Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort

The location is what sells this one. You're on the quiet north-coast beach at Bophut, with lily ponds, lawns running down to the sand and an infinity pool looking across the water to Koh Phangan. Then, ten minutes on foot, you've got Fisherman's Village and the best concentration of dinner options on the island. That combination is rare on Samui, where plenty of good resorts strand you somewhere you need a taxi to escape.

The style is Thai-classical rather than white-box modern, heavily planted, and it reads as grown-up rather than party-focused. The spa has a strong following. If you do want a night out on Koh Phangan, boats to the Full Moon Party leave from the pier nearby, so you can have both without staying somewhere loud.

It suits couples, honeymooners, families who want the beach and a proper restaurant walk rather than a hotel-buffet vacation every night. If you're after nightlife on your doorstep, Chaweng is the wrong side of the island from here and you'd be better off basing yourself there.