A single island with a single hotel, that is the true essence of Marriott's Luxury Collection

The Naka Island, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Phuket, has given me a new perspective on the Luxury Collection brand. Located on its own private island, Naka Island, staying at this hotel requires a speedboat arrival, with taxis from Phuket Airport delivering guests to the hotel's designated reception pier. Hotel staff welcome guests at the dedicated pier, and it takes about 5 minutes by speedboat to reach the Naka Island pier where the hotel is located. Several staff members will be waiting there in advance to welcome you; the Luxury Collection is also the only resort on the island, which, apart from a few indigenous residents, is highly private due to the presence of the hotel alone. Upon check-in, staff prepare the hotel's homemade iced drinks and scented cold towels, and introduce the island, which is said to be Dragon Island. Every guest is required to strike the gong three times upon arrival at the hotel, as a welcome ritual. The room I stayed in was a 450-square-meter Garden Pool One-Bedroom Villa, with the actual room size being about 80 square meters. The three-day, two-night stay was a very comfortable vacation experience. As a Marriott Titanium Elite member, I received a complimentary upgrade and the welcome gift was very thoughtful. Welcome gifts were delivered on both days, and on the second day, a bottle of sparkling wine was offered, with a choice of three options: breakfast, 1000 points, or a straw hat. The room's garden comes with a private pool, and many aspects of the hotel show the influence of the former Six Senses brand, which the hotel was part of before it rebranded and joined the Marriott portfolio, a great benefit for Marriott members. The bathroom has no air conditioning, only a fan, so it gets very hot, whether you're brushing your teeth or washing up. There are double washbasins, ample space, and a primitive style design, with BYREDO bath products. The bathtub is sunken and located in the backyard. The Minibar is well-stocked with bottled water, coffee, TWG tea bags, and the drinks and alcohol in the fridge are chargeable. There is a lemongrass and ginger water in the fridge that is very tasty and highly recommended, though a bit pricey. The hotel pays great attention to detail; upon entering the room, you're greeted with a strong scent of essential oils. Staff light an aromatherapy lamp 30 minutes before your arrival, filling the room with a relaxing and pleasant fragrance. The bed is beautifully made, with very comfortable and soft bedding, ensuring a good night's sleep. There's a tent over the bed, probably to keep out mosquitoes, and at night you can sleep without air conditioning, just with the fan on top of the tent, which is very cool. The hotel covers a large area and offers many entertainment options. It's too hot during the day for outdoor activities, so the pool is the place to be. There are two swimming pools in the public areas. The sunset is truly beautiful. The resort has three restaurants and a bar, scattered in different locations. There are no other dining options on the island, and the hotel's food prices are high, with a 10% discount for Marriott members. The food is traditional Thai flavor, tasty but not astonishing. Every table orders the water spinach. At night, the island is very quiet. When the tide is low, you can pick crabs on the beach, and the only activity is walking. The hotel offers 24-hour free transportation off the island, so if you get bored, you can go out. We spent all three days and two nights on the island without going to town. It's too hot outside, but playing in the pool in the yard at night is quite nice. In the morning, the beach is the busiest time of the day, with many people coming out to play. There are many water activities, with only kayaking being free. Jet skiing, sailing, and sea fishing are chargeable. The spa's product prices are reasonable, and appointments are required for the Spa. The essential oil brand used in the spa center is very niche, affordable, and a local Thai brand called Alodia, which I tried for the first time. Since we arrived at the hotel in the morning of our check-in day and the room was not yet ready, the staff invited us to have breakfast, which included champagne. The service was really good, with great attention to detail, and the breakfast was abundant with a wide selection, including multiple fresh juices and fruits. The hotel's general manager is very enthusiastic, speaks Chinese, and was chatting with guests in the restaurant in the morning. He mentioned that he had worked at the Park Hyatt Beijing, and he is super nice. If there is a downside to this hotel, I think it's that the beach is not perfect, with too many rocks and the sea not being clear enough. However, the service, hygiene, environment, privacy, and comfort are all very good. This Luxury Collection hotel truly makes the brand shine. I felt the brand's excellence and luxury, and it is outstanding.