Banana Fan Sea Resort

Banana Fan Sea Resort is an upper-middle-range beach hotel spread across lush grounds filled with palms and other greenery, with meandering pathways and lovely little wood-and-concrete bridges that coordinate well with the largely whitewashed buildings. The property underwent extensive renovations in early 2019 and turned the once-tiled, freeform pool into a gorgeous infinity pool with underwater lights and a spacious deck full of palm trees and loungers. All rooms, as well as the restaurant, and most other common areas also got a facelift, making the property one of the top picks in the area. Interiors have a streamlined, contemporary feel throughout, but classic Thai touches, such as carved wood screens and ornaments, add lots of local charm. While the property has an undeniable romantic feel to it, many families also choose this resort for its spacious and spotless rooms, excellent amenities, and competitive rates.

Banana Fan Sea Resort has an excellent location right on Chaweng Beach and a five-minute walk to most local points of interest in town, including the Laem Din vegetable market and the Chaweng Night Market. The whole area is full of restaurants and hotels, with plenty of shops and places to get massages and beauty treatments in the immediate vicinity. Samui Airport is about a 10-minute drive north of the hotel. Transfer services to area beaches, the fishermen's village, and the airport are also available through the hotel, for a fee.

The hotel offers a wide variety of air-conditioned rooms, suites, and bungalows ranging from 24 to 125 square meters (258 to 1,345 square feet), most of which have king beds. All rooms were renovated in early 2019 and have a similar decor scheme, with clean-lined wooden furniture, a combination of white, brown, and yellow hues, lovely Thai touches such as round throw pillows, and either concrete or polished wooden floors. Standard amenities include free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, electric kettles, and irons with ironing boards. Mini-fridges are stocked with water only, but there’s a basic selection of snacks for purchase. Glass doors open to furnished balconies or terraces in most, but some units lack outdoor space. As their name suggests, Beachfront Two-Bedroom Villas with Private Pool have private outdoor decks with their own personal plunge pools and whirlpools along with padded lounge chairs and umbrellas for shade. Bathrooms have contemporary multi-shade beige tiling and shower/tub combos. Waffle-weave robes, slippers, toiletries, and hairdryers are provided.

The infinity pool is gorgeous, with whirlpools right in the water, and a large wooden deck with padded loungers, big canvas umbrellas, and panoramic sea views. More lounge chairs are located right on the white-sand beach itself, and there are plenty of chairs and tables for those wanting to order food from the hotel's restaurant, Baitong, and eat it right on the beach. For a less sandy experience, the restaurant -- which serves excellent Thai and international fare at reasonable prices -- also has an open-air, but covered, pavilion where meals are served throughout the day. Breakfast is included in room rates and is served buffet-style, plus there's also a weekly barbecue night buffet right on the beach. Hotel staff can organize private dining and Thai cooking classes.

Other features include valet laundry and dry cleaning, free hotel-wide Wi-Fi, and a guest computer that's free to use. Traditional Thai massages are available right on the beach or in guest rooms. There's also a tour counter for booking area excursions, and the hotel can help arrange water sports rentals through a third party. Babysitting services are available on request for a fee.