Muang Samui Spa Resort, Chaweng, Koh Samui, Thailand

Door panel at Muang Samui Spa Resort

Our final lodgings on this trip to Koh Samui are at the Muang Samui Spa Resort (not to be confused with the Muang Kulaypan up the road). The resort is located on the main drag of Chaweng, just north of the main shopping and entertainment precinct and just far enough away to not get the nightly doof doof from the Ark Bar, yet still close enough for a quick stroll to the main markets – there is one directly across the road form the resort if you don’t want to wander far but the ones closer to the centre of things are better. Starz Cabaret is also not far away if some lady boy action is on the agenda.

A tray of offerings in reception is a hsoptial greeting for guests on arrival

A rickshaw parked in the driveway of the Resort is a source of fascination

Balcony with a garden view

We are lucky enough to get a room on very short notice after it becomes clear that the lodgings I had initially booked into are unsuitable (more on that another time). Given this experience I am keen to see our room at Muang Samui before I confirm our booking. Despite the room still being prepared, this is not a problem and I am shown a delightful suite decorated in Southern Thai style with a gorgeous private balcony overlooking the garden. I take it at once. My son has again come down with a sore tummy (this time I suspect due to mild sunstroke having spent the entire preceding day in the pool) so I am keen to find somewhere we will both be comfortable and for his sake – with a bath. The Muang Samui ticks all these boxes and is also pretty close to the main part of Chaweng where our relatives happen to be staying.

Pink frangipanis in the gardens of Muang Samui Spa Resort

Singapore orchids in the gardens of Muang Samui Spa Resort

Coconut palms dot the grounds and beachfront

One of the hazards of holidaying in the tropics, but one I will happily wear

The rooms

The room we are given is a Junior Suite with garden view, near the front of the hotel. It costs us 7,500 THB (or roughly $250AUD) per night. This is an entry level room and incidentally the only one left as we book in on the eve of Songkran festivities.  A rose petal bath greets us on arrival several hours later, together with a bowl of fresh grapes, rose apples and bananas. The room rate, like most in Thailand also includes two bottles of water daily. Our bathroom is lovely with an ample triangular spa bath as well as a generous open shower with a large shower head. The stones that run around the perimeter of the wet area, together with the expansive windows, give the impression and ambience of an outdoor bathroom without it actually being one.

A rose petal bath on arrival

Loose stones in the bathroom give the ambience of an outdoor room

A full suite of complimentary toiletries

The private balcony facing the garden is a lovely place to sit down and take in the events of the day. Mosquito coils and matches are provided, presumably to extend the use of this space well into the evening. Unfortunately I can never quite get those Thai mosquito coils to burn for any length of time. The bed at Muang Samui is arguably the most comfortable I experience in Thailand, with beautiful white damask bed linen and cotton sheets. Deep red runners and cushions cap off the furnishing lending a distinct and authentic Southern Thai feel to the room.

Our delightful balcony

Our private balcony

The view from our balcony

The window seat in our room

Deep red accents give an authentic Southern Thai feel to the room

Whilst some of you will no doubt balk at this comment, the room has a reasonable television set with plenty of stations including a kids’ station. If you are travelling with children, especially if you are travelling alone with children, the invaluable downtime that this represents cannot be underestimated. Unfortunately some of the programs (including some of those on the children’s’ station) are only available in Thai – not that my son seems to mind. Scooby-Do is after all Scooby-Do no matter the language. There is also free wireless internet – with good connectivity – around the resort, including in our room. This too cannot be underestimated as not all places which purport to have free wireless internet have a reasonable or even usable level of connectivity.

Sculptures such as this one above a path leading to our room give the resort an authentic Southern Thai feel

Staff and management

Initially disconcerting but ultimately reassuring is the hotel directory which includes, amongst other useful information, an earthquake drill. Initially I think this demonstrates an excessive abundance of caution, but not 30 minutes after I read it I feel the building moving ever so slightly for about 20 seconds. Turns out it is an aftershock following an earlier earthquake in Indonesia. I am comforted by the fact that we were staying in a place where management has turned their minds to this contingency and have appropriate procedures in place. Whilst on management, I’d like to add that the hotel staff is at all times not just courteous, but friendly and helpful. The Sawadee Kahs and Kaps of the housemaids, gardeners and bar staff are always accompanied by a smile and/ or a request for a “high-5” from my little boy.

The pool

The Muang Samui has a lovely lagoon style swimming pool with both shallow and deep sections. There is also a small children’s wading pool in a garden setting located down the beach end. The pool is not really suitable for lap swimming but my son loves it – especially the waterfall and the spa. He gets great pleasure form clambering into a blow-up dinghy and having me propel him across the water in the direction of the waterfall and then push him through the bubbling spa and the sheets of water. There are enough children around the pool during the day for him to play with – but not so many that other guests, particularly guests travelling without children, would find it overwhelming.

The lagoon style pool

There are kids to play with…

…but not so many as to annoy travellers travelling without children

Kids will love the lagoon style pool – complete with spa and waterfall

…and consequently, so too will parents!

