Cool Buses
by davidsummers
The buses in Koh Samui are good fun. They are basically pick up trucks with the back converted to accommodate people.
There are two bench seats running down either side of the truck and they can carry about 10 people seated and a couple of mad people hanging onto the back.
You know when a bus is near because they sound their horn at everyone walking down the road. For this reason its so easy to turn around and put your hand out and tell them where you are going.
From outside our hotel (Imperial Samui) to central Chaweng it cost us 50bht per person. You could haggle with the driver but we couldnt be bothered over less than a pound each.
Paradise
by TripAdvisor Member Brunorahard
We arrived in the Imperial samui late in the evening and were greeted with fresh towels and guava juice. This set the scene for a fantastic holiday in an exceptional hotel. The food, the rooms, the bar, the beach, the pool were amazing. The thai smile was everywhere. There was some building work going on but the hotel was so beautiful and the service so fantastic that this did not bother us. We got extras as a honeymoon couple but I won't ruin the surprise. One could experience the busy Chaweng strip at night and relax at the hotel in peace and quiet during the day. The breakfast buffet was fantastic, and you could eat anything from Cornflakes to salad to a Thai stirfry! The grounds of the hotel are so beautiful, with palm trees everywhere, and little waterfalls and tropical fish. We had a tiny lizard in our room, and even tho I'm afraid of the common housefly, it did not bother us, and we named him Dirk. The minute we entered the room he ran out!
thanks to the Imperial Samui we had a honeymoon that went above and beyond our expectations. although it is very quiet in the evenings, you have the chioice to relax by the beach bar, with the waves laping just below, or get a 100 bhat (2 euro) taxi into the main strip for a night out!
Enjoy!
Paradise
by A TripAdvisor Member
The Imperial Samui is situated about 5 mins. drive away from Chaweng and is an ideal position. The Buses cost you around 20p a trip and they run regularly into the night so for location this place gets is ideal.
The Hotel itself was luxurious, if a little too manufactured. We discovered one day that it's continually croaking frogs in its ponds were in actual fact a recording looping, with speakers hidden in fake rocks - but the effect was still good.
The Rooms were wonderful and our view over the pool and beach was just fantastic! The check in process took longer than we expected though, due to "unforeseen difficulties."
The food in the hotel is good but not excellent. We found it much easier to walk down the beach to Beachlove Samui - a small, open restaurant on the beach serving made to order Thai Cuisine, which was delicous!
Overall it is an excellent hotel in a perfect location, next to a brilliant little town. If you do get bored with the beach, pool, gym etc etc. then you can always book an extra activity like an Island tour, or an Elephant Walk through the jungle, or even Go-Karting! Or you could always walk down the beach for half an hours Jet Skiing for around 900 Baht (£14 I think).
I wouldn't hesitate a second given the opportunity to reutrn to Ko Samui - it is truly a fantastic Island and this is an excellent hotel to experience it from!
Quiet paradise
by A TripAdvisor Member
We spent 7 days at this hotel and it was a welcome break after 8 days touring Bangkok and Northern Thailand.
The hotel was a little out the way from the main area, but only a 5 minute drive on either the hotel shuttle bus or on the pick up trucks and taxis (100 Bhat = £1.50).
We had paid for a Deluxe room, but it was upgraded to a Premier room because of the building works that were going on. We were delighted with this.
I cannot fault the hotel, staff, food, sunshine and if I had to find a very small complaint, it was that the building works that were taking place meant that we were unable to use the fresh water pool. However, given the choice, I think we still would have spent most of our days at the beach side pool, which was absolutely beautiful.
We ate at the hotel for 5 of the 7 nights and really loved the food, however, it did average out to approximately £35 per couple including drinks, but while this sounds reasonable by UK standards, going into town would cut that by £10 per couple.
Overall an excellent holiday and somewhere we would highly recommend, probably more for over 21's.
Nice place, but be careful
by TripAdvisor Member Longway2go
Hotel room was very nice, people were friendly, facilities were good and the location is nice. However, the room type we had a guaranteed reservation for wasn't available so we got something else (an "upgrade"). There are renovations going on in the hotel, so lots of workers, etc. The biggest issue is that one of the employees of the restaurant by the beach fondled by 8 year old son. I grabbed the employee (who then threatened me) and pulled him away from my son. I walked him to the restaurant manager, told her what happened and said I wanted to speak to the general manager. She originally wasn't going to let me and I insisted until he showed up. While he was very sympathetic, I don't think he really cared. In the end, I wouldn't recommend this hotel to anyone with children. Also, if you do stay, eat at Beach Love Samui down from the hotel. Food is great, cheap and better than anything in the hotel.
Lovely hotel
by TripAdvisor Member marlon
We enjoyed our stay at the imperial apart from the building work going on around the pool and beach. We also were told there were no Premier Sea Facing room left which we had booked and we could have a garden room. After reading reports on Trip Advisor about this I told them I wanted a Premier Sea Facing and nothing else and we did evenually get it. The room was lovely with a good size bathroom and lovely big shower. Breakfast was excellent. Gardens well kept. Staff very friendly. We thought the beach was lovely and not busy. We found some beds up the beach next to the resturant Imperial own and you couldnt hear the drills going. Sea was very warm and calm. Yes like everyone else the Beach Shack up the beach brilliant and cheap. A lovely resturant we liked with excellent views and great cheap food was the Beverly Hills you will need a car. Turn left outside the hotel and its on the hill.
Forum Posts
Imperial samui,Chaweng Noi.
by step-hen
Could anyone give me some info about this hotel eg-location, quality, cleanliness and does anyone know anything about the altreations to the rooms taking place around the turn of the year. As this is when we are visiting and would like to avoid a building site if possible. We will be there from 31-12-05 until 5-1-06. Hope someone can help.
Thank you in advance.
RE: Imperial samui,Chaweng Noi.
by MarkThomo
The Imperial Samui is approx 35 mins from the airport, dont know cost in a taxi as we had transfers organised, the renovations which are underway to the furtherest rooms from the beach and are of no concern to any of the guest locations, there is practically no indications that there is any construction going on it is that well covered, the beach/pool area is fantastic, staff are very friendly, overall outlook is brillant
Rooms are probably just a bit small, bathrooms are of a good size and the balcony area is suitable for 2 and a couple of quite drinks
