[Updated December 2024]
Anantara always offers what I love in a hotel: effortless luxury with lots of Thainess. I have never not enjoyed one of their hotels. So when I was invited to check out the charms of Anantara Bo Phut Koh Samui, I jumped at the chance. I loved the delights of Anantara Bo Phut, with its spectacular landscaping and location on Bo Phut Beach, Koh Samui. Our suite room was amazing. We loved the exceptional dining options, and it was all within easy reach of Fisherman Village. Staying at Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort was such a joy
The Bophut Beach location
We have always liked the hip and happening Bophut beach area of Samui with its Fisherman’s Village. Here, we found shopping, massage shops, a few bars, including the ever-popular local Coco Tam’s Beach Bar and a choice of food options. In previous visits to Koh Samui, we dined at Anantara’s Full Moon restaurant, which we remembered as exquisite, fuelling our desire to return to stay.
Anantara hotels
I have to confess to being a massive Anantara fan. Their hotels have never disappointed, including for our honeymoon in Chiang Rai! We always find them well-managed hotels that put the guest experience first.
Mr Wren doesn’t get much time off work. When we go away, everything needs to work and be perfect. The Anantara Bophut delivered.
Our arrival
Our stay included an airport pick-up, but my next tip is to hire a car. We paid THB 800 daily and travelled all over the island with our wheels. The roads are reasonable; we have found a new road across the middle of the island since our last visit. There is less traffic on the road compared with Phuket. Driving in Samui is a pleasure!
The moment we drove up the grand Anantara driveway to find the three monkeys at reception, we felt relaxed. They bang a welcome drum on arrival, and with a giggle and the sound reverberating through us, we are escorted into the rather grand and refreshingly cool library to complete our check-in details.
The General Manager Emanuel even stopped by to add his welcome, which we thought was a nice touch.
The resort
The charm of the Anantara hotels is their emphasis on stunning grounds with lilyponds that were once a coconut plantation. As we walk to our room through the lush tropical gardens past the massive lotus ponds, which become wonderfully illuminated at night, we spot garden cabanas for relaxing and the impressive infinity swimming pool area.
The birds are singing in the trees, and you immediately know you can relax here.
Our Royal Sea View suite
You can choose from 106 elegant rooms, suites and beachfront pool suites.
Our room is beyond stunning; I skip around it, checking everything out. We couldn’t be more beachfront if we tried. Having said that, I love the way this low-rise resort is laid out. All rooms either get a beautiful garden view or a stunning beach view; some even have private pools.
Whilst I’m admiring the bed with the kissing elephant towel art surrounded by frangipani flowers, Mr Wren has found the wine fridge. Or, as it’s only lunchtime, Nespresso coffee, anyone?
It’s a massive room with a great bathroom. A very, very deep bath faces his and her basins. We don’t have any of this at home, which always thrills me!
Anantara Spa
Gosh, this Bill Bensley award-winning garden spa is gorgeous. It is huge, with six standalone garden treatment suites, private al fresco tubs, and rain showers. The spa is tucked away in the gardens, behind the herb garden, like a secret oasis. Their reception is an open-air sala floating on a lotus pond. Across a wooden bridge, we enter a gentle garden with three oversized doorways, behind which are two separate private spa treatment suites.
Our couples Spa journey
We’re booked in for a couple’s massage. Mr Wren raises an eyebrow with a quizzical look. They call me the Spa Queen of Asia because of my insatiable appetite for a good spa. Yet I never want my luxury pampering spoilt by having him in the room. That couple’s massage stuff is so for newlyweds in my book! Don’t you agree?
We needn’t have worried, it’s happy spa days indeed as we are informed that the Anantara COVID policy means that we will have separate rooms (secret fist pumps all round!)
The atmosphere is calm and majestic, with an air of reverence. We split up, him to the right, me to the left.
Floor-to-ceiling glass windows face onto a private bamboo screened garden with an outdoor shower. As I drift off into oblivion, I feel wrapped in the serenity of nature.
Signature massage
We have chosen the Anantara Spa’s signature massage, a combination of oil and Thai massage. We thought this was a bit different. Usually, we prefer a relaxing oil massage, but for both of us with long times spent working at desks, this treatment was the best of both worlds. The relaxation of oil with the stretch of a Thai massage is inspired.
We emerge out of our separate spa room doors like figures in a cuckoo clock. Both at the same time, with a sleepy grin on our faces.
Dining at Anantara BoPhut Koh Samui
Today, you will find exceptional dining options from a signature South American restaurant, Guilty to local southern cuisine at Thin Tai and easy bites by the infinity pool at TĀN Beach Lounge.
