Less than two hours away from Singapore, Koh Samui is a dream destination for a quick island escape. We settled into the Conrad resort for a heavenly long weekend (without the kids – shhhh)
Let’s be honest, folks: one of the best things about living on the Little Red Dot is the steady stream of long weekends, which allows us to indulge in the occasional short getaway from Singapore. Need some inspiration for your next spot of Asia hopping? We spent three divine days at the Conrad Koh Samui resort and spa: a hidden tropical gem that boasts sea views that don’t stop and facilities that will have you dreaming up ways to swap the city for luxe island living.
And you really can escape to Koh Samui on a whim – a one hour and 45 minute flight from Changi will take you straight to this lush little paradise, where the temperature is just right, the food sublime and the hospitality even warmer than the weather. Here’s what we loved about our Thailand retreat (aside from the fact that this time, the holiday was sans kids)…
Waking up to this view
There’s something about an expansive ocean view that invigorates the soul – and this panorama of the Gulf of Thailand never loses impact. The villas at Conrad are perched on the tallest imaginable stilts, making the most of the resort’s remote cliffside locale. Catch a Friday afternoon flight from Changi to arrive at Koh Samui just after sunset, and you’ll be treated to one big reveal when you draw back your bedroom curtains come morning. That stressful week you had in the city? Dissolved in an instant.
Thai food on tap
Get straight into local cuisine and try a breakfast of kouy tiew nue: a deeply nourishing broth with fresh noodles and braised beef, served in a diminutive bowl so you have plenty of room to try more delicacies. Zest restaurant at Conrad offers an impressive menu of Thai specialties: we found ourselves going back for a second hit of blue swimmer crab curry and phad krapow moo, stir-fried minced pork laced with chilli and fragrant basil. Want to learn how to make this addictive dish at home? The house chefs can teach you how to prepare it as part of a three-course Thai meal. If you’re after some serious wow factor, dedicate a night to the epic tasting menu at Conrad’s culinary jewel, Jahn. Seats by the window fill fast; the outlook is amazing, so make sure you arrive for sunset. For a delicious contrast, take the shuttle bus into town one night and sample local treats like barbecued squid and pad thai for a steal.
Night markets to explore
Koh Samui’s night markets take place twice a week: Chaweng market, which sprawls across several kilometres on Beach Road, is held on Fridays, while Lamai night market is on Sundays. Aim for 6pm, when the stalls begin to buzz but before it gets crowded. Sure, you’ll encounter rows of counterfeit tat, but you’ll also find lovely handicrafts, from wooden carvings to beautifully embroidered bags, to locally made jewellery. Take a break from browsing over a fresh coconut, but don’t be tempted to feast before you hit the stretch of food stalls. At Lamai, we spotted whole fish grilling over coals, giant squid tentacles served with satay sauce and aunties dishing out the most delicious looking curries – and this is just the tip of the iceberg. Of course, we couldn’t resist the tiny pancakes containing bursts of coconut cream, which were gone in a flash. This is street food to seriously rival Singapore’s.
Spectacular snorkelling
Take advantage of Conrad’s myriad options for boat excursions, from a full-day trip to a lush marine reserve, to a two-hour outing that includes snorkelling and a stopover at nearby Madsum Island. While the colourful long boats you’ll spot on the shore are loaded with charm, we can’t deny the thrill of zipping across the water on Conrad’s jet-black speedboat before plunging into turquoise waters for a snorkel. Our captain dove in with us, guiding us to the best parts of the coral garden where we spotted sting rays, giant sea urchins and technicolour tropical fish flitting around the enormous underwater formations. You’ll have the chance to quench your thirst afterwards during a half-hour stop at Madsum Island, so remember to bring some baht to buy a fresh coconut!
Of course, you can bring the kids
The kids’ outdoor activity area at the Conrad is a bright and cheerful corner offering good, old-fashioned fun. Sit down for a game of chess, aim darts at colourful balloons, or take the model boats for a spin. The slightly rocky private beach at Conrad is peppered with fossils guaranteed to fascinate kids with a keen eye: look out for rock segments that reveal coral and other traces of sea life from another age. On weekends, organised activities courtesy of the free kids’ club include painting competitions and searching the beach for interesting shells to turn into a necklace. Kids will also get a thrill out of the evening fireworks displays, and enjoy the colourful Thai tom-tom drum and dance performance over Saturday breakfast. Need a babysitter? The concierge can organise a minder so you can sneak away to the spa for that much-needed massage.
Finally, there are plenty of opportunities for alone time
Now this is why it’s worth making the trip to Koh Samui. Somebody bring us a cocktail?
How to get there:
Bangkok Airways offers regular direct flights (duration one hour, 45 minutes) from Changi to Samui Airport. The transfer to the resort takes approximately 45 minutes.
The writer was a guest of Conrad Koh Samui. Photography: Selina Altomonte
