From amazing rooms to sublime service everything is just five star!

Sorry but Koh Samui is a bit of a dump! I am sure it was wonderful ten to twenty years ago but the uncontrolled building all round the coast has taken away most of any inherent charm. Chaweng has a great beach but frankly is pretty tacky with little to commend it other than a few good restaurants, mainly along one small street. The potential trips out are little better ,with the highlights being the pretty unspectacular waterfalls and the rather gaudy wats that manage to be as touristy as the island and the sad elephant rides with half starved dusty, tiny, below par elephants. Sorry but apart from a few clubs can anyone tell me why one would come here? Well I can suggest a couple of answers. Firstly, the weather is fantastic and the rains come later then anywhere else in Thailand and most places in SE Asia. Secondly they have three of four world class hotel resorts and specifically the Napasai. It's position is a very secluded one. Once you get there you are pretty stuck. Frankly, there is absolutely nowhere to walk to. and local taxis are extremely expensive. When you get one you will generally face a longish journey to either Bhoput or Chaweng. So in reality you are rather forced to eat most of the time at the Napasai. Now that's not so bad, as the food is varied and absolutely superb. However it is very expensive (especially the wine) and most evening meals for two will set you back more than ?100-?150 with wine. They have a cheaper alternative (also excellent) by the seafront but even there, you will be very lucky to escape for under ?60 for the two of you. Breakfast is absolutely fantastic. The physical experience of the outdoor eating plus the wonderful service plus the quality of the fayre. The rooms? Well we had a 2-roomed villa for half the time (villa 6) and it was absolutely fabulous with a delightful private pool though it was very isolating. Not sure it would suit everyone but would be ideal for a family of 4 and in fact quite a cheap option. Liked the instant avaiability of the golf carts, You phoned and then it was a race to get up to the gate of the villa before it arrived. The second half was spent in a seafront cottage 103 and this is a really delicious alternative. The sound of the sea. The views, the cool breeze on the balcony and the great bathroom. Liked the VERY comfortable bed with crisp lovely sheets. Room service was impeccable. Complimentary fruit each day. Ms Chebani the assistant manager was superb attentive and always available and dealt efficiently and calmly with any requirements. She should be complemented - they are lucky to have her. The staff everywhere are wonderful in terms of charm, enthusiasm and helpfulness but here is the one criticism. The Napasai have got to get a handle on their poor language skills. This is really totally unacceptable in a 4/5 star hotel resort. The reception desk is always staffed with delightful girls who try so hard to be helpful. But they are totally undertrained. So many difficult situations would be avoided, if they had better communication skills. While we were there we had two problems ( one with working the complicated tv & video controls in the villa and the other when sorting out the bill at the end) and both were totally avoidable. Ms Chebani had to sort out a difficult situation with another customer caused by poor communication and other vosotors complained to us about this. The pool is beautiful and a real pleasure. Service is excellent and the seating around the edge or on the grass by the beach is top rate. The spa is also very good. It was a real treat lying by the pool reading, being constantly treated to complimentary massages, drinks and cold fruit snacks. A great touch. Laptops were available in the excellent bar and wi fi was set throughout the complex. Maybe one good idea would be to allow guests to hire the laptops and be allowed to take them to their own rooms. As with the FCC in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Truly a wonderful place but a gilded cage and you will need lots of books and for that matter lots of money!

Napsai is simply the best place ever. The staff are absolutely fantastic and charming, the food is great and the fact that it is outside the main tourist areas of Koh Samui you will either love or hate. My boyfriend and I were in need of total R&R and that it what we got 100%. We stayed in one of the 2 bed pool villas and loved the fact that we also had access to our own kitchen and lounge area. My boyfriend and I were involved in a car accident whilst we were there and if it wasn't for the intervention of the General Manager and his staff we would surely not have understood what was going on. They totally took control of the situation. Before I went to the Napasai I could never understand why people would want to visit the same place year after year as this is something I (we) don't do but we've already booked to spend Christmas and the New Year there and we simply can't wait! Go, you will not be disappointed!!