A Splendid Guide to
Thailand rewards a slower itinerary. Beyond the obvious beaches, the country holds an extraordinary depth of design hotels, jungle retreats and boutique houses run by people whose taste is the point. Our Thailand features cover the stays worth flying for and the corners of the country we keep returning to.
An in-depth review of Maison Mystique, the new boutique hotel in Khao Yai, Thailand founded by Fearn Kate. A cinematic hideaway shaped by art, storytelling and design.
2026-02-02
Northern Thailand (Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai) suits travellers wanting culture and cooler weather. The Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi, the Phi Phi islands) is for beaches and resorts. Khao Yai and the central plains hold the country's most interesting design hotels — Maison Mystique among them.
November to February is high season — dry, warm but not blistering, and the southern islands at their best. March and April are hot. May to October is monsoon season, with tropical rain that varies by region. Northern Thailand can be smoky in March from agricultural burning.
Splendid recommends Maison Mystique in Khao Yai for design-forward boutique stays, Amanpuri and Aman Sea Phuket on the coast, The Siam in Bangkok for old-Hollywood glamour, and 137 Pillars House in Chiang Mai for heritage architecture.