BYLINE: Val Boje
Among the many young adults I saw in Koh Samui were two Australian women. They had booked their accommodation on the internet. But when they arrived it was nothing like they'd pictured, so they came to Lamai beach where they took a chance at the Samui Pavilion Boutique Hotel and were offered a room.
Like me, they could not believe their good fortune in finding themselves at so beautiful a hotel and, if recent comments on tell-all website TripAdvisor are anything to go by, we are not alone.
On a tour of the hotel, room division manager (and enthusiastic wedding planner) Monton Panurai explained that owner Virach Pongchababnapa took a personal interest in the hotel redesign three years ago, replacing the traditional coconut bungalow style unit with 70 luxurious units of varying sizes in a Northern Thai style.
Apart from the superior sparoom - with a spa bath on a comfortable private balcony - which we enjoyed, there's the spa junior suite with a Jacuzzi plunge pool, the hydro pool villa with an outdoor pool in a private garden, and the pride of the hotel - the beachfront grand pool villa. Monton explained that both kinds of villa are, unsurprisingly, particularly popular with honeymoon couples.
The rooms are all spacious and air-conditioned and have king-size beds and excellent finishes, as well as a range of amenities including day beds, bathrooms, flat-screen TVs and bar fridges. Arrangements can be made to sleep children in some of the rooms.
Gorgeous tropical gardens with their orchid baskets and water features were designed on the principles of feng shui, while the Lookout bar and Patio restaurant offer great sea views. The hotel has a meeting room, library and internet room as well as its own spa.
I had an extraordinary two-hour session with the Spavilion's signature massage - an anti-stress massage which combines Swedish and Thai yoga techniques (about R650) - but there are many other options, including cleansing and detox treatments, facials and massages which can be done in at the spa, in your room, or even on the beach.
Monton's description of romantic weddings at the hotel was tantalising and, in future, he says a budget sister hotel - currently under construction across the road - will offer guests a wider range of accommodation options while still being able to enjoy the superior facilities of the Pavilion.
The Patio restaurant, with its extensive menu featuring Thai and international cuisine, is the domain of food and beverage manager (also unofficial public relations officer and enthusiastic entertainer) Anthony "Tonie" Miranda. All the guests know Tonie and Tonie knows all the guests and is mentioned by name in many of the hotel's online reviews.
Tonie's efficiency and attention never wavered and exemplify the excellent service we and the guests like the young Australians appreciated at this very special hotel.
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