The beach at W Koh Samui is located between Mae Nam and Bo Phut beaches, forming an “A” shape. Standing by the iconic large “W” sign, Mae Nam lies to the left and Bo Phut to the right.
Since the W-Retreat Koh Samui is positioned so that access to this part of the beach is only possible through the hotel or by walking along Mae Nam, the Bo Phut side is protected by rocks and sharp stones.
According to Thai law, all beaches are owned by the royal family, and access cannot be denied to anyone. Therefore, even if a hotel owns the land in front of the beach, any person has the legal right to walk through private property to reach the beach. However, in practice, enforcement can be lax, and security might be strict about entry. But this is not the case with W-Retreat Koh Samui.
The beach at this luxury hotel is meticulously maintained. The sand is the same as Mae Nam – coarse, yellow, and loose. The shoreline has some height variations, and near the rocks on the Bo Phut border, there is even a small cliff about 1.3 feet (40 cm) high.
The beach is spotlessly clean. Given the high room rates, starting at 93,000 baht per night, a pristine and idyllic setting is a logical priority for the hotel administration.
The exclusive location, high hotel rates, and the beach’s separation from the main road contribute to the limited number of people on the beach. Here, you’ll find the few hotel guests lounging comfortably on sunbeds, hammocks, and massage tents.
For those interested in other beaches, I have a brief overview of all Samui beaches to help you choose the perfect spot.
Swimming
The sea is deep with a steeply sloping sandy bottom. The beach’s appearance and characteristics remain largely unchanged during low tides, although the sandbar, a signature feature of W-Retreat Koh Samui, becomes more exposed.
The water is somewhat murky even in sunny weather. Waves are regular during windy conditions and can be particularly strong in winter, as evidenced by the cliff on the shore. After the winter storms of 2013 – 2014, the sandbar suffered significant erosion, forcing the hotel to relocate the “W” logo closer to the shore.
Sunbeds and Shade
The beach is equipped with state-of-the-art amenities, but most are for hotel guests only. The one thing you can use freely is the shade provided by the palm grove, offering excellent cover along the entire shoreline.
Beach Photos
W-Retreat Samui private beach
Amenities
The beach is just 650 feet (200 meters) from the Ring Road, nestled between two bustling areas of the island. Along the road, you’ll find all necessary services, private establishments, and financial institutions, including water dispensers and stores.
Big C is only about a 10-minute drive away, with Makro and Lotus’s nearby. Local attractions within a 10-minute drive include Wat Phu Khao Thong temple and the Secret Falls waterfall in the mountains.
On the beach, activities include volleyball, massage gazebos, a bar, and kayak rentals. A coral reef nearby offers snorkeling opportunities.
Accommodation
As mentioned, the Bo Phut and Mae Nam areas have no shortage of accommodations. The beachfront is occupied by the W Koh Samui – Sha Extra Plus 5, and half a kilometer away, you’ll find resorts with more budget-friendly options, especially during the low season.
If you want to book a hotel here or find accommodation on other beaches, check out my selection of Samui hotels with good ratings and reviews.
Finding W-Retreat Koh Samui Beach is not difficult, but the turn can be easy to miss, especially when approaching from Mae Nam, as the hotel’s sign is obscured by large tree leaves.
Keep driving straight, pass a couple of speed bumps, and you’ll reach a guard with a radio. Mention the code word “to the beach,” and follow the hand signal. At the bottom, another guard will note your vehicle number. There’s a small guest parking area with space for five cars.
WARNING! There is a steep descent to the beach via a small serpentine road. WARNING! In the middle and at the bottom of the descent, there is a drainage grate that is sometimes pressed down by SUVs.
Pretty disappointed in this hotel. But let’s start with the highlights of the stay: Japanese restaurant Namu (food and chef were awesome) and the rooms (beautiful and relaxing with the room side pool). However, the beach barbecue food was inedible and the beach itself was not so clean, as there were small pieces of litter almost every where you step. And we had to remind staff multiple times throughout our stay to follow up on various basic requests. This hotel does not have 5 star (or even 4 star) kind of management as seen in the simple things expected throughout our stay. Very friendly staff but needs better management.
