A few months ago, I was lucky enough to enjoy a stay at the newly opened Hutcha Resort, on Maenam Beach in Koh Samui. As usual at a new resort, I was a bit tentative at first, but my stay turned out to be truly unforgettable.
Maenam Beach, is in the middle of Samui Island’s peaceful north coast and has vast, sandy beaches. The water is calm and pleasant for swimming, and though the beach is not quite empty, you can go a long time without seeing anyone. One of the best features of the beach I found were the mystical views of Koh Phangan and the beautiful sunset.
If you want to go to Koh Phangan (or are coming from it), one of the nice things about Hutcha is that it is just a few minutes from the Lomprayah Pier which offers trips to Koh Phangan, Koh Tao and the majestic Ang Thong National Marine Park. Hutcha isn’t far from the Samui Airport either, so if you are just looking to stay the night and catch a boat in the morning, it’s perfect.
Walking distance from the resort, the village of Maenam is rather small and features lots of old Chinese-style wooden buildings. There are plenty of places to eat, and not everyone speaks English. Opening at dawn every day is Maenam’s fresh market which should not be missed (you don’t have to go at dawn!). There I found plenty of food, Thai deserts and tropical produce and the sights, tastes and smells were something I hadn’t experienced anywhere else. Though it has some restaurants and entertainment options, Maenam is rather quiet and peaceful, which was fine for me; but if you are looking for lots of shopping, eating and drinking, Chaweng Beach is less than 20 minutes away - to me that is about just far enough, but not too far.
On the road near Hutcha is a San Jao or Chinese temple. The building itself is small, but the paintings, carvings, and sculptures that decorate it are impressively vibrant and colorful. San Jaos are places of offering and worship for followers of Chinese folk religion. As in other parts of Asia, mixtures exist of Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism and this beautiful building in southern Thailand is one such example.
Hutcha Resort itself is made up of small, earthen-colored stucco buildings that are connected by narrow wooden bridges and small foot paths. Decorating each building and along the path in between are beautifully landscaped patches of tropical plants and exotic flowers. Another unusual feature is that each building (villa, bungalow, cottage . . ) is situated on the bank of a small canal that snakes through the entire resort. Some of the villas overlook the estuary and can see all the way out to the sea. Mine wasn’t one of those, but one thing I noticed that was surprising was that even though many of the villas are duplex units, you really feel like you are in a private villa. The veranda overlooking the water, and the private porch entrances make every unit feel private.
The interior of the villas are sparsely decorated with a modern, stylish minimalism. They feature all the normal amenities like a fridge and a flat screen TV, and air-con if you want it. Although it is simple, it certainly doesn’t feel budget. For a wedding or honeymoon, its a great choice.
I am not really big on pools - with a beach like few others on earth just right out the door, I’d rather bask in the sea - but I must say, the pool at Hutcha is nice. It’s just a few steps from the seaside bar and restaurant, has a jacuzzi, has a kids area, nice chaises, umbrellas, restrooms, showers, massage sala and towel service. Under the tall palm trees and elegant lighting, it is beautiful place to relax, day or night.
The restaurant, which is right on the beach is nicely designed. It is open air and has tables, booths and a bar area. It has a snooker table, and the music and sound system added to the atmosphere rather than took from it, like they sometimes do. The menu has a lot of Thai food and most comon international dishes. The seafood especially was excellent and the prices were affordable enough for me to eat there for my whole stay without worrying. The service was prompt, and the restaurant is designed in such a way that you are never far from the bar, so there is always someone to see you waving for service. One last note about the restaurant is that it has free wi-fi. At more than $2 per minute at some Internet places I saw, this was godsend.
Everything about the stay was smooth - no complaints. I would recommend this hotel to anyone who wants a great vacation on a quiet beach for an excellent value.
Hutcha Resort is currently offering a promotion of 3 nights for the price of 2 and can be booked online at Samui Island Hotels (www.samuiislandhotels.com).
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