111 Moo 5 North Chaweng Beach,, Tambol Bophut, koh samui, Chaweng, Thailand | +66 (0) 7791 3555
Spacious rooms with private patios; villas have private pools
Modern fitness center and spa with sauna and steam room
Private beach accessed via tunnel
Two ocean-facing infinity pools (one has a swim-up bar)
Three restaurants and three bars, including two poolside bars
Free breakfast and Wi-Fi throughout
Nightly entertainment at the Barge restaurant
Free shuttle into town
Computers with Internet for guest use
A major road bisects the resort's grounds
Hillside location means lots of climbing – or a golf cart ride
Somewhat remote location, driving distance from Chaweng beach
Overpriced food and drinks
Limited times and space for free shuttle
Spread over a Koh Samui hillside that leads down to a private beach, Nora Buri Resort & Spa is a four-pearl resort outside Chaweng that caters to couples, families, groups, and business travelers alike. Its 144 spacious rooms have modern, Thai-infused decor with private balconies; the ocean-facing pool villas in particular are truly luxurious. Two infinity pools, a beach, three restaurants (one with nightly entertainment), and two bars keep low-key guests occupied, and the spa, fitness center, and water sports are requisite for this tier of hotel. Past guests have complained about the resort's somewhat isolated location and the price of meals at the on-site restaurants. There is, however, a free shuttle into town several times a day.
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Scene
Lush grounds and open-air lobby
Nora Buri Resort & Spa's high-ceilinged, pavilion-style lobby -- filled with plenty of cushioned wooden chairs for guests to lounge on while waiting for taxis and free shuttles into town -- sets the stage for a breezy and relaxed tropical resort. Its lush, manicured grounds run all the way down a hill to the ocean, and pathways can be steep, so golf carts are available to shuttle guests around the resort. A major road bisects the grounds, but a tunnel provides easy access between the upper and lower parts of the property. The two ocean-view infinity pools -- both with lounge chairs and bars (including a swim-up bar) -- attract guests to lounge all day long, but rarely feel overcrowded. The restaurants are spacious and airy and share the open-air pavilion style found in the lobby. Restaurants can get lively as the often cater to large groups of business travelers, wedding parties, and families.
Location
A short drive up the coast from Chaweng, five minutes from the airport
Nora Buri Resort & Spa's location is somewhat removed from the main action of Chaweng, and the immediate area feels quiet and somewhat isolated. Guests can rent scooters from the hotel, and a free shuttle makes the less than 10-minute drive into Chaweng multiple times a day. It is worth noting, though, that shuttle spaces are limited and times can be inconvenient, so many guests end up getting a cab. The airport is a five-minute drive away. Parking at the resort is free.
Rooms
Large rooms and villas with modern, Thai-infused furnishings and private balconies
Rooms are modern and understated, with muted tones, walls of windows, and polished wood floors. Thai decor includes dark-wood furnishings and platform or four-poster beds and some rooms have seating areas. Bathrooms are spacious, if spartan, with tiled floors, soaking tubs, and walk-in rainfall showers, although some bathrooms show signs of water damage. Higher-tier villas are more modern and luxurious, with more recently renovated bathrooms and perks like coffeemakers and outdoor showers. All rooms and villas have private patios with seating areas; lower categories look out on the lush grounds while higher-tier rooms have views of the water. Pool Villas also have private pools and lounge chairs; the beachside ones have unobstructed sea views. All rooms come with flat-screen TVs, DVD players, minibars, slippers, sandals, and bathrobes. Wi-Fi is free.
Features
Two infinity pools with ocean views, small private beach, and multiple restaurants
Nora Buri Resort & Spa not only has two infinity pools overlooking the ocean, each with its own poolside bar and plenty of lounge chairs, but also has a small private (albeit pebbly and hard to walk on) beach. There are also three restaurants and a lobby bar. The Manora serves an included buffet breakfast and a la carte international food throughout the day. The Barge serves a la carte and buffet lunches and dinners and offers nightly entertainment that's popular with families, and the Rice Barge & Terrace serves Thai specialties on the waterfront. The hotel also has a modern fitness center, spa, library, computers with internet for guests' use, free Wi-Fi, and on-site water sports such as kayaking.
