Escape Beach Resort

It's all about the natural setting at Escape Beach Resort. Guests climb a tremendously steep hill to reach the property, which requires a drive through the entry of the neighboring W Resort. Then the road drops, with the resort and its collection of thatched-roof buildings below. From the parking lot, there's just a small white building with a sign that says "Escape." The lobby isn't memorable -- it's just a few tables and wooden chairs, world clocks, whirling ceiling fans, and a rack of Koh Samui brochures. But guests aren't here to linger in the lobby, nor even in the rooms. This resort is all about sun, sea, and the natural surroundings, with guests taking up every inch of space around the pool and at the restaurant. The style throughout is beach-chic and breezy, and the isolated setting makes it undeniably romantic. Expect to see mostly couples here. 

Escape Beach Resort is located on a headland that juts out into Mae Nam Bay, between the villages of Mae Nam and Bo Phut on Koh Samui's north coast. To get here, one needs to drive down over a tremendously steep hill that plunges down and dead ends at the resort. It's a superb location, looking out to sea and Mae Nam Beach, and feels far from the crowds. On the down side, it's a long steep walk to get to other restaurants and bars (other than the ultra-expensive W Resort, which is next door). Unless you have your own transport, be ready to pay a fortune for expensive taxis. Still, the secluded and intimate setting manages to draw plenty of visitors in its own right. The airport is a 20-minute drive from here. It takes 30 minutes to reach the ferry pier in Nathon for those heading to the mainland.

There are 69 rooms at Escape Beach Resort. Rooms are divided into Economy Rooms, Standard Rooms, and Beachfront Rooms. Like much about this hotel, rooms are quite small. The style, though, is almost faultless. It's an aesthetic that combines beachy, urban, and minimalist sensibilities, with concrete floors, white walls, a few colorful pillows, warm hardwood furniture with Scandinavian lines, and designer lamps. All rooms feature minibars, safes, air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, electric hot water kettles with free tea and coffee, beach bags with beach towels, and free Wi-Fi. The Beachfront Rooms are by far the best to stay in, as they have small terraces with sun loungers as well as extras like DVD players. The units down by the water have superb sea views, though there are a few Beachfront Rooms that look out at the pool and feel distinctly un-private. The rooms do have some quirky touches, partly due to size. The sinks are outside of the bathroom, tucked into a corner of the room, and bathrooms include either walk-in showers or separate showers and tubs. We did spot of a bit of dirty grout. Additionally, instead of a proper closet, expect a shelf with a curtain. Some of the terraces could also use a fresh coat of varnish.

Escape Beach Resort is all about its beautiful swimming pool, with one end overlooking the sea and horizon. There's also a pool for kids. The pools are the top draw here, and most guests spend their day around them. Unfortunately, this fantastic spot is slightly marred by the fact that there aren't enough loungers around the pool to accommodate the large number of guests in high season. This is even more of an issue due to the size of the beach. When the tide is out in certain seasons, there is a small strip of sand, but much of the time, the water comes right up to the resort. Escape has dealt with this by making a small terrace in front of the Beachfront Huts where there are also sun chairs, but it's still crowded. One can always escape by taking to the sea, as the resort has kayaks and paddle boards free for guests to use.

For dining and drinking, Castaway restaurant has a prime position overlooking the pool and beach, and serves excellent big breakfast buffets, which go on until late in the morning, allowing guests to sleep in a bit. The restaurant then does a la carte lunches and dinners, specializing in Thai, fresh seafood, and a good selection of international dishes. The bar is a popular spot for sundowners and evening drinks overlooking the bay. Other than the pool, free Wi-Fi, and restaurant, there are no other facilities at the resort, although they do have ample free parking out front for anyone with their own wheels.