ShaSa Resort & Residences, Koh Samui

The accommodation at ShaSa Resort & Residences, Koh Samui runs from suites with one bedroom to a three-bedroom suite, and includes a two-bedroom pool villa on the beachfront. Several suites have a sea view, the three-bedroom suite has a mountain view, and some suites sleep up to nine guests.

Free WiFi is available in all rooms, and housekeeping is provided daily. Air conditioning is a feature of several suites, and the deluxe suites with one, two or three bedrooms have a separate shower and bathtub. The deluxe suites also come with bathrobes, toiletries and a hair dryer, and the multi-bedroom suites give each part of a group a bedroom of its own.

The grounds of ShaSa Resort & Residences, Koh Samui include an outdoor swimming pool, a children's swimming pool and a garden, with a fitness center and a library on site. The beachfront is part of the resort's facilities, and snorkeling is offered, along with tours that can be arranged, car hire and a taxi service.

Guests can eat at the restaurants, order room service or have breakfast in the room. Breakfast is served a la carte, as a buffet or as a continental breakfast, and coffee and tea are served in the restaurant. There is a family room, and an airport transfer and a shuttle service are offered.

Daily housekeeping, laundry service, luggage storage and a concierge are also available, and a golf course is within 3 km.

The Hua Thanon area of Koh Samui combines village life and local markets with access to the island's better-known sights. Its everyday streets are lined with village houses, small shrines and a wet market, while the island's beaches, temples and waterfalls are spread across the rest of Koh Samui. It is a calm place from which to explore the whole island, one stop at a time.

Laem Sor Pagoda and the Samui Butterfly Garden are the closest attractions, each 400 m from the resort. Hin Ta and Hin Yai Rocks, the rock formations known as Grandma and Grandpa, are 4.8 km away, and Lamai Beach, a long sandy beach, is 4.9 km away. Samui Airport, on the island itself, is 15.4 km from the resort, and Big Buddha, a large statue and temple, is a longer trip.

A good day could start at the pagoda and the butterfly garden, then move on to Lamai Beach and the rocks, with Na Muang Waterfall, inland, as another stop. Buddha's Footprint Temple and the Samui Aquarium and Tiger Zoo are both within 1.5 km, and Big Buddha makes a fuller outing for a second day. Samui Orchid and Sheep Farm is another stop for a relaxed afternoon.