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Unveiling the Tranquil Oasis: A Stay at Renaissance Koh Samui Resort & Spa

To split our journey between the bustling metropolis of Singapore and Thailand, we opted for a five-night stay in Koh Samui to embrace a serene getaway in a tropical haven.

For our accommodation, we selected the Renaissance Koh Samui, a solid Marriott Bonvoy property situated in a prime location. Despite possessing 5 Marriott free night certificates, I couldn’t secure 5 consecutive nights at desirable rates at other high-end properties I had considered, such as the W Koh Samui or Vana Belle, Tribute Portfolio. Hence, we chose the Renaissance.

Dive into my account and thoughts on the Renaissance Koh Samui Resort & Spa.

Booking

Using five Marriott Bonvoy free night certificates valued at 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points each, earned through a welcome bonus on my Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card, I reserved a five-night stay at the Renaissance Koh Samui. Several days required a minor top-up of a few thousand points, amounting to 39,000 points for the total stay (with 250,000 redeemed via the certificates).

Additionally, I utilized 5 suite night award certificates to request an upgrade to a villa with a private pool, either offering a garden view or beachfront, from the standard King room. Fortunately, these requests were confirmed a few days in advance of our stay.

Check-in

Our arrival for check-in was slightly delayed as we opted for a taxi from the airport (noteworthy, rideshare apps have ceased pickups at the Samui airport due to the local taxi monopoly).

Upon reaching the hotel, the staff promptly grabbed our luggage from the taxi and led us to the check-in counter. We were greeted with hot towels and delectable frozen yogurt.

The check-in process was smooth, and the staff member provided us with a resort map, personally underlining and circling some key features of the property.

Additionally, they handed us a card with a QR code that linked to a Google Drive folder containing various property information.

also comprehensive menus for all dining establishments and lounges.

Subsequently, we were transported along with our luggage to our accommodation, villa number #130. The staff who accompanied us personally showed us around the villa, highlighting several features and unique aspects of the room, which was quite useful.

Location

The Renaissance Koh Samui Resort & Spa is perched on Koh Samui’s eastern coastline, within the Gulf of Thailand. Specifically, it resides in Lamai, which is one of the most lively and renowned beach areas on the island. 

Its central position allows easy access to Lamai in the South and Chaweng in the North, along with several other attractive spots on the island like Big Buddha, Samui Football Golf, various night markets, and beach clubs. 

It is approximately a 20-minute drive from Samui Airport (USM), situated on the island’s northeastern tip.

Resort Layout

The resort occupies its own relatively isolated beach. Most dining venues, the reception, and the private villas (numbered from 101 to 134) are located on the beach-adjacent side of the road.

Resort Map

Across the road lie apartment-style standard rooms and suites known as Deluxe Rooms & Suites. This part of the resort boasts its own smaller lap pool (Leelavadee Pool) and houses the fitness center on the upper floor.

Parking

We didn’t require parking, and it’s doubtful many visitors would, but complimentary parking is available for hotel guests.

Scooter Rental

Scooter rentals are available at the hotel through an external provider. The daily rate is 400 THB, with an additional 1,000 THB deposit refundable upon the return of the scooter. 

I had an odd experience while renting a scooter since the rental agent had me sign the contract and make an upfront payment of 400 THB in the lobby, failing to mention the 1,000 THB deposit until after showing me the scooter and explaining its operation. It seemed strange not to mention the deposit and have me pay it alongside the rental fee while signing the agreement.

Room – 1 Bedroom Villa, 1 King, Garden view, Private pool, 

The pathway to and from our villa was brief yet scenic, winding through a well-maintained tropical orange terrace adorned with numerous trees and greenery.

Each individual villa had an exterior door with a wooden latch that could be used to keep the doors closed shut. 

Through the door and some stairs was a large terrace with a table and chairs. The entrance to the villa was a sizable wooden double door, equipped with both a wooden latch and an electronic deadbolt. 

The main living area of the villa was roomy, featuring a large TV, a sofa, and a desk.

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