Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort

Cool interiors mingling with tropical greenery and pool villas that save the best sea views just for you – you wouldn’t think that Anantara Lawana was just at the top of Chaweng Beach, one of Koh Samui’s best and busiest beaches. This best-of-both-worlds resort is far enough to escape the buzz and close enough for you to join in. It’s just a ten-minute tuk-tuk ride to see what the fuss is about down at the beach’s buzziest stretch, with scattered thatched-roof salas and memorable dining experiences waiting back at your hotel.

If the high-end Anantara brand and excellent location weren’t enough, the Tree Top Sky Dining & Bar single-handedly puts the hotel on the island’s fine dining map. Artistic European-Asian food is brought to you in your personal sala with a side of sea views. It’s the kind of romantic setting that’s booked in advance for anniversaries and honeymoons and becomes the highlight of most people’s stay. Private dining experiences don’t stop there either; Anantara’s Dining by Design concept is all about secret dining set-ups for two, like night picnics on the sand or a table in the middle of a candlelit garden. All food is of exceptional quality, like at the main restaurant, Ocean Kiss, where breakfast comes with a rainbow fruit spread, buttery pastries and chefs on hand for French toast or even sushi made for you on the spot.

The spa is another draw that keeps guests more than happy to stay put. Walkways lead to individual treatment areas and the tropical therapy uses ingredients like skin-softening coconut and energising Thai herbs. On to the rooms and suites, where there’s a harmonious flow from each bedroom to their oversized en suites and outdoor spaces. The hotel’s rooms come up top on Koh Samui for their generous size and have lovely features like deep soaking tubs and indoor-outdoor rain showers. We love the outdoor swing in Deluxe Plunge Pool Rooms which hangs above the plunge pool, and the open-plan design in Anantara Pool Villas where your four-poster bed gets a view of the huge private pool area.