The Passage Samui Villas & Resort

The Movenpick Resort Laem Yai Beach Samui is not only a lush hideaway, but it also has some outstanding architecture. Driving down a side road flanked by coconut palms, one comes across the resort. The main building features a meticulously shingled sloping roof that recalls many of the iconic temples that are found throughout Thailand. In fact, this design -- along with the rest of the rooms and buildings here -- are patterned after traditional Thai rice barns, and the look certainly has more character than most competing hotels on the island, at least when it comes to traditional aesthetics (after all, it's hard to top The Library for eye-catching contemporary design). 

The lobby has a white marble floor, and one gets to admire the high triangular roof from its interior, with wood beams laying under the shingles. Metal birdcages hold cloth covered lamps which hang from the ceiling -- a nice motif, as birdcages are a symbol of southern Thailand, and found in most homes in this part of the world. Some dark couches with plush red cushions, plus a few other pieces of wooden furniture complete the decor here, along with several old-fashioned ceiling fans and a large gold vase full of green plants. Since the lobby is open-air, one can look out to the gardens and long swimming pools that await. The seclusion here has a definite romance, and everything about the hotel is low key and laid back. Not surprisingly, most guests are couples, though plenty of families find there way here as well.

The resort is located on Samui’s little travelled northwest coast. It’s far from the nightlife and big beaches of Chaweng and Lamai, and located on the little visited Laem Yai peninsula. There isn’t much right around the hotel in terms of restaurants, shops, or other facilities, and most guests will want a car or moped to get around and explore the island. The Movenpick is located on the beach, but the sand is rather narrow and there are no beach set-ups. Still, the views out to the islands of Angthong National Marine Park are pretty, and the islands are easy to reach via boat for day trips. It’s less than 10 minutes by car to the ferry terminal at Nathon town, which also has plenty of local places to eat. But it’s a solid 35 minutes to the airport on the other side of the island, and will take up to 45 minutes to reach the popular beach towns there. 

While the grounds are spacious, there are only 50 rooms here, meaning there is plenty of privacy. The rooms are housed in stunningly designed buildings that resemble traditional Thai rice barns, with curved tile roofs. The look inside of the rooms is modern, but doesn't feel exactly contemporary -- the oversized floral motif is definitely a trend that's already had its day, though its still pleasant enough. Furniture is done in dark or light wood veneer surfaces and with clean lines, and some pieces have a funky retro look, like the end tables in the Superior Room that we visited. Color schemes are mostly bright and cheerful, with yellow and orange to contrast soft white hues and dark browns.

All rooms have plenty of modern amenities, including DVD players, flat-screen televisions, electronic safes, hot water kettles, air-conditioning, and minibars, along with free Wi-Fi. Most of the lower-category rooms here feel a bit compact, which is rare on Samui, especially for hotels in the four-pearl category. The entry-level Superior Rooms aren't quite as nice as the next category Garden Villas, as Superior Rooms lack a foyer with a sitting area. The Garden Villas have a proper private patio, and the lovely Plunge Pool Villas add a backyard patio with private plunge pool. There are also larger Two-Bedroom Pool Villas and Beachfront Villas which have sundecks, dining rooms, and beach access in addition to private pools. Bathrooms in each category are spacious. They feature rainfall showers and have glass windows looking out to a self-contained rock garden or plant filled area. Toiletries and hairdryers are provided. 

Movenpick Resort has three lovely swimming pools, which are a welcome feature, as the beach here isn't really set up for lounging and its swimability depends on the tides (though most guests find it underwhelming). There is a main pool that's long and suitable for laps; plus it has sun loungers on the deck. However, while the pool is open to all guests, the sun loungers here may only be used by those guests who have Pool Access Rooms. Above this pool is another shallow pool decorated with a white statue. This pool is used as the kids' pool and it's much larger than the most children's pools on the island. Near the beach is the aptly named Jacuzzi pool, which has whirlpool sections in the water. Plenty of umbrellas and loungers can be found around here, and the Deck Pool Bar is here as well.

For dining, the Terrace restaurant is located out by the beach, and on clear days guests can see the islands of Angthong Marine Park. The restaurant does both buffet and a la carte meals, with Thai, Western, and fresh seafood items on the menu. Breakfast is free, though the variety doesn't change much from day to day and it gets mixed reviews. During low occupancy, the breakfast options may be limited. The restaurant also hosts theme nights and arranges romantic dinners on the beach. Sunsets are particularly lovely from here.

Other facilities at the hotel include a small spa that's built with plenty of open-air spaces in the tropical gardens. A standard array of treatments and massages are available. The hotel also has ample free parking in the guarded lot out front. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property. The hotel also has an event planning team that can help arrange weddings and other events. Excursions can be booked directly throughout the hotel, including tours of the islands that make up the Angthong Marine Park. The hotel does run a shuttle to Chaweng, but it only leaves once per day.