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Should You Stay at the Intercontinental or Conrad Koh Samui?

a pool next to a beach

This year’s Asia trip centered entirely around a stay at the Conrad Koh Samui, which I wanted to go to the minute I heard about it and years before it was actually finished. Then award nights at the Intercontinental Koh Samui’s 2 Bedroom Villa came up for the price of a regular room, 25,000 points, and I was conflicted as to where I should stay.

Travel Summary’s comparison of the two properties was beautifully timed and based on his reviews I decided to visit both. Here is my assessment of the two very nice but very different properties.

Intercontinental Koh Samui

a pool with a house in the backgroundIf you enjoy people watching and spending a lot of time out and about around the resort, this is the better property. There are many pools to visit and the general spaces — beach, lobby, restaurants — get more traffic. Probably the best choice for families and friends unless you’re in a 2 bedroom villa or bigger at the Conrad.

Check rates at this hotel:   IHG  |   Booking.com   |   Orbitz   |   Expedia  |   Priceline

Pros

  • Restaurants are expensive, but not as much as the Conrad Koh Samui and there’s a wider selection on the room service menu.a beach with umbrellas and a bridge
  • Better/wider beach front
  • Even half empty, the resort had more energy and there were more people out and about.
  • The Baan Thai spa is also pricey but cheaper than the Conrad.
  • Amazing staff and service!
  • Award stays start at only 25,000 points a night

Cons

  • a room with white pillars and a pianoThe numerous horizon pools are tepid and feel a little scummy on the bottom, as if they needed to be cleaned a little more often.
  • Lots of stairs to get anywhere, including the complimentary golf carts on the main road.
  • Even with a two bedroom villa which I loved, most of the views from the rooms are partially obscured by trees and your best bet for views or sunning is from the beach or the beautiful lobby
  • If you don’t have a villa and you’re not staying on points, then you’re paying alot for not much space (from the pictures I’ve seen).

Conrad Koh Samuia view of the ocean from a room
More expensive both for points redemptions and on-site costs, but perfect for people who prefer quiet getaways and having their own private pool.

Check rates at this hotel:   Hilton  |   Booking.com   |   Orbitz   |   Expedia  |   Priceline

Pros

  • Every room is a villa, so there are no bad rooms, though some might have better views
  • Personal horizon pool (very clean) and deck which gets sun most of the day and is perfect to watch the sunset froma pool with chairs and umbrella by the ocean
  • Even at high occupancy, the main pool and restaurants never seemed very crowded
  • Better restaurant options, though very pricey
  • Outstanding free breakfast for HHonors Gold and Diamonds
  • Amazing staff and service!

Cons

  • a golf cart on a roadProperty is so steep you need call in advance for a golf cart to go almost anywhere on site
  • The beach isn’t very impressive
  • The spa and restaurants are very expensive and the room service menu is fairly limited
  • One bedroom villas might be claustrophobic for families or friends staying there

It’s probably obvious that I preferred the Conrad Koh Samui a little bit more if I had to choose, but I really liked the Intercontinental Koh Samui as well and will happily stay at either again! (And it will probably be the Intercontinental first, just because it’s more affordable on points)

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3 Comments

    1. Not that I’m aware of. Seemed like it was at least a mile to the nearest store and involved awful hikes back up to the lobbies.

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