What makes a place paradise? Endless stretches of empty beaches, palms blowing in a gentle breeze, crystal clear waters, paired with a mojito and a really good book perhaps... For me, our Island retreat Avani + Samui on Koh Samui was about as close as it gets.
The last leg of our Thailand trip brought us there (via an epic cross-country bus journey and a rickety ferry) for two nights before heading back to The Big Smoke (technically London but equally Bangkok where we flew back from, thanks to the high levels of pollution). It was the perfect ending to a pretty perfect trip, a place to completely relax with good food, good drinks, and very few worries.
The resort offers all the services you'd expect from a top establishment but with none of the stuffiness - staff are genuinely warm and laidback, as is the comfortable yet stylish beach-inspired decor. We stayed in one of the pool villas, which as the name suggests looked over it's own private pool, so utterly decadent given the two pools available on the property, but so completely worth it to have a little privacy and the luxury of being able to go for a swim whenever you feel like it, mere steps from your bedroom.
The site also hosts a spa, which is a must visit. We popped in while a storm was hammering down, and it was a perfect respite. I went for a traditional Thai massage, chosen with the help of a questionnaire to assess your needs, such as de-stressing and balancing. It was so calming, and we left feeling so much more relaxed and rejuvenated. Living busy city lives when there's barely any time for sleep let alone self care, it was much needed.
We also utilised the beachside bar, a quirky repurposed camper van serving up cocktails. My order was the Pimms, that very British drink - but it's just the epitome of Summer!
I'm usually not the type to go on holiday and not leave the resort, however heavy afternoon storms hampered our ability to explore as much as I might have liked. However it was a blessing in disguise - if you can't do anything, you have to just relax and enjoy doing as little as possible. And who needs to leave when there's an on-site spa, several pools, and a beach at your doorstep (literally, the resort backs onto a lovely little secluded beach)?
We did take one trip offered by the hotel, on a boat ride to do a spot of snorkelling after which we docked at a neighbouring island for a chilled Singha by the sea. I'd never been snorkelling before (and was very nervous, I'm not the best swimmer!), however I soon got used to it and was reluctant to head back - even though I did freak out and grab Adam every time a shoal got too close! Then to the island, which was a bit of bliss, just a few fellow tourists, a bar, deckchairs and a rather fat family of pigs lazing in the shade. After considerable cooing over the piggies we jumped back in our boat and headed back to the mainland, sunburnt noses, sand in our hair, but very content.
On our last night we were treated to a three course meal at the Essence Restaurant, which serves up a mix of Thai and international cuisine. We started things off with crab cakes and a pumpkin and duck salad, beautifully presented dishes with fresh ingredients and a hint of Thai flavouring. For mains I chose the rib eye whilst Adam tucked into the catch of the day. We rounded things off with dessert - and a bottle of prosecco!
It was hard to say goodbye to our little patch of paradise at Avani + Samui (the private pool was particularly difficult to wrench ourselves from!), but it was a blissful couple of days and an ideal holiday retreat to reset and refresh before returning to 'real life'. I'm already plotting to go back to see more of Koh Samui and experience Island life at it's best, pigs and pool included...
My stay at Avani + Samui was complimentary, but all views my own.
