Review: W Koh Samui
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Our four-night stay at the W Koh Samui took place in April 2026, as part of a family trip to Thailand. We booked a garden villa using 300,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for the four nights.
Here is our detailed review of this signature W brand hotel, featuring bold design, a large perched pool, and attentive service from the staff. To give you a clear idea of each space, you will find a photo carousel in each section of this review.
W Koh Samui – Booking with Points
The W Koh Samui is part of the Marriott Bonvoy program. Our four-night stay in a garden villa cost us 300,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, plus taxes.
Several credit cards allow you to earn Marriott Bonvoy points directly or through transfers. Check our best hotel credit cards page to compare all the options.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $120 | |||
| $150 | |||
| $799 |
W Koh Samui – Location
The W Koh Samui is located on the northwest coast of the island, in Maenam. The hotel is built in tiers on a hillside, with several buildings descending toward the sea.
An interesting fact noted upon our arrival at the airport: several Marriott properties on the island (Renaissance, Sheraton, Vana Belle Resort, and W Koh Samui) share the same welcome desk at the transfer point, alongside a Minor Discovery counter. A good way to quickly spot the right shuttle when getting off the boat or plane.
A shopping center with restaurants and boutiques is just a few minutes away by car. The hotel is not in the jungle like other resorts on the island: it feels more like a designer residence than a dense tropical environment; we really liked the setting and the staff.
The entrance sign by day, illuminated in the evening, and the transfer counter shared by the Marriott hotels in Koh Samui.
W Koh Samui – Arrival and Welcome
From the moment you arrive, the lobby sets the tone: large, colorful street-art-style murals sit alongside designer furniture, with navy blue lamps and tufted armchairs. It is the W style, recognizable among a thousand.
A golden cart with infused water and fruit was waiting for us near the lobby during the formalities; the staff offered us a nice welcome cocktail and took the time to explain everything. The staff was kind and smiling from the beginning to the end of the stay, always ready to take us in an electric buggy, to be of service, and adorable with the children.
Small touches throughout the stay: Arthur received a beautiful birthday cake delivered directly to the villa, while Alexandra received hair clips and other small surprises, and Arthur also at the end of the stay.
The concierge desk, at the entrance to the main pool, offers a monthly activity booklet and a tablet presenting current offers. Right next to it, a boutique sells beachwear and W-branded souvenirs, and a buggy allows for easy travel through the estate’s bamboo-lined paths.
The entrance tunnel, the lobby and its murals, the reception desk, the welcome cart, the complimentary birthday cake, the concierge desk, the boutique, the business center, and the buggy ride through the bamboo.
W Koh Samui – Garden Villa
Our garden villa featured the contemporary design typical of the W brand: warm woodwork, few colors in the bedroom itself, and large floor-to-ceiling windows across almost the entire height of the room. The curtains, of the same height, give a real sense of space.
The room itself plays with red accents against a wood background: red-lit shelves, a red teddy bear on the pillow, and a television that, when turned off, displays a screensaver showing other W properties around the world.
A tea and coffee corner and a separate entrance complete the room, with a long desk equipped with electrical outlets. The television is large, and a good-sized dressing room offers several storage drawers—a bit tight for four people, but sufficient.
One last notable detail: the bed is rather firm.
The dressing room stores bathrobes and shoes, with a “W Koh Samui” tote bag provided for the duration of the stay. Upon arrival, a sweet treat was also waiting for us on the coffee table in a small orange metallic box engraved with “W Hotels.” We especially loved one of the chocolates, by the way.
The minibar is fully stocked, with some branded spirits for an extra charge in addition to the usual snacks and drinks, and a coffee machine in a corner of the villa.
The desk, the bedroom, the dressing room, the minibar, and the complimentary touches in the garden villa.
W Koh Samui – Bathroom
The bathroom adopts W’s visual codes with its multiple mirrors and colorful mosaic. It includes two showers, one of which is outdoors, as well as a large freestanding tub that slightly blocks movement in the room.
The double sink in black stone, topped by a lighted mirror integrating a small television, completes the space.
Mosaic, walk-in shower, double sink, and freestanding tub in the bathroom.
Note the presence of an outdoor shower with a light well in the bathroom; very pretty in stone but lacking privacy since it is central to the villa. A second shower is visible in the background.
