You’ll find the all-villa Napasai, A Belmond Hotel, in a somewhat rural island setting – amongst a grove of cashew trees, with water buffalo just lazing and lolloping about. But don’t let this laid-back lifestyle fool you. Yes, the Napasai is all about escapism and getting away from it all, but the attention to detail here is what makes it one of Koh Samui’s top resorts.
This shrine to upscale barefoot luxury, Napasai, A Belmond Hotel, features contemporary Thai villas strewn throughout its expansive grounds, between manicured gardens and quintessentially beach-scene coconut trees, on the already magical Thai outpost (aka paradise) of Koh Samui.
Our one of just a magic number of 69 villas featured a waterfall bath and outdoor massage room (sala), just in case we didn’t know that relaxation was the order of the day here. Ours didn’t have a private plunge pool, but if you want one, make sure to opt for the Oceanfront Pool Residences, though the resort’s open 24-hour infinity pool melts seamlessly into the Andaman and a stretch of sandy beach is right on the hotel’s doorstep and for most of our stay here, we had it to ourselves.
The layout of the property lends itself to being serene and private; you’ll sometimes notice other guests, generally adults only, around mealtimes (the food here is absolutely stunning by the way, and you’ll certainly be spoilt for choice in terms of breadth of offering and atmosphere) and at the bar, but you will never have your personal space invaded.
What you will notice is the charming staff, ever attentive, but never disruptive… they know when to pop up just at the right time to take your order for a cocktail, or with a jasmine-scented towel to cool you off. Plus with Belmond’s firm commitment to inclusive travel, you’ll know the welcome is truly genuine.
| Perfect for | Fly into | Right on time |
| The Escapist | USM | GMT +7 |
| While you’re Out There |
| Go Thai with your experience here and imbibe in local culture in a language class to get you ready to interact with locals. Other local experiences include a Muay Thai (Thai boxing) class and workout, an hour of which wore us out completely. Or, for a slower pace, you should try the Thai cooking class that will sharpen your culinary skills so that you can taste Thailand and take it home with you. |
www.belmond.com
Photography courtesy of Belmond
