Rating: ★★★★★

Address: 99/9 Moo 4, Koh Samui 84310, Thailand

Telephone: +66 77 915 333

Email: reservations-samui@banyantree.com

https://www.banyantree.com/en/samui/

I spent 5 days in Banyan Tree Samui in Koh Samui, Thailand, and it was in every respect a seamless, luxurious stay. Overlooking the Lamai Bay, the resort is situated in the south-eastern coast of Koh Samui. The secluded resort oozes an overwhelming sense of tranquility.

The Lobby

The lobby of the resort is simplistic and elegant, and thanks to the small number of villas, there are usually very few people in the lobby, unlike the busy lobbies of some hotels.

The villas are scattered on a private hill cove overlooking the magnificent views of the Gulf of Thailand. The architecture is in a modern Thai style, and all villas have an elevated structure due to the landscape.

There is an unobstructed, panoramic seaview from every part of the resort. On a sunny day, the sapphire sky and sea look magical.

Facilities

In terms of facilities, there is an outdoor swimming pool, an indoor swimming pool, a spa, a gym, a yoga room and a Kid’s Club for kids aged 4 to 12. The common swimming pool is usually empty, as the villas have their own swimming pools and guests also prefer to swim in the sea. I like how the hotel offers yoga classes during the day.

For weddings and events, there are also meeting rooms, ballrooms and a business centre.

Restaurants

The restaurants at the resort are sophisticated. My favourite are Saffron (see my review here), a stylish, refined Thai restaurant, and Sands, a seafood restaurant at the seafront.

There is a complimentary buffet breakfast for hotel guests, which is served daily at The Edge, a restaurant serving international cusine which has both indoor and outdoor dining areas overlooking the resort and the beach.

Getting around

As the villas are spread over a hill,  walking from your villa to the other areas of the hotel can be slightly strenuous due to the steep roads. You can call for a golf buggy to come pick you up and take you to your desired destination.

The Villas

There are three types of villas: Ocean Pool Villa, Sanctuary Pool Villa, and Royal Banyan Villa. All three villas have breathtaking views, and I stayed at the Sanctuary Pool Villa.

Santuary Pool Villa
The Sanctuary Pool Villa is around 169 square metres in size, and has a privte infinity pool and a jetpool.

Besides the pool, the thing I love the most about the villa is the gorgeous sundeck which is perfect for sunbathing, reading and (most importantly) napping.

There are two bedrooms and one living room/ common area. The master bedroom contains a king bed; the other bedroom has two twin beds. It is fantastic how we can dive straight into the pool from the master bedroom and the living room!

Both bedroom have a dressing room, and the bathroom in the master bedroom is very spacious. Banyan Tree Samui doesn’t use a particular brand of toiletries, but it is worth a mention that they provide makeup removal oil in the bathroom, which is quite uncommon and thoughtful.

Extras

Snacks and little gifts are left in your bedroom each day – one day I got a lovely little turtle stuffed toy, and another day it was a beautiful platter of Thai desserts. It was very personal and attentive.