Punnpreeda Beach Resort, Bang Rak

Punnpreeda Beach Resort, Bang Rak

Formerly known as Punnpreeda Hip Resort; This is a fairly new resort conveniently located about 5 minutes away from the airport and near Big Buddha.

It's located at Bang Rak beach, away from the hustle and bustle of Chaweng and near all the restaurants and shops in Bang Rak.

The beach is not as great as Choengmon or Chaweng but still good.

It offers a minimalist hotel designed with love and attention to detail, maintaining a rich appreciation for Thai architecture, while focusing on industrial, modern design. Poured concrete is juxtaposed against natural Thai woods with 100-year-old slant roof ceilings. There are only 25 guest rooms in 5 categories and they're medium range priced; 12 Deluxe rooms, 4 Garden Villa's, 6 Ocean Villa's, 2 Jacuzzi Suites and a Waterfall Seaview Suite. There's an in house restaurant and all rooms have Wi-fi plus all amenities, like a flat screen TV.

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The Swimming pool

The Daaraadat restaurant

Inside a Deluxe room

View over Bang Rak bay

Bandara Resort & Spa, Bophud

Bandara Resort & Spa, Bophud

This very nice resort is fairly new and has a lot to offer located between Bophud and Maenam.

With 22 standard rooms, 98 Deluxe rooms, 2 Grand Deluxe Villa's and 28 cottage villas, they also offer a wide variety of room choices.

All rooms boast stunning contemporary tropical design, extra-large private balcony or veranda with day-bed, alfresco dining facilities and ceiling fan, all modern amenities and spectacular views of the lush resort landscaping.

Set amidst a coconut grove on the golden beach of Bophud, overlooking the Gulf of Thailand and only a few minutes’ drive from Chaweng Beach and all the hustle and bustle that Chaweng has on offer, the resorts luxurious and spacious cottages and villas are tastefully decorated.

Bandara has been build very spacious and it accommodates 2 pools and a children's pool.

The resort also provides a seaside restaurant, the Chom Dao, that looks out onto the ocean and offers Thai and Western cuisine. An all-day dining restaurant, the Leelavadee, located on the ground level of the main building offers full American breakfast, lunch, dinner and special theme nights.

Dinner services are also provided as private dining at individual cabanas by the swimming pool. Very romantic indeed.

There are also a lobby and pool bar.

Bandara, a window to the stars. Now, it's a name shared with a unique resort experience.

Room rates are starting at medium rates to high end rates.

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Deluxe room

Overview of the main pool

The main pool

The Lounge area

The Chom Dao Beach restaurant

Chaweng Buri Resort, Chaweng

Chaweng Buri Resort, Chaweng

Is conveniently located at the beach in the middle of Chaweng.

When one first steps onto the compound of this resort, you may think that you have wandered into an old southern Thai village. That’s because the Chaweng Buri Resort is set in a tropical paradise and made up of 117 chalets, which includes one beach side suite. But this resort is anything but old-fashioned - it offers a host of modern amenities including a free form swimming pool with Jacuzzi, a sauna, spa and massage services. Despite all this, the beach is still the main draw here and this one is not obstructed by a road and tends to be peaceful and quiet at all times.

Chaweng Buri hosts two restaurants and a beach/pool side bar;

-A poolside restaurant " The Place" which serves fresh seafood, continental and authentic Thai cuisine

-A beach-front dinner terrace "Rom-Mai" which serves light meals and the Barbecue terrace "Sai-Lom" which serves Seafood, Steaks & Salad.

-There's a Thai night show every Friday at "Harry 's Bar" (Beach/Pool Bar) - Tropical fruit shakes, cocktails, thirst quenching drinks, spirits and snacks.

There are over 220 sun deck beds with parasols and the hotel also offers baby sitting amongst other services.

Chaweng Buri has been in Chaweng for more than 15 years when I write this review and the location is perfect along Chaweng Beach. The Resort also receives very good reviews from previous visitors and I can recommend a stay in this medium priced resort.

