Looking back at my last 5 years on Samui, I recall visiting Anantara in Bo Phut on maybe 5 or 6 occasions. The first time I visited, was shortly after the construction was completed.
“This used to be Samui Euphoria,” explained my wife who has been traveling to Samui some 3 years more than I. Personally, I don’t remember visiting Euphoria, but from the dated satellite photos on Google Earth, the overall lay of the resort was similar to that of Anantara. The lobby, the pool and the rooms seem to be in the same location as before and from photos still viewable online on various outdated hotel booking web sites, it was a beautiful place and at least some of the original structure was maintained.
Undoubtedly it was the beauty of Samui Euphoria that attracted the Anantara folks and ironically, inspired them to take the wrecking ball to it. The location is on Bo Phut Beach on Samui’s northern shore. The beach itself is one of Samui’s quieter beaches and offers excellent swimming and beautiful views of the green–sometimes blue or purple–mountains of Koh Phangan to the north.
Since that time, the beach has gotten somewhat busier, with more activities and water sports available. Particularly, the nearby Fisherman’s Village has seen some more development, with more pubs, restaurants and shops along the whole stretch and extending out on a few cross streets. Sadly, only a handful of the old wooden buildings remain, but the location still has a special charm that is unique on the island. When visitors arrive to entertain, this is usually our first choice for spending an evening.
But I digress–back to Anantara. According to the hotel’s literature, the architecture of Anantara Koh Samui is Southern-Thai-inspired, and it is quite apparent to the naked eye. The dark woodwork, the landscape and flora, the archways and the waterlily ponds all create this quiet mystic. When one takes into account the rooms and buildings some additional hints of Indonesian, Imperial Chinese and English Colonial emerge as well to give it an overall feeling of comfort and spaciousness. But I am no architect. When I meet designer Bill Bensley, I will have to ask him.
My next visit, was for a business function. A meet-and-greet sort of affair hosted as a wine tasting event. The wine was delicious and the atmosphere of the restaurant above the pool was warm and pleasant. Years later I would attend another “function” at Anantara but this time as a celebration of a successful charity event and this time on the beach, with no wine, but food instead.
The charity event was the Samui Global Mala which our team of volunteers had completed a few weeks before. As a follow-up to the event, a meeting and after-party were arranged at Anantara to recap and share notes. It was at this event that I was truly impressed by the Anantara team. The beach setting was delightful - the displays and table settings and service quite splendid - but what really surprised me was the food. The ingredients were fresh and the dishes were healthy, innovative delicacies. Original creations inspired by the principals of Thai cooking.
My two other memorable visits to Anantara were to meet up with some friends who were staying their for their honeymoon, and a visit to celebrate my wife’s birthday. When visiting the honeymooners, we did not spend a lot of time with them at the resort, but enjoyed a great laugh photographing ourselves imitating the “expressive monkeys” ceramic display at the resort, just east of the pool.
Although it was not the first time we had eaten there, my wife and I enjoyed a wonderful lunch above the pool on her birthday, before she retired to the Anantara Spa for the 3 hour Anantara Body Extreme spa treatment. During this time I read a book and napped in the sala. The Anantara Spa, also designed by award-winning landscape architect Bill Bensley, is quite a jewel. I have visited it several times just to see it. It is that nice. Although I have never had a treatment there myself, everyone I know who has, has emerged blissful and rejuvenated, and my wife was no exception. I was happy enough reading among the old trees in the sala, but next time she insists we do a couples treatment.
More information or booking at Anantara Koh Samui Resort & Spa visit Samui Island Hotels.
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