The lowdown

First impressions can be misleading as the approach is hardly promising. It’s a turn from the main Mae Nam Beach ring road and then down a long dusty side track to get to the hotel-resort which opened just two years ago. Once stepping out into the lush, tree-lined courtyard gateway, the benefits of being so tucked away become obvious as this feels private and is perched right on the edge of the water. This out-of-way location also reinforces its positioning as an adults-only resort where no kids under 16 are permitted. Possibly that sense of privacy is one of the reasons why the resort played home to a large cohort of the cast and crew during the production of the new season of The White Lotus which was filmed just down the road.

The vibe

The simple colour theme sets visual mood – the resort grounds and the 125 rooms are decked out in shades of blue, green, timber and white, all focussed around a 50 metre infinity pool that almost runs the complete length of the resort only stopping metres away the swaying palm trees and lapping waters of the Gulf of Thailand. Verdant greenery and rows of blue umbrellas surround the pool, but it is the oversized yellow duck floating upon it that reveals this place has a sense of humour and some quirky charm. And unlike most other resort pools, there is no screaming children to shatter the serenity. The main sound here is the clinking of cocktail glasses and the sound of waves.

The location

A 20-minute drive from Samui International Airport, Explorar makes the most of its waterfront spot, as it’s a matter of steps from the restaurant and bar, across a strip of lawn to the sands of Mae Nam Beach. Essentials can be found down the sandy track at the local 7/11, and the popular Fisherman’s Village, with its night markets and fresh fish stalls, is a five minute taxi ride away.

The room

I am in a top floor Deluxe Sea View Suite, which has a bedroom, separate living room and a kitchenette, with the decor in wooden tones along with crisp white linen bedding and curtains. It’s a simple look that leaves the heavy lifting to the gorgeous views stretching across the water to the misty outline of Koh Pha-Ngan in the distance. The only thing out of place in the minimalistic room is the lumpy blue sofa and a work bench without a chair to sit at it. Maybe that’s the point – bypass by the work area and relax on to the balcony instead?

Food and drink

The poolside dining room is an all-day affair. Breakfast is in buffet style, with impressive platters of fresh fruits and made-to-order scrambled eggs which were so light. The lunch and dinner menu has both Thai and Western options, with the eggplant Pha Krapow and the Khad Soi curry delivering big on taste. The hotel manager joked a good hotel can be judged by its Club Sandwich, and the lunchtime one served up certainly made the right impression, even if it took 45 minutes to arrive when there was only one other couple in the restaurant at the time.

The spa

There’s a good reason why the spa schedule is regularly booked up – the therapists are that good, so book treatments well in advance. The Calcium Oil massage is now a signature of the  resort and does the trick on aching muscles.

What's hot

The pool. At 50 metres, it’s the longest hotel pool I have ever seen, and much of the resort seems to revolve around it. The beachfront is only a few metres wide, so it makes sense to combine the both - lounge by the pool while looking out at the sea. 

What's not

As friendly as the dining room team were, there were too many times when confusion seemed to reign over the orders, followed by apologies for another delay. Once the meals were delivered, however, they were always good. 

The verdict: 8.5 /10

Once settled in, I didn’t feel the need to venture too far from Explorar.  The facilities and finishings were high end, the location was secluded, the views stunning and, unlike the last Thai resort I stayed in, there were no screaming children peeing from the deck into the stunning pool. Venturing out for a few meals, however, might be good idea to cope with any confusion in the dining room. Overall, I am sure, just like me, The White Lotus team were more than happy staying here. 

Rooms start from $320 per night for a March booking at Explorar Koh Samui.  Scoot Airlines now flies into Koh Samui from Australia, via Singapore. www.flyscoot.com

The writer was a guest of Scoot and the Explorar resort.