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Surrounded by 10 acres of coconut palms, weeping figs and streams, the Sarojin (sarojin.com) could just as easily be a private tropical estate as a resort—and that's perfectly appropriate, given its namesake. A figure from Thai folklore, Lady Sarojin was the eldest daughter of a nobleman and renowned for the exemplary manner in which she ran her father's household. There's certainly a familial intimacy about the resort, which consists of just 56 suites, sequestered amid national parkland an hour's drive from Phuket Airport.

Accommodation takes its cue from the verdant setting. Interiors are in unpretentious Thai-resort style, with attractive use of dark woods and natural light. All suites enjoy private gardens or terraces, "waterfall" showers, couple baths and hanging orchids, while some have private plunge pools or Jacuzzis. Requests for privacy are indicated by placing a coconut outside the door.

If you are able to tear yourself away from your suite, it may well be to go only as far as the Sarojin's stretch of secluded beach, or the Pathways spa, with its yoga deck and outdoor showers tucked discreetly amid the shrubbery. You might also want to venture out for dinner at either the gourmet Ficus restaurant (named after the age-old tree under which it shelters) or the Edge, a casual beachfront venue. But even if you choose simply to remain in the sublime privacy of your suite, waited on by the impeccably groomed staff, we're certain that neither you nor the Lady Sarojin would find any fault with the hospitality on offer.

• Paul Ehrlich
• Phuket's Lady Sarojin boutique resort is as exemplary as its namesake