Hotel style: JW Marriott Khao Lak

Visitors to Thailand know that there are certain things they can count on: Friendly people, great food that's unfathomably inexpensive and summertime weather that's utter perfection. But what may come as more of a surprise is the luxury accommodations that are so cheap and chic, you may find yourself thinking about moving to this gem of Southeast Asia.

Case in point: The luxe living at the JW Marriott in Khao Lak, which you'll find on the shores of the Andaman Sea on Khuk Khak beach. While many North American tourists flock to Phuket and Koh Samui, Khao Lak is a less crowded option with a more upscale feel ... without the upscale price tag. Situated about 60 kilometres north of Phuket, Khao Lak offers quiet, pristine beaches and a stay at the JW Marriott Khao Lak will feel like an exclusive, extravagant getaway. You'll never want to leave this 293-room paradise. Here's why:


The exterior of the JW Marriott Khao Lak combines the beauty of traditional Thai design with the elegance you'd expect from Marriott's upscale JW properties. It's surrounded by a 16,000 square metre lagoon-shaped pool that lazily winds its way around the property, giving guests in ground-level suites access to the pool right outside their balcony door. The Thai-top architecture (those pavilion peaks on the roof) are a visual delight, making the property look extraordinarily exotic and enticing. It's no surprise that this idyllic tropical rretreat won Conde Nast World's Top New Hotels award last year.