The Jungle Club

The Jungle sits on a hillside in a coconut plantation overlooking Chaweng Bay, with the buildings following the natural slope rather than flattening it into something overly polished. Traditional materials, open wooden decks and plenty of space give the place a distinctly laid-back character, while the views do the heavy lifting without needing a sales pitch.

You come here for the setting, the privacy and the chance to slow the pace between island outings. The resort was created by a French-Thai family, and its accommodation ranges from simple, characterful rooms to larger options with more room to spread out. There is a garden, a terrace and a view over the coast; in other words, enough scenery to keep you occupied while the legs remember what they did in the water.

The address is Chaweng Noi Beach, on Soi Panyadee, in Chaweng Noi Beach, Thailand. The resort is perched on the hill rather than sitting directly on the sand, so the coast is close but not immediately outside your door. Chaweng Noi Beach is about 1 mile away by car, with a journey of roughly three minutes.

Chaweng Beach is about 1.9 miles away by car, while Coral Cove Beach is around 2 miles away. Silver Beach is about 3.1 miles away and Lamai Beach about 4.2 miles. Chaweng city centre takes around twelve minutes by car, placing restaurants, cafés and the busier side of the island within reach without putting you in the middle of it.

For a change of scenery, Chaweng Viewpoint is about 1.4 miles away by car. Angthong National Marine Park is around 3.2 miles away, and Chaweng Lake about 3.2 miles. The resort is also close enough to several places for a meal or coffee, including New Star Beach Resort, New Bar & Restaurant Khem and Fresh Coffee.

The rooms are built for two and each has its own private balcony or terrace, with the ocean below the mountain as the recurring backdrop. The Jungle House and Jungle Lodge suit a couple who wants more living space than a basic room, while the Jungle Bungalow keeps things simpler. If you prefer room to spread out rather than merely somewhere to sleep, the Villa and Suite are the obvious choices.

Every room comes with air conditioning and a fan, which is useful after a hot day outdoors and equally useful when you do not want the room running at full blast. You also get a fridge, flat-screen TV, DVD player, wardrobe space and a private bathroom with shower and toiletries. The balcony is for sitting out with a drink and watching the light change, not for pretending that unpacking is a holiday activity.

Soundproof rooms are available, and the rooms have seating areas, a sofa or desk according to the accommodation. Views vary between garden, landmark and wider outlooks, so the right choice depends on whether you value indoor space, a private outdoor corner or the clearest possible view. Daily housekeeping, free WiFi and room service keep the practical side straightforward.

The hotel club Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner on a terrace, from 8am until 11pm. The menu moves between Thai, French, Italian and Mediterranean cooking, with the kitchen also working in Thai-Western fusion territory. That is a useful spread when you have had enough of one particular flavour but are not ready to leave the hill for dinner.

Chef Wally leads the kitchen, bringing more than 30 years of experience to the menu. You can eat at a table, settle into one of the colourful bean bags on the open wooden decks or take the more traditional route beneath the main thatched dining room. It is a setting made for lingering rather than rushing through a plate.

Breakfast covers continental, Asian and American options. There is also a bar, a snack bar, an on-site coffee house and a minibar in the rooms, with wine and champagne available. Signature cocktails arrive with a view across the island as the lights come on, which is the sort of evening plan that requires very little committee work.

The outdoor pool gives you somewhere to cool down without heading back to the beach, with pool and beach towels, sun loungers and umbrellas available. Yoga classes, a personal trainer and a solarium cover the gentler end of the exercise spectrum; after a few days of early starts, “gentler” is not an insult.

Massage is available in several forms, including full body, couples, head, neck, back, foot and hand massage. Body treatments, facial treatments, beauty services and salon treatments are also offered. For two people travelling together, a couples massage is the most obvious way to spend an afternoon when the weather is doing its tropical best to cancel your plans.

The tour desk can arrange outings such as Jungle Safari, fishing trips, Angthong Marine Park and Koh Tao. Cooking classes, walking tours, bike tours, themed dinner nights and bicycle rental add more ways to see the island, while tennis, fishing, cycling, canoeing and windsurfing are available through the resort or nearby activities. Snorkelling and other water-based excursions take place off site.

Samui International Airport is about 4.2 miles away by car, with a drive of roughly ten minutes. An airport shuttle and shuttle service are available to arrange with the resort, and car hire is also offered. Free private parking is available on site without a reservation, which is handy if you are exploring the island under your own steam.

Check-in runs from 2pm to 9pm and check-out from 8am to 11.30am. You need to give the resort your expected arrival time, and photo identification and a credit card are required at check-in. Express and private check-in and check-out are available, alongside luggage storage, concierge service and a tour desk.

Children of any age are welcome. Children aged seven and over are charged as adults, while cots and extra beds can be requested for the relevant accommodation. The minimum age for check-in is 18, pets are not allowed and payment is made in cash. Laundry, dry cleaning and ironing services are available, as are packed lunches and grocery deliveries.