Opened in late 2016 to enormous fanfare, this highly impressive luxury resort is instantly recognisable by its striking architecture, which combines Gehry-esque curves, manta ray-inspired water villas and a reception that appears to hover magically above the sand. Sitting on a perfect white-sand island, the entire place is gorgeously conceived and an obvious destination for high-end pampering.
Rooms are palatial, and come in nine dizzying categories that start at the Garden Villas With Pool – glamorous little refuges built amid the island's lush jungle – and go up to the vast John Jacob Astor Estate, a giant two-floor water villa that has a vast infinity pool and sleeps six people in total seclusion. All categories include lovely touches such as suncream in each bath suite, fully iPad-controlled everything, personal butler service and private pools for each villa.
There's a choice of six divine restaurants including Orientale – a superb pan-Asian dining experience on the beach – and the main restaurant, Alba, which serves Italian food by the pool. The lobster-shaped overwater Iridium spa is another architectural triumph, with its own private pool area for spa guests and individual pods for treatment rooms. There's an exceptional kids club, a full dive school and a water sports centre. Staff are exceptionally helpful and welcoming.
