InterContinental Khao Yai Resort, an IHG Hotel

Character and identity

Two hours northeast of Bangkok, this 64-room Bill Bensley fantasia sits at the foot of Khao Yai's jungled spine, sharing a lake-strewn estate with five ponds (and, less charmingly, a few blocky condo towers from the same developer). The conceit is a make-believe 19th-century railway, with a faux-vintage lobby modelled on the nearby Pak Chong station, moss-covered tracks threading the grounds, and salvaged carriages reborn as suites, restaurants, and the spa. Dining runs from Thai-Isaan canteen cooking at Somying's Kitchen to French brasserie fare at Poirot, with Martinis at Papillon. The service register is warm rather than polished.

Who's it for

Bottom line

The reason to come is Bensley's railway fantasy itself, and it largely delivers, provided you book one of the upcycled carriage suites at the back of the property, where the design swing is at its most committed. Two nights is the sweet spot; pair it with a guided day in Khao Yai National Park, and arrive with a car or pre-arranged driver.