Category: Koh Samui

The latest addition to the buzzing Chaweng Beach, the newly opened Avani Chaweng Samui Hotel & Beach Club brings the glamorous, freewheeling spirit of the 1950s Palm Beach and Miami to Koh Samui’s powdery white sand. An unconventional hideaway that blends unbridled socialising with serenity-inducing pursuits, Avani Chaweng Samui Hotel invites you to swan dive into the sights, bites and sounds of the island as they hit the party circuit.

Sitting mere metres away from the sumptuous stretch of silky white sand, the retro glam spot offers access to the best sunsets, dining, entertainment and people-watching on the island. SEEN Beach Club Samui, the hard-hitting party central next door, throws epic pool parties with top DJs and world-class entertainment on tap. The resort’s social swimming pool feels like a hopping bar, with snug cabanas and a mixology station that moonlights as a check-in area for folks who just want to get on with it.

Avani Chaweng Samui Hotel – Va-va-rooms

Samui’s only mid-century modern-inspired beach destination, Avani Chaweng adds a Mad Men vibe to public spaces and its 80 chic rooms and suites. Conceptualised by SOHO Hospitality, the property’s clean lines and organic shapes are infused with a dose of 1950s nostalgia to create sultry spaces where you want to entertain and be entertained in.

With names such as Cool Pool View, Sweet Sea Breeze and Fabulous Sea View the rooms deliver what they promise — picture-perfect views from spacious balconies, modern comforts and interiors that make you want to dress up and head somewhere fabulous. On the ground floor, Funky Poolside rooms with terraces that open onto the courtyard pool take the resort’s social concept to the next level.

At 61 sqm and 90 sqm, Groovy Sea View Suite and Double Groovy Sea View Suite are where pre-parties take place. With costumes, wigs and other good time essentials on loan and vinyl record player and cocktail-making station at their disposal, you can throw a party as big as their poolside networking skills allow. At Avani Chaweng, suite guests can even call on their private DJ to spin the decks and a paparazzi-for-hire to ensure no moment of revelry goes undocumented.

Avani Chaweng Samui Hotel – Party fuel

From dusk till dawn and all night long, Avani Chaweng’s dining venues offer substantial sustenance, snacks and tasty tipples. Start with a decadent bubbly breakfast or a wholesome lunch of Mediterranean, Asian and American flavours at SEEN Beach Club, then decamp to the 24-hour Social Bar where late-night comfort foods and summery cocktails will keep you company as you catch up on emails or relax to sweet jukebox tunes.

Outdoor leisure and fun-in-the-sun activities, meanwhile, range from pool parties, diving and sail into the sunset SEEN style on a magnificent catamaran for an afternoon of sun-kissed fun on the water.  Gym bunnies are well served at AvaniFit, a dynamic, 24-hour facility that aims to challenge fitness enthusiasts with a combination of endurance and resistance training, aerobics and high-intensity interval training, and personal trainers on demand. Other wellness and leisure pursuits include SUP yoga, ice breathing and ice bathing on the beach, and portrait sessions with a resident artist to capture your enviable Avani glow.

For more information or to make a reservation, visit www.avanihotels.com/en/chaweng-samui or contact Avani Chaweng Samui Hotel & Beach Club on telephone +66 77 956 800 or email chaweng@avanihotels.com.

Suralai Koh Samui, a luxury 6-bedroom villa on the idyllic Thai island has undergone extensive renovation during the pandemic to retain its reputation as one of the island’s premier private villas.  Suralai is also part of the Elite Havens – Asia’s most prestigious private villa rental collection. Suralai is SHA-approved [Safety and Health Administration] and meets government safety measures with a fully vaccinated staff and hygiene protocols in place.

Suralai Upgraded with a Fresh New Look

This stunning hilltop sanctuary combining distinctive Thai-inspired architectural features and a cool contemporary look, offers six spacious ensuite bedrooms and suites comfortably accommodating up to 12 guests in complete privacy.  Each has a covered terrace or balcony overlooking the pool and panoramic view of the sea and Koh Phangan (Full Moon Island) in the near distance.

Recent renovations have seen all rooms refurbished with cool grey ceramic floors, new louvred blinds and drapes, as well as stylish new soft furnishing accents in rich Jim Thompson silk fabrics. Enhancing the vast living and dining pavilion, new outdoor furniture has been added to the wide wrap-around terrace, and the open show kitchen and long island bar upgraded for a sharper and fresh new look.

