Hotel car service is pretty reasonable on Koh Samui, otherwise just get the hotel to book the taxi for you to avoid being ripped off.

Things may have changed since we were there in August but there was no free drink period for Diamonds. We had free drinks in the library but that was due to work being done on the pool.

There are multiple happy hours across the different bars. The free drinks in the wiki refers to the coupons.

You find a lot of information about the difference between the different kind of villas and even between the different villas of the same standard. It‘s an unofficial science how to optimize a stay at the CKS. From my point of view - I‘ve staid at different villas from 1-room waterfront near the beach to 2-bedroom near the arrival lobby - the differences are not as big as you might think after reading all information.

The hotel is built at a steep mountainside. That means that the arrival lobby and the beach are at significant different heights. The villas are between them and all them are connected by a very winding and steep road. The standard of your villa affects at which height it is. The hotel offers a buggy service which works very well. But if you want to walk, it depends on where your villa is located at. It is easy to walk from a waterfront villa to the beach/main pool area or to the Zest restaurant for having breakfast. But it is a real kind of workout to walk to the Jahn restaurant or the arrival lobby from there.

It depends on you, which location is more suitable for you, if you prefer to stay closer to the beach or closer to the arrival lobby.

Of course, if you stay with kids, the 2-bedroom villa makes a lot of sense.

The other differences are not really important from my point of view as all villas are very nice.

I was told when we stayed here in Aug that there is no longer any more free drinks at all for HH. I think's it BOGO now.

You get 4 voucher per stay (for 2 persons) to use at Zest or Azure right now.

In January I got four vouchers as a Diamond, too. Could be used in all outlets (bars and restaurants), not sure about Jahn though (as we didn't go there). The drink voucher do not have anything to do with the happy hour (2 for 1), which you can use additionally.

Not sure what the upgrade situation is, but this was included in my reservation email:

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...468577a3f9.jpg
If what I've read so far is true, most of the villas are the same and elite status will allow you to request a higher level villa.

This is correct. I also received that in my confirmation email when we stayed there 2 years ago.

Similar to the warning HHV now provides at booking. Though that property continues to upgrade, despite the warning saying that they don't. Reducing expectations. They must get lots of complaints from guests disappointed with their room assignment.

Just booked five nights with HHonors points in July. Will be our first trip to a resort like this so my wife and I are pretty excited. She recently picked up the Aspire so we'll be going in with Diamond status over Gold, although I'm not really sure how much extra that will get us.

I'm assuming it's worth contacting the hotel beforehand to let them know about what we're celebrating?

That would probably depend on what you're celebrating.

I am ready to put 300k from Aspire, Ascend, and Business card + some leftover points toward CKS. However, I am wondering if CKS impose nonrefundable policy on award stay during high season? I noticed that Feb 2019 award stay is nonrefundable, while I decide to do dummy booking this October and notice that points can be refundable. Little hesitant to park 380k without any flexibility right now.

How's weather during October, but i assume it's wet season because paid rates is basically 50% off from February 2019 paid rates and upgrade chances should be much better.

I just returned from my stay and I was blown away. The property is abouslutely beautiful and I was treated so well by every single staff member I came in contact with. I truely felt appreciated for my Diamond status. I posted some video of the one and two bedrooms villas as well as some drone footage on my Facebook page. Feel free to check it out: facebook.com/chad.morton.10

Great video. So you were also upgraded mid-stay? Did you ask for an upgrade at check-in or at any point. After reviewing pics and our previous stay, I think we would be fine to stick with a 100 level room unless a 2 bdrm upgrade was available.

Awesome video, especially I find it very helpful to see what 100s room look like because I don't really count on upgrades if I decide to come next February. Standard room still look very awesome, and I might try to nudge them for upgrades during part of my stay if possible. Thanks for sharing the pics and videos :)