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Visit and review of 4- and 5-star hotels in Bophut, Koh Samui (Thailand): Karma Resort, Anantara Bophut, Celes Beachfront

July 31, 2021 /

We came back to Koh Samui to get vaccinated. And we decided to extend our stay after the vaccination, to rest in good conditions (in case we had a fever or any other unpleasant side effect).).

Since we booked a hotel in the area Bophut, which has a huge concentration of 4- and 5-star hotels, we were able to visit a few of them.

Part 1: Travel Journal
Part 2: Practical Tips

Part 1: Travel Journal

Karma Resort Koh Samui

We start with this hotel recommended by a former colleague of JB’s, who knows Koh Samui very well. This hotel belongs to the owner of the famous Karma Sutra restaurant, who made a name for himself among expats in Koh Samui. Since 2019, he also runs this absolutely stunning hotel in the Bophut area. The hotel is small compared to other hotels in the area, but they’ve put everything into their lush garden, colorful koi fish, and a very Instagrammable decor.

Each room has a private terrace opening onto its own mini garden. JB loves to chill outside; there’s a fan, and he has plenty of room for his long legs.

What made me want to check out the hotel when I saw the photos was this outdoor shower (and private, of course). In Bali, there seem to be many hotels with this type of outdoor shower, but in Koh Samui, it’s the only hotel with such a pretty outdoor shower. Obviously, everything is designed so no one can see you, and guests on the floor above can’t see anything either. The water is adjustable, and it feels like rain… it’s super enjoyable. Of course, there’s also an indoor shower if needed. But I love the concept!

The room is big enough that we could ask for a table and two chairs to be set up for working.

At first, we planned to work at the restaurant, but it’s super hot, and there are often outside guests coming to eat, talk, and smoke. Hard to concentrate. I only go when it’s cooler, there are fewer guests, and I can work quietly without being disturbed by noise and smoke.

What we really like is the included breakfast, very generous and, above all… there’s a French option (pain au chocolat, croissant… yum) since the owner is French. In the morning, it’s much quieter because there are only hotel guests.

The pathway includes several ponds with lots of koi fish. They’re super beautiful, multicolored.

JB hits the gym every day. And we also love the spa. The massage with Thai flower oil is divine (800 bahts/h). The oil smells so, so good.

Here’s the pool/restaurant area. The restaurant menu is rather European. There’s beef tartare, tuna/beef carpaccio, avocado toast with poached egg… If you stay more than 2 nights here, you get -10% on the restaurant, -10% on the spa, and -10% on the restaurants owned by the same owner as well.

The hotel is absolutely gorgeous, but more suited to tourists on vacation than digital nomads like us: too many outside guests, too much noise…

I don’t know if it’s because the hotel is still new, but the staff lacks training: for example, they constantly ask us which room we’re in (in hospitality, the least you can do is remember guests’ faces—especially since we take off our masks every time we eat), we have to remind them about our 10% discount. The outdoor shower garden clearly needs maintenance, but the housekeeper turns a blind eye instead of reporting it to the gardener… and the receptionist insists the outdoor shower is cold when there’s actually hot water. Anyway, it all just reminds you how hard it is to run a hotel and train the staff.

Karma Resort Koh Samui 4*: 84€/night (Booking link, Agoda link)
Restaurant: about 300 bahts per dish

Anantara Bophut Koh Samui

Just the entrance bridge is an invitation to explore. This hotel is only a few minutes from ours, so we went there for lunch.

Past the entrance hall, worthy of a 5-star hotel, we come face to face with this lush garden. So green that it instantly makes you forget the heat in Koh Samui. It’s so relaxing.

There are two open bungalows next to the garden, for resting or reading. The water lilies and huge leaves remind me so much of the Amazon.

At noon, only the Beach bar is open. But we can sit at the tables of the Full Moon restaurant. And while we’re at it, they also agree to serve me steak from the restaurant menu 😀 The mashed potatoes are out of this world. The truffle béarnaise sauce is to die for! The steak is also very good. Clearly, I eat better here than in France.

Careful, we didn’t read the menus closely; there’s a 17% service charge added to the bill (service + VAT). JB finds it outrageously expensive for what it is, but I’m very happy with the meal 😀 (#blingbling mode on)

Let me show you their pool: the deepest we’ve visited: up to 2.40m. The beach section is average, but that’s not their fault. Bophut beach isn’t very nice anyway, compared to Chaweng. There are too many boats around here.

