Meliá Koh Samui

Meliá Koh Samui, a Michelin Key Selected property, offers a blend of traditional Thai hospitality and modern architecture, making it a highly regarded destination for both romantic getaways and family holidays.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for Meliá Koh Samui is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently describing their stays as "amazing" and "exceptional." The resort boasts a high average rating, with cleanliness, staff, comfort, and facilities consistently scoring well. It is considered a top-rated hotel in Choeng Mon.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently praise several aspects of Meliá Koh Samui:

• Service & Staff: The staff is frequently highlighted as "amazing," "friendly," "helpful," and "attentive," often going above and beyond to make stays memorable. Personalized service, where staff remember guests' room numbers and proactively check on their well-being, is a recurring theme.
• Design & Facilities: The resort's design, which pays homage to Thailand's maritime heritage, is well-received. Guests particularly love the beautiful, perfectly kept gardens and the unique 700-meter-long lagoon pool that meanders around the resort, featuring slides, waterjets, and jacuzzis. There are also three outdoor pools, including a children's pool with a waterslide. The award-winning YHI Spa is also a notable amenity.
• Location & Beach: The beachfront location on Choeng Mon Beach is a major draw. Guests appreciate the beautiful, quiet, and clean sandy beach with shallow, warm, and calm water, offering ample space without feeling crowded.
• Amenities: Beyond the pools, the resort offers a 24-hour gym with yoga classes, beach yoga, canoeing, watersport equipment rentals, a kids' club, and free in-room WiFi. The "The Level" service offers an even more luxurious experience with access to a private lounge, all-day snacks and beverages, afternoon tea, and evening cocktails.

3. Room Quality

Meliá Koh Samui features 159 well-appointed guest rooms and 41 luxurious suites.

• Spacious and Modern: Rooms are generally described as large, modern, spacious, and clean.
• Direct Pool Access: Ground floor rooms often boast spacious verandahs that lead directly to the lagoon pool.
• Boat Suites: A crowning glory of the resort are the 30 stunning boat suites, restored marvels of Thailand's maritime heritage. These offer contemporary interior designs with a stand-alone bathtub, double showers on the lower level, and a glorious bedroom with polished wooden floors upstairs via a spiral staircase. They also feature a private al fresco deck with a day bed.
• Grand Suites: Grand Suites are noted for being very spacious, elegantly furnished, and convertible into two separate bedrooms, often including "The Level" services.
• Comfort: Beds are generally considered comfortable, even if initially seeming a bit firm. Rooms come equipped with TVs, Nespresso coffee machines (in some, like the Premium Room), and empty mini-fridges allowing guests to stock their own items. Bathrooms are typically large and feature rainfall showers.

4. Dining Experience

The dining experience at Meliá Koh Samui is highly praised:

• Breakfast Buffet: The breakfast buffet is consistently highlighted as "amazing," "fantastic," and "top-notch," offering a wide variety of local and international dishes, including freshly baked pastries, made-to-order omelets, Spanish and European influences, and Thai curries, rice, and fresh tropical fruit.
• Restaurants: The resort has three on-site restaurants, including The Breeza Beach Restaurant and Bar, which is situated on the beach and considered one of the island's best-kept secrets for its amazing cuisine. Koko Kitchen and Boat's Bar are also mentioned. Guests can enjoy breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, and farm-to-table cuisine.
• Room Service: 24-hour room service is available with an extensive menu.
• Nearby Options: There are also various inexpensive restaurants and cafes within easy walking distance outside the resort.

5. Service & Staff

The service and staff at Meliá Koh Samui are a significant highlight and a frequent reason for guests to return. They are consistently described as:

• Friendly and Helpful: Guests commend the staff for being "really friendly and very helpful."
• Attentive and Accommodating: The staff are noted for their attentiveness, often remembering guests' room numbers and being proactive in checking on their satisfaction. They are responsive to requests and willing to go the extra mile, even changing rooms if a guest is not completely satisfied.
• Personalized Experience: Specific staff members (e.g., Siri, Van, Max, Rainbow, Auto) are often mentioned by name for their exceptional hospitality and for sharing useful information and insights about the island.
• Special Occasions: Staff make special occasions, like birthdays, feel extra special and festive.

6. Location & Accessibility

Meliá Koh Samui is located on Choeng Mon Beach, on the northeastern tip of Koh Samui.

• Quiet Beach: Choeng Mon Beach is known for being one of the nicest beaches on the island, with white sand, shallow, warm, and calm water, and a quiet atmosphere without high-rise hotels.
• Local Amenities: The immediate area offers cafes, a pharmacy, a 7-Eleven, and a range of inexpensive local restaurants within easy walking distance.
• Accessibility to Attractions: While the beach itself is quiet, Chaweng, a more bustling area, is just a few minutes away by taxi. The airport is also conveniently located, about 10-15 minutes away, without significant aircraft noise.
• Beach Access Note: Some guests noted that rocks in the ocean directly in front of the hotel can make entry difficult at low tide, though a sandy entrance is available a short walk away at the next hotel.

7. Value & Pricing

Meliá Koh Samui offers a luxurious experience, which is reflected in its pricing.

• Price Range: The average price per room has been noted around $222 per night, compared to a city average of $115, suggesting it's a premium option. However, some reviews indicate prices around $180 per night, including breakfast, while boat suites can command higher rates. Rates can be very expensive during high season.
• Worth the Cost: Despite the higher price point compared to the city average, many guests feel it offers exceptional value for money and is "well worth the price" for the luxury, facilities, and service provided. Guests have also noted that booking during the low season can sometimes yield more affordable rates.
• "The Level" Value: "The Level" services, while adding to the cost, are seen as providing additional, very pleasant benefits, enhancing the luxury experience.

8. Common Complaints

While overall sentiment is very positive, a few minor issues have been mentioned:

• Mold/Wet Wood Smell: A recurring complaint from a few guests is a slight smell of mold or wet wood in some rooms. However, the hotel staff has been responsive in addressing these concerns, offering room changes.
• Distance of Rooms from Beach: Some guests, particularly those in certain blocks (e.g., Block 5), found the walk to the beach to be longer than expected.
• Beach Towel Availability: One guest reported issues with beach towel availability at the pool or beach, leading to wasted time retrieving them from their room.
• Limited Activities Outside Hotel: For those seeking high-octane fun, active nightlife, or supermarkets, the immediate quiet area around the hotel might be less appealing, necessitating taxis for evening excursions.

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