Zazen Boutique Resort Spa

Rooms

The 26 bungalow suites are spread through the garden - a few of them face the beach, but actually we preferred the inland ones as they are more tranquil. Wide glass doors open into an airy space with parquet floors, a raised bed platform and silk blinds over the windows. Each comes with a super-comfy mattress, A/C and a big TV, as well as a whole host of less technological but useful touches: gorgeous silk dressing gowns and slippers, kettle, socket adaptors, mozzie repellent, plenty of complimentary bottled water.

The décor is tropical minimalism, with rattan furniture, woven pillows, linen throws and boho wall hangings. The white concrete walls are softened by dark hardwood floors and subtle strip lighting that casts a warm glow from above. Finishing touches nod to the surroundings: shells in the Beachfront Suites, plants in the Garden Villas.

Bathrooms feature large wetroom-style rainfall showers and free-standing tubs big enough for two. Those in the Beachfront Suites look directly onto the lapping waves. Gold hardware and baskets of fresh towels add to the luxurious feel. If we're being picky, when we visited the shower pressure and temperature did fluctuate, and the toiletries were not the most lavish.

We'd opt for a Garden Villa: they're tucked away at the back of the plot (so furthest from the beach) but look out onto leafy gardens, with a secluded sitout at the front - great for al fresco room-service lunches or shady reading. Their split-level interior is larger, with 2 single daybeds perfect for 1-2 kids. The Tropical Suites and Beachfront Suites are closely grouped together near the front of the resort, so you're nearer to the beach but also to each other; they're also smaller inside.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Bathrobes
• Coffee / tea making
• Cots available
• DVD player
• Fan
• Hairdryer
• Minibar
• Radio
• Safe box
• Terrace/balcony
• TV
• WiFi

Eating

Since our last visit, the beachside restaurant has had a revamp. The Club is set a few paces from the water, with open sides and great views over the sea to neighbouring islands. It offers an extensive all-day menu featuring a mix of beautifully plated Thai and Mediterranean cuisine.

There are soups, salads and sharing boards for laidback lunches, which you can take in the restaurant, poolside, or on your private terrace. For dinner, you can mix and match the international dishes. Thai starters include the likes of Tom Yam soup or banana plant salad with pork and prawns, while the European menu features scallop carpaccio and a choice of vegetable veloute. Follow up with a fragrant curry, stir-fried chilli beef, filet mignon or a Zazen cheeseburger. Safe to say your cravings will be satisfied.

Breakfast (included and served in The Club) is a delightful buffet, with exotic fruits (think pomelo, dragonfruit and rambutan), fresh juices, cereals, homemade pastries, fluffy banana pancakes, excellent eggs Benedict and just-brewed coffee.

There are two bars, one in the main restaurant and one by the pool, serving colourful cocktails, chilled beers and a decent range of wines all day. There's also a monthly DJ event if you fancy embracing the Ibiza-influenced beach club vibe.

If you want to eat out one night, you can wander along the beach to Bo Phut Fishermen's Village (15-20 minutes) which teems with eateries of all flags, from traditional Thai to pizzerias and teppinyaki. Don't expect great quality though; most restaurants in the village are overpriced and distinctly average, so most guests happily stick to Zazen.

Features include:

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby
• Room service
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Work your way through the exotic treatments at Le Spa Zen: the 'Sunset Kiss Ritual Massage' repairs the damaging effects of sun and sea through drainage and hydration massage; the 'Elixir Body Glow' protects the skin against free radicals, and my wife loved her Jet Lag and Revitalising Body Wrap
  
• Wander along the narrow sandy beach, passing massage shacks and barefoot bars, to the "original fishermen's village" of Bo Phut, which still has its pier and street stalls (now selling disappointingly touristy tat)
  
• The hotel has a relationship with a local dive school which has a high speed boat and max group size of 10; the legendary Sail Rock, Koh Tao and Ang Thong are all feasible as day trips; non-divers are welcome to come along for fabulous snorkelling
  
• Go deep-sea fishing for barracuda, white snapper and shark or spend the afternoon windsurfing from the beach
  
• Learn to cook Thai food - English-speaking staff will help you create 3 delicious meals and teach you to cut fruit and veg the traditional way. Conjure your carrots into lotus flowers, then eat the lunch you’ve just made
  
• Head to the Samui rainforest and fly across the canopy at tree-top level, on cables. It’s a fab way to get a bird’s eye view of the jungle and see monkeys up close (plus you can let out a few Tarzan yells just for the heck of it)
  
• Take a sailing trip to Ang Thong archipelago, a natural park of small islands, clear lagoons and exotic rock formations, which was the inspiration for Alex Garland's The Beach
  
• Have a restorative yoga lesson. You can either join a class, have a one-to-one with a teacher or book in for a course and learn how to down-dog with the best of them
  
• Take an organised tour of the island and see waterfalls, the erotic rock formations of Hin Ta and Hin Yai and the famous Big Buddha statue. You’ll also visit a coconut plantation to watch monkeys shimmy up the trees to pick you a nut, and go shopping in Nathon (knock-off Gucci, anyone?)
  
• Go quadbiking, rent a motorbike to explore, have a game of golf or take a speedboat around the island - the hotel can arrange a whole host of other activities

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Cooking classes
• Fishing
• Golf
• Hiking
• Mountain biking
• Nightlife
• Pool table
• Sailing
• Scuba diving
• Scuba diving courses
• Shopping / markets
• Snorkelling
• Swimming
• Table tennis
• Well being
• Wildlife
• Windsurfing
• Yoga

Kids

Children are welcome but the setting is quite romantic and attracts couples in search of R&R, so you might feel self-conscious if you have hyper kids!

Best for:

Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

We'd recommend staying in a Garden Villa, which can accommodate 2 children comfortably on its sofabed, as well as fitting a cot. Otherwise the Beachfront and Tropical Suites each have a single sofa bed and room for a baby cot. Cots can be provided on request and are free of charge. The cost for extra beds varies depending on the age of the children.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Zazen Boutique Resort & Spa is situated at one end of Bo Phut beach, on the north of Koh Samui. It's 15km by sea from Koh Phangan and about 110km by sea from Surat Thani Province.

By Air:
Koh Samui (6km away) is the nearest airport. The quickest way to get here is to fly to Bangkok then get a connecting flight.

By Boat:
It's also possible to take a boat from Don Sak or Surat Thani on the mainland (1-2 / 2-4 hours respectively); and from the neighbouring islands of Koh Phangan or Koh Tao (1-2 / 2-4 hours respectively).

From the Airport or Port
The hotel offers a transfer service - see rates - or you can jump in a taxi at Koh Samui airport.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Thailand (international flights) and getting around