Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resort in Thailand has added 16 innovative in-house activities and options for its guests who appreciate the finer points of Thai hospitality, culture and food.
“The aim is to satisfy those guests looking for more than a suntan, and who appreciate the subtle art of outstanding service with a Thai twist,” says Natalie Kamolwattanasoontorn, general manager of the secluded 52-pool villa romantic retreat 10 minutes from the island’s airport.
Guests can pick and mix experiences from 16 activities across six categories:
Taste
Outrigger has created a romantic three-course candlelit dinner on the beach – no shoes, toes-in the-sand all evening. Guests can select from a range of menus or go a la carte. Next day, if you go island hopping or to a waterfall, let the hotel prepare a delicious lunch hamper – complete with picnic mat for the day. For private dining, let the hotel deliver a breakfast for two right to your villa. By the main pool, enjoy a tasty fruit kebab served each afternoon in a traditional bamboo basket. Later, say hello to the evening with a Thai sampler platter and Tom Yum cocktails by the resort’s main pool.
Drink
Enjoy a chilled jug of Pimms served to your villa or beside the main pool. Or pick a quiet spot of the resort and let the hosts bring you a platter of imported cheeses, homemade bread, dried nuts and fruits – served with two epic gin and tonics. Or let the staff give you the perfect ingredients to make your own Samui Mojito – mint, soda, rum, brown sugar, secret syrup and ice.
Cook
Expand your horizons and learn how to cook Thai food with one-on-one instruction at the Blue Fire cooking studio. Enjoy three dishes that you make under guidance and take home an apron and a Thai culinary cooking booklet.
Know
Read your copy of the Coconut Daily at breakfast – a summary of useful tips such as times for sunset, sunrise, high and low tides and recommendations on what to do for the day – all printed on recycled paper. Or communicate with a frog. Each villa has its own wooden carved frog which can be used to request a linen change or simply tell housekeeping ‘Do Not Disturb’ by placing him outside the front door.
Receive
On arrival, each guest at Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resort receives a friendship wrist band made from coconut shell. The band is a symbol of friendship from the Outrigger hosts welcoming guests to their home-away-from-home on Samui. All kids receive a “Koh Kids” cotton bag, perfect for outside adventures, pool visits – and to help reduce plastic bag use. Also, browse Outrigger gifts such as calendars, beach bags and flip flops in the resort shop.
Embrace
Support Outrigger’s proactive values. To help the environment, the resort now says ‘no’ to plastic straws. Say hello to the next generation of Thailand’s hoteliers when you see them learning new front office, housekeeping, culinary, spa and hospitality skills with their managers around the resort.
“Our aim is to create an all-round Thai hospitality experience that reflects the charm, culture and refinement of a discerning beach holiday in Thailand,” says Ms Kamolwattanasoontorn.
In addition, she points out that there is a whole range of Outrigger Signature Experiences to enjoy in the resort: yoga classes, batik painting, vow renewals, sunset ceremonies, management cocktail sessions, learning Thai handicraft skills, and much more. For further information on Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resort and bookings, visit outrigger.com. Or email wedding.kohsamui@outrigger.co.th. Tel: +66-77-914700.
