With more than 70 hotels and resorts around the world – including properties on Bluewaters Island in Dubai and in Saudi Arabia's AlUla – Banyan Tree has become globally renowned for its luxury wellness hospitality.
On a recent visit to Thailand, I had the opportunity to dive into the hotel's origins. Banyan Tree Phuket was the brand's first resort, opening in 1994, and it's clear to see why the concept caught on.
With retreating on my mind as I checked in, here's how the long weekend unfolded.
The welcome
After a seven-hour flight from Dubai, I'm greeted at the airport before the approximately 40-minute drive in a branded minibus to the hotel. Staring out the window as we speed past colourful temples and lush vegetation, I don't mind the transfer time at all.
I feel a buzz of excitement when I see the red, multi-tiered triangle roofs so synonymous with traditional Thai architecture as we turn into the resort. Check-in is not what I'm accustomed to: sitting poolside, with a cool flannel in one hand and a health drink in the other, I'm treated to a shoulder massage as all the tiresome admin is completed.
Despite being quite happy to remain put, I am soon transferred by golf buggy to my accommodation for the next three nights. We pass the bicycle station offering easy resort exploration to one side, and a 6,756-yard golf course on the other.
The villa
My one-bedroom villa has a private pool, complete with a hot tub area. Before dipping into the water, I explore the rest of the open-plan space. On entering, there is a tea and coffee making station to my left and a sofa and coffee table topped with exotic fruit.
A little further inside, I find a king-size bed against one wall, looking towards French windows which open out to the patio and pool space.
In the bathroom and dressing room, there are twin sinks, twin wash bags, robes and slippers, each with monochrome patterns, while the shower space opens on to the patio.
Extra-special touches include shower toiletries made on-site from fresh local ingredients, an oil burner and incense sticks, as well as the ingredients for scrub and spa rituals left by my bathroom mirror each night.
Spa and wellness
Living well is at the heart of this resort. After sampling the experiences and speaking to the team, it's clear that they also consider how guests can take their wellness learning home.
Casual guests can enjoy everything from the in-room rituals to simply laying poolside, while those more invested in de-stressing can enrol in a retreat programme.
I start with a consultation with a wellness expert, who then sets out my go-to activities for the next few days. These include a group sound meditation overlooking the sea, vinyasa flow on the resort's lagoon deck, a reflexology and gua sha workshop, conscious grounding and walking meditation, as well as a personalised sound healing treatment followed by a full body massage.
Every experience calms the nervous system, but my highlight has to be the reflexology session, where we run through pressure points to solve different ailments, and even receive a complete at-home kit. The conscious grounding session, where we close our eyes and walk barefoot across a stretch of grass, connecting with the earth, is my other favourite.
While traditional spa facilities are not available, the treatment rooms make up for this. The massage starts with an essential oil pairing in the apothecary, before I'm escorted to a hut surrounded by greenery where the sound ceremony and massage take place. It feels more grounding than a glossy spa.
The food
There are several restaurants on-site: Banyan Cafe, Tre Trattoria, Hojo, Saffron and Tin Tapas Bar and Rava Club located on Bangtao Beach. A short transfer can be arranged for guests wishing to dine at the latter.
Food highlights across my stay include vegetable gyozas and avocado and mango salad at Hojo, where my group and I enjoy a set lunch beside the central pool; mini bruschetta with generous toppings during our river cruise with Tin Tapas Bar; and the generous breakfast spread overlooking the river at Tre Trattoria.
Saffron, however, is the most memorable. Enjoying the set menu at the Thai restaurant, I make my way through burnt eggplant served with onion pickle and Thai chilli lime dressing, as well as Thai spicy style broth with assorted mushrooms. These are followed by perfectly grilled tofu served with baby carrot, Thai green chilli sauce on a bed of roasted pumpkin and raw papaya salad, and a grilled Phuket pineapple served with coconut sorbet to finish.
Highs and lows
There's a reason why the “in-villa” pool concept took off worldwide. A midnight solo swim under the stars followed by a soak in the hot tub is a fuss-free wellness experience like no other.
If you want to visit the main town to dive into its vibrant nightlife and sample as many authentic street foods as possible, be aware that the resort is a 30-minute drive from the local markets. But it's well worth the short commute.
The verdict
You know that daydream where you cut off from the world for a bit, surround yourself with nature and truly feel your shoulders drop? Banyan Tree Phuket is exactly that. But instead of ditching daily luxuries to do so, it invites you to take on a handful more in the process.
The bottom line
Prices start at THB22,000 (Dh2,536) per night, but vary based on accommodation and season. Check-in is from 12pm; checkout is at 3pm.
This review was conducted at the invitation of the hotel and reflects the standards during this time. Services may change in future
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
RESULTS
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Results:
First Test: New Zealand 30 British & Irish Lions 15
Second Test: New Zealand 21 British & Irish Lions 24
Third Test: New Zealand 15 British & Irish Lions 15
SPECS
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Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
TEAMS
US Team
Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth
Justin Thomas, Daniel Berger
Brooks Koepka, Rickie Fowler
Kevin Kisner, Patrick Reed
Matt Kuchar, Kevin Chappell
Charley Hoffman*, Phil Mickelson*
International Team
Hideki Matsuyama, Jason Day
Adam Scott, Louis Oosthuizen
Marc Leishman, Charl Schwartzel
Branden Grace, Si Woo Kim
Jhonattan Vegas, Adam Hadwin
Emiliano Grillo*, Anirban Lahiri*
* denotes captain's picks
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
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Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
Company profile
Name: Tratok Portal
Founded: 2017
Based: UAE
Sector: Travel & tourism
Size: 36 employees
Funding: Privately funded
Crops that could be introduced to the UAE
1: Quinoa
2. Bathua
3. Amaranth
4. Pearl and finger millet
5. Sorghum
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
