OR a stylish Robinson Crusoe escape just 30 minutes from Phuket Airport, including an exhilarating wet-hair ten-minute speedboat ride cutting eastwards through the gin-blue waters of the Andaman Sea, look no farther than Naka Yai. This is home to Naka Island Phuket, Starwood’s latest Luxury Collection offering in Thailand that rolls out 1 November, 2011.

Here as many as 67 private villas built with rammed earth and natural finish serve up private pools, breezy salas (Thai pavilions), and outdoor bathrooms to satisfy the most demanding romantic whims with the spectacular Phang Nga Bay and its limestone karst formations providing a dramatic backdrop sunrise and sunset when the skies streak with crimson and orange.

In-room expect a rustic feel with de rigueur mod-cons like climate-control air-conditioning (and ceiling fans for the tropically inclined), iPod dock, 32-inch flatscreen TV, DVD player, and WiFi. Leave footprints in the white sand, swim, and then soak in an outdoor garden bathtub. While couples may wish to gaze into each others’ eyes, other distractions include kayaking, cycling, wind surfing, sailing and swimming in the main resort pool.

The Naka Island Spa offers a wellness menu to soothe city muscles and a fitness centre is on hand for those wishing to burn further calories. For gourmets there are the seaside Tonsai for all day dining and My Grill with southern Thai influences. Or dip into a vintage wine cellar. This hideaway is a splendid venue for a Phuket resort wedding with a 163sq m sala for soft-focus ceremonies.