Tucked away on the peaceful shores of Choeng Mon Beach in Southern Thailand is my new favourite Koh Samui Resort, Kimpton Kitalay Samui. They have just celebrated their third birthday, and kudos to them for having hands down nailed it with their first beachfront resort in Southeast Asia. Those of us searching for a luxurious getaway with all the laid-back charms of Thai island life need look no further.
From the start, this beautiful resort offers more than the average gorgeous island retreat, and how you’re made to feel special sets it apart. This is a big call for Thailand luxury hotels known for gracious guest service.
We stayed three nights as guests of Kimpton Kitalay Samui. Read on to discover everything to see, do, and love here at this stunning beachfront destination.
The moment the welcome gong resonates, marking your arrival with a traditional greeting, you step through the open-air reception, which seemingly floats above a pond, or maybe it’s just me floating in… I’m in heaven admiring the views of the iconic infinity pool stretching towards the beach. It is immediately apparent this is a sanctuary for stylish relaxation.
A welcome bracelet, a capsule of local sand tied with recycled fishing nets, is ceremoniously draped across a rock adorned with ruby chrysanthemums, a thoughtful touch connecting you to the surroundings. A cool & refreshing towel is infused with the resort’s signature Harnn sea salt and patchouli scent, and then the welcome drink. No overly sweet butterfly pea concoction here, but a cleverly named, refreshing mocktail, “Where is the Coconut?”
This subtle attention to detail impresses me – but read on, there’s more!
An overview of what we especially loved
We especially liked the stunning rooms, the gorgeous design of the resort, the dining, and the quiet beach location. Thanks to the attentive staff and Kimpton Perks, our stay is full of unique surprises and events that make us smile and rate our holiday as exceptional.
Why visit Koh Samui in 2025
The HBO series White Lotus is about to release Season Three, filmed in Southern Thailand and set in Koh Samui and Phuket. It is expected to bring the island to the world’s attention and to promote this destination as a sought-after holiday spot.
I’ve been coming to Koh Samui since 1985! I’ve always known its special allure; it’s an island which has always been more exclusive than some of its popular neighbours, Phuket and Koh Phangan. You don’t need a TV show to tell me this. The island has a unique energy, which has led to a burgeoning wellness industry.
Who is on their Guest List?
One of the charms of this resort is that it attracts a wide range of guests. From couples attracted by a stylish, romantic escape. Or a multi-generational family celebrating Dad’s 60th birthday with guests arriving from across the globe. To families with children excited by Junio Kids Club’s daily activities.
Koh Samui is an excellent choice for a destination wedding, and whilst we were there, a wedding party was about to celebrate their special day with family and friends. We also came across a Bollywood wedding further down the beach while hunting for the resort we stayed in twenty years ago with the kids! This beach is undoubtedly a magical place in the world for any celebration.
Finally, we met a millennial couple excited to return to Kimpton Hotels and Resorts with their gorgeous pooch for a memorable holiday.
Which countries?
We loved this international United Nations medley of guests and found ourselves chatting with a cosmopolitan crowd at yoga or sunset drinks. Their top five countries on the guestlist are Israel, China, Thailand, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
Families
This resort is well regarded for its JUNIO Kids Club, one of the largest for children between 4 and 12 on the island. It is designed with a nautical theme and is well-equipped. There is an indoor slide from the mezzanine level, a children’s playground and an outdoor water playground. The kids club activities rival those offered for their parents. It all looks like a lot of fun!
Couples
“Every memory we create together is a footprint on the path of a life we make together.” – unknown.
There is a romance to any stay at the Kimpton Kitalay Samui, from the gorgeous rooms to romantic dinners at Fish House Restaurant & Bar, or how about a private table on the shore? And a signature massage at Kitavaree Spa and Wellness. This stay is bound to be talked about for years to come!
Pet friendly
Kimpton Kitalay welcomes pets, whatever their size, and their stay is complimentary. You know they are serious as pet-friendly hosts when the staff name badges have paws on them! There are designated rooms and areas which are pet-friendly.
“Our doors are always open for cats, dogs and beyond. Not only are your pets welcome in your room, suite or villa, but they can also relax at two restaurants and stretch their legs on our dedicated pet path that rings the resort.”
We met a cute dog at breakfast on her second international trip to Thailand from Spain, a sixteen-hour flight! This gorgeous pooch knows how to live a high life, and they are heading next for a return trip to Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok. The owners told me they make it an annual holiday to go somewhere special with the dog. I want to be a dog in that family!
For more information on the Kimpton Pet program, see the Pet-Friendly Policy.
What sets them apart?
Throughout the stay, little extras appear to make you smile. Whether it’s a pack of his/her facemasks, which appears on the bed at turn down time, or stumbling across the morning, kick-start juice and muffins on the way to yoga! Or maybe it’s the final goodbye photo gift!
Staff
The Staff are super friendly and helpful. It doesn’t take long before you are welcomed personally by staff as you walk around. They invested in giving guests a memorable stay, keen for feedback and attentive.
