Conrad Koh Samui Review

Overlooking the Gulf of Thailand from a hilltop location on Koh Samui, the Conrad Koh Samui is a five-star luxury resort. 

The experience starts from the moment guests are picked up at the airport. Each traveller is given a small basket of snacks and fresh coconut with their name on it for the hour’s drive. Think homemade jackfruit crisps and tom yum spiced popcorn. 

Stepping out of the car, there’s a cool towel and a welcome drink waiting at check-in. After a warm welcome, guests are whisked into buggies to head to their private villas. It’s a steep hillside, so make sure to hold on tight as the views are more than a little distracting. 

Raised on stilts and perched on the hillside, each villa has its own infinity pool with panoramic views of the ocean. Any holidaymakers looking to get some lengths in can head to the hotel’s communal pool which has in-water loungers for relaxation. There’s also a private beach where guests can hire watersports equipment and snorkelling gear. 

A Thai oasis, the hotel even has its own farm which guests can tour, where as many of the restaurants’ ingredients as possible are produced. Look out for the hotel’s celebrity, a precocious baby goat named Johan. 

Rating: 5/5

All of the hotel’s rooms are standalone villa-style. We checked into a one-bedroom villa with a view of Koh Samui’s famous five islands. Although the hilltop style of the resort means each villa has a slightly different outlook, every room faces the sea.

Upon entering the room, it’s hard to avoid heading straight out to the infinity pool area which has loungers, an umbrella and an outdoor dining spot. Guests can stroll straight out the French doors from the villa’s bedroom or bathroom to step into their pool with just birdsong for company.

Inside, the bedroom is spacious with a king-size bed, lounge area and bureau. Each villa has a separate closet room which means there’s no need for any suitcase clutter in the living area. 

The bathroom is particularly spectacular with a huge tub positioned right in front of windows. His-and-her sinks and a walk-in rainfall shower complete the room, which has a separate toilet.

Anyone looking for an indulgent treat can book a specially drawn bubble bath from the hotel’s menu.  The bathroom is kitted out with full-size Mojave Ghost toiletries, meaning the hotel avoids plastic waste without compromising on luxury. 

Rating: 5/5

Resort-style hotels are sometimes in danger of falling back on bland international cuisine but this really isn’t the case at the Conrad Koh Samui. 

Guests breakfast at Zest, which like every facility at the hotel, has incredible ocean views. Try the fresh coconut and mango smoothie and don’t miss the salmon which is smoked onsite and farm-fresh eggs.

When there’s a private infinity pool on offer, it’d be rude not to indulge in a floating breakfast. The Conrad’s is truly mouthwatering with fresh juice, salmon sushi, spring rolls, pastries, Thai green curry and more. 

With three restaurants onsite, guests have plenty of choices throughout the day. Jahn, a contemporary steak restaurant, serves a mix of international and local dishes. 

Azure, a Mediterranean-style café, serves up classic poolside dishes. Zest is the standout of the resort’s restaurants with a focus on local Thai dishes, including papaya salad and a spicy pad Thai. The homemade mango sticky rice and homemade coconut ice cream are not to be missed. 

But what makes the dining experience truly special at the Conrad is how many of the ingredients are produced onsite. The resort has its own farm where it sources chicken and duck eggs, four different types of bananas, mulberries for cocktails and a huge range of herbs and spices. Guests are welcome to tour the farm and don’t worry, the goats aren’t on the menu, they’re just helping out with the fertiliser. 

Pop to Botanikka, an organic cafe which serves coffee, snacks and homebrewed kombucha, to check out the resort’s elusive oyster mushroom room.

The hotel’s staff are encouraged to innovate and don’t leave without sampling one of their fermented coffees, a unique way to reduce coffee waste. Staff are rightly proud of the resort’s cuisine and guests can join a kombucha or coffee roasting workshop to get a hands-on experience. 

Rating: 4.5/5

The hotel is situated on a forested slope on Koh Samui’s southwestern tip with views over the Gulf of Thailand. 

Night owls rejoice because the hotel is ideally placed for sunset rather than sunrise views over the bay. The hotel has beach access with its own secluded bay. 

This is a private oasis and it’s suited to guests who want to unwind in peace, but wouldn’t necessarily work for tourists who want to explore the island on foot due to its exclusive location. Guests primarily use the hotel’s buggy service to travel between its restaurants, beach and pool.

It’s about an hour’s drive from the airport, however, hotel transfers can be arranged and staff can help to arrange excursions to the rest of the island.

Rates vary depending on supply but rooms start from £485.94 per night including breakfast. Find rooms and book direct on Conrad Koh Samui.

Or compare rates and prices for a stay at Conrad Koh Samui on Booking.com or Hotels.com.