At the poolside, comfortable, new loungers overlook the pool and view, and at one end, a Thai-style sala with wide, inviting daybeds has been refurbished to provide a truly special place to escape the sun and enjoy a book, a massage or pampering beauty treatment, or to gather for a casual poolside buffet lunch.

Unforgettable Holidays and Weddings

Suralai is a perfect fit for families and groups of friends, large and small, looking for a private vacation together, or for birthdays, weddings and other special celebrations for 80 or more guests.  Professional wedding and party planners continue to create magic at this beautiful location with pool-side wedding pavilions and lavish decorations with flowers, lighting and even fireworks.

At Suralai, a highly experienced villa manager is there to organize a one-of-a-kind holiday for guests. The day might begin with private yoga or a fun aqua-aerobics class in the pool, or a work-out at the villa’s private gym.  After that, it’s a time to relax and connect over breakfast on the terrace, where your private chef is waiting to prepare whatever takes your fancy fresh from the kitchen.

If you want to stay close to home, spa lovers will relish the prospect of a morning or afternoon spent in the cool and peaceful sala, enjoying a massage or pampering beauty treatment from top-class Thai therapists.

Meal times at Suralai are anything but ordinary – a light and delicious Thai or Western-style lunch can be served buffet-style in the shade of the poolside sala, and in the evening, the chef and his team will create a deliciously authentic Thai dinner, your preferred Western-style cuisine or a fun and casual barbecue.

If you prefer to venture out from the villa for a day at the beach or to explore some of what this beautiful tropical island has to offer, the villa manager Khun Tee will arrange it.  Consider hiring a private sailing catamaran or speed boat to picnic, swim and snorkel at many stunning islands around Samui, perhaps a visit to one of Samui’s renowned elephant sanctuaries ‘Elephant Haven’  – just 5 minutes’ walk from the villa, or enjoy a private tour of Samui’s numerous cultural and natural highlights.

Although it’s unlikely you’ll want to leave this hilltop eyrie, Samui’s vibrant tourism scene is literally 15 minutes away. Fisherman’s Village and its vibrant Friday-night street market are a must-see, as are its many cool restaurants and chic fashion boutiques.  Meanwhile, the palm-fringed sandy beaches of Bophut, Big Buddha and Chaweng with their stylish resorts, fashionable new beach clubs, and numerous bars and restaurants are similarly less than 15 minutes drive from the villa.

Booking & Rates

Starting from USD1,000 per night for the low season.  Visit Elite Havens for real-time availability.

The moon plays an integral role in Thai culture, with each phase of the lunar cycle holding a deep historical and spiritual significance. The presence of a full moon, half moon or dark moon can dictate the timing of festivals, the schedule of planting and harvesting, and even the most auspicious dates in a person’s life. More recently, they have provided the backdrop to the legendary full, half or dark moon beach parties of Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. Sala Samui Chaweng Beach Resort invites you to explore the dark side of the moon on your next holiday.

Sala Samui Chaweng Beach Resort – Channel The Energy Of Moons

At SALA Samui Chaweng Beach Resort, the luxury boutique beach resort on Koh Samui, the moon is also now helping to create many of life’s most magical moments. The resort is divided into two distinct parts – the Oceanfront/Beach Wing and Garden Wing – each of which has been exquisitely designed to reflect the changing phases of the moon.

SALA Samui Chaweng Beach Resort allows you to channel the energy of the full, half or dark moons through their choice of accommodation. This innovative design shifts from the openness and high energy of the full moon, through smaller half moon spaces, and into the more intense shades of the dark moon.

Sala Samui Chaweng Beach Resort – New Half & Dark Moon Concepts

Scheduled to open in April 2019, the brand new Garden Wing is intricately guided by the half moon and dark moon concepts. These areas feel cosy and private, with the ambience enhanced by trees and plants, creating a sense of deep natural tranquillity.

This family-friendly wing will feature 82 rooms, pool villas and pool suites, ranging from 45 to 181 square metres in size and all elegantly designed to reflect the lunar concept. You will have access to state-of-the-art IPTV and audio systems, coffee machines, mini-bars and full-size daybeds, and more than half of the units will feature a private pool.

