Centara Villas Samui

Thomas Kunstmann

This resort is probably not the newest one on the island, but that only adds to its charm. The villas for the guests are beautifully located on a slope going down to the beach. The beach is clean and the water shallow enough to wade in. So it's not only suited for those who want to join an Olympic swimming team. Checking in upon arrival made us feel like we disturbed the staff. They rushed us through the procedure like there was no tomorrow. Not the best first impression, considering we were the only ones to check in. The room was clean. AC is noisy. Warm water was available most of the time. The private pool adds much to the joy of the stay. But again, no shade (umbrella) at the private pool and terrace. It's facing south, go figure. Food was always okay. A real deal is the daily shuttle bus to the local groceries. Management should seriously consider adding more shaded areas. IMHO the times are gone, where everyone wanted to nourish skin cancer. UV protection is essential for most people coming from colder parts of the world. Means: not enough umbrellas at the beach and around the pools. Music from the pool bar is surprisingly and pleasantly quiet. A big plus in my book. Don't expect any service oriented culture. Staff is usually friendly but not very helpful if you have a request aside from a bottle of beer. Late check out is not available. If your 20h flight leaves late in the evening, prepare to leave the room by noon. That's not comfortable. No one cares what you do in the long hours in-between. Another example: you can reserve a table for dinner. But don't expect to sit at the table you reserved. Happened several times. One out of two coffeemaker for breakfast is always broken. Juices are always empty - although I didn't check at 06:30. A little more tender love and care combined with a management that is interested in the well-being of the guests would make a real gem out of this place. In current state much is left to be desired to feel really comfortable and welcome. The Verdict: I really loved the private pool but I wouldn't book this place again.

Julie Anderson

A beautiful resort in a peaceful location. The amentities staff, food and service were excellent. The resort is on a stunning beach and during my stay had locals offering massages on the beach at a great price on either side of the resort. The spa is also a lovely option (i sampled it all). The resort weekly theme nights and entertainment was enjoyed. The photos on the website dont do it justice! Staff were attentive and made us feel so welcome from the beginning to end. We were greated by Best at reception who was warm and informative, and showed us to our room and the service particularly from Mam, Isti, and Pia stood out, however all staff she be commended for their professionlism and warm hosptality. We will definetly return and would thouroughly recommend for either a romantic or family holiday.

Dave Buckell

Idyllic location on a beautiful piece of beach about 40 minutes drive from Koh Samui airport. The resort is an older but well maintained build, lushly planted with a maze terraces and steps to meander around while soaking up the views and incredible scenery. Provisioned with 3 beautifully maintained swimming pools of various family friendly depths, you can choose to hang out in the banana lounges, or a number of cabanas while sipping on one of the many tasty beverages the resort has to offer. From the centrally located bar, the beach is just a few short steps away where you can safely swim in protected turquoise waters behind the rock bar, or lay on the beach soaking up the warm Thailand sun. We booked one of the numerous private pool villas that provided a quiet place to enjoy the serenity while floating around away from other guests any time of the day or night. The restaurant provides an extensive range of western style dishes, but you would do yourself a disservice to miss the incredibly tasty local Thai foods on offer. Do not miss the spicy stir fried pork with hot basil, chilli and garlic or the Massaman beef curry. The on-site day spa is a tranquil place to unwind with a Thai massage. You can't go wrong with either Lenny or Ae looking after you. The staff are nothing short of the superstars of this resort. Any request no matter how minor is met with the greatest level of assistance accompanied by a beaming smile. We truly felt warmly welcomed and taken care of. The bar queen, Mam makes a mean long island iced tea, which is a perfect refreshment for doing the hard work of sitting under an umbrella by the sea.

mercier anika

We had a great time here. Everyone is super sweet and does his best to help the guests. The restaurant quality is top notch and not expensive, the view is absolutely incredible, it's quiet and feels intimate. Great for couples, friends and family with many different activities for free during the stay. It's a bit far away from the main city but buses are available and you can lend a scooter directly at the hotel (very easy to drive). The only thing is that the staff doesn't al!us speak English so it can be hard to get your request through. Some mistakes will be made 🙂

Andrea Garcia

Overall this is a good hotel for families, couples or traveling solo. They give you your own private villa. It’s perfectly self contained and you can eat all 3 meals. However breakfast there is only a buffet option, would have preferred to be able to eat à la cart since I don’t eat much. With the hotel being tucked away from town you will not have access unless you walk around 1 mile in or take a shuttle. The resort does offer a shuttle service but you have to sign up the day before. Overall a good option for travelers looking to unplug.