Secret Retreats in Asia with Jaw-dropping Views from the Bathtub

Kinugawa Kanaya Hotel
Kinugawa Valley, Japan

Built in 1931 by John Kanaya, this was one of Japan’s first hotels to use European style bedrooms as opposed to the traditional tatami-matted rooms.

Located in the heart of the renowned Kinugawa Onsen resort, the hotel’s rooms face the beautiful scenery of the surrounding mountains and the Kinugawa River. Imagine soaking in your own private onsen bath enjoying magical views of the valley as you soak in the mineralized waters. Kinugawa Kanaya features a private onsen in most of their guestrooms, and there are also two large communal onsens.

Highlights of the hotel also include the restaurant and its traditional kaiseki cuisine which showcases locally sourced seasonal ingredients, and an art deco cigar lounge.

Discover Kinugawa Hanaya Now

Anawrahta Cruise
Mandalay, Myanmar

Anawrahta offers the finest on-board experience of any river cruise in Myanmar. Built to resemble a British colonial paddle steamer, the ship recalls the opulence of the British Empire and features large cabins and spacious public areas decorated with teakwood furniture and traditional Myanmar art pieces. Guests are taken back in time to an era of bygone elegance, complemented by a variety of diverse activities, as you cruise seemingly back in time through the delightful rural scenery and discover the history of Myanmar’s ancient kingdoms.

All of the suites are elegant and well appointed, enjoying river views from the balconies and large cabin windows, with bathtubs set in the en-suite bathrooms of all the suites, and the Royal Suites sharing an extra level of luxury with their jacuzzi bathtubs. And the views from the bathtubs have not been neglected, with each bathtub carefully set to provide panoramic views of the passing river scenery of Myanmar’s iconic river, the Irrawaddy.

Discover Anawrahta Now

Papua Paradise Eco Resort
Raja Ampat, Indonesia

Papua Paradise Eco Resort is set on the uninhabited island of Birie in the Raja Ampat archipelago of Indonesia. The resort’s 26 traditional and comfortable overwater bungalows enjoy incredible sea views across the House Reef. From their spacious decks guests often catch glimpses of passing turtles, sharks, manta rays and even dugong in the surrounding reefs. Papua Paradise Eco Resort echoes only with the sound of the gentle waves below the bungalows and the calls of exotic birds from the surrounding jungle.

The bungalows have been built in a traditional style to be in harmony with the local climate, as well as contributing to the sense of place of guests. The resort offers the only luxury spa in Raja Ampat, a 5 Star PADI dive centre, a restaurant and bar, all set between sea and pristine jungle on its own private island.

After a wonder-filled day underwater or exploring the local islands spotting Birds of Paradise, head to the spa and enjoy a soak in one of the luxury bathtubs that looks out across the sea, perfectly placed to enjoy the sunsets.

Discover Papua Paradise Now

Hertitage Cruises
Cat Ba, Halong Bay, Vietnam

Heritage Cruises was built to reinvent Vietnamese cruising. As Vietnam’s first boutique cruise ship, it offers cruises along the Red River and in the Gulf of Tonkin. Featuring just 20 cabins (in four categories), the vessel guarantees passengers the opportunity to experience Vietnam’s distinctive culture all complemented by a warm and personalized service. Every detail has a story to tell, from the cuisine and art pieces, to the music played onboard. Each cabin features an en-suite bathroom, set with a bathtub and a separate walk-in rain-shower, thoughtfully designed so you do not miss out on the incredible views even while bathing during your Heritage Cruise.

Bathtubs aboard this boutique cruise ship share incredible panoramic views of Halong Bay’s unique Karst Limestone Island scenery with bathers right from your bathtub. This cruise experience carefully blends of classic French Indochina design with elegant Vietnamese charm. And the cruise route has been planned to take you away from the crowds that are usually found in the heart of Halong, and takes a route instead to the serene but no less beautiful Cat Ba region.

Discover Heritage Cruises Now

Aava Resort & Spa
Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand

Combining traditional Thai friendliness and family values with Scandinavian design and attention to detail, Aava Resort provides the perfect Thai beach resort experience, and on one of Thailand’s best kept secrets in the delightful Nadan Beach. This gorgeous boutique resort is owned and managed by a Finnish-Thai couple who together have created the perfect haven for all occasions, solo travellers, couples and families are all expertly catered for at Aava. Set directly on the magnificent Nadan Beach, 9kms of soft golden sand lapped by a gentle sea, the hotel is ideal for those seeking serene beach living amid stylish surroundings. Watch the sunrise from the outdoor jacuzzi that overlooks the sea, the perfect start to a day at the beach.

Apart from the exquisite beach, explore the local countryside, start your wellness journey by joining one of their Yoga, Tai Chi or Pilates classes and follow your exertions by treating yourself to some pampering at the in-house spa which features traditional Thai therapeutic treatments. And be sure to take a boat trip out to spot the regions most loved mammal, Khanom’s famed Pink Dolphins. Aava Resort and Spa provides all the ingredients for the perfect recipe for a truly idyllic beach break in Thailand.

Discover Aava Resort Now

Mathis Lodge
Bali, Indonesia

Set in the Tuban Valley at 400m above sea level overlooking the Lombok Strait, with dramatic scenery provided by the Seraya Volcano at its back and the ocean at its front, Mathis Lodge is located between the mountains and the sea. The hotel’s 20 lodges are set within 200 acres of private gardens with each lodge enjoying both sea and mountain views. The resort features a 30-metre infinity pool that looks down the valley to the ocean, and the all-day dining panoramic restaurant features a sundeck, terrace, and bar.

