Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Koh Samui

On a quiet, leafy street with just a few other hotels, a modern, glass-walled building welcomes guests to the Nikki Beach Resort. The sleek, consciously luxurious lobby, with marble floors and plush sofas, opens onto sprawling, manicured grounds filled with tropical plants, bamboo-covered walkways, shaded pavilions, and water features. The 75-meter swimming pool, is the quietest of the two pools, and some guest rooms open onto it. The private beach and the Sapphire Blue Infinity Pool are both open to day-guests, and have much more of a party atmosphere, especially during Sunday brunch.

Located on a private stretch of white-sand beach in Lipa Noi, on Koh Samui's western coast, Nikki Beach Bungalow Resort is about a 10-minute drive from the nearest town center. The immediate area is primarily filled with other large hotels, and there are some restaurants further along the beach. The Koh Samui airport is approximately 30 minutes away by car, and both Lamai and Chaweng beaches are less than a half-hour drive away. The hotel can help arrange island and boat excursions and day trips, including visits to other nearby islands.

Rooms here are luxurious, with slick and modern decor including polished dark-wood furniture, heavy taupe drapes, limestone floors, black-and-white vintage celebrity photographs, floor-to-ceiling windows, and French doors opening out onto private terraces. Some rooms look out on the 75-meter pool, while others have beach or garden views. Bathrooms have slate floors, granite countertops, slate walk-in rainfall showers, and aromatherapy toiletries. Each villa comes with a private pool, a hammock, a garden, an in-room soaking tub, a separate living room with floor-to-ceiling windows, a private sauna, an outdoor shower and dining area, and unobstructed beach views. All rooms also have robes, slippers, minibars with liquor, tea- and coffee-making facilities, umbrellas, and flat-screen TVs. Note that some rooms can be connected to accommodate families or larger groups.

In addition to its renowned seafood restaurant and and lounge chair-lined Sapphire Blue Infinity Pool, Nikki Beach Bungalow Resort also has a private stretch of beach with lounge chairs and numerous on-site activities. There's a beach volleyball court, and bicycles, kayaks, and snorkeling equipment are all available for guests to use for free. A more relaxed cafe also serves food throughout the day. The resort organizes events such as a beach movie night, and guests can take cooking classes with the restaurant's renowned chef. Massages and other standard spa treatments are available, and there's a small, second-floor fitness center. Breakfast, Wi-Fi, and parking are all free, and the concierge service is open around the clock. There's also a small boutique on-site.