A favourite
The Samui Jasmine is a classic case of a place not looking like much from the outside but turning out to be a real class act on the inside; we liked it here a lot.
This is a small hotel which we'd say has actually earned its boutique label, with excellent and very comfortable chalet-style rooms organised in a rambling and lush garden running down to the ocean.
We were shown a deluxe villa midway through the garden towards the resort's small but enticing rectangular pool, which tapers out by the sand. Modelled in a Thai contemporary fashion, the rooms are oversized and come with typical fittings for this price point: desk and a chair, minibar, flatscreen TV, free WiFi and an in room safe. Decorative sashes, pillows, wall hangings and orchids dotted around add Thai flavour to the room.
Decently sized Jacuzzi tubs are in the bathroom, with a window looking out into the main bedroom (don't worry, there is a blind). Rooms are immaculate. More rooms are found in a hotel-style building above reception (Garden View are the ground floor rooms) but the villas are absolutely worth the extra money in our opinion.
By the sand sits a large restaurant and the moderately sized infinity pool, which includes a shallow area for kids. Staff are excellent -- we found them to be extremely helpful and friendly, adding weight to the resort's slogan, "You are our families".
Recommended, though if you're looking for a larger resort with a bit more oomph, Pavilion Samui is just a couple of doors north of here. Another option is well-regarded Thai House Beach Resort next door (to the south), which is a little cheaper, but most of the rooms there are hotel style and it is a popular one with groups. The extra bed charge here (1,200 baht) is very high.
Address: 131/8 Moo 3 Lamai Beach
T: (077) 232 446-9; F: (077) 232 450
Email: reservation@samuijasmineresort.com
Web: http://www.samuijasmineresort.com
Coordinates (for GPS): 100º2'49.84" E, 9º28'1.98" N
See position in Apple or Google Maps: Apple Maps | Google Maps
Room rates: 4,000B to 8,000B
What we were quoted as a walk-in.
Superior double room | 3,900 baht | 5,000 baht |
Deluxe double room | 4,400 baht | 5,500 baht |
Deluxe Suite | 4,900 baht | 6,000 baht |
Reviewed by
Stuart McDonald
Stuart McDonald co-founded Travelfish.org with Samantha Brown in 2004. He has lived in Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia, where he worked as an under-paid, under-skilled language teacher, an embassy staffer, a newspaper web-site developer, freelancing and various other stuff. His favourite read is The Art of Travel by Alain de Botton.
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