Any recent feedback on this hotel or how they treat platinum members? Still need to ask for breakfast to be included?

Also any suggestions on the best way to get to the hotel from the airport (taxi or other way) and anything to look out for (meter in taxi, etc)?

Thanks!

Can anyone advise the email address for this hotel? I can't find one on the website or elsewhere online.

I'm torn between staying here and the newly opened Ritz Carlton for a stay later this year over NYE holiday. Any advice about which way to lean is greatly appreciated.

Read the reviews on the RC, they are generally not favorable. If I was going to spend that kind of money on Samui, I would book Vanna Belle, which is an SPG property (and much better located than either RC or Ren).

No idea about RC but I stayed at the Ren and found the service fantastic.

Had dinner at Vanna Belle one night and that also looked good. Beach there looked better for swimming also - due to the tide the water is too low / far out at Ren for most of the day.

Yeah, I read the reviews as well as TPG's recent blog post. I'm using my SPG points for a summer holiday in Santorini, so I won't have enough for a Bali stay too.

Thanks, I think I'm leaning towards the Ren.

Does anyone have any thoughts of the Ren vs Le Meridien? They're almost next door to each other. I've stayed at LeM before and would do so again but with the Ren so close I'm tempted.

PPE benefits? Breakfast / upgrades?

Fair point. I'm not a huge beach fan and considering them because (a) it's in H1 of the year and I will have qualifying nights anxiety, (b) most other Starriotts charge insane cash prices for Thailand and (c) I detest the Sheraton there and resent paying any rate for it.

Having said that, I'm now looking at blowing points on the W because its rates makes a 60k points redemption acceptable value.

I just saw Vana Belle available in May in the $8K THB range, which is very cheap for that property.

My impression was that the Renaissance looked much nicer than the Le Meridien, which seemed run down by comparison.

I also have fond memories of the Samui Sunshine pancakes for breakfast.

Stayed last year. Switched from LM at last minute as reviews were declining and there were reports of mosquitoes.

Paid for garden villa in the hope I would at least get a 1 category upgrade to ocean view, which worked.

Villa was spacious, although worn. Plunge pool was wonderful, perfect temperature. We had an issue with the AC they had to fix. Also at one stage a lizard fell from the ceiling. Staff handled both issues.

Food across the resort ranged from good to excellent. Service was variable.

I was concerned on arrival as behind our villa was some stagnant water, but ultimately never saw a mosquito. Bed had netting anyway. Resort was fumigated on our departure day.

I would avoid the base rooms, they are behind reception via a bridge. The villas are between reception and the sea. Assuming the SNA pool allows it, this is a good candidate for one of those to get into the villa. Or look at the cash rate, which worked for us.

Overall, 4/5. It is not Vana Belle, but nor is the price point. We enjoyed our stay.

Beachfront Villa with private pool
 

My Thai GF and I are here for three nights on a seriously low rate, plus using a MegaTix voucher, so it's THB5000 cost for the THB 8000 all in price for the three nights in the base room on a Member Flexible rate as required for the MegaTix voucher. Used my last 3 SNA's for the Beachfront Villa with a private pool (Villa 108 at the far end near the restaurant,) and it's a wonderful villa and great experience. Due to the low occupancy because of COVID and the fact that Thailand isn't open, yet, for tourists, we basically have the place to ourselves. The food is great at the Banana Leaf restaurant for breakfast (ala carte but order everything you want) and even had lunch there one time as it was raining and I didn't want to drive too much. Most places are closed nearby, but we drove up to where the Hyatt is being built to check it out, and stopped at a great Thai place near the Central Samui. On the way back we stopped at Lamai beach to do a little shopping and look around. Much busier than the area just nearby.

Had a decent stay here last week.

The resort grounds are pretty nice, though the base rooms need a renovation big-time. The bathroom had glass tiles I haven't seen since about 2007. Upgraded to ocean-view as Gold. The resort was absolutely empty, I saw less than 10 people throughout my 4-night stay. Koh Samui in general was a ghost town, most businesses in town still completely shuttered, in stark contrast to the Phuket area.

Food/beverage was where this hotel shined. Breakfast had a decent selection of western/Asian, and every lunch/dinner I had was fantastic. Make sure you order the deep-fried soft-shell crab, it was possibly the best thing I ate in 2 weeks of traveling through Thailand. They also set up a complimentary cocktail-making station at the beach one day, that was cool.