Thursday, November 22, 2007

Malibu Beach Resort, Chaweng

Malibu Beach resort in Chaweng.

This is another place I know due to my personal working experience. On the stretch of Chaweng beach in front of Malibu resort was one of our dive center outlets, hence I've been there a lot of times using the classroom on the beach and have spend a few days staffing the room, to either teach courses or trying to book people for dive courses or trips. Alas, the dive shop on the beach has gone now.

Anyway, let's get back on track. The resort has changed a lot over the last couple of years, for the better. They have nice rooms that are very nicely located amongst lots of green and there's also a small but nice pool with restaurant on the beach.

The location is excellent, in the middle of Chaweng yet rather quiet in the rooms. Plenty of convenience all around, loads of restaurants on the beach, including their own and plenty directly once you had the main beach road and around the corner is TOP's, a supermarket.

It's a smallish resort but with lots of charm with it's 24 rooms.

You will find all of the finest amenities in each of the 24 rooms in this popular 3-star hotel. Guests will find hair dryer, telephone, air conditioning, television, balcony/terrace, minibar waiting in each room. In addition, this resort in Chaweng has safe box, airport pick-up and drop-off, room service, restaurants. Massage, outdoor pool are on-site for guests' enjoyment. With its commitment to service and focus on hospitality, you'll enjoy your stay at Malibu Beach Resort.

Booking by Hotels Combined

Booking by Agoda


Monday, November 19, 2007

Amari Palm Reef Resort & Spa

The Amari Palm Reef Resort & Spa in Chaweng.

This is one of the more upscale resorts in Chaweng and it's prices reflect this, however, it's well worth it!

Various friends ands acquaintances of mine stayed here and always to their full satisfaction. They support a few restaurants on their premises amongst other the Italian Prego restaurant, one of my Italian faves on the island and the hotel has an excellent access to Chaweng beach.

The location is very nice, at the Northern end of Chaweng which is rather quiet but everything is still just a few minutes away, even if you walk.

They offer 87 Thai-style superior and deluxe rooms, set in tropical gardens on the beach front. A special feature of some of the deluxe rooms is a two floor mezzanine design which sleeps 4 persons and is ideal for families.

2 free-form Swimming Pools, children Pool, Jacuzzi, Water Sports (available nearby) and Sivara Spa.

Services & Facilities include;
Baby sitting & baby cots, Laundry service , Tour desk, Transportation desk, Wireless Internet Access (Wi-Fi).

If you have the budget for this place, it's definitely worthwhile staying here.

Booking by Hotels Combined

Booking by Agoda






Sunday, November 18, 2007

Baan Chaweng Resort, Chaweng

Baan Chaweng Resort in Chaweng.

The location of Baan Chaweng is superb, it's in the middle of the action, downtown Chaweng and still very quiet around the bungalows.

The Hotel preference for detached villa or home - orientated designs, as a fusion of classical Thai style and contemporary luxury, you can relax with swimming pool and private balconies with Chaweng beach directly in front of you.

A very good friend of ours stayed in the Beach Front suite and was happy with it, although there are two en suite rooms rather than two rooms with a living area.

The location is excellent, everything in Chaweng is in walking distance and the hotel itself has a nice and relaxed atmosphere.

Recently opened with a 3 star rating, they have 80 rooms, 1 beach front suite , 2 beach front villas, 2 beach front bungalows, 6 deluxe bungalow, 12 superior bungalow, 8 deluxe villas, 10 superior villas and 39 superior building rooms offer all of the standard facilities.
The Baan Chaweng Beach Resort & Spa offers an excellent choice for those who are looking for a nice place at a three star price.

Booking by Hotels Combined

Booking by Agoda














Thursday, November 15, 2007

The Imperial Boathouse, Choengmon

The Imperial Boathouse in Choengmon


Another hotel with fond memories for me. This was the first hotel on Samui that I worked at, in the local dive shop and this is also where I met my wife.

It's part of the Imperial hotel chain that hosts the Imperial Samui Hotel in Chaweng and the Imperial Queen's Park Hotel in Bangkok.
Besides these details, the hotel is superb and my sister stayed in one of their re-build boats, which I can highly recommend.

These boats are fantastic and consist of old Bangkok rice barges that are re-build into apartments. They make for a very romantic feeling to the room.

All in all they have 210 rooms including 11 poolside terrace, 115 premier, 8 honeymoon suite, 42 superior and 34 boat suites, all rooms have a bathroom with bathtub, hair dryer, 220V electrical points, complimentary bathroom toiletries, personal safe, mini bar, color TV with in house videos and satellite reception, private large terrace with garden or pool view. Coffee and tea making facilities in all rooms. Non-smoking rooms are available.
It's located in Choengmon, my most preferred bay on Samui, a bay where we still go on a very regular base, to play with our children.

The Boathouse supports also 'The Captain's Choice' restaurant, which has a magnificent view over the Choengmon Bay and on top of that, the food is delicious.
With two large swimming pools and direct access to the beach, the water lovers will enjoy the setting to the max. Especially the large pool next to the beach is a beauty, build in the shape of a boat!

Another plus in my opinion, the location at Choengmon Bay, quiet and relaxed and still, not too far away from Chaweng. Outside the hotel there are plenty of restaurant choices both on the beach and in Choengmon itself.
The Imperial Boathouse comes highly recommended by me.

