Fodor's Expert Review Santiburi Resort and Spa

The villas on this beachfront estate have the feel of a billionaire's holiday hideaway; accordingly, this is one of the most expensive lodgings on the island. The carefully chosen furnishings in the teak-floor rooms are casual yet elegant. The "less is more" philosophy extends to the huge bathrooms, which have shiny black tiles. Floor-to-ceiling French windows flood the living rooms with light. The main building, a classic Thai pavilion overlooking the oval swimming pool, has European and Thai restaurants. The private beach is ideal for water sports and has a jetty for the hotel's own cruise ship, a 60-year-old junk.