Anantara Lawana Resort and Spa

It’s not exactly remote; Koh Samui’s Chaweng Beach is a busy place, with plenty of development supporting a thriving tourist trade. So the success of the Anantara Lawana lies in large part in the way it creates an atmosphere of tranquil seclusion, while still offering easy access to all the bustle of this most vibrant of island destinations.

The site lies just a bit north of Chaweng, on its own corner of the island — so its beach, truly private, has a bit of that Robinson Crusoe vibe, rare indeed on Koh Samui. The accommodations do their part as well, as many of the rooms and villas come with shared or private plunge pools and semi-outdoor bathrooms.

Stylistically it’s contemporary but not aggressively modern, with plenty of classic elements — four-poster beds, fine antique woodwork — and a comfortable residential feeling rather than a deep-jungle thatched-roof one. Anantara has always specialized in a sophisticated and urbane version of the high-end beach escape, and on that score this one is no different.

They also specialize in spas of a certain quality, and a dining experience that’s worth staying in for — especially important in Thailand, where a strong tradition of street food undermines many a would-be upscale restaurant. It’s Samui minus the crowds, with an extra measure of gentility.