On the second night we receive a bedtime note asking how we’re enjoying our stay: “If your satisfaction isn’t sky high at a perfect 10, we’re all ears...” with a phone number and an e-mail for feedback.
We didn’t test this out, as our stay was brilliant, but I genuinely felt the staff go above and beyond with exceptional service as a high priority.
Kimpton Perks
Morning Kick Start
Each morning from 7:00–8:00 AM, you will find a welcome selection of juices, organic cold brew and muffins in the reception area.
Evening Social Hour
It’s cocktail time from 5:00–6:00 PM, served with nibbles such as BBQ popcorn, pretzels and tuna bruschetta. The cocktails are rotated daily. They were pre-made and rather sweet for my taste, but hey, let’s not look at a gift horse and all that jazz… mine’s a Sangria, please!
What impressed me most was how the management team rotated their attendance at the Evening Social hour. We enjoyed our chats and everyone was interested in our stay.
The Resort
Resort Design
If you know Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok, you know it as a super chic luxury hotel where the young and trendy love to hang out and be seen. We were interested in seeing how Kimpton would adapt its concept for the beach – and whether the not-so-young and trendy would fit in! We need not have worried. The laid-back at-the-beach vibe is welcoming to all.
It’s a relaxing resort with a Zen feel. If you appreciate design and styling, you will love their eye for detail, they even change the cushions daily around the resort to refresh the look. Look carefully to see that even the back of the wardrobe has stunning wallpaper, matching navy bathrobes, and yoga mat!
It has enough Thainess to feel like I’m in Thailand, but it’s not in a typical Thai silk-style manner. It is in the fish basket lampshades in the restaurants and the water lilies in the ponds. In their words, boho chic!
For a beach resort, there is a great amount of greenery amongst the coastal vibes.
Resort Size
I like the resort’s size. They have 138 rooms, which to me is a perfect size. It is large enough to have all the facilities and small enough to feel intimate.
Essential Pool Access Resort View Room
Room 414 was incredible. I love this room! You cannot help but smile at the cheeky monkey lamps outside illuminating your room number. Inside, it’s all grins as we find a humungous bath with a separate shower. The bathroom has the sort of floor tiles you want to take a photo of and try to recreate back home! If you wish, privacy sliding doors exist, but the open-plan look is to be admired.
Your eye is drawn past some jazzy artwork to the swim-out pool beyond your private terrace, which has an elegant day bed with two perfectly tightly folded swimming towels.
I love the rug in the room – so many have taken the carpets away since COVID-19. In the corner is a reading nook with a sofa. And just in case you have forgotten your book, you’ll find a copy of George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four beside the bed.
And wait, there’s more… there is a generous welcome suite of gifts from hand-crafted chocolate and biscuits for your tea and coffee, and yes, of course, there is a coffee machine. There’s a welcome note and a message in a bottle half filled with sand – cute!
Complimentary welcome Gin and Tonic, lime and cucumber garnish and an ice bucket full of ice just calling my name. So, if you get into the swing of cocktails, you’ll find a book, Tokyo Cocktails, with 100 recipes inspired by the Japanese capital to recreate in a paid minibar to continue in style.
There is so much thought gone into the little details. There is even a navy iron; I’m not sure how, in keeping with the laid-back kick-your-shoes-off-at-the-door beach style this is, but maybe the Kimpton crowd want to iron their shirts before leaving!
For more, see the Little Wandering Wren room tour:
Interestingly, there is no workspace; I miss having a desk, but you are not here to work but to relax!
Beach or poolside?
Choeng Mon Beach
We have always loved this beach from way back. It is a pretty bay with soft sand and a gentle slope into the warm sea. The staff keep the section in front of the resort pristine, and you’ll find sun loungers and beachfront activities.
Our favourite time of day on the beach is an early morning wander along its shores before breakfast. Later in the day, if you are ever tempted to leave this fine resort, you’ll find all the usual choices of restaurants and local beach massages.
Swimming Pools
You have the choice of swimming pools at Kimpton Kitalay Samui. The main pool is a stunning Olympic-sized oceanfront pool. Two additional pools are found in the gardens, along with a Children’s pool with a waterslide, sun loungers, and umbrellas. Some of the villas have private pools.
There were plenty of sunloungers under the palm trees and eight extra large sunloungers suitable for a couple or small family.
Restaurants and Bars
FishHouse Restaurant & Bar
We had a fabulous dinner at FishHouse Restaurant & Bar, as found in the Thailand edition inaugural of the Michelin Guide. The restaurant is absolute beachfront; you can dine listening to the waves.
Someone’s had fun in the naming department with signature cocktails such as Anticipated Journey, Tides and Waves, Off the Hook, Adrift and Placid Seas.
Our dining menu was chosen for us and was such a highlight of our stay. We loved the tranquil atmosphere, designed to emulate a fishing village, serving the catch of the day, together with prime imported meats.
