Thailand’s top 5 getaways this December

CLUB SEEN Koh Samui begins a new chapter with a full relaunch and an elevated day-to-night concept that brings international names to Chaweng Beach. From December through January, the beach club hosts its most ambitious season yet with Defected, Glitterbox, ARTBAT, Nina Kraviz, Miss Monique, Kolsch and a roster of global artists set across its main stage and the intimate UNSEEN Club Room. Days unfold at SEEN Eatery, a relaxed seaside dining space blending Tokyo-inspired flair with Latin heat in sharing plates built for long afternoons by the water. Nights shift into deeper sets, sculptural lighting and high-intensity shows before rolling into a festive programme that includes Christmas brunch, New Year’s Eve fireworks and weekly O Beach Ibiza takeovers every Sunday in January. With seamless flow between dining, dancing and beachfront lounging, CLUB SEEN positions itself as the island’s defining party destination for the season.

Prices vary. Tickets and dining reservations via clubseenkohsamui.com. CLUB SEEN Koh Samui, daily hours vary.

Yona Beach kicks off high season with a one-day splash of Japanese flavour as Zuma Phuket teams up with its’ Bangkok bar crew for a first-ever takeover. For one day only on December 12, the massive floating beach club turns into a playground for three signature serves: the bright Zuma Paloma, a sharp Yuzu Negroni and the peach-forward Koi Peach.

Each cocktail comes with a curated gift bundle that feels tailored for a day at sea, including a disposable camera, fan, waterproof phone bag and a limited-edition postcard. Hold on to that postcard: bring it to Zuma Phuket at Anantara Layan Resort on your next visit to unlock a complimentary cocktail at the restaurant.

A short, stylish crossover that blends island views with Zuma’s clean, contemporary energy.

Reservations via @yonabeach and yonabeach.com. Yona Beach Club, December 12, 3-7pm.

Kimpton Kitalay Samui brings sharp Bangkok energy to its laidback beachfront setting this December with a cross-cultural collaboration from Takara Wong, the fashion label known for its punchy graphics and street-led attitude. The resort’s festive programme folds the brand’s bold visual language into its island rituals, from limited-edition pieces to styled social spaces that play with contrast: soft shoreline, strong design.

Guests can expect Takara Wong touches threaded throughout the celebrations, including custom decor, curated looks for key events and a playful aesthetic that brings something distinctly urban to Koh Samui’s northeast coast. It’s a collision of city edge and resort calm, turning the season into something brighter, braver and more expressive. A fresh crossover that lifts holiday lounging into fashion-led territory without losing Kimpton’s signature sleek style.

Reservations via kimptonkitalaysamui.com. Kimpton Kitalay Samui, daily hours vary.

Anantara Hua Hin returns just in time for the year’s end with a full transformation that updates the brand’s first-ever resort for a new era. The December reopening reveals redesigned rooms and suites, an expanded beachfront, refreshed pools and a sharper, more contemporary interpretation of its original Thai-village inspiration.

The main pool now sits within a lush oasis of towering palm trees, with new lounging decks that drift into the sea-facing landscape. Families get more room to roam thanks to an upgraded lagoon pool and bar, a reimagined kids’ club with creative play zones and the new mini farm, home to silkie chickens, pygmy goats and peacocks. Active travellers can get stuck into Muay Thai, pickleball, rock climbing and more at the revitalised sports zone.

Dining also steps forward with renewed venues including Sea Fire Salt for prime cuts and seafood on Himalayan salt slabs, Rim Nam for bold Thai flavours and Issara Cafe for bright, breezy mornings.

A polished reboot for one of Hua Hin’s most iconic beachfront escapes.

Prices vary. Reservations via anantara.com/hua-hin. Anantara Hua Hin Resort, daily hours vary.

Anantara Mai Khao unveils a full trilogy of coastal dining this season with the redesigned Sea Fire Salt leading the charge. The beachfront restaurant returns with a sharper flame-grilled identity: line-caught local seafood, premium steaks and finishing salts sourced from around the world. Dishes arrive seared over smoking charcoal and served on Himalayan salt bricks, letting guests choose their perfect finish while the bricks naturally deepen flavour.

Mediterranean sharing plates, signature sushi and grill-forward classics set the tone for relaxed, sunlit lunches and atmospheric evenings framed by the Andaman sky. The relaunch also introduces Chef Jonas Werner, formerly of The Mandarin Oriental, whose refined techniques and globally inspired touches elevate both the grill and Japanese menus.

Sea Fire Salt joins Vayu, the resort’s rooftop cocktail sanctuary, and Infinity, its relaxed poolside venue, forming a trio of dining experiences anchored in air, fire and sea.

Prices vary. Reservations via anantara.com/mai-khao-phuket. Sea Fire Salt, daily hours vary.