Wednesday newsletters always feature a luxury hotel or flight review.

Today (September 2, 2015): Review of the Four Seasons Koh Samui (Thailand).

• Location: Google Maps
• Address: 219 Moo 5, 84140, Thailand
• Hotel website: Four Seasons Koh Samui
• Tip: enjoy free VIP amenities when booking via Virtuoso

Set on a tropical, palm tree covered cliff, the Four Seasons Koh Samui perfectly blends in with its spectacular natural environment. This is Koh Samui’s best luxury property (yes, I stayed at most of them) and a wonderful place to experience Thai island perfection in your private hillside luxury villa, shaded by coconut groves and overlooking the mystical Gulf of Siam and the talcum-white sands of the private bay.

The Four Seasons Koh Samui features in my top 10 lists of the world’s most spectacular cliffside hotels, the most insanely beautiful hotels in Thailand, and the world’s best spa and health retreats.

In this review (more info below my slideshow):

• Pros & things I like
• Cons & things to know
• My verdict
• Tips for future guests & save money
• Comparison with other Koh Samui luxury hotels
• Best time to visit
• How to get there

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PROS & THINGS I LIKE

• The Four Seasons Koh Samui enjoys the most spectacular location on the island of Koh Samui. Tucked away on a hill in a shaded and lush coconut grove and overlooking the blue waters of the Gulf of Thailand, the resort perfectly blends in with its spectacular natural environment.

• The welcome ritual at the small open air lobby at the top of the hill is a memorable event: each arrival is marked with the sounding of a traditional gong, while the massive doors of the resort open to reveal a breathtaking view of the property and the mystical Gulf of Siam.

• The villa accommodations are spacious, exquisitely decorated, and feature modern, luxury amenities. Colour schemes of turquoise blue or seafoam green complement the villas’ contemporary, southern Thai-style interiors. All villas come with a lovely outdoor space and a private, plunge pool, not so large but good enough to take a dip and even take a few strokes. You can choose between villas that are located hillside (away from the beach and overlooking the Gulf of Siam) or beachfront.

• Koh Samui’s public beaches are not particularly idyllic. But the exception to the rule is the sublime stretch of beach at the Four Seasons with its talcum-white sands, towering palm trees, and transparent blue waters. This comes close to paradise! On Tripadvisor, some guests report that the beach is rocky, but they must have been at another resort, as I could wade in the water at low tide waist deep without encountering any rocks (there is a reef further out though). The beach is far superior to any other beach at Koh Samui, and even better, it’s totally private.

• There’s a beautiful pool on the beach in case you prefer to swim laps instead of splashing in the sea.

• During the day, the beach & pool staff serve small albeit tasty, complimentary snacks about every hour. Highly appreciated! In addition, the staff provides you a button to press when you would like to order a drink.

• The tropical gardens and lush resorts grounds are very well maintained and beautifully landscaped.

• As you would expect from Four Seasons – one of the world’s most exclusive hotel brands – the excellent staff is well-trained and the service they deliver is impeccable. From the girls at concierge, the spa staff, bugger staff, waiters and waitresses there isn’t one who wasn’t smiling and giving their all.

• The Four Seasons Koh Samui is a gourmet paradise. It features 2 restaurants, where abundant varieties of fish and exotic herbs are coupled with Thailand’s sophisticated culinary traditions. Located right on the beach, is the Pla Pla restaurant, a rather casual spot for an extensive selection of fish and seafood and Western and Thai favorites in the daytime, while the venue is transformed into a stylish restaurant for creative Mediterranean cuisine in the evening. The other restaurant is the KOH, Thai Kitchen & Bar, which is located on a palm-covered hilltop and cooled by breezes from the Gulf of Thailand; it serves authentic flavors from the islands, along with excellent wines.

• The resort has a superb spa, tucked away amid the gentle sights and sounds of the jungle, far from hectic urban life. The Spa’s nurturing treatments rely on centuries-old healing techniques and herbal and holistic remedies deeply rooted in Thailand’s rich spa heritage. Individual spa treatment rooms are housed in five salas – covered verandas – each with indoor and outdoor Thai-style massage beds.

