Conrad Koh Samui {THA}
Mar 12, 2019, 9:58 pm
#226
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,555
Anyone know if you can confirm a 200-level villa upgrade in advance with cash, and then possibly get a 300-level villa as a Diamond upgrade?
One possibility is that there may be 4 of us in total. The 100's appear to only sleep 3, whereas the 200's list 4 as capacity. (Two teenagers - they aren't picky about where they sleep.)
One possibility is that there may be 4 of us in total. The 100's appear to only sleep 3, whereas the 200's list 4 as capacity. (Two teenagers - they aren't picky about where they sleep.)
Mar 12, 2019, 10:58 pm
#227
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,673
The sofa is large enough for an adult to sleep on, admittedly not very comfortably.
I have also been offered a folding bed once when sharing a villa with a friend I don't share a bed with, and who found the sofa too hard on a previous stay (actually ended up in a 2 bedroom as a repeat diamond, but that was under Lyle Lewis' brief tenure prior to his recent retirement - a great GM who understood that a pleased customer can be more profitable long-term).
So any villa can accommodate 2 adults and 2 teenagers.
What I would do is to email them and ask the cost for an upgrade to a 2 bedroom unit. Those are really nice, and would make for a 5* holiday for your whole family; the living room upstairs, kitchenette, garden, and 2.5 bathrooms add a ton of living space, and the cash difference between 1 and 2 bedrooms is not that great (~dinner for 2 in the Maldives
), especially now with the ongoing sale (you could use that delta as a reference for an eventual counteroffer). The reservation department is very responsive.
Last edited by monahos; Mar 13, 2019 at 7:34 am
Mar 13, 2019, 5:29 am
#228
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 13
Booked for 2 nights in 100-level villa, one using free night cert, one using points. I am Diamond. Online Check-in gives me an upgrade to 300-level. Choice of 301, 308 and 310. Any opinion on which one is best?
Mar 13, 2019, 5:52 am
#229
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Yorkshire & Bangsaen
Programs: HH Diamond, EY Gold, AY Silver, MR Plat
Posts: 526
Being a vegetarian in Thailand is never easy unless you have a good grasp of the language. Most thai dishes contain fish sauce. I find myself reverting to pescatarian when I visit Thailand, as its way too much hassle.
Mar 13, 2019, 5:57 am
#230
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,673
301 will be the most private, as it is the last in a dead end, has nothing overlooking it, and overlooks a dead end.
I have only stayed one time in a low (20x) numbered villa and preferred those in the teens or twenties as they seem to have more separation, but am not familiar with 3ox villas.
308 has a small grove on one side, so more private than average. Easy walking distance to breakfast without the need to call a buggy.
Possibly slightly less quiet as it is at the beginning of, and overlooks the beginning of a long path serving many 200's.
310 is between two other villas, but may have the widest horizon and be on highest ground.
Really not a bad choice among them (which is one of the CKS's main advantages vs. other aspirational resort Conrads). The only one in half a dozen stays I felt was slightly inferior was a 20x.
I have only stayed one time in a low (20x) numbered villa and preferred those in the teens or twenties as they seem to have more separation, but am not familiar with 3ox villas.
308 has a small grove on one side, so more private than average. Easy walking distance to breakfast without the need to call a buggy.
Possibly slightly less quiet as it is at the beginning of, and overlooks the beginning of a long path serving many 200's.
310 is between two other villas, but may have the widest horizon and be on highest ground.
Really not a bad choice among them (which is one of the CKS's main advantages vs. other aspirational resort Conrads). The only one in half a dozen stays I felt was slightly inferior was a 20x.
Mar 13, 2019, 7:26 am
#232
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,673
I think 301 will be a great starting point, and worth locking in.
The 2 bedroom units are perfect for families and friends, but IMHO too spread out (over 2 levels) for a couple not tired of seeing each other.
The royal villa seems best used as a social center in conjunction with friends/family staying in the adjacent normal villa (IIRC there is an usually locked private gate between them), as its main asset, besides the XL swimming pool and privacy, are large living/dining rooms with a staff kitchen/entrance. Its views are not the best, as the rocks in front of it make the nearby waters appear less blue.
Mar 13, 2019, 9:55 am
#233
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,555
What I would do is to email them and ask the cost for an upgrade to a 2 bedroom unit. Those are really nice, and would make for a 5* holiday for your whole family; the living room upstairs, kitchenette, garden, and 2.5 bathrooms add a ton of living space, and the cash difference between 1 and 2 bedrooms is not that great (~dinner for 2 in the Maldives ), especially now with the ongoing sale (you could use that delta as a reference for an eventual counteroffer). The reservation department is very responsive.
