Thailand: Romance and Relaxation in Koh Samui

Thailand is quickly becoming Asia’s party country. It attracts many folks who would usually go to Ibiza or Magaluf. Flights are reasonable, accommodation is cheap and drinks are practically given away. Of course, the whole country is not like that. It’s just the major cities and certain areas. We were well aware of the reputation Thailand was getting in the party community when we booked it as a Honeymoon destination in 2011.

Why We Chose Koh Samui

With that in mind, we looked for a quiet village where massages on the beach, cocktails at sunset and intimate dinners for two where the order of the day. Not neon lights, all night parties and fishbowls. Assessing our options we decided on Bophut in Koh Samui staying at the tranquil Anantara Bophut Resort & Spa. Just thinking about it makes me instantly unwind. In my opinion, this hotel is perfect for honeymooners who want to have a relaxing time in palatial surroundings.

Fisherman’s Village

On the doorstep of the Anantara is the fabulous Fisherman’s Village. Here there are a number of restaurants (and bars) where I’m sure you will find whatever it is that you fancy. Seafood is a must in Bophut. You can see the fisherman bringing their catch to shore every morning. Therefore, there is always a fresh choice every evening. Having not been a big seafood fan prior to visiting Koh Samui I left having tried numerous different fish and if I’m being honest enjoying most.

Our favourite restaurant on Fisherman’s Village was The Shack Bar & Grill. This restaurant specialises in barbecue and tex-mex dishes (if you fancy a change from traditional Thai food). Portions are big and prices slightly more expensive than other restaurants in the area. But the quality of the food makes it value for money. The only thing The Shack is missing is a beautiful beachfront setting which restaurants on the other side of the road benefit from.

Fisherman’s Village, Koh Samui, Thailand

Private Dining

That being said it is, in fact, the Gulf of Thailand which was the backdrop to the most romantic meal I have ever had. Of course, all the meals you have whilst on honeymoon are romantic. It’s your honeymoon, it’s a fact! So it had to be something special to take the title. The fantastic Anantara offers a special dining experience called Dining by Design. This allows you to chose where on the hotel’s complex you want to dine.

‘Love is in the air’

We, of course, chose the beach….the beautiful, soft, golden beach. As sunset fell we took our seats at our private, intimate table on a section of the beach which had been cordoned off to everyone else. Mood lit with candles, it was just me, my new husband and our own personal waitress. We had ordered our food earlier in the day from the extensive menu on offer. I’ll be honest now I can’t remember what I ate that night. However, I do remember it was fantastic. In reality, I could have been eating fish and chips out of newspaper. It wasn’t all about the food. It was the atmosphere, the mood lighting, the dedicated service provided by our waitress, the feeling that we were the only two people in the world. If only every meal could be this romantic (*sigh*).