Camille's Samui Hotel recommendations: May 2009

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Kandaburi Resort & Spa, Chaweng

The four-star Kandaburi resort & Spa is located at the Northern end of Chaweng, just outside the hustle and bustle of the busy Chaweng beach and street scenes and life but still comfortably near enough. It's about a 15 to 20 minute walk to Chaweng and the beach in front of the hotel is great.

The hotel has actually two parts and is separated by the main beach road. Both parts have their own swimming pool, the side at the beach has a separate children's pool and there's a big 23 meter long pool on the hill side, overlooking the breakfast area.

The Kandaburi resort & Spa offers 183 rooms designed in an exotic yet modern style. You can enjoy Thai, Mediterranean and International cuisine at the four dining options available on the premises. It's possible to spend the day lounging by the poolside, or if you feel adventurous partake in the various water sports available.

The location is good and it's a fairly new resort with medium priced rooms.

For an enjoyable and quiet stay in Chaweng, I can highly recommend the Kandaburi Resort.

Booking by Hotels Combined

Booking by Agoda

Booking by R24

The hotel interior on the hill side

Superior hill side room

Premium room

Beach side pool and view

Beach front

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Six Senses Hideaway Samui, Plai Laem

This amazing resort ranks easily amongst one of the more luxury resorts on the island.

It's located on the most northern point of the peninsula at Plai Laem and every day when we return from a days diving, this resort one of the first things we see when reaching Samui.

Part of the world renowned Six Senses group, the Sila Evason hotel offers no compromise in creating refined tranquility on a tropical island setting. Set amongst 20 acres of tropical and untouched plantation with incredible views of the surrounding beach and islands. The world renowned spa offers an array of sensory pleasures to please even the most discerning of spa goers. Putting an emphasis on space, villas feature open plan bathrooms and infinity pools adding to the feeling of being in a secluded paradise. Guests are just 6km from the airport with easy access to the islands exuberant nightlife and popular sightseeing attractions such as of Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan. After a day soaking up the sun, feel free to retreat to your villa’s private pool and be met by your personal butler serving up a chilled drink.

Although dining is very good at the Six Senses Hideaway, it seems that all reviews of the resort consider it well overpriced and recommend renting a car and eat in the near by restaurants of Bophud (aka Fishermans Village) or other villages on Koh Samui.

Dining on the Hill:

The main restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and is located on the top of a small hill, offering seascape views to the north of Samui Island. The restaurant theme varies from very casual and laid back through to stylish. The concept offers several dining areas varying in atmosphere, from which guests can choose according to their desires - from seated on the floor (Thai Style!) with big comfortable cushions, or the more traditional table top dining.

Dining on the Rocks;

Open for dinner and located on the tip of the headland, this restaurant offers 270 degree views of the surrounding sea and outlying islands. When the sun goes down the restaurant undergoes a metamorphosis with both a change of colour and style and recreates itself into a stylish fine dining environment.

Drinks on the Hill & On the Rocks There are two elegantly designed bars attached to the two restaurants.

Wines on the Hill;

A specially designed wine cellar with a large range of wines from many of the world’s most respected regions. Regular wine tastings and wine dinners are held in the cellar.

Six Senses Hideaway is a fantastic experience, not to be missed but it comes with a price tag and is on the high end scale for rates.

Booking by Hotels Combined

Booking by Agoda