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Peace Resort, Bophud

Peace Resort, Bophud

Has been established back in 1977 by the Pupaiboon Family between Bophud and Maenam and has been growing strong ever since. Starting out as a typical simple hut on the beach place, just like for instance World Resort or Zazen Boutique Resort not too far away from Peace Resort, they have been upgrading gradually and nowadays Peace Resort counts as a nice upgrade resort with actually upscale beach villa's within walking distance of the rustique Fisherman's Village.

Friends of me stayed here and had a great time.

The tranquility on the premises and the lovely Bophud beach location with landscaped tropical gardens make for a unique stay during your vacation at Peace Resort.

The resort supports;
Superior Garden Villa, 55 units (1 bedroom ) 32 sq.m.
Deluxe Garden Villa, 31 units (1 bedroom) 42 sq.m.
Deluxe Wing , 20 units (1 bedroom) 37.5-48 sq.m.
Deluxe Veranda, 11 units (1 bedroom & living area) 49 sq.m
Beachfront Villa, 5 units (1 bedroom & living area) 49 sq.m.

Each bungalow is a mini-suite with your very own porch and furnished with modern conveniences such as air-conditioning, mini bar and bath amenities.

The resort is very child friendly with and supports a children outdoor playground and a children pool.

A medium ranged priced resort with some high end ranged beach villa's which welcome you with traditional Thai hospitality, with the added bonus of it being run by a Samui family.

Enjoy your stay.

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Zazen Boutique Resort & Spa, Bophud

Zazen Boutique Resort & Spa, Bophud

An updated review of Zazen Boutique Resort & Spa, Bophud written in October 2015 can be found if you click on this link.

On the Northern coast of Koh Samui Island, on the west side of Bophud Beach lies the small, charming and intimate Zazen Boutique Resort, Bophud.

A resort where you can feel at home? Where you will take your partner to heaven and your family to paradise. This little hide-away invites you to relax & rediscover yourself and your partner in beautiful, natural & tropical surroundings. You will experience in our idyllic tropical resort the perfect escape. Sounds like too good to be true, out of an 8 year experience on Samui and having had various friends stay here, I can agree to this.

Zazen enjoys a secluded setting at the end of an unspoiled bay. In this tropical setting, the low-rise resort has been especially designed to reach peacefulness in harmony with its natural surroundings. Nestled on Koh Samui's quieter, more traditional northern shore, Zazen stands on the west coast of Bophut beach amid lush gardens facing its own palm-shaded beach.

Zazen also has one of my favorite restaurants on the island. This place gets my thumbs up!

With all the facilities they offer, this is one of the medium - top resorts on Samui;

• 80 Meters of white sandy beach front
• Magnificent tropical swimming pool with terrace with sun beds and umbrellas
• Jacuzzi and Children's swimming pool
• Open-air beachfront restaurant and bar overlooking the Gulf of Thailand and featuring traditional Thai dancers twice a week.
• Beach front “Rouge Lounge” Bar with pool table
• Boutique with antiques & souvenir shop
• Internet Lounge with High Speed wireless connection & business center
• Beautiful outdoor Spa offering a whole range of treatments
• An all year round beautiful beach which is safe for swimming
• Jeep and motorbike rental
• Shuttle bus service & private limousine service
• Airport Pick-up and Drop-off (on request ) and Private Parking
• Baby-sitting service
• Laundry & pressing service• Room services
• Luggage storage

Complimentary services:

• Tropical garden with game of bowls (petanque) and table tennis area
• Beach Club with windsurfing equipment and canoes
• Library and parlor games
• DVD films service
• Confirmation of flight tickets
• Internet Lounge with high speed wireless connection & business center
• Free high speed wireless connection from the guests rooms and around the restaurant, bar, pool & beach

This resort ranks high on my fave list with a great location between Bophud and Maenam.

