The Ritz-Carlton, Koh Samui

We had the perfect honeymoon at the Ritz-Carlton Koh Samui. It has beautiful rooms, great food and excellent facilities, but it is the quality of service, above all, that makes it such an exceptional place to stay; the place we had the best holiday we’ve ever had. We stayed in one of the ultimate pool villas with an unrestricted ocean view. If you can afford it, is most definitely worth it, as you can see nothing but ocean from wherever you are: living area, bedroom, bathroom, etc. The room had everything we could need, together with a whole host of small touches from blackout doors for the bedroom to complimentary mosquito sprays (their approach to mosquitos is particularly robust, with resort-wide mistings taking place every few days to keep them away). They knew it was our honeymoon and so both in the room on arrival and throughout our stay there were a series of things in our room and in restaurants we ate at to congratulate us, including cards, chocolates and fruit. The food is excellent. There is a very wide choice of foods for breakfast and nothing you could want that is not on offer. There are also a series of great restaurants including a thai restaurant, Indian restaurant and meat/fish grill restaurant, that all provided excellent food. A particular favourite for us was the One Rai restaurant, where Chef Armaan’s food was some of the best Indian food we have eaten in any country, particularly the murgh malai tikka, dum chicken biryani and naan breads. We ended up eating there 3 times. The Thai street food market they put on is also very much worth going to for a wide range of food and good entertainment. There are lots of activities you can take part in every day. Particularly good are the Muai Thai classes, where Mick and Sean are very good, fun teachers. The main pool is large and does not get too crowded whatever time of day it is, and the gym is nicely designed and similarly not busy. There is an excellent buggy service that is available at a moment’s notice and transports you from location to location if you are feeling it is hot or somewhere is too far to walk. We stayed for 10 nights and during that time there was also several events the resort put on to give guests free cocktails and canapes. It is however the service that makes the Ritz Carlton Koh Samui so exceptional. At every position across the resort the staff go above and beyond to ensure you have everything you need. Beginning with Tee, one of the managers, who gave us her number, made lots of good local recommendations, was contactable at all times if we needed anything and ensured we were always taken care of. Chef Nan, the resort’s pastry chef, has a lovely, bubby personality and made a huge range of delicious pastries (orange chocolate madeleines being a particular favourite), circulating round tables in the mornings to ensure you were having a good stay. Ping was also great at breakfast and around the resort ensuring you had everything you need. In some ways it is unfair to single out particular people as the standard of service is so high across the board, but special shout-outs also have to go to Yok and Raj at One Rai who were very attentive and provided great conversation, as well as Wannisa, Megan, Mai and Immie. But throughout our stay, everyone was excellent and we could not have asked for more, hence it being the perfect honeymoon. Choose the Ritz Carlton for your Koh Samui stay – you won’t regret it.

We have stayed in many wonderful hotels around the world, but the service at The Ritz-Carlton, Koh Samui was genuinely exceptional, up there with the very best we have experienced. Everything felt incredibly well thought through, often before we even had the chance to ask. The rooms were spacious and beautiful, the food was excellent, particularly The View and Baan Talat, and the staff throughout the resort were warm, attentive and efficient. The little touches made the stay feel very personal, from handwritten notes for our anniversary and birthday celebrations to bookmarks and sun hats. A very special mention must go to Tee, who was outstanding. She seemed to be ten steps ahead at all times and nothing was ever too much trouble. We left feeling not simply that we had stayed in a beautiful hotel, but that we had been genuinely looked after. A truly memorable stay.

As a Marriott Bonvoy Platinum member, I have had the privilege of staying at many exceptional hotels and resorts around the world, both for business and leisure. Yet **The Ritz-Carlton, Koh Samui stands apart from every hotel I have ever experienced.** What makes this resort extraordinary is not simply its beautiful villas, stunning surroundings, or impeccable facilities. It is the people. From the moment we began planning our trip, to the days leading up to our arrival, throughout our five-day stay, and even after we left, the staff across every department cared for our family with a level of thoughtfulness, attention, and genuine warmth that was truly remarkable. Every detail seemed to matter to them. Nothing felt routine, rehearsed, or transactional. Their hospitality felt deeply personal. One could say this is Thailand, a country renowned for its hospitality. One could also say this is The Ritz-Carlton, a brand synonymous with exceptional service. Both are certainly true. But what we experienced here went far beyond either of those things. **There is something uniquely special about the people at The Ritz-Carlton, Koh Samui — a sincerity, humanity, and warmth that cannot simply be taught through service standards or written into a luxury hotel manual.** I have stayed at outstanding hotels around the world, but I have rarely encountered a team that made us feel so genuinely cared for. By the time we left, they no longer felt like hotel staff. They felt like people we had come to know, trust, and even regard as family. Saying goodbye was unexpectedly emotional, and we left already wanting to return — not simply to revisit the resort, but to see these wonderful people again. Of course, the resort itself is exceptional. Our villa was beautifully maintained, the facilities and the foods were outstanding, and the entire property reflects the quality one expects from The Ritz-Carlton. But beautiful resorts exist in many places around the world. **What cannot be replicated is the heart of this place.** That is what makes The Ritz-Carlton, Koh Samui truly unforgettable. To every member of the team who looked after our family(especially Berince Low), thank you. You did far more than provide us with a wonderful vacation. You gave us memories and kindness that our family will carry with us long after leaving Koh Samui. **The Ritz-Carlton, Koh Samui represents hospitality at its very finest.** We arrived as guests, left feeling like family. And we will most certainly return.