The spa

The Rai Ra spa is located within the resort complex adjacent to the pool. Premised on principles of aromatherapy, it is traditional in design and blends so perfectly into the surrounds you would not even realise it was there if not for the signage. Our check-in at Muang Samui includes a complementary 15 minute massage each, as well as a number of other discount tokens for use at the spa. Unfortunately the spa is booked out and I am only able to slot in a time on our final morning.

Floating frangipanis at the entrance to the Rai Ra spa

We arrive at the appointed time, strolling past the obligatory urns filled with floating fragrant frangipanis, and are politely greeted and seated. A tray of cool hibiscus tea is placed before us to sip while we wait – evoking memories of my travels in the middle east where this delicious drop became my beverage of choice. On top of the table in the lounge is an assortment of concoctions in little ceramic dishes and flasks: oils, scrubs and lotions made from an assortment of native produce – herbs, flowers, seeds, honey. The beauticians indulge my boy as he open, smells and touches each enquiring with great curiosity what it is and what it is used for. All those years of watching me apply and then wash off masks of Dead Sea mud have obviously left their mark. Aromatherapy for me does not have positive associations due to some dubious experiences in the past – but the fragrances here are subtle and understated and I am immediately at ease with the concept and the spa itself.

View toward the spa and pool from the restaurant

Taking a child for a complementary massage may not be everyone’s idea of bliss, but as those of you who read this post will know, Mr X had already been for a massage the preceding week and had been pestering me for several days for another. After some discussion, I relent and agree to let him have another and when the complementary tokens materialise therein lies my perfect opportunity. The ladies lead us up some stone steps to a massage room on the first level. A gentle breeze blows in while I lay myself face down on the massage bed. There the peace and tranquillity come to an abrupt end. Mr X decides he no longer wants a massage – but would rather like to help the ladies give mummy a massage. So, while the ladies pummel my back he pulls at my arms and pokes faces at me through face hole in the massage bed. What was supposed to be a tranquil relaxing experience soon becomes a comical farce. Several of the girls attempt to distract and entertain him. God bless the lovely ladies, seeing what I have to contend with, they extended the freebie for a further 15 minutes or so. Luckily ours is the first appointment of the day and the place is otherwise empty so we are not disturbing anyone. I still manage to emerge more tranquil than I had been upon arrival and I’d definitely rate them for that alone. Next time I’d love to try more of their services. The spa is open from 10am daily. It has 16 massage beds. Bookings are essential. To get an idea of what The Rai Ra spa is like, just click here for a you tube clip about the Rai Ra Spa experience.

Serene stone sculptures can be seen all over the resort

The food

Muang Samui is served by two superb restaurants. The beachfront establishment, the Lare Lae serves traditional Thai cuisine. Breakfast, included in the rack rate, is served here daily and although called an “American Breakfast” it’s pretty much a buffet of whatever you wish including eggs and pancakes to order as well as the usual full suite of breakfast delights. I particularly love the coconut jam and pineapple jam which are impossible to come by back home and delicious on toast.

At night, the tables stretch out onto the sand as dinner is served against the backdrop of the still waters. The red curry with roast duck, comes with lychees and is delicious. There is also a bar which operates all day and needless to say a mojito or several were consumed here during our stay.

Night lights at the Lare Lae

The inviting lights of the Lare Lae

Evening dining on the sand

Mo-jito!

The ubiquitous slice of lime became my daily intake of vitamin C

Perched at the bar even a three year old can find contentment in a cool drink

The beachfront bar and Lare Lae restaurant

The “bouncer” at the beachfront bar

The hotel’s seafood restaurant, the Samui Seafood Grill and Restaurant is located across Chaweng Road – immediately opposite the front entrance to the resort. It is open for lunch and dinner form midday to 11.30pm and serves seafood and Italian cuisine.

As you can tell, we thoroughly enjoy our stay at Muang Samui and would definitely recommend it for ambience, service and proximity to the action while still being a little removed from the hustle bustle and noise of the very centre of Chaweng.

The resort enjoys absolute beach frontage

Kids will love the beach at the rear of the restaurant

The soft sands of North Chaweng beach lie directly at the rear of the resort

Colourful flags mark the entrance to the beach

What: Muang Samui Spa Resort

Where: 13/1 Moo 2, Chaweng Beach, Bophut, Koh Samui, Suratthani, 84320, Thailand

Phone: +667742 9700-9 Fax:  +667741 3225

Email: rsvn@muangsamui.com

Cost: We paid approximately $250AUD (7,500 THB) a night for a suite. This was in peak season and booked in the last minute directly through the hotel. This was for the Junior Suite, the second most basic type of room. This was more than comfortable, incredibly spacious and exceedingly charming. Cheaper rates are available through discount booking sites such as Expedia or Asia rooms. The rack rates range from 4,700 THB (approximately $160 AUD) per night off peak for the Grand Deluxe Suite to 16,520 THB (approximately $550 AUD) a night for the Royal Suite with Sea View during the Christmas peak.

What to bring: Just a bit of cash. Everything is already here or readily available nearby – most likely more cheaply than if you were to bring it from home.

Website: http://www.muangsamui.com/