Casa de la Flora Khaolak : a design masterpiece, but should you stay there?

Being a 2013 Trip Advisor winner and on the hot list of Conde Nast magazine in 2012, Casa de la Flora is about a 90-minute drive heading north from the Phuket International Airport.

I am not sure whether Casa de la Flora was built from a luxury couples’ hotel point of view or as an architectural showpiece to win awards, of which it has won several for its design. Stark, linear, box shaped, concrete stone and steel cubed in shape, its design sits in juxtaposition to the warmth of the Thai culture and environment. The glorious beach view is definitely the focal point from my perspective and it is unhindered from any one of the Beachfront Suite Pool Villas of which there are 36.

The luxury is there especially in the complimentary bathroom amenities and the stone bathtub, which incidentally takes an hour to fill, is deliciously deep and inviting to lounge in when you get sick of your plunge pool. And, if your body craves a different bathing experience, there is always the streamlined infinity pool fronting onto the beach if the ocean does not appeal. Obviously conservation of water is not high on their priority list.

Don’t expect any amazing taste treats on the ‘oh hum’ adequate in-room dining menu and the restaurant, although better, is not shy of charging. The saving grace is the fact that there are plenty of little local eateries nearby to make an escape for culinary sojourns.

One little pointer, don’t dally in bed or at breakfast for too long if you wish to bag one of the very few lounge chairs at the communal pool.