A luxury castaway escape,
just off Phuket

I usually expect a remote island escape to come with a long journey. Coconut Island surprised me: after around 30 minutes of waiting and a ride of about 20 minutes on a large speedboat from Phuket, the pace felt completely different.

I stayed at Island Escape by Burasari. Coconut Island felt much less developed than Phuket, with the kind of sea views and quiet corners that make you want to leave your plans pleasantly unfinished. As a city girl, I loved that I could find this feeling without spending hours getting there. Even the crossing felt like part of the holiday.

01A short crossing, a different pace

That balance is the island’s appeal for me. There was enough distance from the bustle to feel away, but the journey was manageable and actually enjoyable. Instead of arriving worn out from travelling, I arrived ready to settle into the scenery.

It wasn’t an island entirely to myself. During my visit, the hotel already seemed to be drawing guests from around the world, including travel vloggers. Still, I could find a cosy spot at any time of day. The sense of escape came from having space to pause and somewhere beautiful to look, even when other people were enjoying it too.

02Designed around the greenery

Island Escape is beautifully designed and landscaped. What stayed with me was the way the greenery shaped the experience: little details to notice, sheltered places to linger and a feeling that nature was always close. The setting did much of the work. I didn’t need to fill the day to feel that I was making the most of being there.

Our Pool View King room

We stayed in a Pool View King room. Tall glass doors framed the pool outside, with a pair of chairs just beyond the curtains. Inside, the muted colours and dark bathroom tiles gave the room a simple, understated feel. The shower had both an overhead rainfall showerhead and a handheld fitting.

03Pools beneath the canopy

The pools were one of the biggest draws. I remember three in total, two of them really huge, with landscaping that made swimming feel wonderfully immersed in the grounds. Under the canopy of trees, with flowers falling around the water, it felt almost like swimming in the wild.

That was the luxury I enjoyed most here: being surrounded by something beautiful while doing very little. If pools are a big part of your holiday, this was the feature that would put Island Escape on my shortlist again.

“It feels like you are swimming in the wild under the canopy of trees and falling flowers.”

04The quiet outside the spa

The spa felt indulgent while still connected to nature. But the moment I remember most was outside the spa area: a quietness unlike anything I was used to hearing in the city. It was strangely therapeutic. I hadn’t realised how unfamiliar that kind of stillness was until I found myself in it.

The island feeling

There was always another little corner to settle into.

The views were simply amazing, but I loved the unhurried feeling just as much. A seat in the shade, the sea in front of me and no particular reason to move on: that was enough.

05Food worth lingering over

The food at the hotel’s restaurants was another highlight. For me, it was far better than most of the restaurants I’ve tried on Phuket’s main island. It was familiar yet different and refreshing, which is a lovely balance when you’re eating several meals in the same place. Some of my favourite dishes came from this trip; the dining was a part of the stay I looked forward to in its own right.

The breakfast spread was amazing, with a mix of local specialities and continental breakfast favourites. Add those sea views, and it was very easy to linger over the table. For an island holiday where you may spend much of your time at the resort, enjoying the food makes a real difference.

06A few things I would pack for

A couple of practical details surprised me. My room didn’t have cable TV, although I could watch YouTube on the television. In the end it wasn’t a big deal, but it is worth checking the current setup if evening viewing matters to you.

Shopping was limited during my stay. I didn’t find shops to rely on, and the hotel had only a small selection of essentials. I would arrive with sunscreen, snacks and everything I normally reach for on holiday, rather than planning to pick things up once there.

07Would I return?

Yes, for the same reasons I loved it the first time: the ease of getting there, the beautifully landscaped pools, the food and that unexpected stillness. Island Escape felt like a good fit for the kind of trip where the destination is permission to slow down.

If your ideal holiday involves lots of shopping and spontaneous evenings out, think about whether boat transfers fit the way you like to travel. For me, a little preparation was a small trade-off for somewhere that felt this removed from the everyday.

There’s a little of that “castaway” feeling here, but with a luxurious twist: beautifully landscaped pools, indulgent spa moments and meals worth lingering over. You get to feel wonderfully far from the everyday, with all the comforts that make staying a pleasure.