All you need to know about the land of silk and smiles
Napasai Resort and Spa You awake to the distant deep throbbing of long-tailed boats as fi Contact details: 65/10 Ban Tai, Maenam, Ko Samui, Surat Thani, 84330, 
shermen scurry in the bay in front of this 55-cottage luxury resort located on the north coast of the island on
This is a luxury, top-quality hotel. At the prices charged, it would be hard to find better accommodation, service or dining anywhere in
The lobby sits high above the complex of cottages, which are set up, above the beach and all have large verandahs with terrific views of the nearby islands. The modern Thai style cottages are fully equipped, and have a wonderful sense of comfort and privacy.
The beach is not one of 
m gourmet dining but don’t quite reach that criteria.
There are also
Do not be put off by the high rack rates. Many times there are Internet specials particularly in the low season. We stayed here in mid-November, which is low season here and enjoyed perfect weather. In Phuket, where it was high season, the weather was not so good with several thunderstorms. This is a wonderful place to stay with super service and one of those places you will want to visit many times.
This luxury chain of resorts excelled when they built this extravagant retreat. There only 106 rooms and 24 suites on three floors and everything is exclusive, expensive and excellent. Best deals are their packages, which offer various combinations of service. And if you’re spending this money add a little more by using their limo service from the airport. All the accommodation here is designed to reflect the color of the surrounding tropical gardens and each room or suite has a deep terrazzo bath big enough for two people and either a private terrac
Anantara Resort and Spa 
e or balcony. Focal point of the resort is the 3,000 square meter spa with six bamboo and glass walled rooms, which allow spectacular views while enjoying a treatment. Italian cuisine and Thai specialties are served on the elevated terrace above the infinity pool. Service throughout the resort is swift, silent and comes with typical Thai smiles. The resort makes full use of teak and silk and the in-room amenities include satellite television, minibar and tea and coffee-making facilities. And if you want to keep in touch with the rest of the world there is high-speed Internet access. This is an expensive resort, but quality has its price. Contact details: 101/3
The Renaissance Ko Samui Resort and Spa
The property is
a romantic boutique resort comprising of 45 deluxe rooms, 32 stunning villas and the Royal Lamai Villa, designed in the style of an intimate
All the rooms have a private terrace with a whirlpool tub overlooking tropical gardens and the
Dining options include casual indoor and al fresco dining at the Banana Leaf Restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner, while the unique TawaNN, the resort’s signature restaurant, offers a memorable, romantic outdoor dining experience. The Tapas Bar is ideal for snacks and cocktails while two tropical pool bars serve light meals and refreshments.
For recreation and leisure, there are two swimming pools, including the Leelawadee 50-meter lap pool, a fitness center and an action packed activities schedule, which includes yoga classes, massage and cooking lessons. The resort’s Quan Spa offers a full range of relaxing and rejuvenating massages and treatments. Contact details: 208/1 Moo 4, Y.Maret,
Banburee Resort and Spa
When you look at the photo of this reasonably priced resort, it is har
d to believe that there are only 40 rooms her
There are two places to dine here. The Canna Restaurant, with spectacular views, is open from
Keep an eye out for Internet specials, which can be as low as $146 a night and include airport transfers and a range of sightseeing and spa treatments.
The property is nestled in a quiet corner of
Poppies Samui Resort
This is one of those small boutique resorts where you get smothered in service and want to return as quickly as possible
. There are just 24 luxury cottages teeming with teak and Thai silks and cottons set amid superb tropical gardens that have ponds, bridges and a waterfall. The resort is at the southern end of
The fully equipped cottages all have a separate living area, fancy marble sunken tub bathrooms and a small private garden. The hotel rents out jeeps for those who want to discover the island or can arrange a driver to take you around. There is an excellent restaurant, which attracts a lot of the ex-pat community. The high quality and services are matched by high prices. You have the choice of dining in Ayutthaya-style teak pavilion beside the pool or under the stars overlooking the beach. If you don’t want to splurge every night there are numerous eating spots along the busy street outside.
The resort’s spa offer a complete range of massages, body treatments and beauty services which you can enjoy in the privacy of your cottage or in a beach-side sala.
Contact details: P.O. Box 1, Chaweng, Ko Samui, Surat Thani 84320, Thailand, Tel. 077422 419, fax 077422 420. www.poppiessamui.com
X2 Ko Samui
X2 Resorts - pronounced Cross Two – a chain of Thai designer resorts, has opened its latest resort on Ko Samui. The property is located on
27 villas. Most have private swimming pools, and outside areas. The 100 meter beachfront and 50-year-old trees help provide the X2 atmosphere the owners were striving to achieve, and gave designers the background on which to recreate the resort. The resort comprises one owner’s villa, one suite pool villa, 12 pool villas and four garden bungalows. The villas range in size from 110 to 225 square meters with pools of 30 square meters. Daily rates range from 4,200 Baht for a bungalow to 18,600 Baht for the owners villa. Each designer styled private villa features a spacious private terrace, a garden patio, and entertainment including a home theatre with satellite TV, a movie and music library, a selection of magazines and free high-speed internet access throughout the resort. X2 Samui is also equipped with an X2 Spa and an impressive outdoor massage pavilion to deliver a combination of traditional massages and spa treatments. As well as in every other X2 Resort, the well known 4K restaurant and bar (pronounced fork), provides a mix of Thai and western cuisine. According to Astudo CEO and co-owner Anthony McDonald X2 Samui is a unique resort. He says: “It is the kind of resort that guests do not want to leave. The service is of course five-star and the private villas are a sublime relaxing oasis. The peaceful and spacious atmosphere of the resort provides a feeling akin to a 21st century temple experience.”
Bhundhari Spa Resort and Villas Samui
This 124-room resort is the third property to be operated by Centara on Samui. It is one of the first adult-onl
y resorts designed for those who don’t want the pleasure of children’s company for their vacations.
There is a full range of accommodation from the 42-square meter rooms to villas with their own pool. All the accommodation has air conditioning, large bathrooms with an extra-deep bathtub and rain shower, flat screen television with satellite channels, DVD player, in-room safe, mini-bar, tea and coffee making facilities, hairdryer, wireless internet access and an IDD telephone.
The resort has its upmarket The Club where members enjoy a private lounge which provides a continental breakfast, mid morning snacks, lunch time snacks, afternoon tea, and evening cocktails and canapés. The hotel’s main restaurant is open from 
or poolside. Room service is available 24/7. There is a spa on-site with a full range of treatments. Other amenities include two swimming pool, a fitness center, water sports and dive center, a sports activities, library and gift shop, 24-hour front desk with currency exchange, tour and car rental desk and laundry services.
This resort, like other Centara properties, offers good value for money particularly if you watch out for the special deals available on the www.centarahotelsresorts.com website.
Expect top quality service from a well-trained team of friendly professionals. The location, on a hillside and directly on the beach offers spectacular views over the ocean and the town of
