Bophut 83, Chaweng, Thailand | (888) 616-5829
Private beach is clean and not crowded
Villas are spacious with high ceilings and balconies
Beautiful gardens; nature scenes integrated into rooms
Quiet location outside of Chaweng center
Dining on the beach available
Saturday night barbecue on the beach
Cold drink and full coconut offered upon arrival
Restaurants have excellent food; breakfast buffet is very good
Free Wi-Fi indoors and out (but some reports of it not working well)
International breakfast with lots of food choices included
Furniture, chairs, bathrooms and towels could use updating
Villa suites are connected with thin folding doors; you will likely hear guests staying next door
Massages at the Akiira spa are expensive
Some reports of the staff, while friendly, not speaking English very well
Sometimes there are lots of tiny stinging creatures in the water
Many steps leading up to the hotel
While Chaweng center is advertised as "minutes away by foot" it is actually a 10-minute drive by car, cab, or shuttle
The upscale, 74-room New Star Beach Resort is on a gorgeous stretch of beach -- just to the south popular Chaweng Beach's main section -- with tables, chairs, and small area for soccer playing. Rates are a big high for what you get; large rooms have attractive Asian style, but could use some updating, as some bathroom tiles have mold, and towels tend to be old. Breakfast is included and there are three restaurants, as well as lobby dining and dining right on the beach. Extensive tropical grounds give the hotel a lush feel, and it's quieter than most hotels in the area. However, there are many stairs (not ideal for guests with limited mobility) and the villas are only separated by a thin door, making it quite possible you'll hear guests next door. There are some issues with staff's knowledge of English. It may also be worth considering the Nora Buri Resort.
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Scene
Tranquil hotel for romantics that is slightly off the beaten path
New Star Beach Resort has one major amenity: A beach that is uniformly described as one of the best in Koh Samui. With soft white sand and turquoise waters, the beach is a haven of serenity surrounded by more crowded, party-central beaches. However, there are occasional reports of little stinging creatures in the water. On-the-beach dining is available.The hotel also contains beautiful tropical grounds -- lush gardens can be seen from virtually every room in the hotel. The hotel's Asian orange and black theme decor gives the hotel a cool, modern vibe. In the lobby, a circle of wicker bowl chairs surround a circular confidante sofa, underneath a wooden sculptural spiral design on the ceiling. Check-in takes place while seated. A giant faux bolder behind the front desk, indoor potted trees, big floor-to-ceiling windows that let in the views, and doors opening straight to a decorative pool help the indoor and outdoor experiences feel integrated. Just note that there are many steep steps in many parts of the hotel, so this is not an advisable option for the elderly or mobility impaired. The restaurants are a cut above many hotel restaurants but can be pricey. The hotel is child-friendly, with child meals offered in both restaurants, a large, kid-friendly pool, and a shallow kiddy pool for tots. The staff is not necessarily always well-versed in English.
Location
Tropical grounds set away from nightlife of Chaweng center means more serenity than usual
Those looking for more relaxation than can be found staying in the heart of the party scene at Chaweng center should find that here. However, that means getting into the center is a bit of a trek, about 10 minutes by either rental car or shuttle. You can also rent bikes near the hotel. The hotel overlooks large, clean, Chaweng Beach on the Gulf of Thailand, one of the most gorgeous in Koh Samui. It's just to the south of the main section, and is a little quieter. The resort is a 15-minute drive from Samui Airport. It's also a 10-minute drive to beautiful Lamai Beach.
Rooms
Large, airy rooms with beautiful views of ocean or beach -- but they could use upgrading
New Star Beach Resort has several different types of rooms available -- the smallest being Deluxe Balcony rooms or Cottages, and the largest being Beachfront or Oceanfront villas.All of the rooms are quite large with high ceilings. They come with air-conditioning, but the units can be noisy.The rooms are somewhat worn, especially the shower areas, and the towels could use an upgrade. The beds extremely firm and may be too hard for some. While the Asian decor is attractive, incorporating dark woods and colorful artwork, the rooms can have inadequate lighting, especially the bathrooms. Rooms TVs have satellite channels but reception can be spotty at times. There are DVD players (no iPod docks) and safes. Rooms are either very close to the beach or pool. Villas have small backyard sitting areas. If you stay in a villa, you may not want to risk getting one next to strangers, as they are separated by a thin door that allows sound to travel easily from one villa to the next.
Features
A gorgeous pool; one of the best, cleanest, quietest beaches in the area; three restaurants; and on-the-beach dining
Three restaurants with excellent food should satisfy any palate. One restaurant has Thai and international cuisine; one has an international buffet; another has seafood. There's also the 9 Degrees North bar that is open until midnight. On-the-beach dining is available. The Akiira Spa is bright and airy and gives amazing views of the surrounding tropical gardens and white-sand beach, but the massages are far more expensive than what you can get 10 minutes down the road in Chaweng center. There is free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, but strength of signal varies. There is no gym. There are lots of stairs in certain sections of the hotel, including the entrance, and no nearby elevators. The game room contains a well-maintained pool table; the library has a small selection of magazines and books.The peaceful white-sand beach never feels too crowded, unlike other beaches in the area, and the staff cleans it daily. (Some report little stinging creatures, possibly sea lice, in the water.) It contains two smallish goal nets and a soccer (football) ball for an impromptu game. During high season, the beach can run out of chairs, so get there early. There are also umbrella'd tables and chairs in a shady area under several palm trees, should you want to get out of the sun.The large pool overlooks the beach, and there is a shallow kiddy pool for tots.
