Maryoo Samui Hotel

The receptionist was nice enough, but refused to do anything and told me it might be better to leave. My room was a little old but decent, and then I noticed the toilet seat. I could tell it had been through a lot, so I stopped and said a prayer, hoping God would ease its suffering and give it a new life. I wiped it respectfully, with no intention of offending it, but I think it cursed me anyway. The signs were hard to miss: Air Force troops sent by the toilet seat, sudden changes in shower temperature, and WiFi trouble that made it difficult to contact my family. It also seemed to summon dust from outside. My feet were dirty just 10 minutes after I checked in, even though I’m sure the floor had just been mopped because it was still wet when I stepped in. I promised the toilet seat I wouldn’t hurt it again during my stay, so I used the toilets in reception and the restaurant instead. Those seats looked much happier, clean and shining, ready to welcome me. I’m truly sorry for the toilet seat in my room, and hope it finds peace and recovers soon. Still, this is absolutely one of the most impressive hotels I’ve ever stayed at.

I left early because my room was full of what looked like moths. The front desk said to switch off the light and they’d leave, but I’m not sure how they got in with the doors and windows shut. After sleeping in the bed, I had hives all over my feet. The shower pressure was poor, and the hot water barely worked.

The food is delicious, and the staff are friendly and nice. Rooms are large and pleasant, though quite old but clean. Location is the one small drawback, but with a scooter it’s only a 5 to 10 min drive to Chaweng beach, Cheongmon beach, and Fishermen village.

I booked last minute, when this was almost my only option, and the price is the reason I’m giving it 3 stars instead of 2. The staff were always nice, though I only saw anyone at check-in. Getting around means having a motorbike, since it’s far even from the nearby beach entrance. The room was dated, with scuffs and water marks from the aircon. Humidity seemed to be making the furniture fall apart, and there was almost nothing in the kitchen.