Koh Samui's most romantic hotels

How to plan a perfect holiday for two? If you're starting the dreaded where-to-stay research for a romantic Koh Samui vacation, I can promise two things: (1) I'll help you to make the hotel choice as easy as possible and (2) Samui's passionfruit mojitos are a hard habit to break. I've spent lots of time (and money!) at every one of the Samui hotels below and they're genuine recommendations to be read with a "!!!!!!!" level of enthusiasm. Grab fistfuls of rose petals and let's find your most romantic hotel...

1. SALA Samui Choengmon Beach Resort

SALA Samui Choengmon Beach Resort, Choeng Mon, Koh Samui

• Stars: 5 stars
• Location: Choeng Mon
• Rating: 9.4 out of 10

A Choeng Mon Beach resort with villa accommodations and private pools. Unsurprisingly, SALA Samui – like Zazen, below  – is consistently a reader favourite, year after year. As for awards, in recent years it's won #7 Top Hotels in Thailand, #9 Luxury Hotels in Thailand and #21 Hotels for Service in Thailand (Traveller's Choice Awards). How's that for proof-in-the-pudding? One last detail: There's a separate adults' pool and a family pool – both are beachfront.

‍Tip: If your ears perked up at "private pools" and "service", but you prefer a slightly more modern aesthetic, don't miss SALA Choeng Mon's sister property: SALA Samui Chaweng. Same Thai hospitality standard – brighter, whiter resort.

2. Garrya Tongsai Bay Samui

Garrya Tongsai Bay, near Choeng Mon, Koh Samui

• Stars: 5 stars
• Location: Choeng Mon area
• Rating: 9.4 out of 10

A large resort property on its own beach near Choeng Mon. Love animals? Hate chemicals? Dedicated to your compost? The Tongsai Bay is unequalled for its top-to-bottom eco dedication. (For starters, when built in 1987, The Tongsai Bay’s construction didn’t cut down a single grown tree). As with SALA Samui Choeng Mon, above, there's a separate adults' pool and a family pool.

3. Bo Phut Resort and Spa

Bo Phut Resort and Spa, Bophut, Koh Samui

• Stars: 4 stars
• Location: Bophut
• Rating: 9.5 out of 10

A triple threat: total privacy in your private pool villa, walking distance to Fisherman's Village and tons of  "old-fashioned entertainment" available on site: free kayaks, ping pong and beautiful gardens to explore.

4. Homm Chura Samui

Homm Chura Samui, Chaweng, Koh Samui

• Stars: 4 stars
• Location: Chaweng
• Rating: 8.1 out of 10

A boutique resort on quieter north end of Chaweng beach. An ideal choice if your modern-world trappings are integral to your R&R: a lifestyle resort for trendy couples with a minimalist bent. Also ideal for lazy people: beach chairs are exactly four steps from the pool.

5. Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort

Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort , Chaweng, Koh Samui

• Stars: 5 stars
• Location: Chaweng
• Rating: 8.6 out of 10

Just reopened after a full room renovation. Tucked into its own bay towards the north of Chaweng. Anantara Lawana can offer you a very quiet experience (plus incredible sunrises). Room options include pool villas (pictured above) and private plunge pools. If you're an introvert who secretly kind of liked lockdown, this is the spot for you.

6. Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui

Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, Bang Po, Koh Samui

• Stars: 5 stars
• Location: Bang Po
• Rating: 9.6 out of 10

The best of the best ... but you didn't need me to tell you that. Further indication you're headed to happy? You'll have heard it's the location of White Lotus Season 3. Toast their success at the beach-front bar (you might be there awhile)....

7. Zazen Boutique Resort & Spa

Zazen Boutique Resort & Spa, Bophut, Koh Samui

• Stars: 4 stars
• Location: Bophut
• Rating: 9.1 out of 10

A boutique resort on Bophut Beach. Zazen's aesthetic ethos: there's no flat surface on earth that couldn't benefit from a thousand candles. Romantic ambiance? Take a look – they're nailing it. You'll find one of – if not the – biggest wine cellars on the island at Zazen and its French-influenced food is exceptional. Best of all, if you'll allow me to lose myself for a minute – the spaaaaaaa. Recently reopened (with a new pool!) following top-to-bottom refurbishments.

8. Napasai, A Belmond Hotel

Napasai, A Belmond Hotel, Maenam, Koh Samui

• Stars: 5 stars
• Location: Maenam
• Rating: 9.6 out of 10

On a secluded part of Maenam Beach, with villa accommodations. If you're all about the beach, Napasai might become your favourite happy place on earth. It's probably mine. And that's before they wheel out the passionfruit mojitos....

9. Six Senses Samui

Six Senses Samui, near Choeng Mon, Koh Samui

• Stars: 5 stars
• Location: Choeng Mon area
• Rating: 9.4 out of 10

If you like to glow with goodness and save the planet in the process, Six Senses (along with The Tongsai Bay, above) is one of Koh Samui's most tucked-away and relaxing eco resorts. Enjoy its impressive green credentials (some of which you get to drink in home-grown cocktails or enjoy at the spa).

Koh Samui's most romantic hotels

Does romantic mean hammocks and tiki torches, or fine dining and dressy clothes? Find your perfect area of Samui, first getting to know the island's varied beaches, views, nooks and crannies. You can truly choose your own formula, and any kind of budget to match, so start with The Koh Samui Guide.

• Award-Winners: 9 Award-Winning Hotels on Koh Samui
• Sunsets: The Best Places for Sunsets on Koh Samui
• My favourite: Your Total Guide to Choeng Mon Beach
• Families: Where to Stay on Koh Samui with Kids?
• One-Offs: 13 Unusual Places to Stay on Koh Samui

P.S. You can find every tip for Koh Samui's best beaches and hotels in the archive, or subscribe by email and get all the details straight to your inbox. Enjoy!