My fiancé and I are heading to Thailand in January for our honeymoon. We are having a tough time picking a resort! Should we go with the Ritz Carlton Phulay Bay in Krabi or the Four Seasons Koh Samui? We want to spend 3 nights there in a pool villa with an amazing ocean view. We plan to relax mostly at the resort but might explore a little one day. We’re looking for great service, delicious food, and a fantastic beach. I would love to hear experiences from anyone who has stayed at either resort! Also, I’m open to other suggestions that fit our needs. Thanks!
Have you checked out Anantara?
I love Anantara! I stayed at the Anantara Golden Triangle and was blown away by it.
They are really good… I have another favorite too, but it’s not by the beach: Keemala.
Is that part of SLH? Luxury Huts, right? I’ve never been but have met their DIRA of Sales. Sounds amazing!
I’m not sure which group it belongs to, but it’s an ideal honeymoon spot with tree huts and your own pool in the trees. The luxury is everywhere. They serve all meals on the tree terrace beside the pool. It was one of my best stays ever!
The Banyan Tree in Krabi is amazing.
I’ve been to both in the last 2 years. Phulay Bay is on another level for the facilities, but the beach at FS is better. Although Phulay Bay takes you on a boat ride to a fantastic beach, I would pick PB ten times out of ten. They’ll make your honeymoon feel much more special than a hotel with tons of rooms.
Thanks for sharing! I have a client looking for luxury Christmas options in SE Asia, and I hadn’t considered Phulay Bay. Glad to hear about it!
My husband and I honeymooned at FS Koh Samui, and it was truly amazing. The service was top-notch, the property is beautiful, and every villa has a pool. The staff were very generous and did many small things to make our stay wonderful.
I find Ritz Carlton can be hit or miss in the region. I don’t know much about the Krabi property, but I’ve heard that Ritz Koh Samui isn’t great, while Ritz in Langkawi is one of my favorite resorts in SEA.
If you’re passing through Bangkok or staying a few days there, the FS property in Bangkok is exceptional. I recommend staying there a night if you need to bookend your stay in Thailand.
I’ve had clients at FS Koh Samui and they loved it. The service at FS is unbeatable. It’s the property for the next White Lotus season, so if you’re interested, I’d book soon before prices go up or it gets full. We also visited Thailand and stayed in Koh Samui but at a different resort, and the island was fantastic. If you choose either property, make sure to book with a preferred partner TA.
I’d go with the Four Seasons between the two. I hear great things all the time.
I would definitely pick the Four Seasons.
We honeymooned in Koh Samui.
There are Anantara Bophut and Anantara Lawana. We chose Lawana because it had nicer private pools and sea views.
Just a heads up: the flight from Bangkok to Koh Samui has a different luggage limit, even though we booked roundtrip. We ended up paying a lot in surcharges for our 4 checked bags since we had another trip afterward. I think it was around $700.
In my opinion, Rosewood Phuket is better than Phulay Bay, but you can’t go wrong with either. Trisara Phuket is really nice too, and the service is amazing. The location isn’t great, but you probably won’t want to leave the resort much anyway. Amanpuri in Phuket is another good option. FS is the best choice in Koh Samui. Both locations are lovely.
If you choose Krabi, make sure to take a day trip to a nearby island by longtail boat, like Koh Phi Phi or Hong Island. You can also do that from Phuket. Koh Samui is a quieter destination overall, but the resorts I mentioned in Phuket will also be calm.
People rave about Rayavadee in Krabi; I’ve never been, so I can’t comment, but it’s worth looking into.
Enjoy your honeymoon! I’m heading to FS Koh Samui myself in August.
I would skip both and stay at Rayavadee instead.
I just had clients at FS Koh Samui, and it was the highlight of their entire 3-week, 3-country trip.
I’m not sure about your budget, but don’t overlook the original Aman—Amanpuri in Phuket. It’s stunning and fits all your needs. I loved my stay there. January is a great time to visit Thailand, and I agree with others about booking with a travel advisor for a honeymoon. You’ll get extra perks. I lived in Thailand for a few months and have stayed at many great places, so feel free to reach out if you have more questions.
Both Four Seasons and Anantara are excellent choices. The GM at FS Koh Samui is fantastic, and this hotel will likely be featured in the next season of White Lotus, so you might want to go there before it gets busy. Consider the Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle too; it’s my personal favorite among FS in Thailand.
Four Seasons and Anantara are both good options. The GM at FS Koh Samui is really impressive, and this hotel is probably going to be in the next White Lotus season, so you could get there before it gets popular. You should also think about the Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle; it’s my personal favorite in their Thailand collection.