Samui Emerald Resort

Rooms at Samui Emerald Resort range from studios and one-bedroom rooms to two-bedroom suites, all with king beds. Some face the garden, others overlook the swimming pool, and a few have a balcony or terrace, and air conditioning is fitted in some of them.

Depending on the room, guests find a flat-screen TV, a coffee or tea maker, a refrigerator and a microwave, while bathrooms have toiletries, towels and bathrobes. Couples and families both have options, from a studio to a two-bedroom suite. Some rooms have a private bathroom with a walk-in shower, while others share a bathroom, and all of the rooms have king beds.

The resort's facilities include an outdoor swimming pool with a poolside bar, a bar, restaurants and room service. A fitness centre, massage and a garden give guests places to relax between days out, and daily housekeeping is provided. The leisure options are rounded out by the garden and the bar, and massage is offered on site.

For getting around, there is an airport transfer and car hire is offered, while tours can be arranged and a shuttle service and taxi service are available. Diving, snorkelling and fishing are also offered, and a concierge, currency exchange, luggage storage and laundry service cover practical needs.

Families can use a babysitting service, and a shared kitchen is available. Free parking is on site, and free Wi-Fi covers all rooms. The pool, garden, restaurants and bar are all on site.

Samui Emerald Resort stands in Pailaem, a village area on the Choeng Mon side of Koh Samui, where temples and a few small beaches sit alongside local homes. It is a calm base for seeing the island's temples and beaches without staying in its busiest streets.

Wat Plai Laem, a temple known for its large Guanyin statue, is 550 m away, and the Big Buddha, a large seated statue, is 1.1 km away. Fisherman's Village in Bophut, a lively fishing village with shops and a walking street, is 4.5 km away.

Samui Airport is 3 km away, so a short road transfer from the airport brings guests to the resort, and an airport transfer is offered. Central Festival Samui, a large shopping centre, is 4.8 km away, and free parking on site suits guests who drive. A good day out can combine the temples of Pailaem with the Big Buddha, then a walk around Fisherman's Village. Chaweng Noi and Lamai beaches are further along the island, so a trip to either is a longer outing from Pailaem, and the quieter bays and temples near the resort make a relaxed base for a stay of several days, with the island's main road close enough for day trips in either direction.