Banyan Tree Samui

Where to begin-we walked into the lobby to check in and were met with the most beautiful view we'd ever seen. Abby, our host, checked us in then drove us up to our villa. We had reserved a family deluxe ocean view villa but were upgraded to the very top horizon villa. Amazing view of the entire resort and ocean. The villa was incredible. kids had their private 2 twin room with bath then there was the outdoor living space with table, infinity pool & jacuzzi, built in daybeds all overlooking the resort and ocean. The main villa had a nice living area, bedroom and huge bath view a view. Showering with a view of the bay was crazy! We got our suits on, took a dip in our plunge pool then took a buggy down to the private beach. Loved that everything was included and not nickel and dimed to death. There were watersports like kayaks, paddle boards, catamarans and cabanas. We had late snack at the beachfront restaurant and found that to be the best food at resort. Attendants were great at the beach. Next dinner at Sapphron which was just ok. The menu was a bit gourmet and pricey. We just wanted local authentic thai food. We had an issue with our crab dish being extremely pungent so had to send it back (which we never do). The service took a long time and it was 2 hours for dinner which was weird because we got there at 8:30 and not many people there. Next am was gym then breakfast overlooking ocean-so neat. Lots of choices and prosecco which was nice touch. Beach and lunch, watersports during day. Cards in our villa and plunge pool in afternoon. We asked Abby to recommend a good restaurant in town for dinner so we took a grab. Sadly, the restaurant wasn't good and didn't take credit cards. We ate at Italian spot but not good-we wanted thai food. Not much in that part of Samui. We saw the better part with all the restaurants on way to the airport so will do that next time. Think it was Chewang so wish Abby would have recommended that. Went back to beach restaurant for desert. Though Banyan Tree Samui was one of the 2 most beautiful resorts we've stayed at in Southeast Asia, it really wasn't about the service but the villa, resort itself. We had private butlers at our other resorts across Southeast Asia but Banyan Tree didn't have that. You had a host but not the same. We felt like we had to figure a lot of things out ourselves and are used to being taken care of. What was disappointing is that we loved the resort so much and 2 nights wasn't enough so we inquired with Abby about staying 1 more night. She spoke to the manager but sadly the rate he gave us wasn't even $1 cheaper than the published rate and no upgrade. There were tons of rooms available so you'd think they'd want to rent them. We ended up declining. But again, not about service but beautiful resort. I'd give it 4 1/2 stars. Last day we went to the infinity pool which was beautiful with a private bar. Wish we had more time. The beach staff was amazing and so helpful. Next time we'd like to rent their private boat that takes you to the national park, snorkeling, fishing etc. It's $1700 for the day but worth it. We're already planning a trip back in exactly 2 years. We're planning on getting the villa that has two 2 bedrooms and bringing our family of 8. See you soon.

I don't normally post reviews on here but our recent stay at Banyan Tree Samui was so fabulous that it couldn't go unmentioned. The resort is beautiful in a truly spectacular location on the island. Yes, it is a little bit away from the main access road into Lamai and Chaweng, but that's what make it a true retreat. Grab taxis are very reasonable and will pick you up from the resort lobby if you want to explore the island. There are also a couple of locally based restaurants and amenities - Kawin's Kitchen in particular is very good as is the Little Gem yoga and massage studio. There's a Tops supermarket and pharmacist just 10 minute walk from the main entrance. If you're planning a stay here I would encourage you to stretch to an ocean view villa if you can. All of the villas are beautiful but the breathtaking view (particularly from the Hillcrest villas) is just awesome. Be sure to get up early on one day at least to watch the sunrise from the luxury of your private pool. An unforgettable experience. What makes this place extra special are the people who work there. All of the team were fantastic and went the extra mile to make our stay special and memorable. Nicha our villa host was fantastic - really organised and helpful; always at the end of a WhatsApp if we needed her help. Other members of the team who deserve a special thank you are Rainer, John and Poi from the restaurant team. My wife has some special dietary requirements and they went out of their way to help cater for her needs each day which we truly appreciated. The ladies in the spa and gift shop too were so helpful and kind. During our stay my wife lost her wedding ring and was devastated. One of the ladies in the spa found it and returned it to lost property. We were so grateful and thankful.

We spent 9 unforgettable nights at the Banyan Tree Samui in August 2025, and it was nothing short of a dream. The service was outstanding, the food delicious, and the staff consistently warm and welcoming. A special thank you goes to our private concierge Anna, who did an incredible job making our stay seamless. She went above and beyond to assist us with every request and made us feel truly cared for. The Kids Club was a highlight for our children, while the Thai boxing class and the private speedboat day trip added unique and memorable experiences for the whole family. For those who are not deterred by the higher price level, this resort is worth every penny. We fully recommend Banyan Tree Samui and would like to sincerely thank the entire team for creating such a wonderful holiday for us.

What to say about the Banyan tree? It is simply a paradise on earth, the most beautiful hotel that can exist! The rooms and private pools are incredible, the people very kind (special mention to Chan who accompanied us with the sourrir during our entire stay), and the common equipment of a very high quality! We will return, I hope, as soon as possible!

I like the meals at the saffron and at the edge. And I really like paddle boarding and kayaking at the beach this trip is so fun!!!