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The Weekender, Lamai

The Weekender, Lamai

This hotel is almost an institution in Lamai and has grown a bit over the years, without losing it's service and good ambiance.

The Weekender is a place where you can do as much or as little as you like. Enjoy Samui as it was meant to be. Relax & appreciate the fresh breezes off the Gulf of Thailand as you sit by the beach, enjoy a drink at the beach bar or just find one of the many quiet corners with your favourite book.

The rooms are spacious and they are furnished individually with private bathroom (shower & bathtub with hot and cold water), airconditioning with individual control, mini bar, refrigerator, telephone (IDD) and colour TV (with satellite).

The resort offers several options of accommodation, which include bungalows at resort front entrance, superior and deluxe rooms in three separate buildings and Thai styled houses. The 149 rooms are spread over a large area of beautiful landscaped tropical gardens.

The resort has a beach of soft white sand, crystal clear waters and fringing coconut palms. It is located in the middle of Lamai Beach, not too far away from the entertainment area, but secluded enough for guests to enjoy the tranquility of a restful island holiday.

Price, ranging from just above a 1.000,-THB to around 4.000,-THB, location and the tranquility, all good reasons for staying at The Weekender.

Enjoy your stay in Lamai.

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Standard Room

Superior New Wing

Deluxe New Wing

Lamai Inn 99, Lamai

Lamai Inn 99, Lamai

This is a budget hotel on the beach in Lamai. It's basic and straightforward but a very reliable place.

The Lamai Inn 99 has been in business for more than 20 years and they are extremely proud to have evolved to the point where they now have 73 rooms available while at the same time retaining their reputation for close service.

Although they have upwards of 100 meters of beachfront, they have kept the beach deliberately open with wide expanses of lawn and garden for everyone’s enjoyment. As a result, many of their bungalows which are not on the beach have clear views of the water.

They have 6 much sought after beachfront rooms, 51 rooms with air-conditioning, 14 with air conditioning and hot water and 22 with fans.

A very good choice if you're looking for a budget place on the beach in Lamai with the added bonus of it being a family run business.

Enjoy the Lamai Inn 99.

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Paradise Beach Resort, Maenam

Paradise Beach Resort, Maenam

This is another resort filled with good memories for me, since I worked also in this resort. It's a few years back now since I worked there, but the hotel still has the same good vibes and feel to it.

It has a great location with a fantastic view to Koh Phangan, is located directly at Maenam beach and has 2 pools. It's family friendly and quiet and tranquil due to it's location, a nice bit away from the main road and it's lush green garden setting.

If you feel like visiting Chaweng, they have an hourly free vacation shuttle to the entertainment & shopping area at Chaweng (20 minutes away).

They have an excellent Italian restaurant on site, Roma and the Paradise Terrace and on top of that the Beach & Pool bar.

The intimate resort has 11 cozy bungalows, 78 deluxe rooms and 6 suites in Thai style, each with a private balcony or veranda.

Paradise Beach Resort is an excellent medium ranged resort with a great location on Maenam beach and Swiss management. Definitely worthwhile checking out.

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Rocky Boutique Resort, Lamai

Rocky Boutique Resort, Lamai

Is a very fine resort, away from the hustle and bustle of Lamai.

Rocky Resort is a private and secluded Koh Samui resort with 33 Luxurious Thai bungalows and Villas. The resort is situated on a private beach, with unparalleled views of the Gulf of Thailand, and only a short walk to downtown Lamai. Long tailed fishing boats can be seen daily as they depart or return home with their catch. Here is the ideal place to relax and feel free to enjoy the natural beauty of this amazing Koh Samui resort.

At Rocky Resort there are 2 swimming pools, one along the beachfront, one in the upper garden. Both have a large deck area where you can sit and relax, order a poolside snack or cocktail. Their restaurant is perched atop a large granite rock, overlooking the ocean. Dinner is eaten with the sound and sight of the waves rolling on to the beach.

