InterContinental Samui Baan Taling Ngam Resort

Beautiful large hotel complex with breathtaking views and very friendly staff, especially at breakfast and at the pool bar. Unfortunately, the overall service does not meet a 5-star standard. The management, especially Jan, came across as extremely unfriendly. The reception staff hardly ever smile and are not very helpful, for example when it comes to booking excursions. When I asked Monica something once, I received a rather rude response. She never smiled. I have spent holidays in many 5-star hotels on Samui, but I have never experienced such poor service — both from a management perspective and in terms of general guest support. The lack of assistance when booking excursions was especially disappointing. In general, we had to discuss and argue about many things because we constantly received different answers. Services and arrangements that had been promised by our travel agency were initially refused by the hotel. Manager Jan even gave us a lecture instead of trying to find a solution together with us. Her behaviour was extremely rude, disrespectful, and unprofessional. She clearly does not know how to handle guest feedback or guests in general The food in the restaurants also does not match the quality we know from other 5-star hotels. Requests are sometimes only handled after several hours and then fulfilled poorly. Guests staying for a longer period are not treated in a special or appreciative way either – many things have to be asked multiple times. A real pity, because the hotel itself has great potential.

After travelling across Asia and staying in several InterContinental properties, arriving in Koh Samui already felt truly special—but what we experienced here went far beyond expectations. The level of hospitality and genuine guest focus is exceptional and clearly sets this resort apart from other five-star hotels. From the very first moment, it felt like coming home to a beloved family. Every detail—no matter how small—was handled with sincere care and warmth, turning each moment of our stay, from the heartfelt welcome to the gracious farewell, into something truly memorable. We will miss staying here next year due to the scheduled major renovation—but this only deepens our anticipation of returning afterwards to experience it all over again. Our heartfelt thanks go to the entire team for creating such a warm and special atmosphere. Special recognition goes to the General Manager, Jane Soergel, whose leadership clearly shines through, to Khun Lek for her indispensable support in critical moments, as well as to our truly wonderful and attentive Club hosts Khun Lisa and Khun Son-O, and the exceptionally polite and impressive trainee Khun Porgy.

Ive been here a view times 2016 had the BEST rooftop bar furniture, long comfy sunbeds that gave the most amazing views, u would eat / drink all day and night.... ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT Also on ground floor used to have a fire pit comfy circular furniture facing the view of the ocean... also now gone 😭 Hope u bring the comfortable furniture back, it made the hotel!!! Must be change of ownership-since then, in 2023 the furniture is v.uncomfortaable, didnt stay long, moved on Food is always amazing, service is top notch, views are stunning 😍

Our stay at this hotel had many wonderful aspects, but unfortunately also some clear shortcomings that are not in line with a 5-star standard. The resort itself is beautiful, very well maintained, and offers a great variety—especially the different pools, which are a real highlight. The breakfast was excellent, with a wide selection and a very appealing presentation. The staff there were exceptionally friendly and attentive. A special thank you goes to Bee Bee and Peem, but truly the entire team did a fantastic job. The club lounge is also highly recommended, with outstanding service and very welcoming staff—especially Arty, who made a lasting impression. The views from the hotel are stunning, and the beach pool is another highlight, not least because of the warm and friendly team working there. The security staff also deserve recognition for ensuring safety when crossing the road with the buggies—especially Joy. The housekeeping team deserves special mention as well: always smiling, incredibly friendly, and providing excellent service. They made us feel welcome and well taken care of every single day. However, there are also several disappointing aspects, especially compared to other hotels in this category. The reception staff in particular were a major letdown. We experienced very unfriendly and unhelpful behavior, especially from Monica and the manager Jan. It is rare to encounter such a level of unfriendliness—from daily unfriendly looks to a complete lack of support when asking about excursions. We ended up having to organize everything ourselves. There was never an explanation on which trips they offer or how it could be. After raising a concern about an excursion (which could not be arranged for three people due to a supposed minimum of four), we received inconsistent and sometimes contradictory responses via chat. In the evening, manager Jan addressed us in a tone and manner that was completely unacceptable. Someone in that position should know that tone matters—it was simply not appropriate. In general, the way management handled inquiries or responded to feedback was difficult and disappointing—not only in direct interactions with Jan, but also via the hotel chat, where communication was often inconsistent and not guest-oriented. We also felt that long-stay guests were not treated as such. There was little to no added value or goodwill extended, which we are used to from other 5-star hotels. At times, it felt as though the focus was primarily on maximizing profit rather than creating a truly guest-centered experience. As I wrote the issue until our day trip with the hotel was organized. It was very disappointing, as we stayed 16 days. There was also a lack of organization in smaller details—for example, it took several hours just to receive a response regarding a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine. Communication via the hotel app was also inefficient and frustrating. In other hotels, we are used to a much more personal approach, such as having a dedicated contact person via WhatsApp. Another downside was the large number of children. Of course, the pool is there for everyone to enjoy, but unfortunately many children showed no consideration for other guests—running, shouting, and playing with balls—while the parents did not seem to intervene. Although we had a beach villa with our own pool, we enjoyed using the main beach pool. However, it was often so dominated by this behavior that a relaxed experience for other guests was no longer possible. I like children, but in this case, more awareness, management and consideration of the hotel would have been necessary. Finally, the dining experience did not meet 5-star expectations. The food in the restaurants Amber and Flames was disappointing. It is also a pity that the beach/pool restaurant does not offer any Thai dishes. Overall, the hotel offers a beautiful setting and many positive aspects, but there are clear shortcomings in service and organization that detract from the overall experience.

Our stay at the Intercontinental Koh Samui Resort was idyllic. The view is amazing and the tone for our stay was set at the outset by staff who warmly welcomed us and provided comprehensive information about the resort. In fact, the staff in general are a key reason our stay was so pleasant. Food in the restaurants is fresh and tasty with menus offering a range of choices. The Club Lounge is wonderful while Spa treatments left us feeling blissfully relaxed. We intend returning in 2027.