By Emery Elliot
A special trip usually comes with a reason, perhaps a honeymoon, anniversary or birthday that has taken months to arrange. A larger room is lovely, but you may remember breakfast on a quiet terrace or drinks at sunset just as clearly. Good hotel extras give you more time together and take a few jobs off the list.
Choose extras that suit the trip
When comparing a luxury suite Phuket booking, check which benefits are included with the room, since hotels package them differently. At InterContinental Phuket Resort, the 46 square meter Premium Ocean View Room has a spacious balcony, a freestanding bath and ocean and sunset views across Kamala Bay. It also includes Club InterContinental access, which adds several things that couples might otherwise book separately.
Breakfast is one hotel extra you are likely to use every day on a short romantic break. One of you may want to start early, and the other may prefer a slow morning. Club guests at this resort can choose between an à la carte breakfast in the lounge and the buffet at Pinto, so you do not have to eat in the same setting every morning.
Afternoon tea suits the days when you return from the beach too late for lunch but do not want dinner yet. The evening cocktail service runs from 5pm until 7pm, with wine, bubbles, cocktails and canapés. That leaves enough time to enjoy a drink together before a later dinner reservation.
The private infinity pool gives Club guests an alternative to the main resort pools when they want a change of setting. The lounge is open from 6.30am until 10.30pm, so it is also somewhere to stop for a drink between the beach, spa and dinner. Couples planning several full days at the resort are likely to use these spaces much more often than those leaving on excursions every morning.
Butler service sounds formal, but the point is to save you from dealing with small arrangements during the stay. At InterContinental Phuket Resort, the service is available to Club guests from 7am until 10pm. Guests can ask about restaurant bookings, transport and preparing the room for a celebration, although the hotel should confirm exactly what the service covers.
If your flight lands late, ask the hotel about a pre-booked transfer so you do not have to find a taxi after a long flight. Early check-in and late checkout may also be available, although both usually depend on room availability and may carry an extra charge. Ask before travelling, particularly if your flights leave you with several hours between landing and the normal check-in time.
Tell the hotel if the stay marks an anniversary, birthday or proposal, then ask what can be arranged and how much it will cost. Flowers, chilled wine or a small cake may feel more personal than a room filled with decorations that neither of you chose. Confirm any dietary needs, the wording on the cake, the delivery time and the total charge before arrival, so you do not end up sorting it out at reception.
