My favorite hotel in Bali or Thailand

Preamble: It is ironic of course I have to decide which was / is my favorite hotel in retrospect, based on my highly political / moralist stand. That is, certain hotels I have stayed at and loved, I can not even consider based on what I now know about or what has transpired with them. One of the first hotels I fell in love with in Bali, Pondok Sari in Pemuteran, which had sun warmed water tank water coming our of bamboo canes for showers (it was not that warm in the morning) changed hands, got over developed and then decided not to pay my reservations company the money it owes us; actually, it decided not to pay our nominated charity, as all such earnings now go to it.

Past that, the trouble also is how do you compare a hotel in Bangkok with its fine food, split second service and sumptuous rooms with a room on a great beach? Of course the choice as to which is better says more about the person than the hotel. Plus of course there is the issue of how much it costs, and the location or sometimes allowance for the location of the hotel.

There were some strong contenders in my hat; Pee Pee Island Village, what was Le Meridien Baan Boran (Golden Triangle), the InterContinental Bangkok, Tegal Sari in Ubud, Puri Bagus Lovina, Rocky Resort Samui, Taman Sari Pemuteran, I hate to admit Le Meridien Nirwana, Santika Beach Hotel, Bali Padma, Le Royal Meridien Phuket Yacht Club (yeh, I did love Le Meridien hotels), Krabi Resort Hotel (yes, I know it is a tour group hotel), Puri Santrian (yes, I rate their Club rooms as the best on Sanur Beach), Alam Anda (Sambirentang), Hidden Paradise / Coral View (their beach front "villas" in Amed), Gerebig Bungalows in Penestanan (about the best I have ever found for the low price), Bali Padma, Tha Ton Riverside Resort, and more.

Of the above I could no longer go to Le Meridien Nirwana based on what I now know about it; the fact it is considered by real Balinese to be an affront to their religion and culture due to its location. And sadly I demoted Pee Pee Island Village from being almost automatic first choice because they are acting so badly these days regarding money they owe my site's nominated charity. Santika Beach too is hardly accommodating when it comes to stumping up the cash!

Anyway, so I think my favorite hotel has to be Similana Resort just north of Khao Lak (near Phuket). They have these amazing tree house right by what is virtually their own private beach, plus superb luxury rooms up on the ridge overlooking the sea; best get front row of course! The hotel is kind of like a luxury version of Tarzan's home in the jungle, with wood and ropes everywhere, taking you down from one level to another. The food was some of the best I had in Thailand as well, with none of that nasty MSG chemical pollutant garbage too many hotels add to food past it's eat by eat by date to try and make it taste good. I think their green prawn curry, with massive prawns will stick in my memory for many years yet to come, and the setting within a canopy of trees and palms, in a wooden open air restaurant, offering teasing glimpses of the sea below, mmmm.

You get access to the beachfront swimming pool (which has a telephone for ordering drinks to come down to you from the bar), the beach (which is mostly white sand but with great rock pools also the kids love to play in), and the tree house rooms (best moderate the pre-climb booze), via a quantity of steps which makes the hotel perhaps a "no no" for the old / infirm; Similana will not appear in any disabled friendly hotels because it can not.

I also like Similana's environmental friendly ethos, but it is strange that they do not really promote this aspect and sadly ironic that hotels which do nothing for the environment except sell organic teas and place "please be environmental - use your towels for 2 days if you are able" notices in guest rooms, which are feigns for saving money, market themselves to the hilt as green and ethical; a case of knowing what they should be, pandering to guests who know what they should be looking for, and allowing both to shortchange reality.

When we next go back to the Phuket area to see friends, with our young family, this for sure is where we will stay; although my wife may have other plans regarding proximity to the Central Store in Phuket!

If you ever get the chance, I really recommend Similana and maybe we can meet up with you there