The 41 Places to Go in 2011

[Mid]

The 41 Places to Go in 2011

3. Koh Samui, Thailand

A toned-down version of Phuket, heavy on wellness and food.

As Thailand’s third-largest island, Koh Samui isn’t exactly off the radar. But the 95-square-mile tropical gem in the southern Gulf of Thailand, whose white sand beaches, abundant coral reefs and seas of palm trees were once a backpackers’ secret, has emerged as the stylish luxury alternative to crowded Phuket. Last month’s much-anticipated opening of the W Retreat Koh Samui on a private beach along the island’s northern shore was the chic hotel brand’s premiere in Southeast Asia. July saw the arrival of the 78 pool-villas at the Banyan Tree Samui and its bay-facing spa, which includes the island’s first hydrotherapy facility. It is burnishing Koh Samui’s reputation as one of Thailand’s top wellness destinations, along with the yoga and detox center at the Moroccan-inspired boutique resort Absolute Sanctuary, which turns three in April.

Local restaurants have kept pace, luring international chefs who are transforming Koh Samui into an eating destination as well. Newcomers include H-Bistro at the Hansar Samui resort, where the French-Mediterranean and Thai menu was conceived by a former private chef to the Jordanian royal family, and Orgasmic by Chef Wally, which serves innovative cocktails and dishes like cocoa butter Hokkaido scallops and freshly caught white snapper with pecan-celery mash. The local scene goes into full swing at the weekly Sunday Sessions under the soaring thatched roofs at loungey Beach Republic, whose brunch, seafood barbecue and sunset D.J.’s are quickly becoming famous.
— NAOMI LINDT


nytimes.com

[davearn]

strange no places in Australia in top ten and then they have Melbourne at no. 19.......Melbourne ???

[Johnny Longprong]

Yes, Melbourne at 15??? 1500 more realistic.

[taxexile]

and Orgasmic by Chef Wally, which serves innovative cocktails and dishes like cocoa butter Hokkaido scallops and freshly caught white snapper with pecan-celery mash.

cocoa butter hokkaido scallops, pecan celery mash.

somebody should take these pretentious ego driven prima donna cooks and fucking boil them up for broth.

wellness destinations

what the hell does that mean.

[sunsetter]

cali, columbia, interesting..

[shadow role]

and Orgasmic by Chef Wally, which serves innovative cocktails and dishes like cocoa butter Hokkaido scallops and freshly caught white snapper with pecan-celery mash.

cocoa butter hokkaido scallops, pecan celery mash.

somebody should take these pretentious ego driven prima donna cooks and fucking boil them up for broth.

wellness destinations

what the hell does that mean.

well said!Been alot of bad publicity about 'mafia' controlled KS in the last few years ...island destination=captive audience=high prices.

[harrybarracuda]

Quote:
wellness destinations
what the hell does that mean.

I think that's where some lard arse checks into a ridiculously expensive hotel and spa, has stupid treatments like mud baths, aromatherapy and a diet of shit and then leaves being told they are "much healthier".

[Marmite the Dog]

strange no places in Australia in top ten and then they have Melbourne at no. 19.......Melbourne ???

Maybe because it's the only place in Aus that has culture outside a petri dish?

[Norton]

Maybe because it's the only place in Aus that has culture outside a petri dish?

Heard, with exception of Athens, Melbourne had the highest population of Greeks. Probably the reason.

[FailSafe]

'Wellness' means enemas- lots and lots of enemas.

There are 'spas' on Samui where people pay a fortune to stay in a spartan room, eat nothing (you've gotta fast to be healthy, right?), and have a tube shoved up their ass twice per day.

[harrybarracuda]

'Wellness' means enemas- lots and lots of enemas.

There are 'spas' on Samui where people pay a fortune to stay in a spartan room, eat nothing (you've gotta fast to be healthy, right?), and have a tube shoved up their ass twice per day.

There's hotel rooms on Sukhumvit where people pay for that as well.

[Mr Earl]

This is more like a list of 41 places not to go.

[bobo746]

queensland is of the list for a while

[sabang]

Aus that has culture outside a petri dish?

So you like souvlaki?

As long as these vapid lists keep coming out, and the tourist hoards keep listening to them and thus going to the places I avoid, they are fine with me.

[taxexile]

Welcome to Beach Republic

Koh Samui's premier beach destination has arrived! Located on Lamai Beach, Beach Republic stands apart from the crowd with a unique feel and culture of its very own. Marrying a contemporary and hip Mediterranean beach lifestyle with a twist of irreverent fun, Beach Republic is instantly sexy, sophisticated and cosmopolitan.

who writes this bilge ? who believes this bilge?

samui is just another thai island run by sleazy thais and lowrent falangs for the express purpose of milking foreigners.

and all the turd polishing marketing speak in the world cannot disguise the fact that the 3 things that samui certainly arent are sexy, sophisticated or cosmopolitan.

[sabang]

sexy, sophisticated and cosmopolitan.

Lamai??

Try seedy, unsophisticated, and parochial.