Twinpalms Two For Cape Yamu?

[alanmorison]

A stylish motor yacht for charter, along with cute cars for hire. Twinpalms is certainly evolving. And there may even be a second Twinpalms resort coming soon. Where? On Cape Yamu.

TWO OF Phuket's best-known names, Twinpalms and Cape Yamu, are likely to be united in a deal that will probably put a new version of the iconic resort on the island's most stylish headland fairly soon.

It's a betrothal between brands that is more than just talk. Land has been cleared at the cape for a new resort, based on the successful Twinpalms Phuket at Surin beach.

A little more candlelight canoodling is required first, even though the property owner and the resort's Scandanavian backers are said to share a desire to start another Twinpalms.

An insider told Phuketwan that the deal was ''more than 50 percent certain'' to go ahead within the next two years.

That's fascinating to hear, yet fresh surprises at Twinpalms are usually the stuff of local legend. The small resort (the word ''boutique'' tends to be overused) enters yet another new phase in its brief but impressive life from June 5.

On that day, the MY Olympia sails from Taiwan for Phuket waters. The sleek white power cruiser also has a second name, Twinpalms One.

At 76 feet it will be probably the longest, largest and most luxurious vessel on charter duty around the island. The yacht, operating under a fractional ownership arrangement, will offer impressive daily cruises out of Yacht Haven from July 9.

As the name implies, if the idea proves to be a winner, Twinpalms Two could be setting sail before too long.

The number three also has its place, though. Twinpalms car rentals are coming soon, with three small white vehicles, covered in large red kisses, set to take to the island's streets.

-- full report at www.phuketwan.com