This was published 1 year ago
Garrya Tongsai Bay Samui: Koh Samui's first five-star resort unveils fresh new look
Garrya Tongsai Bay Samui is family-friendly with rooms and villas able to be configured to meet generational needs.
It was the first five-star resort on Thailand's Koh Samui. Now it's been rebranded as Garrya Tongsai Bay Samui, sporting a fresh new look and refocus after significant remodelling and refurbishment.
Banyan Tree Group's Garrya is the ecologically sensitive hotel company's wellbeing-oriented family of contemporary and minimalist hotels, an approach that works well with the original Tongsai Bay Resort's focus on nature and sustainability – a point of view it took way before it was a worldwide trend.
The story goes that in 1985, the late Akorn Hoontrakul, then chairman of the Imperial Hotel Group, saw Tongsai Bay from the sea and declared "love at first sight". He soon bought the land and slept on the beach for three months, planning his dream resort. In July 1987, his dream opened as the first five-star luxury hotel on Koh Samui.
Of the property's 82 suites and villas, 74 feature an outdoor bath with a view.Credit: Nuttakit Narata
Hoontrakul sold the Imperial Hotel Group in 1993 but kept The Tongsai Bay, living there until his death in 2000. Since then, the resort has been managed by his son and daughter-in-law who have worked continuously for preserving nature both in Samui and internationally.
In 2021 they met with the founders of Banyan Tree Group and identified that each held similar ideals for sustainability, corporate governance, responsible tourism, and community support.
Garrya Tongsai Bay Samui was born with the 11.3-hectare beachfront resort aiming to ensconce guests in a simple, slow, restful, and nourishing experience.
The resort aims to offer guests a simple, slow, restful, and nourishing experience.Credit: Nuttakit Narata
Of the property's 82 suites and villas, 74 feature an outdoor bath with a view.
The resort is family-friendly with rooms and villas able to be configured to meet generational needs, plus the Kids' Club offers art classes, outdoor games, and wellbeing-centric activities such as kids' yoga and stretching, with the 8lements Spa also catering to young guests.
One of the resort's two swimming pools is adults-only.
There are three restaurants: Rhoy Rhoy! serves unpretentious Thai cuisine from a courtyard featuring sea views and there's elevated beachfront dining at Fish Tales. Evol is all about healthful eating with vegan options and the majority of ingredients coming from the resort's own garden as well as local farmers.
Further culinary experiences include candlelit dinners on the beach and in-villa barbecues.
The property is 15 minutes by car from Samui International Airport with Fisherman's Village and Chaweng Beach nearby. It joins Garrya Huzhou Lucun and Garrya Xi'an Lintong in China, as well as Garrya Nijo Castle Kyoto in Japan as part of the Garrya group.
See garrya.com
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