Jumeriah Post Magazine
Offshore asset Sometimes, even the fanciest upmarket hotel with the most unobtrusive service just doesn’t cut it. That’s when you realise you have to spend your holidays on a private island. Or even live on one.
Dodging the hoi polloi will be fasable about 18 months from now with the completion of Jumeirah Private Island Phuket. An exclusive enclave aimed at the well heeled, the island sits about 500 metres off Phuket in Phang Nga Bay, a short speedboat trip from James Bond Island. As a hotel, residential villa, super-yacht marina and yacht-club focal point, the 32-hectare island will provide the ultimate lifestyle in maximum privacy.
It can be reached by boat or helicopter (the trip from Phuket International Airport takes seven minutes) and, when fully functional, transport on the isle will be by electric car only. I addition to the hotel will be numerous single-storey properties of various sizes, including 20 estates, 28 residences, 12 pool villas and the mega yacht marina.
Although the developers have guaranteed only 18 per cent of the palm-tree covered island will be required for building purposes, it will still offer the usual upmarket facilities, including four restaurants, four bars, a spa, a gym, a 50-metre swimming pool, a 24-hour on-demand ferry service to Phuket, a tennis court, shops, a business centre and a library with a dedicated reading room. It will also offer, fittingly, two 450-metre-long white sand beaches. See www.tgr-asia.com for more details.
