Outrigger Koh Samui
This was my Christmas gift to myself. I truly splurged here, going all out staying at the five star Outrigger Koh Samui and getting a bungalow on a beach with a private pool. Add in free food, a free massage, and discounted drinks, and this $300 a night room was a steal and a half. Here are my thoughts
Location: B
It’s super close to the airport, which is nice, and if you want to be near the action on Samui, stay in the north eastern part of the island, which is where the Outrigger is. With that said, the hotel is very isolated on this beach, and the beach is honestly nothing to write home about. And to be fair, most beaches on Samui are not up to par with those on Phuket, Krabi or even Samet. The water was a bit dirty, not very clear, and definitely quite choppy. The last couple days saw calmer weather, which meant the ocean was finally swimmable, but in general, this beach was not what I was hoping for. The sunset views though were superb.
Room: A-
Just do it. Splurge and pay the extra for one of these ocean-front bungalows. You get it all. Private plunge pool, direct access to the beach, a stunning open-concept shower with a glass ceiling, and a ridiculously comfortable bed. I found the layout of the furnishings in the room to be a bit odd, and the whole entry situation to be an afterthought in the design, but just the fact that you’ve got your own (well-heated) pool and direct access to the beach was just next level, and bang for buck, one of the best hotel rooms I have ever stayed in.
Dining: B+
Dining was included in my stay, which was quite nice. The seafood dinner with a full on tower was fit for two but trust me, I did not let any of the deliciousness go to waste. That was probably my best meal. Other than that, the breakfast was alright, honestly underwhelming for a five star hotel in terms of selection but the made-to-order selection was solid. And the other meals I had at the hotel were solid, no complaints from me. Plus, it was included, so like, free food! Yay!
Amenities: B+
The beach being sub-par was a big time bummer for sure. But there is a nice swim-up bar and a multi-tier infinity edge swimming pool to make up for it. The pool was actually surprisingly on the smaller side but many of the rooms at the Outrigger have their own plunge pool so I guess it makes sense. The spa and gym were both also small but provided what you needed. The spa wasn’t very nice design wise either - kind of felt like it could have been in a mall or something. Nevertheless, the options are there if you want them, albeit on the smaller side (lobby is also small - lots of smallness in the common spaces here).
Service: A-
Its not quite at the level of your standard five-star hotels, but its close. People knew my name and began to recognize me (one of the waiters even asked to take a photo with me on my last morning). Being there alone, I enjoyed having some banter with the staff for sure though. But yeah, some small moments here and there that just showed how the hotel is ever so slightly under the level of main stay five star hotels.
So look, if you want a five star hotel but to pay the US equivalent of a 3.5 star hotel, then the Outrigger is for you. Throw in that upgrade and you’ll definitely have a good time at this hotel even with some smaller common areas and a less than ideal beach. Bang for buck, best bet on the island. There’s my two cents. Good day.