Samui, Amari Palm Reef Resort Review

Overall Rating

Located at the north end of Chewang but only a short stroll from all the shopping and bars.
Very helpful and friendly staff both in restaurants and around the pool.
Always plenty of sun beds and shade whatever time of day.
Good service wherever you went within the hotel.
Excellent breakfast in open air restaurant.
Travelled with my 4 year old who was very well looked after by all staff.
Quieter deluxe rooms are over the road in Thai village.
Overall rooms are spacious, (deluxe rooms) which were cleaned every day with fresh linen and towel change daily.
Beach very clean.

Even deluxe rooms are starting to look a little tired and are in need of some minor renovation.
In May/June sea very low tide and therefore unsuitable for swimming. However great for wading through and for young children.
Staff initially asked us to leave room on departure at 12 noon despite having 6pm check-out. Very apologetic when questioned about this and granted full 6pm check-out.

Stayed at the Amari Palm Reef Resort the first 2 weeks of June 2004 after spending 5 nights in Bangkok. Immediate impressions on arrival were a little disappointing, but this was after moving from a 5 star city hotel. Amari Palm Reef does not have the visible luxury or splendour of the city hotels, but is certainly amongst the better hotels in Chewang. Very pleasant staff upon arrival who showed us to our deluxe room across the road in the Thai village. Standard rooms were smaller but on the beach side of the hotel which could get a little noisy around the pool. Observing my disappointment on entering our room, staff offered to show us any number of alternative rooms. Duplex suites are very nice, but chose to stay in our first room due to stairs and the potential dangers when travelling with a 4 year old. Throughout our stay the rooms were cleaned meticulously on a daily basis with linen and towels changed daily. Rooms are large and comfortable, and have all the amenities which are replenished daily. Advise to fill the fridge with your own beers etc which can be bought from the supermarket at quarter of the cost.
Breakfast in the sea facing restaurant was excellent, again with very attentive and polite staff. Numerous different dishes available from Thai, Japanese, to Western. Chefs always on hand to cook eggs to order, any way preferred. Fresh bread was fantastic and still warm on some days when brought out of the kitchens. Spent most days around either pool or on the beach where again service was excellent. Always plenty of sun beds, with and abundance of parasol shade. Pool attendants were very friendly and took time to have a chat with you every day. Also befriended my daughter and supplied her with cold water and bananas daily. Pool towels always in abundance and the staff often changed them for you during the day. We found that we didn't have to be up at the crack of dawn each day to get a sun bed, and often strolled down after breakfast around 10.30 to have a good choice of beds. Around the hotel there are a few bars and stalls to shop, but a 5 minute walk brings you to the centre of chewang with hundreds of restaurants serving all types of food and specialities. Tuk-trucks, (as christened by my daughter), were plentiful and would stop anywhere for a 20 Baht charge per adult. Taxis also touting for business and would take you anywhere in Chewang for 100 Baht. If you're new to holidaying in Thailand don't be afraid to eat at any of the beach shacks which serve excellent fish and Thai dishes directly on the beach, with fantastic sunsets to watch. Overall a very enjoyable holiday in Thailand and one which I would recommend to others.