Koh Samui. It’s our favourite Thai island destination. Samui is home to hundreds of hotels and resorts, but not all are created equal. Here are our five favourites – the ones we keep going back to because of that something special that makes us Love It There…
At the luxury end there are plenty of big brands with a presence in Samui, but for our money the Six Senses tops the list. Spacious and well equipped pool villas, really well-trained and helpful staff, pretty decent F&B, a lush forest setting, and killer views: what’s not to like? Okay – you will hear the air traffic from the nearby airport, and there’s not much of note to explore in the immediate vicinity, but the pros definitely outweigh the cons here. Plus, rooms here are much better value than the direct competition. Lock yourself away and enjoy.
Love: Private pool villas and gorgeous views
Less lovely: Pricey F&B
With its red-tiled pool overlooking Chaweng Beach, The Library doesn’t mind being different. And compared to the trashy standard on Samui’s busiest beach it delivers on all fronts. There’s only one restaurant, but it manages to offer something for everyone, and in a lovely beachfront setting to boot (a cocktail bar fronts onto the busy main street at the entrance). As you’re in the main tourist area, there are other dining options on the doorstep, so you never feel trapped or gouged. For the price, rooms are fairly basic, but refreshingly lacking in tacky Thai architectural flourishes, and new pool villas – we have yet to visit, but they certainly photograph well – look the goods. A surprising oasis of style in a sea of mediocrity.
Love: A sense of style and surprising calm on Chaweng Beach
Less lovely: Room prices are high
The older of the two Sala properties in Samui – the other is on Chaweng Beach – the original in Cheongmon still has a lot to offer. In some ways the individual walled compounds here are reminiscent of the Balinese style. You can expect privacy, but don’t expect views. Still, Sala offers excellent value for pool villas in Samui, and Cheongmon Beach has its charms too, being smaller, quieter and less crowded than popular Chaweng. There’s a pretty decent restaurant, and a pair of lovely pools at the beachfront too. Just be careful when booking – not all rooms have pools. Our pick is the Sala Pool Villa style.
Love: Private pool villas at competitive price
Less lovely: A large construction site next door may annoy
Okay, this is a quirky choice, but we do like a small hotel, and with a mere 15 rooms, The Scent qualifies. Arranged in a horseshoe shape around the pool, some rooms are definitely better choices than others. We like the Beachfront Suites, both for the sea views, and for the extra privacy – the ground-floor rooms here, in particular, are fairly public, and only one of the three Beachfront Suites is on the ground level. There’s not the level of service you’d expect from a bigger hotel either, but The Scent makes up for that with some degree of charm.
Love: Small and charming
Less lovely: Lack of privacy in ground floor rooms
Hansar may seem another unusual choice, but it delivers on a lot of fronts. The rooms are spacious and well-equipped, plus you get a large private balcony with ocean views, and the pool is spectacular too. And while you’re highly unlikely to encounter a fisherman in Fisherman’s Village, which is a short walk away, you will find plenty of bars and restaurants. The downsides? The beds are too soft for some tastes, and the pool can get crowded.
Love: Space, value, location
Less lovely: You’ll encounter other guests when using the facilities.