Catering for both romantic and family dinners. Our dinner starts with an explosion of tastes from the Something Fresh to Start menu: Salmon Carpaccio accompanied with wasabi mayo and caperberry sauce and sourdough bread, Red Tuna with guacamole catch of the day and steak with grilled Zucchini with Pesto dressing, gotta love the duck fat chips.
Pudding was a banana and smoke floor show comprising a coconut mouse stuffed with banana filling and a coconut creme brulee with shredded young coconut.
“FishHouse Restaurant & Bar is making waves with a new concept that brings a fresh twist to Samui dining. The new focus is on simple, honest and carefully crafted preparations of the island’s most sought-after ocean bounty and newly introduced premium meats”.
More at: FishHouse Restaurant and Bar
Boho Thai Lifestyle Cafe
It is worth planning a lingering brekkie at Boho Thai Lifestyle Cafe. The food is good, there is an excellent selection, and the cafe setting is lovely; you can choose indoors or outside.
There is a buffet selection area and table service for drinks and daily specials. Joy, oh joy, none of that hopping up and down to get your morning coffee!
Their signature breakfast choice is Chao Samui Benedict with local crab and your poached egg covered with a coconut curry hollandaise finished with a betel leaf. My scrambled eggs with smoked salmon and asparagus and a coffee with a love heart are the perfect way to start the day!
More here: Boho Thai Lifestyle Café
Dinner at Boho Thai Lifestyle Cafe
With three choices for dinner at Kimpton Kitalay Samui, we enjoyed our Thai dinner here one evening.
LANAI Bar & Lounge
This Bar and Lounge area is an elegant hangout day or night. It doubles as a lounge area during the day with a help-yourself coffee machine and lollies. As the sun sets, the area morphs into a chic cocktail bar for sundowners.
More at: LANAI Bar & Lounge
HOM Baking Company Cafe
Hooray for Hom Cafe, which serves fine barista coffee. Fresh bread and cakes are also available; you can even take baking classes here.
More at: HOM Baking Company.
Shades Ocean Lounge & Bar
This pool and beachfront bar are perfect for drinks and dining throughout the day. We enjoyed eating dinner here and looking out over the beach. We noticed that the food was prepared fresh at Fish House Kitchen.
Read more: SHADES Ocean Lounge & Bar
Resort Activities
Daily resort activities are available at 7 am, 10 am, 2 pm, and 4 pm. They range from fitness to crafts to cooking and more.
Fitness
Many fitness options are available for those looking to work up an appetite for their next meal. The gym is well-equipped and has a multi-purpose sports room for exercise classes. All the yoga mats, blocks, straps and Muay Thai boxing equipment are as new.
Beachfront, you have watersports, kayaks, paddleboards and free fat tyre bike loans. Mr Wren took a bike out for a cruise around the local streets.
Yoga
I was impressed with the high standard of yoga classes run by an external Yoga Instructor, Ann. I especially loved the sunrise yoga overlooking the pool. What a sensational way to start the day!
Experiences
There is lots to do at the resort. The daily activities also offer Thai conversation lessons, leaf folding, candle making and Thai Tea making, which includes a cake. Some, such as tie-dyeing, gel candle making, and tea classes, were chargeable at THB 500 net fee.
Kitavee Spa & Wellness
A visit to Kitavee Spa & Wellness is a must! Your welcome drink, a refreshing butterfly pea tea with a touch of salt, sets the scene for a Zen Wren spa treatment. The spa setting is gorgeous; it’s a lovely ambience and serene setting.
You can choose from a selection of oils, including the signature blend, sea salt and patchouli. I opted for Essence of Tranquil Aroma Massage. This treatment promotes complete relaxation and revitalization, bringing a profound tranquillity to mind and body. Mr Wren took the Siam Serenity Massage, which combines traditional Thai massage techniques, aromatherapy, stretching, and acupressure. It delivers a deep sense of relaxation and balance.
At THB 2,800++ for 60 minutes, the experience is priced in the luxury range.
See: Little Wren’s guide to finding great massage in Thailand
Kimpton Kitalay Samui details
Address: 10/79 MOO 5, Bophut, Koh Samui, Surat Thani 84320, Thailand
Website: www.kimptonkitalaysamui.com
Final Thoughts Kimpton Kitalay Samui
We really enjoyed our stay at Kimpton Kitalay Samui. The luxurious beachfront resort offers exceptional accommodation; it is fabulous for relaxing, and those who like activities will find plenty to see, do and love. The helpful and attentive staff go out of their way to ensure your stay is happy and memorable. With its tropical charm and thoughtful touches, this resort appeals to a wide range of guests and offers an exceptional stay.
Disclosure: Little Wandering Wren was a Kimpton Kitalay Samui guest. All opinions are my own. Thank you so much for this lovely invitation. It was a pleasure to be back in Koh Samui at your incredible resort.
Follow us on Social Media: Find more photos of my travels and stories on Instagram at @littlewanderingwren
Please pin for future use!