• This is one of the best Four Seasons resorts in the world (and I have been to a lot of them).

CONS & THINGS TO KNOW

The Four Seasons is definitely the best hotel on the island of Koh Samui, and also one of the best luxury resorts in Thailand, although the tropical beach idyll of Soneva Kiri is still the country’s most exclusive (and my absolute favorite) resort. I enjoyed my stay at the Four Seasons Koh Samui tremendously, but you may want to know though the following before booking a stay here: 

• The resort is located in a lush coconut grove. As a consequence, some villas don’t get a lot of sunlight during the day on their terrace.

• Only few villas have an open view to the sea. Most accommodations located on the hill enjoy sea views that are partly obscured by the tropical vegetation.

• Due to the northern orientation of the beach and the surrounding mountain ridges, the beach is lacking sun exposure. It is in the shade about two hours before sunset and low clouds that hide the sun are often trapped in the surrounding hills. Nevertheless, the resort has a hilltop bar from where you can enjoy the late afternoon sun and watch spectacular sunsets.

• The resort is built on the side of a steep mountain ridge, and to get around you mostly need to take a golf cart. These usually come very quickly but, occasionally, you will have to wait for 5 minutes or so.

• Mosquitos can be a real challenge during the rainy season, so stock up on a decent repellant.

• The breakfast buffet is a little underwhelming, probably due to the fact that the buffet is displayed in a rather small room, hence not allowing a larger buffet.

• The Four Seasons is a family friendly resort. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have an adult only area, where people can go where they won’t hear screaming kids.

• The Castaway Dinner – a barbecue buffet on the beach in the little sandy cove next to the main beach – is truly an exceptional, not-to-be-missed experience, but it was also the only time that the service was not good. My side dishes were only served after I had already finished my meat and fish. I guess it was just a bad coincidence of circumstances, but I was not offered any apologies for the inconvenience.

• The lounge chairs on the beach are not the most comfortable ones, and cold use some extra cushions.

• While working great in the rooms and throughout the resort, WiFi was not available at beach. This may not bother some, but I did miss it to surf the internet on my tablet while lounging on the beach.

• While Koh Samui is a very nice and lush island, its scenery is not as beautiful as compared to the Seychelles and the Maldives The latter islands have truly the most beautiful, powdery white sand beaches of the world, while the beaches of Koh Samui ar far from exceptional (with the exception of the private beach of the Four Seasons). Nevertheless, I do recommend a stay of a few days at Koh Samui after a sightseeing tour in Thailand or a city-trip to Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore or Bangkok (which all have direct flights to the island with Bangkok Airways).

MY VERDICT

• Location: 9/10
• Design: 9/10
• Rooms: 9/10
• Food: 9/10
• Service: 9/10
• Overall experience: exceptional: 9/10

TIPS FOR FUTURE GUESTS & SAVE MONEY

• Save money: read my tips for getting the best deal at a luxury hotel like the Four Seasons Koh Samui (and/or receive many free perks).

• Save money: I recommend to book a stay at the Four Seasons Koh Samui through a Virtuoso travel agent, which has the benefit of complimentary VIP perks (e.g. villa upgrade, breakfast, early check-in , late check-out, and $100 USD spa credit).

• Read my tips for preparing your trip in time.

• Request a room with a lot of sunlight on the terrace, as some villas lack sunlight exposure because they are tucked away deeply in the jungle.

• Request a villa that is locate high upon the hill, since these come with a better, more open view.

