Thailand had completely captured my heart upon my arrival in 2014. I was utterly spellbound by the locals, the stunning beaches, the hospitality of the hotels, and the exceptional service… I mean, it was simply ‘WOW’… and let’s not even start on the culinary delights – some of the most scrumptious food I’ve ever savored, especially in the exquisite realm of Thai cuisine. Someone once mentioned that Thailand is viewed as a ‘budget’ getaway, not a genuine luxury vacation like Dubai or the Maldives; I couldn’t help but laugh that remark off, as it could only come from someone who has yet to experience the enchanting allure of Thailand. What better reason is there to revisit one of the most awe-inspiring destinations in the world than to prove to that person just how mistaken they are? And indeed, they were…
Zoom ahead eight years, as I prepared for our Easter getaway – I’m responsible for travel arrangements in our family; my husband sometimes jokes: “do you already know what you’ll be eating when we arrive,” because I conduct thorough research before finalizing a vacation spot. However, I wasn’t on the hunt for a new location; my initial preference was the splendid Four Seasons, Koh Samui, but the lack of available flights and connections (since it was Easter and a highly sought-after destination) caused me to reconsider. I rifled through my list of desired travel spots, and there it was… one of my dream destinations… how could I not have thought of it sooner??
Everyone recognizes the well-known name Soneva, the brand that owns Soneva Fushi, Soneva Jani, Soneva Aqua, and of course Soneva Kiri. Soneva is a 5-star luxury ECO-friendly hotel group founded by Sonu Shivdasani and his model partner Eva Shivdasani; Sonu is also the creator of the Six Senses resorts.
Soneva Kiri, the only Soneva brand resort not located in the Maldives (for now at least), was my ultimate fantasy to visit, so I promptly reached out to my travel agent, who is the go-to person for travel to and within Asia – Shanoon at Adore Maldives is the right choice. To my astonishment, Soneva Kiri had openings, and thus our Easter escapades commenced.
To start with, Koh Kood is a secluded island in Thailand (when I say secluded, I mean it’s essentially uninhabited), situated near the Cambodian border, in the Thai province of Trat. If someone were to travel to Koh Kood independently, the only means of access is by flying from Bangkok to Koh Chang and then taking a 6-hour ferry to Koh Kood Island. By independently, I mean not to Soneva Kiri, as Soneva resorts take it upon themselves to transport their guests to and from their hotels using charter flights. After confirming our flights, which went from Dubai to Bangkok and then a domestic flight to Koh Kood on the adorable little Soneva Kiri aircraft, the only things left were the thrill and expectations of the wonderful journey ahead.
The day had finally come: we were on a 7-hour Emirates Airlines overnight flight aboard one of the finest airlines in first class, enjoying the utmost comfort in our personal suites, with delicious snacks and meals at our disposal throughout the journey. Upon landing, a Soneva Kiri representative guided us directly from the plane into the domestic flight area for our private Soneva Kiri flight, but… little did we anticipate that our luxurious journey would take a small twist as we approached passport control. We were informed that our passports required a visa for entry into Thailand – at that moment, my heart dropped, yes, we were redirected away from passport control and directed towards the visa on arrival section (WHAAAAAAT). Visa on arrival did not entail simply receiving a sticker in our passport; we went through a bewildering process of filling out forms, taking passport photographs, queuing, and waiting for our number to be called – the bottom line is, if you’re planning to visit Thailand and your passport necessitates a visa on arrival, obtain it in your country of residence prior to your actual arrival – trust me, the journey will be far more enjoyable. Fortunately, they provided a speedy service option, which we gladly utilized, enabling us to clear the process in under an hour and not miss our Soneva Kiri flight to Koh Kood. Finally, on the small aircraft, I was able to let out a sigh of relief and soak it all in… After all, I was embarking on the adventure of a lifetime.
Koh Kood might be one of the most isolated islands I’ve ever traveled to; add to that the fact that we were staying at an eco-friendly hotel, and you have yourself a true adventurer in the making. Just kidding! Upon our arrival at our “room” (