The Garden Wing will also contain an array of additional amenities, including the tree house restaurant + bar, a 25-metre swimming pool, the Garden Pool Bar, SALA Gym and SALA Spa with six private treatment rooms all able to cater for couples, steam rooms, showers and changing rooms with lockers. Reflecting its family focus, the Garden Wing will also feature a children’s pool and SALA’s first kids’ club, providing young children with indoor and outdoor play areas and a full schedule of fun activities.

Sala Samui Chaweng Beach Resort – Experience Energy Of Full Moon

This enchanting new area will complement the existing Oceanfront/Beach Wing, which is designed to reflect the energy of a full moon. Here, the circular shape of the full moon is incorporated into various design elements, from the façade to the aptly named Moon Pool. Inside the rooms, circular lighting fixtures and outdoor bathtubs were inspired by the full moon, which curved interior archways, creating a relaxing and organic sense of space.

“The Garden Wing will complete our resort, not only in terms of its rooms and facilities but through the story of its design. Just as the moon moves through cycles, SALA Samui Chaweng Beach Resort will allow guests to journey through a series of spaces which are designed to reflect the different characteristics of the full, half and dark moons. Charming, intimate and atmospheric, our new Garden Wing will provide the perfect contrast to the bright and spacious vibe of the Oceanfront/Beach Wing,” said Erwin van der Veen, General Manager, SALA Samui Chaweng Beach Resort.

Sala Samui Chaweng Beach Resort – Get Your Pre-Opening Offer Now

Whichever side of the moon you find most alluring, SALA Samui Chaweng Beach Resort offers the opportunity to experience these luxurious lunar concepts in style.

If you are keen to feel the energy of the half and dark moon can book a pre-opening offer for a three-night stay in a Garden Balcony Room or Garden Pool Villa and enjoy THB3,000 of resort credit to further enhance their stay. Alternatively, folks booking a minimum of five nights in the Garden Wing rooms will receive a generous THB5,000 of resort credit.

For more information, please email info@salahospitality.com or visit www.salahospitality.com. 

The cosmopolitan island, Koh Samui, attracts an array of visitors with its white sand beaches and fisherman’s village. It’s one of Thailand’s most unique islands and boasts with sightseeing, activities, and delicious recipes that everyone must try in their lifetime. You’ll find some of the best authentic Thai food in Koh Samui. To really enjoy your time in Koh Samui, your next trip should not only include the must-see attractions, but also the must-eat dishes. To get the most out of your next journey, here’s what to eat in Koh Samui:

Breakfast

While there isn’t a signature breakfast dish in Thailand, you must try their pathongko with milk or porridge. These donuts are twisted or rolled into balls and deep-fried before being served in the morning with porridge or soymilk. You can find them being sold many places in the early hours. If you’re not big on Thai breakfast, this great island is like one giant mixing pot with an array of choices. You’ll find a Full-English breakfast being served on the beach and coffee in the fisherman’s village.

Brunch

The meal between breakfast and lunch has more options than the first meal of the day. You can find yourself eating shrimp, mini-burgers, and even sweets. If you’ve been before then you probably already know Sunday brunch in Koh Samui can best be spent at the beach club. Let’s take a look at Sunday Brunch at the Beach Republic, you’re not only going to try one thing for your brunch, you’re going to get a rotating menu of authentic Thai dishes, seafood, vegetarian, and dairy and gluten-free options. Kids are welcome for half the price, so you can bring your family too. It’s a Thai brunch that excites your taste buds and entertains your mind.

Lunch

There are countless options for scrumptious meals to try before leaving the island. Between lunch and dinner, it can be hard to decide what to indulge yourself on next. From stir-fries to noodle soups, to spicy salads, you cannot leave without trying as many different things as possible. One of the most popular options being Khao Pad. It’s a fried rice with meats like seafood, beef, chicken, and pork. Another perfect choice is Kao Niew Ma Muang. Made up of sticky rice and mango slices, it’s a sweet dessert that can be enjoyed any time of day.

Dinner

So many choices, so little time. One of the best meals in Thailand is Laab (spicy salad). This Northeastern style salad is made with mushroom or meat and mint. It has a spicy kick that leaves you craving more. However, if you can’t handle spice, it may be best to stick to something like Kai Med Mu Muang. It’s a sweet stir-fried dish that consists of ingredients like chicken, soy sauce, cashews, honey, chilis, and vegetables. Both tourists and locals agree that this dish is one of the best food in Koh Samui.