Booking by Agoda


Booking by Hotels Combined






List of recommended Samui hotels

This is a growing list of recommended Samui hotels.

Having lived on Koh Samui since the end of 1999, I feel that I can give an honest and true report on many hotels on Koh Samui. Not only just a recommendation but also a reason why I like or recommend a specific resort or hotel, like those many times when I get asked about accommodation on Samui.

For booking purposes, I use and recommend the following sites;

Hotels Combined since they give you the best deals from various search engines combined and without a big effort you get the best deal(s) available on either Koh Samui or Thailand.

Agoda, since they have good rates, a wide choice and have easy to use websites . They also have an excellent reward program.

More booking sites may be added in due time.


This list, that will keep growing over time, are the hotels that I recommend, click on each link for more information and booking links. Each hotel link will have various links for reservations and rates at the bottom of each review so you can compare prices;


Hotels on Baan Taling Ngam;

Elements Boutique Resort & Spa
Hotels on Bang Po Beach;

Code
Four Seasons Resort
Panalee Resort
The Passage Resort
The Sea Resort & Spa


Hotels on Bang Rak Beach;

Bangrak Garden Home
Karmakamet Aromatic Hotel
Maya Buri Boutique Resort
P10 Samui
Prana Resort & Spa
Punnpreeda Hip Resort
Saboey Resort & Villas
Samui Mermaid Resort

Secret Garden Beach Resort


Hotels on Bophud Beach;

Anantara Resort & Spa
Arisara Place Apartment located between Bophud and Chaweng
Baan Bophut Beach Hotel in Fisherman's Village
Bandara Resort & Spa
Hansar Resort
IBIS Bophud located between Bophud and Maenam
Peace Resort
Samui Palm Beach Resort located between Bophud and Maenam
Sandy Resort located between Bophud and Maenam

Smile House in Fisherman's Village
The Scent located between Bophud and Bang Rak
The Waterfront Boutique Hotel and Cafe in Fisherman's Village
World Resort located between Bophud and Maenam
Zazen Boutique Resort & Spa located between Bophud and Maenam


Hotels on Chaweng Beach;


Akyra Chura Samui 
Al's Resort
Amari Palm Reef Resort & Spa
Anantara Lawana Resort & Spa
Ark Bar Garden Beach Resort Baan Kao Hua Jook
Baan Chaweng Resort & Spa
Bhundari Spa and Villa Resort
The Briza Beach Resort & Spa
Centara Grand Beach Resort Samui
Chaba Cabana Beach Resort
Chaba Samui Resort
Impiana Resort
The Island Resort & Spa
Kandaburi Resort & Spa

KC Resort and Over Water Villas
Kirikayan Boutique Resort
Le Murraya Resort
Le Paradis Boutique Resort & Spa
The Library Hotel
Malibu Beach Resort

Mercure Samui Chaweng Tana
Montien House Hotel
New Star Beach Resort
Nora Buri Resort & Spa
Nora Chaweng Hotel

OP Bungalows

Ozo Chaweng Samui
Poppies

Samui Verticolor
Samui First House Hotel
Sans Souci Samui
Sareeraya Villas & Suites
The Sarann Resort
Sheraton Samui Resort
Vana Belle Resort



Hotels on ChoengmonBeach;
Renaissance Koh Samui Resort & Spa
Rocky's Boutique Resort

Hotels in Plai Laem;

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Underway

Hello, it seems we're underway with this new blog.

I just posted the first review of a hotel in Chaweng, the Centara Grand Beach. It's my first review and a few things in the way I post may change over time, so bear with me for the time being.

The idea behind this blog is to give you recommendations for hotels on Samui with personal reasons why I like or recommend these hotels.

Having lived here on Koh Samui since 1999, I feel that I can truelly recommend hotels and resorts on Samui, due to my field of work, the dive industry which brought me to many hotels on the island and plenty of family, friends and clients who stayed at hotels and resorts scattered around the island, who gave good feedback.

For bookings, I found these two website, Agoda and R24, who both have very good rates and support easy to navigate websites.

More online booking providers may follow soon, so stay tuned and I hope that you enjoy information provided. Any feedback is more than welcome.

Camille

Centara Grand Beach Resort Samui

The Centara Grand Beach Resort Samui

This is amongst one of the most favored hotels by me in Chaweng for various reasons.

First, I used to work at the resident dive shop and always had a good time there and got to know a lot of the hotel staff.

Secondly, my sister stayed here on two occasions and always was very happy with their service, especially the fact that they offer various child activities made it a great option for her.

Thirdly, I had various friends staying there on business trips and they all had nothing but great words for the hotels with a long stretch of Chaweng Beach straight in front of them.

Besides all this, they have various restaurants on location and I've tried Hagi's, the Japanese place on a few occasions and can recommend it. Part of the hotel is also Zico's Brazilian restaurant, across the road, an experience not to be missed out on!

They offer 206 deluxe seafacing rooms and suites all with private balconies in a complex of units designed to accentuate the natural tropical environment. Standard features in all rooms include multi channel satellite television reception, in-room video movies, music channels, mini-bar, tea and coffee making facilities and safe. The Club level accommodations with exclusive lounge and services.

The location is also perfect, right in the middle of Chaweng but once inside, you're in your own Centara world.

Booking by Hotels Combined

Booking by Agoda