Most Romantic Hotels in Koh Samui

There are no other hotels around this ultra-posh, luxury resort, which is certainly one of the most gorgeous in Thailand. The 79-room property overlooks one of the most beautiful ocean views in Koh Samui. The Villas, Suites, and Ocean View rooms all come with wonderful terraces and bathrooms with large bathtubs and separate rain showers with high-end toiletries. There are also seven swimming pools, a large beach area, Water Sports Centre, and several restaurants and bars. It's almost a world unto itself, drawing everyone from families to honeymooners. The only drawbacks of the resort are its distance from the main centers of Chaweng and Lamai, and the price tag. But for guests who can afford to splurge, it's a superb choice.

This small hilltop retreat has only 10 luxury villas, all with panoramic views of the sea; half of them have their own private infinity pools. The smallest have kitchenettes, while larger units (which can have up to four bedrooms) add full kitchens. There are also a fine-dining Thai restaurant, free breakfast, and an infinity pool with postcard views. The property is not in walking distance to the beaches, but the hotel provides a regular free shuttle service, along with a mobile phone to call for pick up anywhere on the island.

The Melati Beach Resort & Spa is a luxury beachfront retreat in a secluded spot on the northern end of the island, a 15-minute drive from the dining and nightlife options in Chaweng. The smallest of the 77 villas have balconies with outdoor soaking tubs, and most add private gardens with plunge pools. There are two communal outdoor pools as well (one is adult-only), along with a full spa and a yoga studio. The hotel also offers a game lounge and water sports at the beach, plus there are two restaurants and four bars, though some guests complain that they are pricey. It's also worth considering the Royal Muang Samui Villas down the coast, which offers similar amenities and slightly more elegant rooms.

One of Koh Samui's finest resorts, Six Senses Samui is a secluded rustic-chic resort with gorgeous sea views. The luxury villa property's location on the northeast tip of the island -- well away from the Chaweng action -- offers guests quiet and privacy. All 66 spacious, rustic-chic villas offer flat-screen TVs and terraces, many with private infinity pools overlooking the sea. Resort features include direct access to a white-sand beach and a stunner of an infinity pool with sea views. There's also a full-service Thai spa, innovative fine dining that draws guests from across the island, and private butler service. The resort is comparable in price and quality to the nearby Tongsai Bay, but the dining at Six Senses can't be beat.

With just 21 rooms and villas spread around sprawling beachfront grounds, the Sunset Beach Resort & Spa feels relaxed and intimate. Hidden away on a quiet stretch of beach on Koh Samui's southwestern coast, the beach resort features lush grounds, modern furnishings, and serene common areas. The simple, elegant rooms have open-air floor plans, hardwood floors, and white walls, with natural wood accents throughout -- bamboo-screened wardrobes, rattan chairs, traditional wood-carvings hung on the walls.  The serene pool has a swim-up bar, bicycles are available to borrow, the spa has outdoor treatment pavilions, and the restaurant's cuisine is top-notch. Even the second-floor gym has floor-to-ceiling windows with unobstructed ocean views.

Those in search of a grand room with an even grander view can find one at this luxury boutique resort on the east coast of Koh Samui. The 14 villas and 63 suites are decorated with a gorgeous Asian (expect lots of teak, gauzy drapery accents, soaking tubs and rainfall showers, sumptuous bedding, terraces, and high-end extras such plunge pools). Other perks include an infinity pool with a lovely ocean view, upscale spa, quiet on-site beach (plus free shuttles to the nicer Lamai and Chaweng beaches), and a chic overwater eatery on a floating pier that's extremely romantic at sunset.

Lush green foliage, gurgling water features, and breezy Thai wooden pavilions greet visitors upon arrival at Silavadee Pool Spa Resort, a luxurious retreat picturesquely set on the coast of Koh Samui. The hotel has its own private beach and two serene infinity pools, and all of its villas have private pools, while rooms have private terraces or gardens with ocean views, an outdoor hot tub, or both. Rooms feel authentically Thai, with local hardwood furnishings, bamboo screens, and breezy mosquito netting.

Nestled among lush gardens, The Kala Samui seamlessly blends with the surrounding scenery. The upscale boutique resort has a private sandy beach; 32 spacious, minimalist rooms with wooden floors and Balinese stone soaking tubs, as well as eight duplex villas with private pools and outdoor showers. Hotel highlights include a restaurant serving tasty fusion cuisine, an infinity pool, and a spa. There's little within walking distance aside from other resorts, but the hotel offers free shuttle service to Lamai and Chaweng.

Located at the end of Chaweng Noi Beach, the Sarann is small boutique resort with a peaceful vibe. It's on the bay (not the beach), and the water is rocky and coral-filled, but guests can walk five to 10 minutes to other beaches. Rooms here are all very big, with wooden floors and desks, flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, hot water kettles, and free Wi-Fi; some come with pools, terraces with hot tubs, or balconies depending on the type. For a small resort, the Sarann does have enough features to keep guests happy. There is a lovely infinity-edge pool that overlooks Chaweng Noi Bay and beach, and the resort has put sun loungers out along the grassy terrace below to make up for the lack of beach or sand directly below the hotel. There is also a small fitness center and spa on the premises, and Wild Ginger restaurant serves up buffet breakfasts along with stylish fusion cuisine for lunch and dinner.

The Sea Dance Resort is an upscale small boutique located in a quiet cove 15 minutes north of Chaweng Beach. There are 20 stylish rooms, each decorated with fine wood desks, rattan chairs, 32-inch flat-screen TVs, and chic open-air bathrooms with rain showers; the villas all feature private plunge pools. There is a fine Thai restaurant and wine bar set under a spacious thatched dome roof, and the resort is intimate enough that staff know everyone on a first-name basis and provide extremely personalized service. The only drawback of this excellent spot is that there are not many other restaurants and shops within walking distance, meaning one has to eat in the resort or else pay for expensive taxis to go out.

Located at the quieter southern end of Chaweng Beach, the contemporary Samui Resotel Beach Resort sits on a stretch of white-sand beach on the Gulf of Thailand. The 79 rooms and villas have a sleek, minimalist look and come with free Wi-Fi, minibars, and balconies or terraces. Some have sea views and private or semi-private swimming pools. The hotel also has a cocktail bar with an outdoor terrace and sea views; a free breakfast buffet is served and there's a Thai and Italian restaurant for lunch and dinner, though food gets mixed reviews.

This upper-middle-range 95-room hotel located in the hills of Koh Samui offers a quieter alternative to the more boisterous downtown hotels. Whereas its sister hotel KC Beach Club Pool and Villas is more like a trendy Miami boutique hotel, this property wants to be the Thai version of a hillside retreat in Costa Rica. Views over the Gulf of Thailand, Koh Matlang, and Chaweng Bay can be seen from anywhere in the resort; an especially good vantage point is by the well-maintained infinity pool. All rooms have whirlpool tubs, rainfall showers, balconies, and king-size beds, and the vibe is more romantic than raucous. The on-site restaurant has great views, and a full-service spa and fitness center are nice perks. Free golf cart rides for short trips, as well as an area shuttle to Chaweng Beach, help make the slightly removed locale more convenient. However, the resort could do with some upgrades and cleaning. Wi-Fi, while free, can be slow.