The bright lights, bars and night life of Lamai Beach are less than five minutes drive away, and popular Chaweng Beach with it's colourful array of shops, bars and Chaweng restaurants, is a 15 minute drive. Rocky Resort has three secluded beaches enclosed by large outcrops of granite rocks which form idyllic sheltered coves. The seawater is crystal clear with beautiful corals and tropical fish ideal for snorkeling.

Rocky Resort's Samui accommodation has been individually designed with care and attention to detail. Each room is unique and beautifully decorated with elegance and comfort in mind. Many resorts offer Samui lodging, and few have the standards set by Rocky Resort.

The resort holds several events at Rocky's Restaurant including beach barbecues, cocktail evenings, and Thai celebrations and they have the capability of arranging romantic private dinners in their sala and custom menus. Rocky's Restaurant is one of the best restaurants in Koh Samui.

Definitely a place to enjoy your holiday on a secluded beach yet still not too far away from all the action.

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World Resort, Bophud

World Resort in Bophud,

This resort is a place where I used to work every month of the year for two weeks during the IDC's or PADI Dive Instructor Training, I conduct on Koh Samui, something you can read about on my dive blog. That all stopped in 2010.

Sitting on the palm fringed, white sandy beach of Bophud, World Resort's Thai style bungalows provide comfortable accommodation in a tranquil setting. Bophut beach on the north coast of the island has a well deserved reputation as a quiet, peaceful, relaxing destination-the perfect place to spend a week or a month escaping the care of the world!

World Resort boasts an international restaurant with panoramic views over the Gulf of Thailand, a cocktail bar and sculptured swimming pool complex. Their restaurant I can vouch for, since we have lunch there during the IDC course and the staff at reception and in the restaurant are very nice and helpful.

What I like about the resort is that it is a family run business and they really take care of the place. They continually upgrading the facilities and really take care of everything. The swimming pool has just undergone major renovation and is now in top shape, the restaurant has had a face lift and the rooms are constantly being upgraded.

Did I already mention that they have lovely staff?

Find out more on my Samui-weather blog of what I wrote about World Resort.

World Resort is a place I can definitely recommend and it's also very family friendly, they have connecting rooms, if required and the location is great, in between Bophud and Maenam.

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Chaweng Regent Beach Resort, Chaweng

The Chaweng Regent Beach Resort in Chaweng.

It's one of the more established hotels in Chaweng and fits in the more luxury range of hotels.

It has a great location, almost directly in the center of Chaweng but slightly out of the worst hustle and bustle and pretty much everything is within walking distance.

With its traditional Thai buildings nestling amongst the greenery The Regent boasts currently 145 rooms, divided into Superior and Deluxe rooms in the Bungalows, Superior and Deluxe rooms in the Villa Wing, Deluxe rooms in the Regency Wing and the Garden Wing, as well as the Royal Suites in a Thai style village. Villa and Regency Wings both have 2 floors.

There are also two restaurants, The Chomtalay Restaurant on the beach. Open-air design with roof. (Open from 6:30am to 11pm.) and the Red Snapper Bar & Grill Restaurant : an air conditioned restaurant facing the main Chaweng Road (Open from 05.00 pm to 01.00 am)

Serving Mediterranean, Thai and European cuisine with a wide selection of drinks available.

Live Music with their House band from 09.00 pm to midnight.

It's agreeable setting makes this a good choice if you fancy a medium - upper place along Chaweng beach.

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The White House, Choengmon Beach

The White House on Choengmon Beach

Is a very romantic and nice hotel, located at my favorite beach on Samui, the Choengmon Beach.

Various friends have stayed there over the years and they were always very satisfied with the hotel.

The setting is good and they have a beautiful garden with lots of exotic flowers. The hotel is located directly at the beach in Choengmon Bay.

Their new rates however don't show them to be very child friendly, a child under 12 is charged 400,-Baht per night and a second child under 12 sharing the room (with an extra bed) is charged 1.000,-Baht per night.

The entrance to the White House.

Lovely Choengmon Beach

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