China Hand

Luxury Holiday in Koh Samui

China Hand, Mrs China Hand and another expat couple from China spent their Chinese New Year break in a luxury resort in Koh Samui, the popular holiday island in the Gulf of Thailand.

Yes it was an expensive holiday but well worth it. As one friend reflected the view was worth a million dollars! We didn't pay anywhere near that but you'd have to pay more than double that to own it!

Our resort, Miskawaan Villas, was on Mae Nam beach, north facing and remote from any other villas or developments so we had the beach to ourselves. It was beach front so after breakfast by the pool we could step out on the newly swept beach and plunge into the inviting, calm, and crystal clear sea. (Picture-> It's just a rolled towel!)

Our villa was one of eight in the complex built a couple of years ago and managed by an affable Kiwi called Mike. It is staffed by five servants including a driver and gardener. The name of the chef and maitre d' was Poi and she cooked Thai food so beautiful we stopped going to the local restaurants and ate at home each night. During the day driver John would drive us around to all the sights on the Island and we tried the local fare. When we wanted to buy anything he drove us just down the road to the local, well stocked Tesco.

The villas are built in a U-shape with the top facing the sea and closed by the pool. There are four double bedrooms (five in others), a courtyard tropical garden, a luxurious kitchen fitted out with the latest top model Siemens equipment, a gym, a meeting room and TV room cum bar. We mostly ate at the outdoor table by the pool as we were blessed with warm sunny weather on each of the six days there. The bedrooms were very large with satellite TV and wireless internet connection available 24 hours. It was a treat to shower in a large glass lined bathroom opening to a small courtyard (once you got over the embarrassment). Even the bathroom had double sinks.

We were totally pampered as the staff did everything for us except the long relaxing oil massages which were outsourced (but done onsite). I preferred to just read, as did our friends, although there was plenty available to do such as dining, diving, taking sea trips to nearby islands or other spots in Koh Samui. We even tried one of the top restaurants down in Chaweng. Great but not as good as Poi! (Picture-> One of several Thai carvings decoating the courtyard walls)

For us it was a once in a lifetime experience we'll never forget. Our other China hand friends, Klaus & Ulrike agree!