Phuket Gets A Makeover

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New resorts in or near Thailand's capital of sun are cleaning up the island's image, with boutique properties popping up wherever you cast your sunglassed gaze. Leading the charge is Sanctuary Resorts, the Hong Kong-based, eco-conscious developer, which recently opened two facilities in the area.

Just an hour's drive on the mainland from Phuket airport lies Khao Lak, better known among divers as the jumping-off point to the Similan Islands. It's now also home to La Flora, Sanctuary's sleek, 68-room resort. Staff are clad in black, as is much of the property. The style: contemporary Thai. Room rates start at around $85 a night. A 30-minute speedboat ride away from Phuket's main town is Racha Island, and an eponymous resort. Fronting one of Thailand's most pristine beaches, the Racha boasts 70 luxurious villas. Some of these sit right on the sand, just meters from crystal-clear water, but the informed choice is villa 103 — perched on a hill with a commanding view of the Andaman Sea. Rooms cost from $170 a night. (For more details go to www.sanctuaryresorts.com.)