Koh Samui is Thailand’s second largest island. Less famous than its big sister Phuket on the Andaman side of Thailand, Samui is at the southern end of the Gulf of Thailand, a short flight from Bangkok. The island has its own character, a little more quiet and natural. Samui is big enough to offer a variety of pleasures, from shopping, dining and entertainment in town, to pristine beaches and a verdant interior with temples and waterfalls. It’s small enough that nothing is more than an hour from the airport.
Samui is an ideal destination for families, romantic couples, and lovers of spa or yoga. It also offers superb offshore diving, a marine national park, and other discoveries for travellers seeking adventure. Food options range from simple and informal to fine dining, including both Thai and international cuisine. Of course, you’ll find plenty of fresh seafood.
What to do
Samui’s beaches are so lovely you may want to just relax and soak up the atmosphere in the morning, then retire to the spa when the sun gets hot. But a trip to the island’s interior is easy, and will reveal beautiful temples and waterfalls tucked away in the lush jungle. For shopping and nightlife, the area around Chaweng Beach is most lively. The fisherman’s village of Bo Phut is a great place to stroll the night market, enjoy food and local atmosphere. Don’t forget to sample the island’s coconut, which many consider the best in Thailand.
For stunning scenery, pack a picnic lunch and book a boat tour to Ang Thong Marine National Park. Its jagged islands, limestone cliffs, and hidden lagoons may be the highlight of your Samui visit.
Where to stay
Centara offers four hotels on Samui and they couldn’t be more different. Find out which one is the best match for your ideal resort experience.
CENTARA GRAND BEACH RESORT SAMUI
CLASSIC ELEGANCE
This is a colonial-style, white and terracotta-tiled resort on the widest point of Samui’s most popular stretch of coastline, Chaweng Beach. Its landscaped pools and location next to shopping and nightlife make it ideal for a holiday mixing active fun and luxurious relaxation.
Four swimming pools with a children’s pool provide plenty of options. So do six restaurants and bars, including the popular beachside dining venue, COAST Beach Club & Bistro. A variety of leisure facilities and activities appeal to both adults and children, including the award-winning SPA Cenvaree, the fitness centre, a supervised Kids’ Club, and tennis courts.
CENTARA VILLAS SAMUI
ROMANTIC HIDEAWAY
Down the island’s east coast near the quaint fishing village of Hua Tanon, this enchanting resort offers charming accommodations on a beautiful, secluded cove. The resort’s 102 Southern Thai-style villas cascade down a gentle hillside to the private Natien Beach. Many villas offer either a private plunge pool or outdoor Jacuzzi. There are ample opportunities to play and relax with three restaurants and bars, three swimming pools, a SPA Cenvaree, fitness centre, and PADI dive and water sports centre. The hotel shuttle can also take you 8 km. north to popular Lamai Beach.
CENTRA BY CENTARA COCONUT BEACH RESORT SAMUI
UNPRETENTIOUS & UNSPOILED
On the island’s southwest tip, this resort lies on an unspoiled beach across from superb offshore diving sites Koh Tan and Koh Mutsum. Its 54 rooms and villas each come with a furnished balcony and terrace. If you like to get away from the crowd, you will love the resort site on Thong Tanote Beach, a natural, undeveloped stretch of fine sand spilling into clear waters.
The resort offers three pools: one on the beachfront, one in the centre of the resort, plus a children’s pool. It also has a restaurant, bar, fitness centre, and spa where you can be pampered with traditional Thai treatments.
COSI SAMUI CHAWENG BEACH
FRESH & SMART
Between Chaweng beach and the town centre, COSI is a new hotel designed for today’s tech-savvy travellers who like simplicity, flexibility, connectivity and value. It’s just a short walk from the beach and CentralFestival, Samui’s biggest shopping centre, and only 15 minutes from the airport. The minimalist-mod rooms feature Smart TVs, USB ports, and Power Showers. Free, fast Wi-Fi is everywhere.
COSI is a complete re-think of what a hotel can be. It feels more like a friend’s beach home – a friendly base for exploring that understands today’s digital lifestyle. Its 24/7 café and social hub uses free daily credits included with your room for food and drink. Facilities include a rooftop swimming pool and laundromat. The youthful “COSI Crew” can advise you on the island’s best experiences, and they’ll even lend you a GoPro to capture your adventures!
Phone: +66 (0) 2101 1234
Fax: +66 (0) 2101 1235
