Anantara Rasananda

I’d love to say we were poker-faced grown-ups during our tour on arrival at Anantara Rasananda, but that wouldn’t be telling the truth. The fact is that Mr Smith and I were basically doing high-fives every time our guest assistant turned her back. And we’re really not the high-fiving types. Admittedly, we were still on a high having just arrived via the resort’s speedboat – a glorious 30-minute ride from Koh Samui taking in much of Koh Phangan’s striking coast. I should also add this was our honeymoon, which surely made us that much more silly. But, having deliberated over a number of the resort’s rooms before booking our Ocean Garden Pool Suite, we were grinning like idiots by the time we were shown around. 

At the risk of sounding a little complacent, it wasn’t the stunning wooden features that won me over, or the extremely comfortable king-size bed. Nor was it the beautiful big bathroom, although there’s a lot to be said for having every product on-hand before even thinking about unpacking. For me, it was all about outside: our private outdoor shower, sheltered day-bed for two, sunbeds reserved just for us on the beach and, the pièce de résistance, the plunge pool. Could it really have been me who wondered upon booking whether we would actually want a pool so close to the beach? If you’re wrestling with this same big life question, the answer is a definitive yes, not least for the jealous looks it attracts from the odd passerby.

We certainly made the most of our five days – and by that I mean we did very little. For starters, we needed to allow good time each morning for the buffet breakfast, best enjoyed at the tables in the sand. Think Asian soups and stir-fries, eggs made to order, cold meats, fruit, fresh-baked treats, cheese and other goodies. Then we would retreat to our day-bed of choice – for me it was on the beach; for Mr Smith it was under the sheltered sala. Add to this picture free, fast WiFi, several novels and on-the-house minibar spirits to sip on (in the afternoons, honest!), and we were happy to stay put.

Throw in a swim in the ocean, a dip in the plunge pool, a light lunch, maybe a snooze, more swimming, a shower to freshen up and it would be time to head over to happy hour at the resort’s gorgeous poolside bar. Each evening, a different Thai-inspired cocktail is on offer. We took our sampling duties seriously: we’d sit at the bar, sun-kissed and rested, slurping on drinks as the sun would go down, all the while chatting to the friendly bar staff – the ultimate nightly tropical routine. Don’t miss the cocktail with Thai basil; after extensive research, we concluded that it was our clear favourite.

A different dinner concept is also offered each night at the resort’s restaurant, with everything from Thai set menus and ‘surf and turf’ to pizza nights when films are shown on screens set up on the beach. One night while cocktail-testing, we were invited to their special weekly meet-and-greet at the wine lounge. Here we were treated to free wine, cocktails and fancy canapés while we mingled with staff members and guests. It meant we could see the enticing cloches and trays of crab, fish, curry and salads being set up for the seafood buffet ahead, and so we were wooed and booked in. The line-up of food was fresh and delicious, but we’d made a rookie error: we’d scoffed too many canapés earlier. Something tells us they know what they’re doing by putting these particular events back to back… But the food is great and the service extremely attentive, and if you’re curious like us, ask about their Thai wines – the Monsoon Valley Shiraz made in northern Thailand was surprisingly good.

It wasn’t all food, drinks and lying around though – we cleared a spot in our busy schedule to take a massage treatment together at the resort’s spa. Much like the rest of the resort grounds, with its carp ponds and beautiful lush greenery, the spa setting was fantastic. If they had rooms available in this tranquil oasis, I would book in. It was here we enjoyed one of the best Thai massages we’ve had and it left us floating for the rest of the evening.

Though there are plenty of activities available, here and elsewhere on the island, we were so busy filling our days with all that relaxing that we didn’t get to them. Not that we regret it. This would have to be one of the prettiest beaches on Koh Phangan, with an ideal mix of beachfront restaurants and a quiet little village with general stores, bars and eateries. If you’re like me and have stayed in a hovel on the party side of the island in a former backpacking life, you’ll love and appreciate this resort even more. Just be warned that the speedboat ride back to Koh Samui isn’t anywhere near as exciting as the one across. Funny that.