The Thai know how to live and have totally perfected the art of indulging from their delicately seasoned and spiced cuisine to their mastery of spa treatments. Here at the Melati Beach Resort and Spa, this expertise was felt everywhere. As the lesser-corrupted neighbour of the now buzzing Phuket, the island of Koh Samui has navigated its tourism explosion with much more panache, offering the very best of haute cuisine and more pristine, unsullied beaches and roads than anywhere else in Thailand.
The Melati Beach Resort and Spa does not disappoint in terms of five-star luxury… here, the motto is intimacy, romance and getting in touch with your senses in the quiet of Thailand’s exotic nature. From the moment we arrived, I could feel this Eden working its magic. The front of the hotel looked out over an infinity pool, reaching to a beach of incredible white sand lapped by clear turquoise waters. Our villa opened out onto a lush tropical garden that breathed exotic perfume from huge colourful blooms. Inside, wood floors and furniture complemented the rich burnt oranges and coconut creams, creating an authentic Thai feel. This place is a veritable feast for the senses, and I
haven’t even mentioned the food, yet.
The hotel offers six incredible dining options, from the beach-front restaurant to the Kan Sak Thong, serving top-notch Thai dishes. One night, we even indulged in one of the hotel’s most romantic options: A candlelit dinner at a private table on the beach itself. We decided to venture towards the south of Koh Samui one day and were pleased to discover that the beaches are just as beautiful, but not exclusive for tourists, and we managed to sniff out some authentic Samui restaurants serving incredible seafood dishes. This island is also chock-full of ancient Buddhist temples and statues, you just need to take the time to explore. As for us, we’ll definitely be back again, this time with an even longer list of demands - no doubt the resort will step up to the plate.