Kimpton Kitalay Samui villas are elevating Koh Samui’s luxury stays

Kimpton Kitalay Samui’s villas are setting the benchmark for secluded luxury.

The sun-drenched coast of Koh Samui has become one of Australia’s favourite tropical destinations. Defined by palm-fringed stretches of golden sand and crystalline water, Thailand’s most luxurious island invites travellers to slow down, particularly at its most idyllic resorts. And at Kimpton Kitalay Samui, silken luxury and warm hospitality reach new heights in its private villas.

About the hotel

Kimpton Kitalay Samui in thailand — Stay just steps from Choeng Mon Beach.

Fronting the peaceful bay of Choeng Mon Beach on the northeastern tip of Koh Samui, Kimpton Kitalay Samui offers an unbeatable sense of calm and sophistication away from the crowds.

Awarded one MICHELIN Key in 2024, 2025 and 2026, the retreat features 138 rooms, suites and pool villas. A modern coastal village aesthetic melds with traditional Thai design where natural rattan, dark timber and earthy tones prevail. Floor-to-ceiling windows bathe rooms in sunlight and allow guests to wake to the lull of gently crashing waves.

The Villas

Kimpton Kitalay Samui Villa Kitalay aerial View — Find the epitome of luxury in The Villas.

Looking for the epitome of exclusivity and luxury? An elevated service at The Villas is the answer. Choose from three villa types, all pet-friendly and featuring deep tubs, walled gardens, expansive decks and open-air rain showers. The centrepiece? A private infinity pool, complete with comfy day beds.

One-bedroom options are either enveloped by a jungle-like garden or boast uninterrupted water views and direct beach access. Groups and families can spread out in the exclusive, two-bedroom Villa Kitalay.

Kimpton Kitalay Samui_The Villas_Oceanfront and Garden Pool Villa Amenities — Luxuriate in items designed in collaboration with PARISSARA.

The Villas are made even easier to linger in with Aesop products, a bespoke in-villa bar with ready-made cocktails and yoga mats, as well as the Whispers of the Waves textile pieces. This collaboration with organic textile designer PARISSARA lets guests envelop themselves in eco-friendly designs such as hand-dyed linen robes, silk scarves and straw hats with tie-dyed straps crafted by artisans across Thailand.

The service

Kimpton Kitalay Samui floating breakfast in private villa pool — Indulge in a floating meal in your favourite pool.

Warm hospitality is a hallmark of Thai culture, a tradition wholeheartedly embraced at Kimpton Kitalay Samui. The dedicated Villa Concierge service allows the villas to operate as their own private sanctuaries, bringing an extra layer of personalised attention and curated experiences.

Make dining special, from a sunrise breakfast on the deck, to sipping elevated cocktails while floating in your pool, to indulging in a barbecue-style dinner on the beach or a MICHELIN guide dining experience. Get a glimpse into local life with curated cultural experiences, like artisan workshops focusing on traditional Thai crafts in the comfort of your hideaway. In The Villas of Kimpton Kitalay Samui, it’s Thailand, your way.

The facilities

Kimpton Kitalay Samui main pool — Relax in a cabana by the main pool.

What is a trip to Thailand without plenty of time spent by the pool? At Kimpton Kitalay Samui, guests will find three: an Olympic-sized infinity pool overlooking the ocean, an additional pool surrounded by the hotel’s lush garden and a children’s pool, complete with a waterslide.

Continue the relaxation at on-site Kitavaree Spa & Wellness. Book in for Thai-inspired treatments using organic ingredients (hello, massage). Or join in meditation, yoga and sound healing classes.

For those who like to stay active on holiday, find a modern, 24-hour gym with free weights, treadmills and stationary bikes. Or take advantage of the resort’s direct access to Choeng Mon Beach and complimentary water sports rental equipment, including paddleboards. Guests can also enjoy free rentals of the resort’s designer bikes.

Kids will love the resort’s JUNIO Kids’ Club, giving young ones plenty of options for creative, analogue play and educational activities.

Dining

FishHouse Restaurant & Bar

Celebrated in the prestigious MICHELIN Guide for three years running, FishHouse Restaurant & Bar serves up the freshest seafood in casually elevated surrounds. And all right on the beachfront. Enjoy the laid-back charm of a beach house, with an open-air deck overlooking the golden sands of the Gulf of Thailand.

The ocean-to-plate menu features daily catches sourced straight from local Samui fishermen. Think whole grilled fish, tiger prawns, black paella with squid ink, ceviches, lobster rolls and seafood towers. Rather stick to land-dwelling options? Try one of the premium, imported steaks.

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Shio Japanese Dining & Sushi Bar

shio restaurant at Kimpton Kitalay Samui — Sit down to a Tokyo-style sushi bar.

Take your taste buds on a trip to Japan at this modern Japanese restaurant and sushi bar inside Kimpton Kitalay Samui. Dine on premium fish (flown in directly from Japan for an authentic flavour) and a modern take on Japanese and sushi concepts. All while soaking in the laid-back atmosphere. Here, the decor is part rustic chic, part elegance of a Tokyo sushi bar. Plus, watch the chefs as they prepare your order in the open kitchen.

Hom Baking Company

Feeling in the mood for comfort? The revolving, daily-curated selection of fresh croissants, decadent cakes and breads at Hom Baking Company should do the trick. Wash it all down with barista coffees, speciality teas or Thai milk tea. Want to join in? Guests of all ages can join classes and activities held here – from cookie decorating to creative cupcake finishing to a Thai Tea class.

Boho Thai Lifestyle Cafe

Part boho cafe, part art gallery, Boho Thai Lifestyle Cafe fills its walls with local Thai arts, handicrafts and floral displays. The result? A chic all-day dining experience. Take a seat inside, or opt for the al fresco area for views overlooking the pool, palm trees and the Gulf of Thailand. The extensive menu offers a mix of retro and modern takes on classic Thai dishes, alongside Western favourites. Think comfort food, salads, noodles, fried specialities, curries and all-day breakfast.

Shades Ocean Lounge & Bar

No one wants to leave the poolside on a perfect sun-drenched day. Thanks to Kimpton Kitalay Samui’s fresh take on the classic pool bar, guests won’t have to. Whether you’re looking for cocktails with a fun flair (plus local craft and draft beers) or sandwiches, pizzas, plates and light bites, find it at Shades Ocean Lounge & Bar.

Want to level it up? Choose from a range of extras, like prosecco service, pool cabanas and even foot reflexology sessions.

Start planning your luxurious island getaway at kimptonkitalaysamui.com.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

The beachfront villas taking Koh Samui’s luxury offerings to a new level of exclusivity