Amari Koh Samui

The thing I regret is not staying longer. Our resort stay exceeded what I expected, and the group of 15 of us already wants to come back. We stayed in both a pool-view suite and a deluxe ocean-view room, visited friends in other parts of the resort, and found a similar level of luxury, comfort, and quiet throughout. We also got handwritten welcome cards, fruit, and sweet messages on the mirrors. The pool-view suites are peaceful. They’re farther from the lobby, beach, and restaurant, but the walk is a nice stroll, and a staff member will often give you a golf-cart ride back. The location gives you options: it’s in Chaweng close to the action but not surrounded by it, so you can have a quiet beach or pool day and then go out for food, drinks, and dancing. The breakfast buffet was incredible, with Thai and Indian sections plus plenty of bacon, eggs, fruit, cereal, pancakes, and just about anything you’d expect at breakfast. Cocktails were lovely too, and happy hour happens at different times at the different pools. The staff made a huge effort to get to know us and make our trip more enjoyable. Nanathawan was wonderfully patient with our large group through more than 100 emails, always accommodating us and suggesting ways to improve the stay. Penn welcomed us warmly at breakfast, learned my coffee order, and seemed to appear whenever one of us wanted a cocktail. Maysa expertly served our beachside banquet and stopped to chat like a friend wherever we ran into her. The banquet was incredible, complete with fire twirlers. Zeed made sure we didn’t have to lift a finger by the pool, kept us relaxed with fresh towels, and brought funny banter. Everyone we saw made an effort to smile or say hello, whatever their role. My friends happened to meet the General Manager and said he was lovely too.

Dining was a real highlight. Prego is considered one of the island’s best Italian restaurants, with authentic flavors, excellent pasta, and a lively feel. Amaya Café serves food throughout the day and has an impressive international spread, including strong Indian and vegetarian choices. The private beach is the star for me, arguably the best stretch of sand in the Chaweng area. The sand is powdery, the water clear and calm, and the shore feels exclusive and well cared for. Sunbeds and beach seating are great for long, lazy afternoons, and the beachfront bar makes sunset a daily treat. Amari Koh Samui also puts you right in the heart of Chaweng Beach, with restaurants, nightlife, and shopping close by. The open, airy lobby gets lots of daylight and greets you with a wide ocean view, an instant holiday feeling. It’s a memorable mix of location, beach, food, and atmosphere.

The lobby staff and bellboy were excellent, friendly, welcoming, and helpful. At the pool, service was less proactive: we didn’t see staff circulating to offer help, though if we found someone and asked, we got what we needed. The hotel is at the end of Chaweng Beach, which is quieter than the center but only a two to three minute walk from the main restaurants, shops, and nightlife. It’s a good balance of convenience and calm. The room was comfortable and fine overall, perhaps a little small. My daughter felt as if she were sleeping in a storage room, though I’m not sure exactly why she felt that way. All in all, we had a good stay and the hotel is in a very good location.

It’s a great place if you have kids, and the location is very convenient, close to everything. The breakfast buffet was good, and the staff were helpful and kind. They surprised my partner with a cake for his birthday, and we were really grateful. The hotel is a bit old, though, and the room I stayed in had a damp smell that wouldn’t go away.