The Jacuzzi Lodges and the Pool Lodges are the rooms to pick to really spoil yourself and your family with. The Jacuzzi Lodges have a semi-outdoor jacuzzi bath perfectly positioned to share horizon-wide ocean views with you as you bathe. And more than a bath or spa bath, The Pool Lodges and Pool Family Lodges all have a private infinity pool set at the front of the lodge.

Lounge in your own private infinity pool, order a cocktail and gaze lazily down the valley to the ocean that stretches out to the horizon beyond, allowing yourself to relax and unwind as you share these blissful Mathis Moments with your loved ones. 

Discover Mathis Lodge Now

Reverie Siam
Pai – Mae Hong Son, Thailand

Featuring 18 individually styled guestrooms, this boutique hotel offers an intimate and fresh interpretation of luxury hospitality. Inspired by the colonial architecture and cultural fusion of South East Asia in the early 20th Century, Reverie Siam is an oasis of daydreams and nostalgia, the perfect place for reverie. Decorated with a sense for a bygone era of romance and elegance, the atmosphere is one of a grand home, seasoned and mature, comfortable, and welcoming.

The Private Villas are the place to spoil yourself and loved ones. Designed with privacy and luxury in mind, these villas feature an outdoor pavilion and garden, bedroom set with a king bed, lounge space and a wonderful bathroom with rain shower and spa bath big enough for two! Daytime views from the bathtub are the surrounding forested mountains, but night-times, …look up! A really neat touch by the owners, the bathroom has a glass roof which shares views of the heavens above from your luxury spa bath.

Dim the lights and set some candles, and perhaps with a chilled bottle of something bubbly from Taittinger or a fresh brewed tea (it doesn’t get much fresher with tea grown on the surrounding hills), gaze in wonder at the star-spangled view above your luxurious north-Thailand haven.

Discover Reverie Siam Now

Tugu Bali
Bali, Indonesia

Located on the shores of Canggu Beach, this stunning boutique hotel is managed and owned by the family of an Indonesian antiques collector. A repository for Indonesian art, traditional art and history, the hotel is decorated throughout with original art and antiques, creating a wonderful sense of place not to be found anywhere else. Passionate supporters of Indonesian traditional culture and arts the family are keen to share the stories of Indonesia with their guests through what has become one of the largest collections of Indonesian art and antiques in Southeast Asia.

The main building features distinctive architecture inspired by a secluded village in Central Bali and the structure of their restaurant, Bale Sutra, one of 5 dining venues at the hotel, is a 300year old Chinese Temple that was saved from destruction by the owners of Tugu and given new life as a magical dining space. Each of the charming, thatched suites that are set to ensure privacy amid lush gardens and lotus ponds enjoy gorgeous outdoor bathrooms. Take a Dedari Suite, set a few steps from the beach, and take a soak in the beautiful sunken bath positioned perfectly to enjoy views of the suite’s garden. Or for romantic couples, the Rejang Suites and their sunken baths for two where let’s face it you will only have eyes for each other so who cares about the view outside the bathtub!

Discover Tugu Bali Now

Soneva in Aqua Luxury Yacht
Baa Atoll, Maldives

It doesn’t get much more luxurious than this, and it is also one of the few places in the world now open to tourism (with few restrictions). And what better way to travel in these covid-worried times than in total privacy, with loved ones, aboard your own floating 5-star resort. Soneva in Aqua is a 2-cabin luxury yacht, that comfortably sleeps up to 6 guests in its 2 air-conditioned and en-suite cabins. Cruising the waters of the Maldives, the yacht’s professional crew include a dive-master to escort guests on dives in the best spots in the Maldives, a chef to create menus exclusively to your taste, perhaps candle-lit barbeques on lonely beaches of uninhabited islands in the atolls, a spa therapist to guide you through yoga or provide massage after a day’s activities, and how about an astronomer to accompany you on deck and guide you through the stories of the heaven’s above.

But let’s talk bathing. The Master Cabin bathtub has to be top of any bath-lovers wish lists. Set in the bottom of the boat, this sunken bath has a glass bottom to view the fish and reef life below the boat as you bathe! And the luxury bathing views don’t end there, on deck is a forward facing jacuzzi spa bath, perfect for sharing with friends and family and enjoying a cocktail immersed in the beauty that is the Maldives. What are you waiting for? Book now before it books out!

Discover Soneva in Aqua Now

Summertime Villa
Goa, India

Set on a green and forested hill full of birdlife and butterflies, this light and airy luxurious contemporary Asian style villa with Balinese influences is the perfect place to enjoy a peaceful holiday with family or friends in Goa. Despite being a stone’s throw away from the hot spots of north Goa, Summertime is an oasis of peace and serenity, convenient for enjoying the beaches, sites of interest and restaurants of Goa but perfectly located above the hustle and bustle to ensure privacy and serenity. No matter where you are in the villa, the views are of the surrounding lush tropical gardens and the pools. Imagine waking to the birdsong from the many tropical birds that visit the villas’ garden, start your day taking tea in the garden, feel the cooling breeze while seated under a tree as you watch the koi carp swim lazily within the pond.

The Koi Suite at Summertime Villa luxuriates guests with a super-king size bed, indoor and outdoor seating areas, and a spacious bathroom with a supersize Italian marble bathtub. Or the Coral Room, with its beautifully draped four-poster bed, and relaxing views from the bathroom’s large windows that look out onto the gardens from the luxury of your marble bathtub. Summertime luxuriously accommodates up to 6 guests in its 3 guest rooms, with bookings from a minimum of 3 nights.

Discover Summertime Villa Now