Today’s article is about the Ritz-Carlton in Koh Samui. I have a Repo and some excellent travel products to recommend.
I stayed at the Ritz in Koh Samui, and the experience was quite good, so I reached out to Little Dolphin and obtained two additional products.
This hotel had already sold out during the spring promotion on Ctrip, but that deal was only valid until June 30 of this year. I saw that many comments were asking for a longer validity period. So, I specifically chose a package that is valid until October 31, usable during the summer vacation and National Day holidays.
Let me first share the products.
Ritz-Carlton Koh Samui Preferred Terrace King Bed Suite for 2 nights with breakfast, 3349 RMB
Valid until November 30, 2024; no extra charge during Qingming, May Day, and Dragon Boat festivals; summer (July-August) surcharge of 226 RMB per night; National Day (October 1-10) surcharge of 451 RMB per night, but currently, March to April is pretty full.
Purchase link:
Ritz-Carlton Koh Samui Tropical Resort One-Bedroom Ocean View Pool Villa for 2 nights with breakfast, 5359 RMB
Valid until November 30, 2024; no extra charge during Qingming, May Day, and Dragon Boat festivals; summer (July-August) surcharge of 677 RMB per night; National Day surcharge as well. However, March to April is also quite full at the moment.
Next, here’s the detailed Repo on the Ritz-Carlton in Koh Samui.
As per our usual practice, any key recommendations must be personally experienced, especially for relatively high-priced hotels abroad. We had previously recommended the Ritz in Koh Samui, so I had to visit at least once myself. We were indeed concerned about any potential bias in our recommendations, so going personally provides peace of mind.
As previously mentioned, YTL Hotels (the YTL Group led by Yang Zhongli) has two main properties in Thailand: the Sheraton in Phuket and the Ritz-Carlton in Koh Samui. I am an old friend of YTL, so naturally, I prioritized the Ritz.
The Ritz-Carlton in Samui is located in the northeastern part of the island, covering an area of up to 58 acres. It is the largest hotel in Koh Samui and seemingly the largest Ritz-Carlton in the world. This is because it is built on what used to be a coconut plantation, with several hills extending from the peak down to the beach, boasting its own private beach and bay.
I stayed at the Ritz for two full nights, and I felt that I never completed exploring the hotel.
There are many highlights at the Ritz. The hotel is just 4 kilometers away from Koh Samui Airport, about a ten-minute drive.
One of my favorite activities during my stay was just sitting in the lobby of the Ritz around sunset, idly watching the sunset and planes taking off and landing in the distance. This is how vacation time was seemingly wasted.
Another place where I found myself spending time was their Swim Reef temperature-controlled diving pool, home to over 50 species of tropical fish totaling thousands of fish. The ability to snorkel without having to go out to sea was absolutely wonderful. Having a pool within the hotel where you can snorkel and see fish is truly unique to the Ritz in Samui.
The Ritz offers a private beach, which is definitely a plus for a resort hotel. While many hotels on Koh Samui do have beaches, they are generally public due to their locations. In contrast, the Ritz has its own beach that is genuinely exclusive to the hotel. This beach is a blend of rocks and sand, but the downside is that the waves can be a bit strong. During my three-day, two-night stay, red flags were continuously up, prohibiting swimming.
The main swimming pool at the Ritz connects directly to the beach and is an infinity pool overlooking the sea.
If we are discussing the downsides of the hotel, one would be its sheer size. Walking around the Ritz is impractical; you’ll need a shuttle to reach the restaurant, pool, or lobby, and during peak times, there can be a wait for the shuttle.
The room type I stayed in was the Ocean View One-Bedroom Pool Villa. The villas at the Ritz are built according to the terrain, so the ocean-view villas are the most abundant. To give you some context, the oceanfront villas in the first row are called boutique pool villas (the most expensive). Other villas that can also see the ocean are referred to as ocean view pool villas (which I recommend the most).
Personally, I think the ocean view pool villa is sufficient, as it offers an unobstructed sea view. Moreover, the ocean view pool villas are often at a higher elevation, affording a broader view, and they provide better value for money as well.
This pool is quite comfortable, isn’t it?
The indoor area of the ocean view pool villa is 97m². The Ritz opened in 2017, so its facilities are quite impressive.
There’s a mini bar and welcome fruits to greet you.
If you stay in an ocean view villa, you absolutely must order in-room breakfast; the backdrop of your breakfast will be the vast sea and bay.
Additionally, most villas face the sunrise, letting you catch a glimpse of it if you wake up early.
The Ritz is indeed vast, but the upside is that the public areas are relatively centralized. The SPA, pools, restaurants, kids’ activity center, and gym are all within a short walking distance from each other (except for The View restaurant).
Overall, the Ritz is suitable for a laid-back vacation. You can lounge in your room, stroll around the public areas, and participate in the hotel’s activities which makes time fly.
The hotel provides many spots with sea views for daydreaming. Sometimes just sitting (or lying) quietly watching the sea is so relaxing.
Additionally, the Ritz allows you to witness both sunrises and sunsets, which is also unique among hotels in Koh Samui.
Now, let’s talk about dining; the Ritz offers a plethora of dining options that I couldn’t even manage to try in my three days and two nights.
The View restaurant must absolutely be booked in advance, preferably before your stay. Located at the highest point of the resort, the views are phenomenal. I made my reservation too late and missed out; I could only enjoy it through photos.
The Ritz also has a restaurant called One Rai, serving Chinese and Indian cuisine.
During my trip to Thailand, it was already my eighth day when I arrived at the Ritz in Koh Samui, and I was in desperate need of a Chinese meal to comfort my stomach. I recommend going for lunch, where you can find dim sum options at great value, especially the Cantonese dim sum, which I love.
The seaside restaurant Sea Salt (海盐) is another one of my favorites. A serving of mango sticky rice and a coconut will only cost around 100 RMB, and the key is that it’s very authentically Thai.
In the evening, the Ritz would host buffets on the beach. Enjoying seafood while feeling the ocean breeze, listening to live music is really quite chill.
I also dined at the Ritz’s steakhouse, The Ranch. This meal was the most expensive; it’s no surprise as The Ranch is a Michelin-recommended restaurant on Koh Samui. The experience matched its reputation; nothing can substitute the joy of eating meat.
Additionally, the Ritz has an all-day dining restaurant, a restaurant serving Thai cuisine, and numerous bars. For a resort with only 171 rooms, this culinary configuration can be considered rather “luxurious.”
For a resort hotel, activities should not be overlooked. The Ritz hosts three events per week (according to the activity schedule during my stay) specifically for Marriott members. It’s a social gathering where everyone can drink, enjoy snacks, and watch the sunset together. The international guests tend to show more interest in joining these activities.
There are also occasional Thai boxing classes and morning yoga sessions facing the sea. The Ritz is so large that there’s even a Thai boxing ring.
For children, there’s a mini-golf course as well as a dedicated Kids’ activity center.
Now, let me share the products again.
Not every deep recommendation comes with products; it’s all about chance. First, the experience must be great, and secondly, we also need to take home worthwhile items.