Back in 2020, we had the following dining experiences:
Anantara Gin
I’m a happy bunny when I discovered that the Anantara have their own signature Origin Gin, crafted in Chiang Mai and sold in their Thailand, Vietnam and Maldives hotels. As a G&T lady, ever since my Australian Gin Safari tour, I’m happy to drink Botanicals with the best of them.
Origin has a juniper berry base with 14 natural botanicals and eight compounds, including lemon peel, basil, lemongrass, cardamom seeds, bell peppers, ginger, kumquat, passion fruit and longan honey—all from Southeast Asia.
Of course, we’re talking Fentimans tonic.
Full Moon
We dined twice at Full Moon restaurant. Usually, we’re more adventurous and head out of the hotel for dinner, but the combination of great food, a wonderful setting, and a well-priced 3-course dinner set menu lured us to return.
With the romantic setting of this fine dining restaurant looking out across the swimming pool to Bophut Bay, why go anywhere else?
The first evening, we enjoyed the new signature dry-aged beef, which Executive Chef David proudly introduced. Their beef from across the globe is dry-aged in-house for a minimum of 30 days to maximise flavour and tenderness.
For a primarily vegetarian Wren, this is a big call for me, but one gin down, and I know it is Mr Wren’s dream dinner… So, of course, we share a huge prime rib-eye steak from the US.
That was the best steak I have ever tasted, which is not as high praise from me, as my carnivore hubby who declared it excellent!
The steak comes with quite a performance. Firstly, there is a salt choice. Now, it usually is ‘pass the salt or pepper‘, isn’t it? Not here at Full Moon. There is a choice of five different salts, and then a massive case of steak knives arrives. Decisions, decisions!
Breakfast
I’m a bit fussy when it comes to breakfast, for me I insist on the full works and we often “eat for England” to take us through the whole way to dinner.
The Anantara has it all, apart from the fact that I didn’t spot my favourite smoked salmon and avocado. This is a nod to nourish the half-Aussie in me! I’m not complaining; there was so much choice! We loved our lazy breakfasts. The egg station and noodle bar are set up in the garden with the main buffet, bakery, cereals, juices, salads, fruit, etc. inside.
I suspect they have adapted slightly to an increase in Thai guests, but I am happy with my big test: an egg-white omelette, no fat and a pot of fresh lemongrass and ginger tea.
Yoga and fitness
I returned to the spa the following day, where they had recently built an open-air yoga sala. From my yoga mat, I really appreciate the tranquillity of the spa gardens, although don’t forget to spray on some of the thoughtfully provided insect repellents.
A 30-minute yoga class is one of the complimentary activities offered for residents. Other options during the week were Pilates and Thai boxing. You can book a private 60-minute yoga session with the instructor.
I never saw the gym, as we preferred a daily walk on the beach (it’s soft sand, so it’s quite a workout!)
Updates:
A tennis court is available at Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort and is free to use for guests staying in the resort.
‘The Spa at Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort draws on the elements of European spa and Asian wellness philosophy, our personalised multi-day wellness programmes revive body and mind, while highly comforting spa therapies and beauty treatments bring back the glow and restore vitality in an all-natural, open-air setting. Learn new mindfulness techniques with yoga or sound therapy under our team’s expert guidance, or discover the resetting power of Muay Thai.‘
Happy hour
Each night at the pool bar, a cocktail was offered for a 50% discount. The beach area was set up to replicate the famous local Coco Tam’s beach bar, with its laid-back atmosphere and bean bags on the beach.
Take the following tip from me: They were queuing for over an hour to get into Coco Tam’s, so just enjoy the sunset from the Anantara.
Fisherman’s Village
Of course, no stay at the Anantara Bophut is complete without the short stroll down the beach to Fisherman’s Village. The village comprises a mix of old Chinese shop houses mixed with the new and modern. It works to offer a charming blend with a Mediterranean feel.
Thank you!
We want to thank the Anantara Bophut and Minor Hotels for a much-needed and relaxing few days. It is thoroughly recommended. We will be back!
More details
Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort
Telephone : 02 365 9110
Email: reserveanantara@anantara.com
Website: www.anantara.com/en/bophut-koh-samui
Little Wandering Wren stayed as a guest of Anantara Bophut Koh Samui. More can be found on Instagram and Twitter @littlewanderingwren.
This post was initially posted for Expat Life in Thailand. You can find more of Little Wandering Wren’s Thailand staycations here:
2 comments
Hello, Wren!
You go on the BESt vacations, this resort is just amazing. It is nice to go there and be pampered, massages, good food and wine and the beach. Awesome photos. Thanks for sharing your trip! Take care, enjoy your day!
Thank you for writing a review of this gorgeous resort. It looks so beautiful and peaceful. This is the type of resort our family would love to visit in the future.