), especially now with the ongoing sale (you could use that delta as a reference for an eventual counteroffer). The reservation department is very responsive.
Mar 13, 2019, 3:14 pm
#234
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 13
I have never tried OLCI at this property. My two upgrades beyond retreat villas were last minute surprises (they did show online late morning on the day of arrival though); I was explicitly told that they were for repeat guests.
I think 301 will be a great starting point, and worth locking in.
The 2 bedroom units are perfect for families and friends, but IMHO too spread out (over 2 levels) for a couple not tired of seeing each other.
The royal villa seems best used as a social center in conjunction with friends/family staying in the adjacent normal villa (IIRC there is an usually locked private gate between them), as its main asset, besides the XL swimming pool and privacy, are large living/dining rooms with a staff kitchen/entrance. Its views are not the best, as the rocks in front of it make the nearby waters appear less blue.
I think 301 will be a great starting point, and worth locking in.
The 2 bedroom units are perfect for families and friends, but IMHO too spread out (over 2 levels) for a couple not tired of seeing each other.
The royal villa seems best used as a social center in conjunction with friends/family staying in the adjacent normal villa (IIRC there is an usually locked private gate between them), as its main asset, besides the XL swimming pool and privacy, are large living/dining rooms with a staff kitchen/entrance. Its views are not the best, as the rocks in front of it make the nearby waters appear less blue.
Last edited by pc_aus; Mar 13, 2019 at 3:24 pm
Mar 13, 2019, 7:10 pm
#235
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: PER
Programs: Airlines - Only in the pointy end on points, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 284
It is a great location, with plenty of privacy and walk able to most facilities (depending on fitness). We only called a buggy to Jahn or the Spa.
I hope you enjoy your stay.
Mar 17, 2019, 3:08 am
#236
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,376
Based on what you're saying I would probably stay away from the Conrad Koh Samui. If you enjoyed Phuket, then I would give the Conrad Bali a try, assuming the renovations are complete and/or minimized by the time you're planning to visit. The Conrad Bali has several very large pools flowing throughout the resort, very family friendly, multiple restaurants on-site with lots more within short walking distance. Plus it's Bali, so there's no shortage of stuff to do.
The CKS is in an entirely different league, a much nicer, more intimate, adult-centric resort, and also much more expensive by a magnitude of several times. While families are certainly not un-welcome, it's definitely more of a honeymoon/couples/adult spot, meant for lounging in your villa, relaxing, admiring the views, and eating at the nice (expensive) restaurants. The "beach" at CKS is largely a no-go, man made, rocky, etc. Honestly you'd end up spending 3-4x what you would in Bali and your kids would probably get bored by the 2nd day
.
The CKS is in an entirely different league, a much nicer, more intimate, adult-centric resort, and also much more expensive by a magnitude of several times. While families are certainly not un-welcome, it's definitely more of a honeymoon/couples/adult spot, meant for lounging in your villa, relaxing, admiring the views, and eating at the nice (expensive) restaurants. The "beach" at CKS is largely a no-go, man made, rocky, etc. Honestly you'd end up spending 3-4x what you would in Bali and your kids would probably get bored by the 2nd day
.I actually ended up ruling out Koh Samui after finding out that Nov is the worst time of the year to go in terms of weather and possibility of rain.
But your comments are helpful for future purpose, for sure. And it's a bummer that the beach there is man-made and not worth the time.
Mar 17, 2019, 11:16 am
#238
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 55
Mar 18, 2019, 8:47 am
#239
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Back in Hell
Posts: 4,178
And thanks for your excellent advice on the 300s. I'll link to that in the wiki.
Mar 18, 2019, 9:28 pm
#240
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,673
The upgrade to the royal villa was pre-Lyle, but was an outlier as the hotel was at 100% occupancy and I was on a short stay which must have matched its vacancy; I was left with the impression this was handled by the Thai reservation manager. IIRC it was my fourth stay there.
I never met the previous GM (saw him last year at the Rangali being, er, selective about guests he would approach), in contrast to Lyle who was available to all. It is under his watch the CKS became my favorite Hilton property, one of the few with no 'why am I here?' rooms, plus personalized, friendly, discreet, thoughtful, but not fawning service, just the way I like it. Here is hoping that mindset survived his retirement.
I never met the previous GM (saw him last year at the Rangali being, er, selective about guests he would approach), in contrast to Lyle who was available to all. It is under his watch the CKS became my favorite Hilton property, one of the few with no 'why am I here?' rooms, plus personalized, friendly, discreet, thoughtful, but not fawning service, just the way I like it. Here is hoping that mindset survived his retirement.