Montien House

The Montien House doesn't look like a beach resort from the outside. Despite being right in the middle of the Chaweng madness, the hotel does feel a bit secluded, given its setting at the end of a dead-end street. The unassuming exterior is a clue, though, to the type of low-key beach getaway to expect at this hotel. Outside, the grounds are pleasant and well-kept. They're landscaped with tropical plants and paved pathways. Inside, the lobby is small -- just a single room that's often crammed with suitcases. It's a bright place, with large glass windows, a white tiled floor, flower paintings on the walls, and a couple of black pleather sofas and cushioned armchairs on which to relax. A table is set with brochures of Koh Samui information, and a pair of desks serve as both the reception desk and travel agency run by the resort. In fact, it looks almost identical to any number of anonymous budget hotels throughout Thailand. While the hotel feels insulated from the busy goings on in town, tour groups do frequently find there way here meaning it can be lively, bordering on noisy, on occasion.

Montien House is located in the center of Chaweng Beach, Koh Samui's largest and most happening beach town. This is the spot for party central, as it's within walking distance of seemingly limitless restaurants, bars, and shops. The resort lies down a dead-end drive off of the beach road, so it's insulated from traffic and noise, although the beach bar parties at night in the area can get pretty loud. It's a 15-minute walk to the Central Festival shopping mall. Chaweng Walking Street -- which is home to a market -- will take five minutes to reach by car, as will Hat Chaweng Kickboxing Stadium. Samui International Airport can be accessed in about 10 minutes by car

There are a wide array of room categories at Montien House, but all are quite simple from a style perspective. There is a disparity between rooms in the hotel's modern wing and those in the other parts of the hotel. The former are are decorated with bright paintings and colorful textiles and bedding. The stylish tan tile floors, sleek contemporary furniture, and clean white walls all give them a fresh and bright look, as in the Premium Deluxe Room that we visited. Other rooms look straight out of any budget hotel in most corners of Thailand, with white bedding, simple dark brown furniture, terra cotta tile floors, and older art and bedding. All rooms have furnished outdoor space, though none look out onto the beach and some views are of neighboring hotels and construction (at least when we visited in 2016). All rooms have flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, electric hot water kettles to make tea and coffee, safes, and umbrellas. Wi-Fi is free, although in some of the rooms, the signal barely works. Aside from the traditional rooms, there are stand-alone Deluxe Cottages in the garden, which offer a bit more privacy. Best of all are the Pool Villas, which have their own plunge pool and an enclosed outdoor area. Bathrooms in all of the rooms are fairly basic, but clean and functional. They provide dispensers of shampoo, conditioner, and bath gel, and those in the more modern room are, likewise, more modern, with rainfall showerheads in the walk-in showers.

Montien House doesn't have an overabundance of facilities, and most guests spend their time out on the beach. There are several lounge chairs set up on the sand, and also on the pool desk overlooking the beach. That's a good thing because there is fairly limited seating around the actual pool. Additionally, the pool isn't all that big, and it can feel crowded when the hotel is at capacity. There's also a massage cabana here for those who need a rubdown after all their activity in the sun. The restaurant is open-air, and sits looking out at the sea and swimming pool. It serves food throughout the day and evening, with a mixture of Thai favorites as well as Western options to choose from, and an array of alcoholic drinks. The specialty here is freshly grilled seafood, usually displayed at night, with candlelit tables set up on the beach as well -- perfect for romantic evenings. Expect to pay extra for breakfast. The resort has a small travel agency in the lobby, which can arrange all types of tours, transport, and other tourist-related services. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, though the signal isn't strong.