COMPARISON WITH OTHER KOH SAMUI LUXURY HOTELS

Once a hippy paradise, Koh Samui nowadays caters to the luxury travel market. The last decade, the island has seen the opening of a string of ultraluxurious resorts. I compare them here one to another, so that you can make the right choice when vacationing on Koh Samui:

BEST TIME TO VISIT

Ko Samui has two seasons: sunny and rainy. The best time to visit the island is from February through June, when the weather is marked by plenty of sunshine and very little rain. December and January are generally considered dry season months as well but are quite unsettled in recent years. Coming in the off months means heavy rains and potentially torrential storms. October and November are the rainiest months, however, compared to main land Thailand, Ko Samui does not suffer nearly as much rain  (as opposed to the Andaman coast side of Thailand) during what’s considered the “rainy season”.

HOW TO GET THERE

Banyan Tree Samui is located a 20 minute drive from the small Samui International Airport. The latter is an unusual airport because there is no indoor area, except the gift shop, despite the fact it being the country’s sixth busiest airport. Check the Wikipedia page of Samui International Airport for an updated list of airlines that offer flights to Koh Samui.

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Today (May 18, 2015): Top 10 places to see in & around Cape Town‏. 

It’s no secret. Cape Town is my favorite city, taking the number one spot in my top 10 list of the world’s most beautiful cities. Blessed with some of the world’s most amazing beaches, jaw-droppingly beautiful mountains, rolling hills of vineyards, spectacular drives and tons of trendy bars and fine dining restaurants to choose from, it is hard to imagine a more picture perfect city destination than South Africa’s Mother city (and frankly, you won’t find a better one). Combine this with some of the best accommodation and service on offer anywhere in the world and you are left with one of the hottest city destinations you will ever visit. I hereby present you the top 10 places & activities that every visitor to Cape Town should put on his/her bucket list.

There is more info below the slide show. Think I missed one? Share your favorite Cape Town adventure in the comments section, or take my poll below!

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10. DIVE WITH GREAT WHITE SHARKS (IN A CAGE)

For an once-in-a-lifetime wildlife experience, jump into the shark-infested waters around Cape Town — in a cage of course – and prepare yourself for a potentially heart-stopping encounter with the ultimate super-predator: the great white shark! Gansbaai, a small fishing village 163 km (101 mi) to the east of Cape Town, has become the hub for tour operators that specialize in diving with great white sharks, all from the safety of a cage of course. The cages are shark-proof, so there is nothing to fear, and the trilling experience will inspire you for a lifetime. You’ll definitely emerge with a greater respect for these often misunderstood, ocean predators.

9. ENTERTAIN YOUR TASTE BUDS IN THE CAPE WINELANDS

Be sure to add at least one day of wine-tasting to your itinerary when visiting Cape Town. South Africa’s wines are well-known all over the globe, and the heart of its wine industry is located a 45 minutes drive from Cape Town in the Cape Winelands, centered around the ancient university town of Stellenbosch and the lesser known villages of Franschoek and Paarl. Here, you can discover and explore more than 150 wine farms and estates where both connoisseurs and novice wine-drinkers can enjoy the fruit of the vine. One of my favorite is the Delaire Graff Estate, which also houses a restaurant with a spectacular view that matches the food.

8. FIND SOLITUDE IN THE CEDERBERG WILDERNESS AREA

The Cederberg Wilderness Area lies some 200km (214 mi) north of Cape Town, stretching from Citrusdal to Clanwilliam and encompassing some 71,000 hectares of rugged, mountainous terrain. The Cederberg is renowned for its spectacular landscapes and rock formations, as well as its namesake, the rare Clanwilliam Cedar.  It was proclaimed a wilderness area in 1973 and has grown into a popular destination for hardy hikers and mountaineers. The solitude and breathtaking natural beauty of the area is captivating. Here you will find Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat, one of the world’s best wilderness lodges.

7. GET UP CLOSE WITH PINGUINS AT BOULDERS BEACH

Boulders Beach, close to Simon’s Town on False Bay, is a sheltered bay made up of sandy inlets between massive granite boulders, from which the name originated. Yet, it’s not for the beautiful beach or crystal clear waters that people come here, but for its world-famous breeding colony of over 2000 endangered African Penguins. You can observe the penguins from the board walks that you will share with many others, but let that not put you off: it’s great fun to watch the penguin’s behaviour, from waddling along the sandy shores and nest guarding, to sunbathing and diving in the cold water.