Eating in Koh Samui can be a tasty and unique experience. You’re likely to spend your mornings eating Thai-style donuts on the pristine beaches, and nights enjoying a spicy or sweet dish with a jungle view. Thailand is a place filled with adventure, appetizing meals, and mesmerizing scenery. It caters to both, budget and luxurious, travellers meaning it’s an opportunity to try something authentic and rare. Your next trip to this melting pot of an island should include the must-see and the must-eats!

Always wish you and your spouse can have some private time off to chill and relax while on a family vacation? Santiburi Koh Samui, the leading luxury villa and suite resort on the island’s idyllic North Shore may be just what you are looking for! You get to enjoy Santiburi Koh Samui Parents Night Off every Thursday from 6pm to 10pm, trained and experienced “fun-buddies” at the Kids’ Activity Centre are available to look after groups of little ones so that both Mummy and Daddy can enjoy some much needed, well-deserved downtime.

“Our Parents’ Night Off gives adults with kids four hours of complete freedom that’s perfect for unwinding with a spa treatment, enjoying a romantic dinner for two, or simply sipping a signature cocktail together at sunset before heading back to the room to watch a movie,” explains Sabine G. Lamberts, General Manager at Santiburi Koh Samui. “We understand that parents need some alone time together, but we want to make Parents’ Night Off great fun for kids too,” she added.

Santiburi Koh Samui Parents Night Off – How It Works

Youngsters aged four and upwards are checked into the Kids’ Activity Centre at 6pm for fun games with their playmates, before ordering some appetising dishes from the kids’ menu and eating together. After dinner, movie night starts at 8pm, with a choice of family-friendly films to enjoy before the sleepy kids are picked up by their relaxed parents.

Santiburi Koh Samui Parents Night Off – What Can Parents Do?

As the sun goes down, with the kids happy and entertained, parents can choose to relax into the luxury of a spa session with a choice of contemporary treatments and ancient therapies on offer at Santiburi Spa. The beautifully decorated sanctuary offers indoor baths and outdoor soaking tubs, as well as a real Turkish massage table and invigorating Vichy shower.

Mums and Dads with a healthy appetite can enjoy the romantic serenity of oceanfront dining at The Beach House, indulging in surf-and-turf culinary delights served right by the champagne sands. For a more authentic dining experience, they can eat at Sala Thai, discovering exquisite Thai cuisine in a relaxed heritage-inspired setting with delectable flavours delivered through the classic sharing menus.

Santiburi Koh Samui Parents Night Off – A Resort For The Whole Family

Relaxing at a beach resort that welcomes the whole family is an increasingly popular choice for multigenerational visitors to Thailand. At Santiburi Koh Samui, the gentle blue waters and simple beauty and peaceful tranquillity of the island’s North Shore enhance every moment spent together, and apart.

Parents’ Night Off is a complimentary service offered to all Santiburi Koh Samui guests. Kids’ meals, parents’ dinners, and spa treatments enjoyed during the evening can all be charged directly to the room.

SALA Samui Chaweng Beach Resort has unveiled its Oceanfront 2br Presidential Pool Villa, a 286 square metre (sqm) private beachfront masterpiece that’s available for exclusive guest stays, intimate weddings or special celebrations. The new luxury resort’s highest room category also features a 52 sqm private pool, steps from the sandy shores of north Chaweng beach, making it one of the largest private pools on offer within a resort on Koh Samui.

The infinity pool at the Oceanfront 2br Presidential Pool Villa runs the entire width of the 13.5-metre beach frontage and is framed by a 114 sqm wooden pool deck, shaded by two ancient banyan trees that keep the extensive outdoor lounge and al fresco dining areas naturally cool.

Full-length glass windows along the front of the villa can be drawn open to blur the distinction between outdoor and indoor living spaces. Curved archways subtly define the interior spaces, and draw references to the curvature of the full moon, a lunar muse that inspired many of the design elements applied around the resort. To follow this overall design thread, the designers handpicked all the lamps, sofa seats, bathtubs, and other decorative items.

A few steps up into the inner sanctum of the villa are two bright and airy bedrooms, each measuring a generous 25 sqm and featuring king-sized beds, walk-in wardrobe areas, and bathrooms with freestanding circular statement bathtubs.

The expansive 30 sqm master bathroom also comes with outdoor shower and bathtub options allowing guests to stay that much closer to the blue skies and sea breezes. As part of the SALA Signature Selections, guests can choose from a variety of scents for bath soaps, shampoos, conditioners, body lotions and pillow types to fine-tune their bespoke experience.