We’re pleasantly surprised to find out it’s HAPPY HOUR all day here. Basically, buy one drink, get the second free. So coming here (for drinks), you pay less than at a tourist bar.

I didn’t ask to see the rooms, but seeing the tiny size of the balconies of the rooms with a seaview, and reading the description (36m²), I think a stay here isn’t worth the price. Sure, the garden is out of this world, but that’s it! Come for happy hour, that’s enough!

Anantara Bophut Koh Samui 5*: 133€/night (Booking link, Agoda link)
Restaurant: 2000 bahts for steak, 800 bahts for burger. Drinks from 120 bahts

Check out this video for a tour of Karma Resort & Anantara:

Celes Koh Samui

100m from our hotel is another 5-star hotel: CELES Beachfront Koh Samui. Unlike Karma Resort which is always crowded, this hotel is absolutely empty. When we arrive, the staff seem so surprised they ask us incoherent questions. And everyone seems to forget the basic process. They drop us off in an electric car at the beach bar – even though it’s closed. Then at the restaurant, they forget to take our temperature & give us hand sanitizer, so they only do it halfway through our snack. Ahahahah. It’s possible the hotel recently reopened, hence the staff being completely disoriented.

If we’d known, we would have booked here instead for the post-vaccine stay. The restaurant has plenty of super comfortable tables for working. The restaurant is better ventilated, so you don’t get hot and the menu prices are very reasonable for the standard.

Between the pool and the restaurant, you cross a lush garden, in the shade. I love it!

Looking online, the rooms are spacious (60m²) with an indoor shower + an outdoor shower. There’s a library space for working, a gym… the pool is incredible. In short, for our next stay in Koh Samui, this hotel will be on my top list.

Celes Beachfront Koh Samui 5*: 66€/night (Booking link, Agoda link)
Restaurant: about 390 bahts per dish, 120 bahts per drink

The Roof Koh Samui

This isn’t a hotel but a bar restaurant with a view. It’s not in the Bophut area but since we have a powerful scooter, we decide to go. There are three spots with exceptional views in Koh Samui, but you have to be careful with driving:

If you go with a less powerful scooter/car, or if the brakes haven’t been serviced recently, it’s very dangerous. With almost vertical slopes at times, potholes, and tight curves… the dangers are numerous.

Our scooter rental guy assured us we could go without a problem on our 155cc – as long as it doesn’t rain. It’s a rental guy recommended by our friends in Koh Samui. His scooters are always top-notch, serviced, and washed before being rented out. Plus at a very affordable price. We paid 250 bahts/day for a 4-day rental of a Yamaha 155cc.

Scooter rental: Tonton rental car and motobike, Koh Samui https://goo.gl/maps/8uXRHDoBSXUNFSqK7

delivers and picks up the scooter directly at your hotel. No deposit or passport hold. Responds super fast on LINE

For the first time, we manage to ride up super steep slopes without any issue. We even overtook a car because we were going faster uphill.

So, to my astonishment, we make it up to The Roof bar. And there, I see they have a shuttle (4×4) to transport guests (50 bahts/person). And not another scooter in sight. Even the staff go back up on the shuttle. Throughout our visit, I stress about having to ride back down on the scooter… especially after reading comments on Google Maps claiming the brakes overheated coming down. And what if the brakes give out? I panic so much I stress out JB who was perfectly calm.

In the end, I decide to take the shuttle down and let JB ride down on the scooter. There’ll be less weight, so less pressure on the brakes. And JB rides down like a pro, without any difficulty. So I worried for nothing.

But look at this insane view! With Overlap stone, it’s the best view on Koh Samui. You can see Koh Phangan and Chaweng Lake so clearly. With weather as nice as today, it’s even more sublime.

The Roof Koh Samui – follow the signs
Shuttle: 50 bahts/person. As soon as you think you can’t go any further, call the number on the sign and the shuttle will come pick you up.

Part 2: Practical Tips

Planning a trip to Thailand? Our partner Get Your Guide offers entry tickets and guided tours with French-speaking guides at very reasonable rates. Click here to see what they offer and book online.

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