It was a very good hotel.All rooms have private rooms, you can watch the fire dance every night, and the breakfast was delicious and varied.The location was good and it felt private and relaxing.During your stay, you can enjoy ice cream and juice as many times as you like for free.
On 8/22-824, I booked a five-star room in Koh Samui for more than 20,000 yuan a night. In order to celebrate my wife’s birthday and honeymoon, I asked the hotel to help deliver a cake to the room at 00:00 on 8/23 before departure. It took more than half the time. Hours later, there was no news or notice. I called the lobby counter and claimed that I had not forgotten this service. It would be delivered at 10:00 on the 23rd. This kind of pre-promised service was not delivered. It is disgusting and disappointing. I wrote this letter. The person who responded initially said that she had forgotten to tell her when she was out... charging such a price for this kind of service is really exaggerated. There is no staff who can speak Chinese, and the refrigerator is filled with all the paid drinks. The entire refrigerator cannot freeze other drinks purchased by yourself, which feels very bad.
DAY PASS - we would spend time on W resort and we organize our day for this.All days before we asked the availability to WhatsApp Reception.At THE DAY on 11AM also we called it and they said to come and join the day pass.Arrived to them, the receptionist otherwise said to us that it was not avaiable.We shared the communication received but she said to be apologize.We took a taxi and paid 450BATH.Also she said to us to spend time on the beach, no fare, no minimum to buy.Arrived at the beach the Beach Boy said to us that all hotel propriety was only for the guests. I try to explain what the receptionist granted to us but he said that she was wrong because a new emploee.Very bad experience with W staff on Koh samui.
Stellar Review for W Koh SamuiUnforgettable Luxury at W Koh SamuiOur stay at W Koh Samui was nothing short of extraordinary! This is our 4th time staying at W Koh Samui and we usually stay 5 nights to enjoy and relax.From the moment we arrived, we were treated like royalty. The unexpected upgrade to a sea view villa was an incredible surprise that set the tone for our entire vacation.The staff's warm welcome and attentive service made us feel right at home. The resort itself exudes a serene and exclusive ambiance, perfect for unwinding and soaking up the sun. The private beach was our personal paradise, and the always-available cold tea in the lobby was a refreshing touch.Breakfast was an absolute delight!The fresh coconut drink and bubbly wine were the perfect start to our days, and we couldn't resist trying the delectable breakfast specials. Happy hour at the different bars was a fantastic way to end each day.We want to give a special shoutout to the amazing fitness team led by Mark Angeles, along with Boss and Gin. Mark's exceptional attentiveness and hospitality made our stay even more memorable. His thoughtful gesture of providing sand play equipment for our daughter was truly appreciated.Overall, our experience at W Koh Samui was impeccable. We can't wait to return!
So enjoyed my stay here! Absolutely great staff all over, clean, relaxing and stayed in Jungle Cabin felt so secluded. Quite a big resort so lots of walking but staff are happy to take you anywhere in a buggy. Hopefully come back another time . Thanks Nancy and Cookie for all your help.
Great stay at this hotel. Arrived early in the morning and the staff was kind enough to prepare a room for me to be ready before 12pm. Also did a special decor on the bed for my birthday. Shout out to Mary from the W staff who made my stay extra special!
Stayed for 3 nights at the Beachfront villa and I think it was so worth the upgrade and cost. The staff was so helpful and honestly they were a huge reason my stay was so good, special shoutout to Ian who made it the best holiday ever 🙌🏾
Really not worth it ! This 14 year old poorly panned resort is just mediocre at best.Apart from large rooms it really has nothing going for it .They are short staffed , rather casual and not 5 star service by any means- certainly not the hospitality standard one expects in South East Asia or by a luxury Marriott Brand.The breakfast is decent but it’s a task getting around the property.The climb back and forth from the lobby to the room is tedious . No elevators to the restaurant levels .The beach is Horrid ! It stinks and is not a swimming beach - such a let down !The property is worn out and after being locked inn for 5 days due to a non-refundable reservation- we ended up being out of the hotel most of the time. The pool was uninhabited - no service attendants.The Gym has old beaten up equipment of the yesteryear- one would have expected a W to have some top notch new Technogym gear !Don’t waste your money here - just not worth it !Disappointed and shall never recommend this property!Fix it Marriott !!!Been to many “W” - this one does NOT make the cut !
