Relaxed, quiet and perfect in every way (Moonhut Bungalows (Koh Samui, Thailand))

Member Name: aylawarner

Product:	Moonhut Bungalows (Koh Samui, Thailand)
Date:	16/04/09 (64 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Wonderful relaxed atmosphere, great restaurant and service, cosy little cheap bungalows

Disadvantages: Nothing to do nearby

The Moonhut Bungalows are situated in Maenam Beach on the island of Koh Samui in Thailand. Maenam is the quietest and most secluded part of Koh Samui, away from the hustle and bustle of mopeds, too many tourists, and packed beaches. It is the place to stay if you're after a quiet and relaxing holiday and don't want to do much else. We stayed in a couple of different places in Koh Samui and Maenam was our first stop. We arrived late at night and it was very quiet and hardly anyone was around. This really isn't the place to stay if you want to do lots of activities and enjoy yourself at night - even in the town there's hardly anything to do and we hardly left the resort at all.

The Moonhut Bungalows are up a long windy dust-track off the main road and if you're walking there you really have to watch out above you - there are so many huge spiders (like, seriously huge) hanging above you from the telephone poles that looked like they were about to drop on your head. I had to duck (not that that would help) and run past every time I went under one I was so petrified!

The bungalows are at the end of the road under an arch of trees where you come out onto a deck where the reception and restaurant are. You can also get to the resort by a side street that leads out onto the beach and take a short walk up to beach to get there.

They showed us to our room straight away which was across a sandy garden area and to a little orange and white wooden bungalow surrounded by trees and exotic plants. I was a little worried that we'd have an insect problem like we had previously had in Phi Phi (see my other review on Phi Phi Don Chukit Resort) but luckily there was no little creatures to be found in the room. It was a very small room with just a bed and wardrobe, and a tiny bathroom, but this was all that was needed. The bungalow had a veranda where you could sit outside and listen to the waves lapping against the shore only a few steps away.

The bungalows are cleaned daily, with the towels and bed linen changed regularly, which doesn't often happen in the cheaper resorts in Thailand. There are only 20 bungalows in total which lie in a semi-circle all facing the ocean which makes it a relaxed, casual and quiet atmosphere. It is family run and the staff were all lovely and made you feel at home.

The resort's restaurant and bar was excellent and we ate every single meal here on our 2 night stay. It is on a deck which is directly on the beachfront and it was very romantic and relaxing sitting there in the evening watching the sunset and having a meal just a couple of meters away from the sea. They had a great menu serving meals throughout the day including Thai, seafood and Western food and the value was excellent. There's a free pool table which you can play on for as long as you want and satellite TV. They also have a huge friendly dog who lays around on the deck all day. Down 2 steps from the deck you're on the soft white sand where there are a couple of small undercover huts where you can relax with a drink.

We stayed in a standard fan bungalow which cost 550 Baht per night which is roughly £10 - a brilliant rate for a lovely resort directly on the beach. Rates go up to £39 for a beachfront bungalow or you can even hire out a 2 bedroom multi-level house. I emailed them to make our reservation and they got back to me straight away and booked us in.

Overall, this was a wonderful place to stay - the room was lovely, the restaurant and bar was brilliant and the service was excellent. We could have easily stayed here for longer but we were a bit pushed for time and it's just a shame that there isn't much else to do nearby. But I suppose that this is what makes it as laid back and relaxing as it is.

Summary: A perfect start in Koh Samui