A luxury family vacation on Koh Samui you’ll want in on

When you’re travelling in a bigger group, staying in a villa makes so much sense, whether you’re with extended family or enjoying a reunion with friends. Here, we profile a villa complex on the beautiful Thai island of Koh Samui, and we see how its offerings stack up against a hotel.

Tucked away on picturesque Lipa Noi Beach, on the scenic western coast of Samui, Akatsuki is a five-suite private residence where you can get away from it all and enjoy private time with in a laidback tropical setting. With views over the Gulf of Thailand and surrounding islands, the beachfront villa with private pools and access to a private beach is inspired by a fusion of modern Thai and Japanese aesthetics. In short, it provides one of those luxury family vacations that we all long for. Here’s what else you can look forward to:

Space & Privacy

Akatsuki is available for exclusive hire year-round for groups of up to 15 guests. Having only one booking per visit maximises the sense of freedom and comfort that comes with staying in your own luxury haven, rather than being spread out across several hotel rooms.

The five suites, named Sora (“sky”), Umi (“ocean”), Mizu (“water”), Raku (“joy”) and Kokoro (“heart”), all have ensuite bathrooms, mod-cons like flatscreen TVs, iPads and free internet, and extras like yukata bath robes. Four of the suites have private balconies.

Flexibility

Because you have Akatsuki to yourself, you have the freedom and flexibility to do pretty much anything you want – kick back, relax and enjoy life without a care in the world about meal times, outings or having to share the residence with other guests. So, at dinner time you can feed the kids first, if you like, then have a ‘grown-up’ meal a couple of hours later; and breakfast can be as late as you like!

Hospitality

Many villas – including Akatsuki – come with their own dedicated management and concierge teams, and since those teams are entrusted with serving only a handful of people rather than several hundred guests in a hotel, you end up with top-notch treatment.

At Akatsuki, a personal butler, masseuse and executive chef are on hand to see to your every need. According to the team, their ultimate aim is to harmonise omotenashi, the Japanese spirit of hospitality and service, with the heart-warming smile so famous among Thai people.

Relaxation & Recreation

Hotel spas can get busy, with full booking sheets, and the feeling that you’re just one in a queue. With villa holidays, you’re guaranteed a more personalised touch. As mentioned above, there is an in-house masseuse at Akatsuki who is trained in reflexology, aromatherapy, Thai massage and other treatments – ideal for getting rid of that last bit of big-city tension and truly unwinding.

For those with a little more energy, there are plenty of sea and land activities available, too – everything from a round of golf or a visit to a waterpark, to shopping at markets or yoga classes; or why not take a Muay Thai lesson, for that extra-memorable experience to take home?

If you prefer to stay in, the dedicated indoor play areas and an outdoor kids’ pool will keep the little ones happy; babysitting services can be arranged, too. You can even request a private beachfront dinner, with fire dancers performing as you dine under the stars.

Special offer

Readers of Expat Living can enjoy an exclusive 10 percent discount on stays at Akatsuki until the end of November 2017. Just mention “EXPATLIVING” when booking at reservation@akatsukisamui.com, or visit the website for more details.

Brought to you by:

Akatsuki
57/8 Moo 2 Lipa Noi Koh Samui, 84140 Thailand
For bookings or more information, email reservation@akatsukisamui.com or visit akatsukisamui.com.

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Shamus Sillar

While he has worked as a magazine editor since 2003, Shamus also has a PhD in Roman History (useful!) and is a published author. He writes mostly on travel but also covers food, history, sport, trivia and more, across Expat Living’s publications and websites in Singapore and Hong Kong.