Kimpton Kitalay Samui by IHG

Set on Choeng Mon Beach, Kimpton Kitalay Samui is a 138-room resort for divers who want the hotel itself to carry some of the holiday. The tone is more full-service resort than simple base: several places to eat, a spa, a gym, yoga, pools and a direct beach setting all sit within the same address.

English is spoken by the hotel team, so you can deal with the practicalities of transfers, meals and excursions without resorting to improvised sign language. The website is also available in Russian. Families are catered for with family suites, a kids’ club and children’s facilities, while couples have sea-view rooms, balconies and pool-access options to consider.

The resort sits at 10/79 Moo 5, Bophut, on Choeng Mon Beach, Koh Samui, Thailand. It is directly beside a white-sand beach stretching for about 1 km, with sun loungers and parasols available for beach time that does not require a taxi, a timetable or a committee meeting.

Koh Samui town centre is 7 miles away. Around the resort, you can reach Choeng Mon Beach, Mini Golf International and Wat Plai Laem, while Samui Airport is about 15 minutes away. The location keeps you on the coast rather than in the thick of town, with the island’s practical attractions still within reach.

For two people, the choice is mainly about how much of the setting you want to bring indoors. Sea-view double and twin rooms keep the emphasis on the coast, while balcony versions give you a private outdoor seat and add soundproofing, blackout blinds, bathrobes, slippers, tea and coffee facilities, a minibar and Wi-Fi. The twin layouts make sense when sharing a room without sharing a bed; the double rooms are the straightforward couple’s choice.

If the useful luxury is stepping straight towards water, pool-access rooms and suites put that feature at the centre of the decision. The one-bedroom suites offer more separation than a standard room, while the oceanfront pool villa and garden pool villa are the options for a more self-contained stay. Families can look towards the two-bedroom suites and villas, rather than trying to make a normal double room perform acrobatics.

Air conditioning is available in the room categories where it is listed, along with a private bathroom, safe, television and, in several categories, a fridge. Room service, toiletries and a minibar are available within the accommodation offering. The practical lesson is simple: check the exact room card before booking, because the equipment changes considerably between categories.

The resort gives you four named places to eat, drink or pick up something sweet. FishHouse Restaurant & Bar covers breakfast, lunch and dinner with fresh local seafood, cold seafood towers and premium imported meats. It is the place for a proper meal when a post-dive appetite has stopped pretending to be reasonable.

BoHo Thai Lifestyle Café also serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, combining classic Thai dishes with Western favourites. HOM Baking Company handles freshly baked treats, useful for a lighter break between meals or with a coffee. Room service is available as well, so you can keep the evening firmly in your own room if the day has taken more out of you than expected.

SHADES Ocean Lounge & Bar is the resort’s beach bar, with cocktails and an oceanfront setting. There is one named bar in the drinks offering, alongside its restaurant identity.

The sensible post-dive plan here is not complicated: pool, beach, shower, then spa. The resort has swimming-pool facilities, a water park and direct access to the public beach, with beach and pool equipment, sun loungers, parasols and towels available. There is also a garden, terrace and sun terrace for the difficult business of remaining horizontal.

Kitavaree Spa & Wellness offers massages, facials, a hammam, sauna, mud baths and body wraps. The fitness side includes a gym and yoga, giving you options if your idea of recovery involves stretching rather than another drink. A massage followed by a quiet hour at the beach is a perfectly respectable use of an afternoon on land.

Families have a kids’ club, children’s play facilities, babysitting and a children’s pool. For a less organised hour, there is billiards, a picnic area, barbecue facilities and bicycle hire. Excursion assistance is available through the hotel, and snorkelling is among the listed water activities.

Airport transfers are available through the hotel, in a form to arrange directly before arrival. The airport is around 15 minutes away by road. Parking is available, including a charging station for electric vehicles, which is useful if you are hiring a car rather than relying on island taxis.

Check-out is at 12 noon. Reception operates around the clock, and the hotel also offers Wi-Fi throughout the property, concierge assistance, luggage storage, wake-up service, laundry, ironing and dry cleaning. A currency exchange service, safe-deposit facilities and excursion assistance cover the less glamorous parts of travelling without making them your evening’s main activity.

The resort has lifts, wheelchair-accessible facilities and an accessible restaurant. Pets are admitted, and smoking areas are provided. A security deposit is requested on arrival, while extra-bed arrangements depend on the room category; check the conditions attached to the accommodation you select.