First Bungalow Beach Resort, Chaweng

First Bungalow Beach Resort, Chaweng

Is located as the only place in Chaweng at the connecting point of Chaweng Beach and Chaweng Noi Beach at the Southern end of Chaweng beach. Although this is not entirely true, since Samui First House shares the same premises making it another unique experience, two hotels sharing the same premises run by the same family.

This is another place I used to work at during as part of my ongoing dive adventures on Koh Samui and I conducted some PADI IDC's here for a short while.

Right now an old friend from the Netherlands is visiting me on Samui and he's staying at the First Bungalow resort. They enjoy it although they also have a commonly heard problem with the hotel, which is that the mattresses are very hard! Other than that, they enjoy their stay very much and the premises are really nice.

The resort was the one of the very first resorts in Chaweng, hence the name and has been around since the 1970's.

It provides 147 tastefully-designed rooms, fully equipped with air conditioner, hot and cold water bathroom, cable TV, minibar and IDD telephone. 42 beach bungalows, 14 Sea View bungalows, 11 deluxe Bungalows and 80 Deluxe rooms. The resort also boosts a very nice and big pool and the beach is wide and big with plenty of space.

This all comes in a very reasonable price range and is recommendable.

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The big and spacious pool, surrounded by green and buildings

Deluxe Bungalows

Chaweng Noi beach

Pool side bungalow room

First room

Ark Bar Garden Beach Resort, Chaweng

Ark Bar Garden Beach Resort, Chaweng

The place to be if you want to be close to the action and have a good party atmosphere. Mainly frequented by a younger crowd the Ark Bar is centrally located in the middle of Chaweng beach road.

The resort has a small pool and a restaurant that is the middle point of a lot of Chaweng action each night, it's a great place to start an evening out and the place is always hustling and bustling with activity.

There are 50 rooms pretty much facing each other over two floors on the way down to the beach. Don't stay here if you want to enjoy a quiet night, this is where Chaweng is happening. Prices are under 2.000,-THB at the moment per night.

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The entrance almost 4 years ago

Guest room

At night this turns into a cosey all floor seating open air happening

The pool

The bar and restaurant at night

The Library Hotel, Chaweng

The Library Hotel, Chaweng

This is probably the most stylish and hippest hotel currently in Chaweng. It's modern and minimalist concept is fascinating and wonderful at the same time and the impact on the ecology is minimal. There's some real thought put into the design of the Library and the project was inspired by the basic way of life of the hotel's belief that 'the real happiness is not complicated at all'.

One of the things the Library is known for is it's 'red swimming pool' with a great view of Chaweng beach.

The 26 suite/studio cabins that comprise the Library are spread across an area of lush vegetation. Each cabin comprises of a ground floor suit and a sea view cabin upstairs. The minimalist style of each cabin is made complete with a personal computer, plasma screen TV, a walk in rain shower and a Jacuzzi. It's luxury for sure and it also comes with a nice price tag. It's definitely upscale.

Highlight of the project is 'The Library Building' located by the beach and is named after the projects title. The white building with high huge ceiling equipped with glass window pane all around will enrich purity, serenity and peace.

The Library Building consists of three box-style units adjoining together where the middle box is an open-air serving as mini-cafe.

The other two boxes are the huge Library for not only books but also other entertainment media such as music CD and DVD.

There's also an excellent restaurant at the premises, The Page, a lovely beach front restaurant with an aircon room and open air space located at the beach.

If you enjoy a great modern, minimalist concept and you have the means to afford it, this an absolute must straight in the middle of Chaweng and all it has to offer.

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The hotel entrance

The Studio

The Suite

Restaurant The Page

The Red swimming pool

Buddy Boutique Hotel, Lamai

Buddy Boutique Hotel, Lamai

The Buddy hotel and surrounding complex are brand new, probably not much older than a year right now and it looks good. A few things to keep in mind though, there are no rooms on the beach and the Buddy complex is a few minutes away from Lamai 'downtown', not necessarily walking distance.

Buddy complex, including the hotel are located at the other side of the road from the beach, if you want to visit Lamai beach, you have to cross the ring road.

Having said that, due to the blending colonial-style architecture with modern comfort, Buddy Lamai Beach Hotel is an attractive new addition to the Koh Samui hotel scene. This boutique hotel promises intimate service and utmost privacy. All rooms have their own balconies and are tastefully decorated with contemporary Thai accents, while amenities include cable TVs, internet access and luxurious bathroom toiletries and breakfast is served daily.

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Superior room

Junior Suite

Swimming pool at night

Beach front

Exterior

Lamai Wanta Resort, Lamai

Lamai Wanta Resort, Lamai

One of the nice things about the Lamai Wanta resort is that it's smack down in the middle of Lamai downtown directly located at the ocean. All the action, bars, restaurants, banks, shops etc are within an easy walking distance on Lamai Beach road.

Each of the 74 rooms, divided over 10 bungalows and 7 small hotel buildings at this 3-star hotel have all the comforts and conveniences of home. Every room in the hotel offers guests Non Smoking Rooms, Air Conditioning, Desk, Hair Dryer, Internet Access (wireless). Guests will enjoy the hotel's excellent facilities and services including Laundry Service/Dry Cleaning, Restaurant, Room Service, Safety Deposit Boxes, Hotel/Airport Transfer, Tours. The hotel provides superior recreational and leisure facilities including Massage, Pool Outdoor, Garden. Comfort and convenience are the hallmarks of Lamai Wanta Resort.

The pool is rather small and there are a limited of sun deck chairs but all in all the hotel delivers the goods just fine or maybe even above that for a 3 star standard, budget hotel.

The breakfast is not buffet style but a set American breakfast, all add ons are extra.

All in all good value for money with an excellent location.

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Deluxe room

Deluxe room exterior

Bungalow

Swimming pool

Restaurant with view over the swimming pool and beach

Kandaburi Resort & Spa, Chaweng

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.

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The hotel interior on the hill side

Superior hill side room

Premium room

Beach side pool and view

Beach front

Six Senses Hideaway Samui, Plai Laem

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.

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Six Senses Hideaway Pool Villa

Six Senses Hideaway Pool Villa suite

Six Senses Hideaway Pool Villa sea view

Six Senses Hideaway dining and pool

Six Senses Hideaway Villa