The open design and stunning setting of the Oceanfront 2br Presidential Pool Villa lend itself perfectly to intimate weddings and exclusive gatherings for up to 25 guests. Private events are fully catered by the resort, whether it’s a poolside BBQ birthday celebration in the afternoon or a sunset wedding cocktail reception and party on the expansive deck. To ensure ample time for event setup, the villa must be booked as part of the event reservation for a maximum of six overnight guests following the event. A dedicated event supervisor will work with guests to ensure every single detail of the function comes to life as desired.

The Oceanfront 2br Presidential Pool Villa is part of the phase one launch of SALA Samui Chaweng Beach Resort. The Oceanfront Wing comprises 52 pool villas and pool suites sized between 74 sqm and 304 sqm, featuring private pools between 18 sqm and 52 sqm in size. Just in time for summer, a beach bar will open at the resort in July to complement THE TENT Beachfront Restaurant.

The second phase of SALA Samui Chaweng Beach will be completed in 2019 and will comprise 83 rooms, pool villas and pool suites, as well as the SALA Spa and SALA Gym, a garden oasis swimming pool with inviting Garden Pool Bar, plus an open-air show kitchen with an exciting roadside restaurant and bar concept.

Rates for the Oceanfront 2br Presidential Pool Villa at SALA Chaweng Beach Resort start at THB 28,000 net (GBP 650 / AUD 1,165) per night. For more information, email info@salahospitality.com or visit www.salahospitality.com

Santiburi Koh Samui, the elegant luxury retreat and leisure resort on Koh Samui’s pristine north shore, is ushering in a new era of refined private living with the launch of its latest Grand Reserve Pool Villas.  The 19 Grand Reserve Pool Villas are the newest addition to the top-level room categories at Santiburi Koh Samui, joining the Grand Deluxe Pool Villas and Deluxe Beachfront Villas to extend the resort’s premium accommodation choices. The new additions create a “luxury resort within a resort”, offering couples or families the highest possible standards of bespoke comfort. 

“Our new Grand Reserve Pool Villas offer beautiful, self-contained accommodation that elevates the standard of luxury living on offer and provides guests with exclusive services in spectacular surroundings,” commented Sabine G. Lamberts, General Manager of Santiburi Koh Samui. “We look forward to welcoming guests to these stunning pool villas and raising the bar for personalised private vacation experiences in one of the world’s most beautiful island locations.”  

Nestled within their own walled tropical gardens, each Grand Reserve Pool Villa covers an expansive 250 square metres and is blessed with a private pool, contemporary interior design, custom lighting schemes and plush designer furnishings.

The large master bedroom comes fitted with an ultra-comfortable bed, pillow menu and sound-proofing for the most peaceful night’s sleep. The bedroom opens directly onto the spacious outdoor deck and turquoise pool

You also get to enjoy a generous en-suite bathroom with standalone tub and powerful rain shower. Other guest amenities include a modern coffee machine, large TVs and complimentary Wi-Fi.

While they are an integral part of Santiburi Koh Samui, the Grand Reserve Pool Villas also provide you with an exclusive private vacation experience thanks to the resort’s “Reserve Host” service. This includes in-villa check-in/out, private spa treatments, concierge services and complimentary pre-selected mini-bar items.

Under the Reserve Dining concept, you are also offered a choice of exclusive meal options such as a floating pool brunch, special Thai dishes served in the villa, family garden barbecues and more. A curated in-villa cocktail menu and wine list is also available for you to select the perfect drinks to pair with their in-villa meals.

The Grand Reserve Pool Villas are an ideal choice for extended holidays and Santiburi Koh Samui offers a number of additional benefits to guest who stay for 10 consecutive nights or longer, such as special rates for spa treatments, reduced green fees at Santiburi Samui Country Club 18-hole championship golf course and a complimentary Royal Thai meal at Santiburi’s exquisite Sala Thai restaurant.

Set within a garden oasis and framed by azure seas and soft white sands, Santiburi Koh Samui is a genuine tropical paradise. The resort features an array of leisure options, including a 50-metre free-form swimming pool, sports centre, luxurious spa, kid’s activity centre and eco-friendly water sports.

For more information, or to book your stay in a Grand Reserve Pool Villa, please email rsvn@santiburisamui.com, or visit www.santiburisamui.com