This trip was another to Asia, our favourite continent, and the start of a twin centre holiday in Thailand and Vietnam. It was also a return to my favourite country, Vietnam, after first visiting in 2003, so I was excited to see how much has changed.

We departed from Heathrow and it was seamless. The scanners in T2 now enable you to leave liquids and electronics in your bag, which speeds things up considerably. From arrival at the terminal, we were seated in the lounge within 40 minutes. I would always recommend a lounge before a long‑haul flight: it gives you a calm space to relax, enjoy a few pre‑holiday drinks and something to eat.

As always, we had a fantastic flight with Singapore Airlines and even managed a few hours’ sleep.

Singapore stopover and onward to Phuket

We had a short transit in Singapore, just long enough for a coffee before our 2‑hour flight to Phuket. A few of my clients choose to stay in Singapore for a few nights on the way to Thailand. It is a fantastic city to explore and a lovely cultural “stepping stone” between the West and Asia. We did not stop this time, but we have done so on previous twin centre holidays to Thailand and Bali.

This particular trip was a twin centre in Thailand and Vietnam. Our first stop in Thailand was the Laguna area of Phuket, on Bang Tao Beach, arguably one of the most beautiful beaches on the island.

Laguna Phuket: family‑friendly and perfect for watersports

Laguna is a stunning area with both lagoons and ocean, and it works brilliantly for Phuket family holidays. There are opportunities for almost every watersport imaginable and a choice of hotels that are fantastic for families.

We stayed at Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket. The hotel sits on Bang Tao Beach and is about a 15‑minute walk to the main shopping and eating area. It is not far, but in the heat it can be a bit of a workout, so I would recommend a tuk tuk or taxi. The hotels also run free shuttle services, which makes it very easy.

The main eating and shopping area is a mix of Thai and Western options. There is a fabulous Friday night street food market which I would highly recommend, with lots of chances to try local dishes. You will also find plenty of opportunities to buy souvenirs or have the infamous Thai suit tailor‑made.

From here you can easily visit Phuket Old Town and take a boat trip to snorkel, fish, kayak or explore the islands by long‑tail boat or speedboat. I can help with suggestions and ideas depending on who you are travelling with.

Kamala Beach: InterContinental Phuket & a different side of the island

We then moved to a very different area: Kamala Beach. We have stayed here before during the pandemic, but that time we were in a villa, so we wanted to experience it as a resort holiday. It did not disappoint.

We stayed at the InterContinental Phuket in Kamala and my first reaction was simply: wow. This is a 5‑star resort that delivers on every level and is a fantastic option for luxury family holidays in Phuket as well as couples.

We stayed in a King Classic Pool View Room, but I had the opportunity to view all room types. As well as “standard” rooms, which are far from standard, there are rooms with swim‑up access and two‑ and three‑bedroom pool villas that are incredible. It is rare to get such a high‑quality resort that genuinely works for both couples and families.

Every restaurant we tried was outstanding, including one with a Michelin star. If you want solitude and quiet time, you can relax in a cabana by the infinity pool. If you prefer more atmosphere, call a buggy and head over to the beach side of the resort where there is an upmarket beach bar, a kids’ pool and a stunning beach.

Facilities for families: kids’ club, fitness and more

The kids’ club at InterContinental Phuket was amazing, staffed by people who clearly loved children. There were plenty of activities, as well as calmer movie downtime. The fitness centre was first class and there is also a rooftop tennis court available for guests.

If you want to venture out, there are a couple of restaurants next door or you can walk into the centre of Kamala in around 10 minutes (taxis are plentiful if you prefer not to walk). The centre is quite “rustic” or authentic, with a street food market and weekly market, beachside restaurants and a very relaxed holiday vibe. There is music, beach sports, watersports and plenty of life. It was lovely watching the children play on the beach swings while adults kicked back in the bars.

Keemala: a unique luxury escape in the hills

While we were in Kamala we took the chance to visit Keemala, an upscale boutique resort I have always wanted to see because it is so unique. Keemala kindly hosted us for dinner and gave me a full resort inspection.

It is quite hard to describe, but I will try. The resort has 38 villas, each with its own pool. The different villa types are based on Thai stories and ways of life. For example, the Clay Pool Cottages are designed with villagers in mind, who need to be close to the ocean, while the Tent Pool Villas reflect the lifestyle of farmers who need to be close to nature and the land. The spa is award‑winning and you can tell why when you visit.

The restaurant was very special. We had a taster menu and every course was a sensation for the taste buds. I would recommend Keemala mainly for couples and it would make a perfect honeymoon destination. Children are allowed, but there are better family options elsewhere in Phuket.

There are opportunities here to learn Thai cooking, with many ingredients grown in the resort grounds, plus yoga and lotus flower craft. The resort is not far from the centre of Kamala, but it is on an incline, so I would recommend a taxi rather than walking.

What’s next: Vietnam (Asia Part 2)

This first part of our Asia multi‑centre holiday gave us two very different sides of Phuket: Laguna for family‑friendly beach time and watersports, and Kamala for a luxury resort stay with a more authentic local town on the doorstep.

Next stop was Vietnam, which I will cover in Blog Part 2, including how it felt to return after first visiting in 2003 and how Thailand and Vietnam work together as a twin centre itinerary.