The Living Pool Villas

I loved my month at this villa in Thailand. The atmosphere is relaxed and peaceful, and the complex often felt like we had it to ourselves, even in shared areas. WiFi was strong throughout, so working remotely was easy, and Netflix in the bungalow was nice for evenings. Our bungalow had a private pool, just the right size for relaxing. There’s also a shared full-length pool for a proper swim. Both were clean and well kept. The garden around the bungalow felt spacious, private, and secure, and we were comfortable leaving things outside. The groundsman and maids were fantastic, friendly, and efficient. Any small issues were quickly sorted out. The staff were incredibly friendly. We managed the language barrier with Google Translate or by speaking to Kittabrun, who speaks excellent English and was always happy to help. I’d read comments about insects, but we had no real trouble. In four weeks we saw just two indoors and a few mosquitoes early on. Keep the doors shut and you’ll be fine. It’s about a 10-minute drive or 30-minute walk to Chaweng Beach. Scooters are cheap and easy to rent, and Grab taxis, like Uber, are available if you don’t want one. Local tuktuks from the main road can get you to most places for about 100 baht per person, a bargain. The cats on the property became part of the stay, and they’re no trouble unless you decide to feed them. For the price, this villa is excellent value compared with similar places on the island. I’m already looking forward to coming back next year.

Samui has become expensive, but Living Pool Villa feels cosy and easygoing, a relaxing place to stay. We were in Villa2 and it felt like staying at a friend’s home. The room is huge, surrounded by lovely trees, with room to cook, eat, or just hang out during the day. It’s close to 7-11, which is really convenient. Krittibun, the owner, and his team were proactive and took great care of us.

I found the place eerily empty, like a ghost town, and felt so uncomfortable that I decided not to stay. I cancelled because I believe the property was misrepresented online, but they never returned my money. There are plenty of nice hotels nearby for even less, so read the reviews and decide for yourself. This was an absolutely terrible experience. They’ve changed their name on Google and say the negative reviews were from “before renovation,” which seems to hide them. I strongly recommend checking the reviews under the original listing to get a more accurate idea of what staying here might be like. I wish I’d read all the bad reviews before booking. They showed no interest in looking after guests or doing the right thing.

The people were lovely, the room was clean, and the price was very affordable. The Living Pool Villas is a real hidden gem around town. If you’re visiting Koh Samui and don’t want to spend a fortune on a hotel room, I’d recommend it.