Tongsai Bay Review: Why You’ll Love This Luxury Koh Samui Resort

Open the front gate.

Walk up to the private deck fronting your villa.

Take in the views over jungle to beach cove and ocean.

And exhale…

You’ve arrived at the most serene rainforest oasis on Koh Samui, an island gem in the Gulf of Thailand.

If you’re looking for Thai-style coddling in private pool villas, read on for our Tongsai Bay review!

Tongsai Bay review

A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, The Tongsai Bay is set on 25 lush acres embracing its own crescent of golden sand beach.

Remarkably, not a single tree was cut down to make way for its 83 understated suites, cottages and villas that dot the hillside – and the brown wood buildings are in perfect synch with their tropical surroundings.

Stylish in a back-to-nature way, they delight honeymooners, couples and families alike.

Tongsai Bay grand villas

The Tongsai Bay Resort has 83 rooms, suites, cottages and villas. All have ocean views.

Because there are so many different types of accommodations (some have private pools, others have an outdoor “bath with a view”), you should visit the resort’s website to see what particular accommodation you’d like to book.

Our Tongsai Bay Grand Villa coddled us with gleaming hardwood floors, an air-conditioned master bedroom, lots of closet space and a spacious bathroom with separate dressing area.

Outside was the enormous covered deck – really an outdoor living room.

It came with a “sala” (open pavilion) with a curtained double-daybed, kitchen sideboard with fridge and coffee-making supplies, dining table, sturdy lounge furniture – and even a freestanding tub.

Romantic bath with a view, anyone?

And let’s not forget the private pool!

You want swank? These 27+ luxury villas with private pools are epic!

Breakfast and afternoon tea

For breakfast, the resort’s famous “fruit lady” (Pu) whips up the most delicious fresh fruit smoothies.

Our welcoming waitress also remembered how we liked to have a skim milk latte (for Janice) and double cappuccino (for George).

And in pool villas like ours, sandwiches and chocolate brownies are delivered for afternoon tea.

Restaurants

At night, three onsite restaurants are available for dinner.

Chef Chom’s is a Thai restaurant serving traditional Thai cuisine from different regions in the country.

The Po-Lad Beach Bistro is a casual option for burgers, salads, pizza and pasta.

The Butler’s is a new dining experience, featuring Pan-Asian and Mediterranean dishes prepared by a Michelin-trained chef.

The restaurant only caters to 20 guests, so advance reservations are recommended.

Things to do at Tongsai Bay

Sailing, kayaking, windsurfing and stand-up paddle boarding are complimentary.

And no motorized sports spoil the peace.

There’s also a large infinity pool (adults only) and a freeform family pool.

And the romantic spa offers acupressure-style Thai massages in bamboo huts with outdoor showers.

How fortunate, we thought, that years ago the owner’s visionary father fell in love with this secluded cove – and built The Tongsai Bay.