restored to reflect its 19th century origins. The hotel gets its name from the main building, which is held up by 137 pillars. The original house now houses the two restaurants and bar. Black and white photographs of the Borneo Trading Company adorn the walls and the suite categories are named after the former enterprise’s founders.

The spacious suites are designed to evoke their heritage with four-poster beds, rattan rocking chairs, tiled verandahs, hardwood floors and colonial-style claw tubs. The 25-metre long pool, set against a huge wall overgrown with vines, is the perfect place to chill out with a complimentary house-made sorbet.

The Nai Harn – Phuket, Thailand

The Nai Harn, Phuket’s first luxury resort, offers the last word in ocean view allure! Not long after opening in the 1980s, this beachside beauty soon boasted a glamourous guestlist of celebrities and high society including Forest Whitaker, Henry Kissinger, Prince Albert of Monaco, former French president Jacques Chirac, and Bond himself – Sir Roger Moore.

The Nai Harn is the island’s only member of Leading Hotels of the World. This iconic five-star resort is nestled into a hillside with direct access to the immaculate and secluded Nai Harn Bay, a crescent of platinum sand lapped by luminous turquoise waters. The modern architecture exudes Santorini-style glamour with crisp white walls, rambling pink bougainvillea and laidback vibes.

Somewhere Only We Know – Koh Phangan, Thailand

Thailand’s best kept secret is hidden in a stunning secluded bay on the tropical island of Koh Phangan. With no signs or roads, Somewhere Only We Know occupies a confidential location on three secluded beaches surrounded by tropical jungle. The eco-resort is accessed via a short five-minute hike or a boat ride, if weather allows. The resort consists of just three villas – the creation of French designer Guillaume Brachet. They feature unusual amenities such as a slide from the bedroom to the beach, an observation net of 16 metres, a fireman’s pole linking the floors, and unique eco-technology air-cooling systems.

Somewhere Only We Know offers a unique hospitality concept that merges imaginative tailor-made excursions with bohemian eco-luxury.

The Serendipity Collection – Sri Lanka

The Serendipity Collection in Sri Lanka is not actually a hotel but a cluster of unique villas with each telling a unique story on architecture and history. There are 12 properties in the collection, here are a few to whet your appetite!

• Red Cliffs Mirissa, designed by renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa, occupies a magical location on a promontory in the south of the island with sweeping views of the sea.
• Villa Vista Mirissa was designed by Pritzker Architecture Prize winning, Japanese architect, Shigeru Ban. The villa is a highlight in modern architecture emphasising space, natural light and breeze.
• Green Turtle Villa is an exclusive beachside property situated next to the Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery. On most days you can see turtles laying eggs on the beach under the moonlight.
• Palm Cove Villa is a beautifully renovated village house that has combined modern touches with traditional architecture such as the inner courtyard with pond bowl and partially open roof.

Bhaya Cruises – Halong Bay, Vietnam

These floating hotels make up the largest and leading cruise operator in Halong Bay. Bhaya Cruises is already the most environmentally-friendly cruise line in the region – gaining recognition by multiple agencies and winning awards such as the Blue Swallow Award 2019. The design of the vintage-style cruise ships has been inspired by the beauty of Halong Bay and Vietnamese traditional culture. Board one of these exquisite boats and retrace the steps of colonial-area explorers as you sail through the limestone mountains and emerald waters of world-renowned Halong Bay, as well as the less-crowded destinations of neighbouring Bai Tu Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay and beyond.

Geologists believe that the incredible landscape of Halong Bay is the result of 500 million years of geological changes, but the Vietnamese have a different theory. Halong translates as ‘where the dragon descends into the sea’, and is it believed that the gods sent a family of dragons to defend the land from invaders. Their tails gouged out valleys and crevasses and they spat out jewels that turned into islands. The Mother Dragon lay on the land she had helped to protect forming the iconic mountainous landscape that we know and love today.