Farther north, the SALA Phuket Resort and Spa (333 Moo 3, Mai Khao; 66-76-338-888; salaresorts.com) opened in 2008 and is a serene hideaway with 79 rooms and villas most with private pools that ...

Thailand’s most visited region—the famed beaches of Phuket—just upped its family appeal with the grand opening of Carnival Magic last September. The country’s first culturally-focused ...