A quiet part of Phuket is becoming a new bolt hole for the rich and celebrities as they buy or rent properties, often with fine sea views, it is claimed.
The Surin Beach area on the Phuket road that circles Thailand’s largest island is often regarded as a sleepy beach village that is just a thoroughfare between famed Millionaires’ Mile on Kamala Beach and the ritzy Laguna neighborhood.
‘Surin Beach is becoming an iconic Asian island getaway for the rich and famous come to unwind,’ said Bill Barnett, managing director of C9 Hotelworks, Asia Pacific’s leading hospitality consultancy firms.
‘They are drawn to Surin for complete privacy in an exotic Asian destination, be it a mega villa overlooking the stunning Phuket west coast or a cruise to Phang Nga Bay in a super yacht. As a sign of the times, Phuket International Airport is building a private jet terminal to handle the growing number of these affluent arrivals flocking to the area,’ he added.
Now recognized as one of the world’s most beautiful and hippest tropical destinations, Surin Beach showcases luxury Asian icons like the trendy Chedi hotel and the ultra exclusive Amanpuri where models like Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss and actors like Leonardo DiCaprio and Kevin Spacey have vacationed over the last few years.
Surin also continues to host a growing number of the island’s best restaurants and beach clubs like Twin Palm’s Catch Beach Club and the hip Stereo Lab. On the mountainside, which is not visible from main road, the landscape is dotted with private luxury villas.
‘“We are seeing the Surin luxury market starting to mature as affluent individuals are demanding property and vacation rental villas that deliver privacy and a five star experience,’ said Joanne Baylis, founder of Awesome Villas.
It is becoming known as the Asian Rivera and the region is consistently rated as one of the world’s greatest sailing, diving and golfing playgrounds with its countless beaches and natural wonders to explore.
Local real estate agents also point out that Phuket has a broad range of world class hospitals, restaurants, nightlife and shopping and with an international airport that offers a huge number of flights on the world’s major carriers to all major gateways. In addition, up to 50 private jets arrive each week during the high season, as the international elite fly in and out of the island on an increasingly regular basis.
