Zazen Boutique Resort Spa, Koh Samui, Thailand - Explore & Book
"The beach is small and can get busy, but that is really the only downside of Zazen Boutique Resort on the north coast of Koh Samui. Sitting at one end of Bo Phut, it’s a romantic and intimate place to escape with a partner, and it prides itself on its restorative qualities ('zazen' is a meditative pose). There’s a spa with a very long treatment list, a romantic restaurant serving Thai fusion cuisine, and you can idle away the days sipping fantastic cocktails by the pool, taking boat trips or exploring the nearby fishermen's village. The 26 bungalows are spacious and spoiling, with enormous beds, open-plan lounges and sleek bathrooms. Scattered through exotic gardens and coconut groves, large windows show off the bird of paradise flowers, and the glass doors give onto private terraces. Active types can go diving and snorkelling, visit an elephant sanctuary, swing through the rainforest canopy or head out into the blue for deep-sea fishing. So if you’re wound up, wiped out or in need of something wonderful, take my advice and treat yourself to a week here. Highs Really easy to get to; just 9km from Koh Samui airport, and a 5-minute taxi ride (or 15-minute beach walk) from Fisherman’s Village Extremely kind staff who get to know you by name, serving chilled face towels and authentic Thai smiles We loved our spacious suite, with its calm decor and its patio with a lazy swinging chair Award-winning restaurant serving exotic Thai fare alongside fine European cuisine - among the island's best dining The spa treatments are superb - our Thai massage was the best of a dozen we tested in southern Thailand Lows The beach is small and can get busy with people and boats; not great for swimming The Suites are only a few metres from each other - opt for a Garden Villa if you can Food and spa treatments aren't cheap, but they're heavenly The music by the pool can be quite loud for what is otherwise a tranquil sanctuary" - Michael Cullen