6. SIP ON A SUNDOWNER AT BLAUBERGSTRAND

There’s no denying that Cape Town enjoys some of the most stunning sunsets in the world. As warm summer weather descends on the city, tourists and locals flock to the Atlantic shores for sipping on their favorite drink while watching the sun slowly dipping below the glistening ocean. There are many places in the city to have a coctail while soaking in those perfects sunsets, but a standout is the Bloubergstrand shoreline, with its picture perfect views of the Table Mountain silhouette across Table Bay, Robben Island (where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned), the endless ocean and the occasional passing dolphin or whale.

5. OBSERVE THE WHALES IN HERMANUS

Hermanus, a small city 127 km (79 mi) to the east of Cape Town is one of the world’s best whale watching destinations. The best time to enjoy whale watching in Hermanus is between July and November either from land, by boat or from the air via a scenic flight. Hermanus, particularly Walker Bay, is the mating and breeding grounds of the Southern Right Whale during the winter and spring months (from June to November). Southern Right Whales migrate from the Antarctic around June to calve and mate. Calving takes place in August and September and the males arrive for mating in October when the whale population peaks.

4. RELAX ON THE WORLD’S MOST BEAUTIFUL CITY BEACHES

Cape Town is one of the world’s greatest beach destinations, with amazing beaches just minutes from the city centre.  From the family beaches on False Bay to the gorgeous beaches for the rich and beautiful on the Atlantic Seaboard – you’re sure to find a stretch of sand that suits your fancy. Our favorite beaches are Clifton, Llandudno, and – of course – Camps Bay, one the world’s most beautiful beaches. Set against the majestic backdrop of the 12 Apostles Mountain Range and boasting blinding white sands, Camps Bay’s water is a bit cold, due to the currents in the Atlantic Ocean, but that will not distract you from the amazing surrounding scenery.

3. VISIT CAPE POINT & CAPE OF GOOD HOPE

At the tip of the Cape Peninsula, 60 km (37 mi) south-west of Cape Town, lies Cape Point, a rocky promontory with a lighthouse on top of it, towering more than 200 m (650 ft) above the sea and providing spectacular 360 degree ocean views. Cape Point is separated from another rocky headland, the famous Cape of Good Hope, by breathtakingly beautiful Dias beach. Although these two rocky and beautiful capes are very well-known, neither cape is actually the southernmost point in Africa or the point where the cold Atlantic Ocean and warm Indian Ocean meet; that is Cape Agulhas, approximately 150 kms (93 mi) to the east.

2. DRIVE THE MARINE ROAD AROUND CHAPMAN’S PEAK

Chapman’s Peak Drive, one of the most spectacular drives in the world, winds it way between Noordhoek and Hout Bay on the Atlantic Coast of the Cape Peninsula. The 9 km or 5,6 mi route, with its 114 curves, skirts the rocky coastline of Chapman’s Peak (593m or 1768 feet tall), with sheer drops to the sea below and towering mountains rising above you. The drive is affectionately known as “Chappies” and there are many areas along the route where you can stop and take in the exquisite scenery. Drive the route from south (Noordhoek) to north (Hout Bay) for the best views and easy access to the viewpoints (all on the ocean side of the road).

1. TAKE A HIKE UP OR DOWN TABLE MOUNTAIN

Flat-topped Table Mountain is the most iconic landmark of Cape Town, and it’s also Africa’s most photographed attraction. Its famous cable car took more than 24-million visitors (so far!) to its top, from where you can enjoy tremendous 360-degree views of the city, Table Bay, the Atlantic seaboard, the nearby mountain peaks and the rest of the Table Mountain National Park. The more adventurous ones may choose to hike one of the 300 trails up and down the mountain, with my favorite being Skeleton George starting in the Kirstenbosch Gardens. Table Mountain, a World Heritage Site, is the single richest floristic area in the world.

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