W Koh Samui – Private Pool and Terrace
The main asset of our villa: its private outdoor terrace with a pool at a good temperature. You can swim there in complete privacy, just like at home, which is particularly appealing with children.
An outdoor shower and a lounge area with a parasol complete the terrace. At the end of the day, mosquitoes come out, but a product was available in the villa for protection.
Viewed from the outside, the villa reveals its tiered architecture and its long pool, framed by dense hedges that preserve privacy between neighboring villas.
Villas located higher up enjoy an unobstructed view but require the use of a buggy to reach the lobby or the breakfast restaurant. Since ours was lower down, close to the sea, we went there on foot, crossing the different levels: the gym and the pool.
W Koh Samui – WOOBar Pool
On the main level, there is a magnificent decorative pool: bright green circular cabanas literally float on the water, with a view of the sea and the huge letter “W” that serves as a signature photo spot. From the air, you can better understand the scale of the resort: this pool stretches out in length, surrounded by white villas clinging to the hillside up to the surrounding jungle.
The floating cabanas, the aerial view of the resort, and the lounge area of the WET pool.
In the evening, this same pool transforms into a lounge area with a bar and lighted cushions, very pleasant for a drink. However, as the majority of rooms have their own private pool, this main pool remains quiet during the day.
The lounge atmosphere in the evening and family moments near the WET pool.
W Koh Samui – WET Pool
To access the main WET pool for swimming, you have to go down two flights of stairs. You come across a very pretty pool with a panoramic view and few facilities. Since the villas have individual pools, few people gather there. For our part, we enjoyed spending time there, as it was close to the Kitchen Table, at a good temperature, and very pleasant with those large sun loungers.
W Koh Samui – Beach
The main negative point of our stay was the beach. The sand is coarse, which makes walking barefoot difficult when it gets hot. Jellyfish are possible in Koh Samui, and the water was not particularly clear during our visit, so it was hard to tell.
The facilities remain very pretty, however, with a signature “Whatever/Whenever” swing planted in the sand under the palm trees, right next to the large letter “W” that serves as a landmark on the beach. The sunsets from the beach remain superb, especially from the tables set up directly on the sand near the beach bar.
The beach, its signature facilities, and its sunsets, seen from all angles.
W Koh Samui – Restaurants and Nightlife
In the evening, the atmosphere around the decorative pool becomes festive with music and a central bar. A fire show particularly stood out to us: after seeing several similar shows elsewhere on the island, the one at the W remains the most impressive, with very technical fire figures.
Fire show, DJ booth, bar counters, terraces, and small sweet treats in the evening.
A DJ also animated the evening with great kindness. She even let Alexandra sit at the decks for a few minutes and showed her some simple transitions, a memorable souvenir for our daughter. The booth, named “Exotica,” is located high up on a terrace overlooking the garden.
The cocktails and food served in the evening are good. As we were traveling with children, we did not try the hotel’s Japanese restaurant, which is renowned for its fine menu.
For sweet cravings, a “Sweet Spot” kiosk offers self-service ice cream near the pool, a well-thought-out touch for families. Suffice it to say, the children loved treating themselves to ice cream several times a day.
One last nod: the Namu restaurant features a mural signed by a character inspired by Monopoly, a decorative detail that perfectly sums up the W brand’s quirky spirit.
W Koh Samui – Family Activities
A giant chess set is installed outside, in the heart of the hotel’s concrete architecture, near the beach. The children had fun there in the evening, a nice way to pass the time between swims. The fresh coconuts served at the bar, with the hotel’s name engraved directly on the shell, were also a huge hit with Alexandra at the end of the day.
The festival, Songkran, fell during our stay. This festival celebrates a time of gathering for families, paying homage to elders, ancestors, and sacred Buddha images. This led to an improvised outdoor water fight for the children, in addition to the games available on the beach. The picnic tables set up in the shade of the palm trees, back from the beach, also offer a quiet corner to take a break between activities. Outside, the shopping streets were buzzing with these water fights.
Giant chess set, fresh coconut, and family picnic area.
W Koh Samui – Breakfast
Breakfast is served as a buffet in a circular room, with made-to-order dishes like pancakes or eggs Benedict. However, the selection can be redundant over several days. The room is very pleasant and air-conditioned.