Our stay at the W was nothing short of exceptional! One of the best hotel or the best in Koh Samui! From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with warm smiles and a level of hospitality that went above and beyond. Cookie at CS were always with a warm smile, Emily the room manager took time to welcome us which was so nice. The GM (Alex) was there and made sure to greet us the next day. The buggy guys are nice and sweet! 🙏🏼 let’s just say everyone was just happy and always with a smile! It does make a big difference! Super thanks to everyone!The food at Namu was quite good and we had a sunset dinner by the beach, truly beautiful! Great delicious spread also at the breakfast buffet. And the floating breakfast was a hit! We truly enjoyed it.My son and I were blown away by the stunning views, we went watched the sunset and sunrise daily and this place had amazing views of both. Stunning!But what really stood out the most was how the staff at W Hotel KS truly embodied their slogan of 'Whatever/whenever' I love great service and this was definitely it! I was amazed! Everyone greeted us and remembered our names too which was extra. Love the extra touches and we definitely wont forget!It's rare to find a place that not only meets but exceeds your expectations, and W Hotel in Koh Samui did just that. Thank you for an amazing experience that we will cherish forever. You made our stay a truly memorable one. We can't wait to return!
My recent stay at the W Koh Samui left me with mixed feelings. While the initial impression of the hotel was positive, with its serene ambiance and friendly staff, my experience was marred by some notable issues.Opting for the Tropical Oasis Villa room, I found the size to be ample, but unfortunately, the decor felt outdated. However, the most significant setback came from the condition of the bedding. When finally laying on the bed after a long day, I immediately noticed a strong odor emanating from the pillows. Despite notifying the front desk on the second day, the issue persisted, and it wasn't until the third day, after multiple complaints, that the pillows were finally replaced.As a member of the Marriott group, I expected a higher level of service from W Koh Samui. The delayed response to such a basic concern left me incredibly dissatisfied. It's disappointing when a hotel of this caliber fails to address fundamental guest comfort issues promptly.I reached out to Marriott to express my concerns. While W Koh Samui offered a gesture of goodwill in the form of 20,000 points to my Marriott account, it felt inadequate considering the level of inconvenience and discomfort I endured. When weighed against the overall cost of my stay, this credit seemed more like a token gesture than a genuine attempt to rectify the situation.In conclusion, while the W Koh Samui has its merits, such as its tranquil atmosphere and accommodating staff, the lack of attention to detail in resolving guest concerns, particularly regarding room hygiene, leaves MUCH to be desired.
Yes 🙌🏽 absolutely worth it!This W was on my hotel bucket list and didn’t disappoint!As mentioned often, the personal is extremely friendly and capable without being weird. A big thanks to Mini, which made the stay very memorable, especially for our kids.The hotel itself is in a great spot, very exclusive, quiet and green. The private beach is just great.The breakfast is just great, exactly what I would expect…international with local specialties, exclusive bites every day. In general the food in all restaurants is good, but pricy for Thailand (well not surprisingly).We stayed in Ocean Heaven Villa with private pool and direct access to the beach. The villa is great with enough room for four guests, probably even better with two.The private pool is amazing and the villa in general very spacious. The interior has clearly seen some guests but in acceptable condition.Was definitely worth the spend, would definitely come back!A kids room would be a great addition, but not required as there is much to explore.
""Beautiful stay!Everything About the Hotel Awesome.Hotel was clean, stylish, Luxurious with excellent service. Rooms, Pool, Breakfast, Beach, Bar & Restaurant everything amazing.Specially Fire show was Amazing.Great Staff, Friendly and helpful staff ever.Happy with my stay ,I hope to be back in the future.Thank you for memorable stay, Thank You W Koh Samui.
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