Zazen Boutique Resort Review: A Zen Stay in Koh Samui
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Nothing gets the kinks out like a traditional Thai massage.
At Zazen Boutique Resort on the island of Koh Samui in Thailand, the expert massage in the open-air garden spa – birds chirping in the trees outside – twisted and stretched us into a state of bliss.
With Murano chandeliers and ruby-red velvet cushions, Le Spa Zen evokes a Moorish fantasy, but the pleasure it dispenses is quite real.
Indeed, the spa is one very good reason to book Zazen Boutique Resort & Spa!
But that’s just the beginning, as we share below in our review of Zazen Boutique Resort. More reasons include the beautiful bungalows, the newly renovated infinity pool and the amazing restaurant.
Zazen prides itself on offering guests a peaceful, rejuvenating stay (Zazen means “to find inner peace” in Japanese). And that’s exactly what we experienced here!
Rooms and villas
Zazen’s 26 terracotta stone bungalows are scattered about koi-filled lagoons and gardens, lush with exotic flowers and Buddhist statues.
The largest are the “garden villas.” At 700 square feet in size, these Koh Samui bungalows have plenty of room for a couple, or even parents with a child, to spread out comfortably.
Glass doors from a terrace open into a living room with painted concrete floors, bench-style cushioned couches, silk blinds and a flat-screen TV.
The raised bedroom has a comfy, low, king-size bed on polished wood floors. Thai-style and contemporary wooden sculptures and art works abound.
Behind the bedroom, the large bathroom is a treat with an Italian shower and polished wood countertop,
Relaxing in our garden villa, we felt quite royal in the bathrobes and slippers provided – though we had to pull down the blinds for privacy from passing guests.
Other room types include somewhat smaller beachfront suites (they’re as close to the sea as you can get!) plus garden-view and sea-view tropical suites (also a little smaller).
What to do at Zazen Boutique Resort?
Most guests come to chill, and cushioned teak loungers under white umbrellas by the narrow beach and around the pool are the place to be during the day.
If you’re nit-picky about your beaches, you might say that the beach in front of Zazen Boutique Resort isn’t large. And the water was a bit murky when we were there.
(For a “better” place to swim, zip on over to Chaweng Beach; it’s “public” though and busier.)
We were Zen-happy, however, to use the Zazen beach (and preferred it to Chaweng). It was quiet, shady and the beach chairs were a comfortable place to read.
You can also rent kayaks and paddleboards from Zazen’s beach club, and the water is typically calm for paddling.
When we felt like swimming, we enjoyed the outdoor pool.
And oh what a pool it is! In a recent hotel renovation, the pool and adjacent restaurant were totally redone. And the comfy white beanbag loungers in front of the seafront infinity pool (with natural water, no less) are a lovely place to hang out.
New restaurant (and breakfast sets you up for the day)
The path from the bungalows and suites to the beachfront restaurant leads past Zen ponds, Buddhist statues and a bridge with a handmade yin-yang mosaic.
We didn’t try the resort’s elegant restaurant for dinner. Serving high-class Thai cuisine, it’s reputed to be excellent (though expensive). We hear local expats love dining here.
We enjoyed the restaurant for breakfast, however. Rates include a wonderful buffet breakfast overlooking the sea – and there’s complimentary bubbly to mix with your OJ.
Location
Zazen Boutique Resort is located at the quiet end of Bo Phut on the northeast coast of Samui Island, conveniently close to the Samui airport (15 minutes away).
The funky restaurants and bars of Fisherman’s Village are just a five-minute taxi ride (or 20-minute walk) away. Exploring Fisherman’s Village is one of the popular things to do in Koh Samui.
Zazen Boutique Resort review bottom line?
Zazen is definitely one of Koh Samui’s best boutique hotels! Family-owned, it’s been serving up authentic Thai hospitality for a quarter of a century now.
Couples who like small stylish hotels and want a peaceful beach getaway will feel right at home at these deluxe Koh Samui bungalows and suites.
We certainly loved our stay and would return in a heartbeat!
Zazen Boutique Resort, Bophut
See our other Thailand travel guides
- The Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Thailand
- Sea Canoeing Phang Nga Bay’s Hidden Lagoons
- Discovering the Power of Poppies at the Hall of Opium
- Snorkeling Koh Tao: Best Spots and Tours
- Dig the Hippie Vibe of These Koh Tao Bungalows!
- Shangri-La Bankgkok Review: One of Bangkok’s Top Riverside Hotels
- Sheraton Grande Sukkhumvit Review: A Grand Stay in Bangkok
- Dine in the Dark in Bangkok: An Eye-Opening Experience
Our top travel tips and resources
General trip planning: TripAdvisor is a helpful starting point, offering loads of user reviews on hotels, restaurants and things to do.
Hotels: Booking.com is our go-to for scoring a “wow” hotel – or at least a decent one – often at lower rates than the hotel’s own website. We especially like Booking’s flexible cancellation policy! (You may prefer Expedia for booking hotels in the U.S. or Mexico.)
Vacation homes, condos and rentals: We prefer and use Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner).
Flights: For the cheapest flights, search on Google Flights or Expedia. (Just be aware Expedia tickets are often non-refundable. If you want more flexibility, it’s usually worth booking directly with the airline, even if it costs a bit more.)
Airport lounge access: We love (and have) Priority Pass for comfy lounge seats, free snacks and drinks, complimentary WiFi and sometimes even showers and spa services!
Tours: For the best local food, walking and other guided tours, plus skip-the-line tickets to attractions, check out Viator (a TripAdvisor company) and GetYourGuide.
Car rental: Renting a car is often a great way to explore off the beaten path. Discover Cars searches car rental companies so you get the lowest rates.
eSIMS: Stay connected affordably with Airalo eSIMS covering 200+ countries and trusted by 10 million+ users, including us! (No more huge roaming bills!)
Travel insurance: SafetyWing is designed for frequent travelers, long-term adventurers and digital nomads. It covers medical expenses, lost checked luggage, trip interruption and more. We also have and recommend Medjet for global air medical transportation.
Travel gear: See our travel shop to find the best luggage, accessories and other travel gear. (We suggest these comfy travel sandals for city walking, the beach and kicking about.)
Need more help planning your trip? Check out our travel tips and resources guide for airline booking tips, ways to save money, how to find great hotels and other crazy useful trip planning info.
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Photo credits: © Zazen Resort
We stayed as media guests of the resort, but our review of Zazen Boutique Resort is all ours. As professional travel writers, we always write the truth as we see it, including points you should be aware of.
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