Four days later, after a wonderful stay at the Le Meridien Koh Samui, we hopped farther up the island to the W Retreat Koh Samui. The moment we walked into the lobby, it was like stepping into a editorial from Conde Nast Traveler. The lobby is completely open aired which flows into a reflecting pool that juts over the entire property (it’s hard to explain and the pictures hardly do it justice).
After checking in (and getting the upgrade — thank you SPG), we hopped on a golf cart and were driven to our villa. I am telling you, the W Retreat is THE COOLEST hotel I have ever been to. It’s almost its own self sustaining island. In each row of villas, there are “Cool Bars” which are open 24/7 and are fully stocked with ice cream and soda. And it only gets better from here.
Upon entering the villa, the fun of exploring began. In lieu of our honeymoon, the hotel staff had covered our beds in red rose petals and provided us with our “Spin-the-Bottle” game (another way W Retreat stood out from other properties). We also had our own private pool that was attached and essentially, our own oasis. After one too many cannonballs off the bathroom ledge, we decided to check out the beach.
Insert jaw drop. The beach was unreal. There were swings, hammocks, cabanas, volleyball nets, you name it. It was set up for a pool party. Once we found two lounging chairs near the water, a waiter arrived with our own personal buzzer. Any time we needed a drink, snack, or new towel, we pushed the buzzer and a waiter arrived. Talk about luxury.
Overall, our stay was entirely too short at the W Retreat, and desperately wish we had booked an extra day — another trip to Thailand soon, I guess? However, I look forward to exploring more W Retreats in future travels (the Puerto Rico property looks pretty sweet).
My Favorite Casual Luxury: The hotel staff. And the free ice cream. So much free ice cream. This was the only property where we truly made friends with the hotel staff. We came to have a go-to bartender, Mi, that always made sure we had a drink in our hand.
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