Originally Posted by
ainternational
My limited experience on the island was really centered around the FS, although I visited The Library and a few other properties. FS has a great, terrible location.
Great in so much as it's beautifully located in a private corner of the island with rather private vistas of the sea and beyond. Terrible in that it's far from most island activities, although perhaps that's by design as staying on the property there certainly is amenable and obviously preferred by the hotel.
Overall I'd say, like I've read in other threads before, this isn't an Aman style experience, but perhaps the best the island has to offer. I'd definitely recommend an upgraded villa. I had a private pool villa, just overlooking but not directly on the beach - privacy was paramount in my selection.
Very nice villa, despite the issues with hot water and bugs, but overall quite pleasant. What wasn't quite up to par about this resort was the service. I found it to be below other FS, even those domestic properties in America (gasp!), which could have been due to language issues or simply training. FWIW, when I contacted the GM, he made it right and then some. I was impressed with the management response.
Overall if I was going back to USM, I'd stay at the FS again. But I am in no rush to return to Samui. So many other places to try, and so many desires to go back to Amanpulo.
I have been going to Samui for years and have progressed from my backpacking days to 25 years later Four Seasons and other establishment days. Samui has changed... a lot- some good, a lot very bad, however in general it checks the boxes of "close to Bangkok, very good weather, ocean and beach". That is it really- the food on Samui is nothing special, the taxis are scandalous both in their costs and their unwillingness to help tourists much less turn on a meter, and senseless development has made the island exactly what most people don't want. It is also no longer inexpensive, however, boxes above being checked, and in my opinion a less hectic destination still than Phuket, it can be worth a visit.
The Four Seasons is the best option if you want a hotel.
If you want to be closer to things, the best option is to rent a villa.
Six Senses is OK although I think it is overpriced for what you get.
The Library has an OK restaurant and that is it- no privacy, no concept of service, no swimming pool really (far more design oriented pool than anything else)- I wouldn't stay there- it is as if it has been designed entirely for a few "cool" photos to put on Facebook.
The restaurant at Zazen which somehow is very highly rated and somehow is called a boutique hotel is possibly the worst "fine dining" experience I have ever had in Thailand or Southeast Asia as a whole. They also insist on keeping the entire area pitch dark which they call Romantic and I suspect really is just so you cannot see the number of mosquitoes.
Four Seasons is definitely the option on Samui- and don't plan to leave too often as there is not much to see other than some tourist ripoffs and the completely destroyed Chwaeng beach- ruined by development with an often flooded road system- and don't think too much about the flood. The golf course by the way is pretty good actually although it could be kept in better condition and the caddy openly admits to never having played golf.