Imperial Boathouse Hotel

1 reader found this review helpful

I spent two weeks in Thailand on a girl’s holiday with my mum. It was the most ideal setting for two weeks of pampering. We ordered cocktails at the various bars backing onto the beach and enjoyed many of the varied delights Koh Samui had to offer. The spa at the hotel was absolutely wonderful and we had two treatments done there but i recommend asking the people who do beauty treatments on the beach as there prices were much lower and they do very good massages (however if you want your nails painted bring your own colour!) The beaches were beautiful and the people exceptionally friendly.
The food was delicious and it was very cheap to eat out there. We spent many evenings at the mushroom bar where we watched people performing fire poi. One of my lasting memories of the holiday was learning to do poi on the beach from the friendly people who lived there. We found it easy to contact people back home with an internet cafe opposite the hotel (the one in the hotel was far to expensive!).
We upgraded our room halfway through the holiday and stayed in one of the hotels boats in the garden. They are rice boats that have been converted to rooms. The baths were huge and there was a balcony section at the front of the boat which was perfect for sunbathing! The grounds of the hotel were beautifully kept and they made every extra effort with the small details that they could. There was entertainment with the evening meal. The hotel was very clean, the swimming pools were wonderful and the food was delicious.
The shops there were fairly similar but there is certainly plenty to buy in the way of souvenirs. I also bought some beautiful jewelry, a patchwork bag and we visited the dressmakers who made us some beautiful dresses in Thai silk at a very low cost. Koh Smaui also have full moon parties where they take you to an island on a boat to party with other tourists/travelers/locals. If this is something that would interest you its worth timing your visit to run over a full moon of a half moon.
For the money you pay to take a holiday in Koh Samui you get so much more luxury than any other country. The locals are so courteous and kind and the scenery so beautiful.
There’s plenty to do and see (coconut plantations, beaches, the grandfather and grandmother rocks... etc).
I thoroughly recommend visiting Thailand. The people are wonderful and Koh Samui was beautiful.