Samui Beach Resort

What's at core a simple resort with a mixed bag of rooms makes a nice enough first impression. The open-sided lobby of the hotel has modern homey decor, with a polished
white tiled floor, painted white wooden beams, and white sofas. An ornate
gold-framed mirror hangs behind the white brick reception desk, where there are
a wide range of tourist information leaflets for guests to look through. There
are a couple of computer stations in the lobby for guests to use, and a
small library. Some traditional Thai artwork hangs on the wall. The property is
fairly basic in terms of on-site facilities and amenities in the rooms, but most of its rooms offer a decent value for a quiet beachfront setting. The current owners have invested in the hotel in recent years by renovating various parts and constructing the new building
on the beachfront, so it's slowly becoming more modernized. It mainly attracts couples and groups of friends. 

The hotel is located at the southern end of Koh Samui's second most
popular beach, Lamai, which is a lot quieter and calmer than the more popular
Chaweng farther up the coast. Within a 10-minute walk are the infamous Hin Ta, Hin Yai “grandfather and grandmother rocks,” where some giant scandalously-shaped
boulders have become one of Koh Samui’s most popular attractions. The Wat Lamai
Buddhist temple is around a 10-minute walk away as well. To walk into central Lamai -- which is home to bars, restaurants, and shops are takes around 20 minutes, though the trip can be made in just five minutes by car or scooter. Koh Samui Airport is a half-hour trip by car. 

There are four room categories available at the hotel. The most basic are
the Fan Rooms, which -- as the name suggests -- do not have air-conditioning.
They are located either opposite the hotel's restaurant, or within the gardens. Unfortunately these rooms feel a bit neglected, with sagging ceiling panels, general wear and tear, and bathrooms that have seen better days. The Standard Rooms are larger and have air-conditioning, as well as minibars,
flat-screen TVs, and garden views. The other options at the resort are the freestanding
Superior Bungalows or the newly-built Sea View Bungalows. The Superiors are
located between the beach and the gardens, while the Sea Views are above the
pool and the beach. The decor is fairly basic in the lower categories, though it does get nicer the more guests are willing to shell out. Those staying in Fan and Standard Rooms can expect to see mainly plain white walls but with splashes of blue, red, or gold in the soft furnishings. Bungalows show a bit more care and style, like the abundance of traditional Thai art and the canopy bed in the Superior Bungalow that we visited. Bathrooms just have a wet-room shower, so the whole room is liable to get wet while bathing. Higher-category rooms have nicer tiling, and all have small pedestal or wall-mounted sinks with little counter space. We spotted a good deal of dirty grout in the Fan Room that we visited.

The hotel has a beachfront restaurant that's open for breakfast,
lunch, and dinner, though breakfast is not included in the room rate. It serves
a range of international dishes, including freshly made pizzas from the wood-burning oven, as well as traditional Thai cuisine such as Pad Thai and Tom Yam
Goong. There are stunning sea views across Lamai Bay, as well as towards the
Hin Ta Hin Yai rock formation. A small bar serves beers and cocktails. The resort also has an outdoor pool with a sundeck, loungers, and parasols,
plus a garden which overlooks a pond. Excursions such as boat tours, kayaking,
and snorkeling trips can be arranged by the hotel. Free Wi-Fi is available
throughout the property and scooter rentals can be arranged.