The buffet is generous: homemade jams and granolas, a fine charcuterie platter, a noodle bar and dim sum prepared to order, and some wok-style stir-fry dishes to vary from the morning classics. A made-to-order meal-soup station, with a chef on-site, also allows you to customize your noodle bowl to your taste.
On the sweet side, the options did not particularly catch our attention. A recurring minor annoyance: our coffees almost always arrived at the end of the meal rather than at the same time as the dishes, a detail that becomes tiresome over several mornings.
The plates assembled at our table, featuring smoked duck, crispy bacon, and fresh fruit, remain among our best memories of the buffet.
The room, the buffet stations, and the breakfast plates.
W Koh Samui – Gym and Away Spa
The gym is complete and well-equipped, both for cardio and weight training, with a punching bag installed in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows with a view of the jungle. Classes are offered directly on-site, in addition to Muay Thai classes offered outside the hotel.
Gym, punching bag, and entrance to the Away Spa.
We did not have the opportunity to try the treatments at the Away Spa during our visit, but the space makes you want to return for a future stay.
W Koh Samui – My General Impression
We really enjoyed our stay at the W Koh Samui. The villa, the outdoor shower, and the large WET pool remain our best memories, as do the fire show and the constant kindness of the staff.
- Villa with private pool: complete family privacy, pleasant temperature
- Outdoor shower: a real plus in the bathroom
- WET pool: large, designer, pleasant in the evening
- Fire show: among the most impressive seen on the island
- Staff: kind, helpful, and attentive with children
- Beach: coarse sand, hot and sometimes unpleasant barefoot
- Getting around: tiered hotel, buggy often necessary, something to consider if you have mobility issues
- Breakfast: selection that repeats over several days
A hotel that suits both families and couples, but requires good physical fitness to move between the different levels if you have young children or mobility limitations. Check our best credit cards page to plan your next stay with points, and subscribe to our newsletter so you don’t miss any of our upcoming hotel reviews.
Looking for another Marriott Bonvoy stay booked with points? Also read our review of the Sheraton Kagoshima in Japan, with a view of an active volcano.
Some family memories during our stay at the W Koh Samui.
Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card
The Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card is the best credit card for free hotel nights.
With this welcome offer, you can get up to 70,000 Marriott Bonvoy points:
- Get 60,000 points after charging a total of $3,000 to your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership.
- Plus, get 10,000 points when you spend $500 on your Card in your 13th month of Cardmembership.
This is a card we recommend keeping, because every year on renewal you get an annual Free Night Award worth 35,000 points, as well as 15 Elite Night Credits per year toward your Marriott Bonvoy status.
With this Card, you earn 5 points per dollar on all your spending at Marriott Bonvoy properties and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases.
Finally, this Card comes with extensive insurance coverage: baggage delay, lost or stolen baggage, $500,000 travel accident, flight delay, hotel/motel burglary, car rental theft and damage, Buyer’s Assurance Protection Plan and Purchase Protection Plan.
As with all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.
- Annual fee
- $120
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$600Total$600Plus $100 of bonus paid after the first year, not counted in this total.Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $600
- Welcome offerAfter $3,000 in 3 months
- Up to 70,000 points
Apply Now
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Apply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
W Koh Samui – Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a night at the W Koh Samui cost in Marriott Bonvoy points?
Our four-night stay in a garden villa cost us 300,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, or about 75,000 points per night. The cost in points varies depending on the season and the type of room chosen.
Is the W Koh Samui suitable for families with children?
Yes. The staff was very attentive to our children, with personalized gifts and a tailored meal delivered to the villa. However, the hotel remains more geared toward couples and travelers without young children, due to the many levels to navigate.
Is the beach at the W Koh Samui good for swimming?
The beach is the hotel’s weak point: the sand is coarse and heats up quickly. The WET pool and the villas’ private pools remain better options for swimming.
Do all villas at the W Koh Samui have a private pool?
The majority of villas have their own private pool on the terrace. This is why the large WET pool on the main level remains quiet during the day.
Do you need to get around by buggy in the hotel?
The hotel is built in tiers on a hillside. An electric buggy is often necessary to move between the villas, the lobby, and the breakfast restaurant, especially for people with reduced mobility.
What kind of activities does the W Koh Samui offer in the evening?
The hotel offers a fire show in the evening near the decorative pool, in addition to a musical atmosphere animated by a DJ. A giant outdoor chess set also remains accessible both day and night.