OUTRIGGER Khao Lak Beach Resort

OUTRIGGER Khao Lak Beach Resort sits on Bangsak Beach on the Andaman coast, a five-star property built around calm, uncrowded sand and warm water. Thai and international dining sit alongside family-friendly spaces, and the resort holds Green Key certification for its approach to sustainability. You are close enough to Khao Lak town for an evening out, yet far enough from it to spend your days at an unhurried pace by the sea.

Twelve room types run across Deluxe, Premier, and Suites and Villas tiers, so you can choose a style that suits the trip rather than fit the trip around one room. Seven standalone villas sit apart from the main building, and four of these have a private plunge pool for you to use without leaving your own space. Every room opens onto a balcony or terrace, and interiors favour clean, uncluttered layouts that leave the view to do the work.

A sunset picnic on the beach makes for an easy evening, and a day trip out to the Similan Islands puts some of Thailand's clearest water within reach for snorkelling or diving. Thai cooking classes run for those who want to take a recipe home, and yoga, Thai boxing, and beach volleyball sessions keep mornings active. Younger travellers have their own space at the Coral Kids Club, with a games room nearby for rainy afternoons or a change of pace.

The resort's swimming pool is joined by a dedicated children's pool, so families can settle at their own pace. A jacuzzi sits within the pool deck for quieter moments, and the fitness centre stays open whenever you want to keep a routine going. Down by the water, an open-air massage sala offers traditional Thai treatments with the sea as a backdrop, and the resort's beachfront setting means every facility is only a short walk from the sand.

Edgewater Restaurant and Bar sits on the beachfront, serving woodfired pizzas alongside authentic Thai cuisine with live music and sunset views over the Andaman Sea. Mala Kitchen opens each morning with a breakfast buffet served under a bamboo pergola, offering pancakes, waffles, and Thai dishes surrounded by garden greenery. Between the two, your day can move from an easy start among the gardens to an evening table by the water without leaving the resort grounds.

Bangsak Beach makes a quiet setting for a wedding or a vow renewal, away from the busier stretches of Khao Lak. Phuket International Airport is around ninety minutes by road, which keeps the journey short for celebrations that draw family and friends from further afield. Beyond the resort, boat trips out to the Similan and Surin Islands extend a special occasion into a full day on the water, with the Andaman Sea's clarity as the main draw.