Anantara Bophut sits right on the sand of Bophut Bay, on the site of a former coconut plantation, with 106 rooms and suites in garden and beachfront settings. Rooms are comfortable and well sized, with balconies and daybeds, and the suites include garden and beachfront pool options with private plunge pools. The resort has a palm-shaded beachside pool, an infinity pool at the TAN Beach Lounge and an award-winning garden spa designed by Bill Bensley. Fisherman's Village, with its restaurants, bars and Friday night market, is within walking distance, so you can eat out easily without a taxi.
Location and getting around: Bophut is on the north coast, a good middle ground between the airport and the livelier Chaweng and Choeng Mon beaches. The resort arranges private transfers to Samui International Airport, at prices listed on its site, and does not run a shuttle bus. Walking to Fisherman's Village is easy, which gives you dozens of dining options and the Friday walking street. For Chaweng, Big Buddha and the island's other attractions you will need a taxi, a rental scooter or a car.
Rooms: Premier and Deluxe rooms are roughly 32 to 36 square metres, with garden or sea views, and suites range from about 44 to 150 square metres. The Garden Pool Suite and the Anantara Beachfront Pool Suite have private pools, and the beachfront rooms are the ones to pay for if the view and the sound of the sea matter. Ground-floor and pool-access rooms are convenient for families but can be busier; ask for a quiet position if you are a light sleeper.
Dining and extras: Guilty serves South American cuisine overlooking the ocean, Thin Tai focuses on southern Thai dishes, and the TAN Beach Lounge serves light bites beside the infinity pool. The spa has standalone treatment suites among lily ponds, and is well worth a booking. Who it suits: couples, families and first-timers who want a beach, good facilities and an easy walk to dinner. Good to know: the beach here is calmer and less showy than Chaweng's, and swimming is easier in the dry season, when the sea is flatter.
Why stay here
- ✓Beachfront on Bophut Bay
- ✓Palm-shaded beach pool
- ✓Infinity pool at TAN Beach Lounge
- ✓Bill Bensley-designed garden spa
- ✓Private pool suites
- ✓Guilty South American restaurant
- ✓Thin Tai southern Thai restaurant
- ✓Walk to Fisherman’s Village
Good questions
Is Anantara Bophut on the beach?+
Yes, it is beachfront on Bophut Bay, with a palm-shaded pool steps from the sand.
Can I walk to Fisherman's Village?+
Yes, the resort is within walking distance of the village, with its restaurants, bars and street food.
Does the resort run an airport shuttle?+
No shuttle bus is listed, but the resort arranges private transfers to the airport at set prices.