Centara Villas Samui

This 102-room hotel has a strong local feel despite being part of a medium-sized chain with properties in Thailand, Vietnam, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka. Its rooms are housed in a few dozen wooden structures built in the traditional Thai style, with dark gable roofs resting on white wooden pillars and partially hidden behind lush palm trees, banyans, and other indigenous plant life. The lobby stands at the very top of this hilly property, while the rest of the grounds cascade toward the ocean and beach, which is a lovely stretch of sand with clear waters. The reception area is housed in an open wooden pavilion with white and clay tile floors, white latticed ceilings, and a large, airy seating area with couches. Common spaces and some rooms are starting to show some wear and tear, but Thai-inspired decor is mostly stylish, with lots of wood and a subdued earth-tone palette contrasted by a few turquoise, red, and orange accents. The main pool and the restaurant are located closer to the beach, which means those spending some time on the premises will probably have to climb lots of steps very day. Guests here are mostly couples, though some families pass through as well as groups of friends. 

Centara Villas Samui is set on a remote beach on Koh Samui’s southern coast. There is a butterfly garden right across the street, and guests can walk to a couple of restaurants and bars nearby. Otherwise the area is quite sedate and laid-back by Samui standards. Those staying here will find more variety and a livelier atmosphere in Lamai, a 15-minute drive away from the hotel. The Big Buddha is one of the island’s top attractions and can be reached in about 45 minutes by car. The island is known for diving as well, and there are tons of outfitters throughout all of its towns. The hotel offers shuttle service to the airport, Lamai, and Chaweng for a fee. Expect a 40-minute drive to the airport and Chaweng. 

The airy and bright rooms here feature warm wood tones alongside stark white accents and come with large windows opening onto wooden decks or tile terraces that overlook the hotel's grounds or the ocean. Wooden floors, platform beds, and ceiling fans give rooms some local character, while small round pillows and low-hanging lamps with metal and paper shades are stylish touches. Units at Centara Villas are appealing, but we did spot a bit of wear, and some guests have complained of weak water pressure in the shower. In-room amenities are on par with other similarly priced hotels and include flat-screen TVs, minibars, electric kettles, air-conditioning, and safes. Pool Villas have small private pools, and Family Villas feature separate rainfall showers and tubs in the bathroom plus extra sleeping space. Bathrooms are spacious and appealing in all units, with spacious white marble counters, roomy walk-in showers with mosaic or otherwise modern tiling, and rainfall showerheads. Toiletries and hairdryers are provided.

Like most resorts on Koh Samui, the prized feature here is the beach. The hotel’s beach has fine sand, lounge chairs, and bean bags, but some guests complain that there aren’t enough parasols, and palm trees don’t offer much shade. Kayaks can be borrowed for short excursions free of charge, and the hotel has a private longtail boat for those interested in fishing or snorkeling. The main pool is located close to the beach and offers a couple dozen loungers and parasols, as well as ocean views. Another pool is tucked away amid trees and plants, but also has ocean views. Reef Cafe is the hotel’s main restaurant and offers international and Asian cuisine in a spacious dining room with outdoor seating by the beach. Papillon Lounge serves small bites and drinks throughout the day, and features live shows at night. For a larger selection of food, the pool bar has buffet and barbecue areas. Breakfast is available but is not included with room rates. Guests looking to get pampered can get a massage at the SPA Cenvaree, complete with a sauna, an herbal steam room, a hair and nail salon, and a shaded foot treatment deck. The small fitness center offers a handful of cardio and strength-training machines, and bikes can be borrowed free of charge at front desk. The hotel also has a small playground, a selection of free loaner movies, and free Wi-Fi. Shuttle service to the airport, Chaweng, and Lamai Beach is also available, though it's not free.