Koh Samui, Thailand - December 2025

After a week at the Amari, we moved to the Melia as I wanted to try a different area. It's not far away and on Cheong Mon Beach which is actually more beautiful than Chaweng.

The resort is large and beautifully landscaped. This is from the gym area which is at the lobby but on the 1st floor...

The pool is lovely...

And the beach is spectacular...

The first night here we walked down the beach a bit and found a nice restaurant with open air seating...

Callum on the beach...

The kids went on the banana boat ride one day...

The pool looked great at night...

View from my room...

Lying between the pool and the beach. I spent most of the day here...

There were some friendly dogs roaming around so Eliza was in her element...

This beach is really nice...

As night falls...

Thai dancers in front of the hotel...

On Wednesday I was up early and had a swim at the beach...

Then met the kids for breakfast and had some pool time before catching a Bolt to the airport. This is a lovely airport, mostly in the open air...

Quick trip back to Singapore, and went strraight to the Qantas First Class Lounge...

We went our own way in Singapore. I was flying Qantas and the kids were flying Singapore Airlines, about an hour after us...

What a great holiday!

Koh Samui, Thailand - November 2025

After my one night at 21 Carpenter, I headed to Changi Airport on the Monday and checked in to Bangkok Airways. I have no entitlement to use the Qantas First Lounge but I thought I'd ask anyway and they let me in! 

Met the family at the gate, and flew Bangkok Airways to Koh Samui. 

Flight time is less than two hours and we even got a meal!

Easy flight and got a Bolt to the hotel and checked in. I hadn't realised that Bolt/Grab are not allowed in the airport grounds so we had to walk out to the rideshare pickup place. Not far but it was dark and I was a bit confused.

I had booked the same resort as last year - Amari on Chaweng Beach. So nice to be back...

My room is the second from the left on the ground floor...

Looking north...

And south...

And straight out...

I did a work call early the next morning from the Business Centre and this is the view...

Sitting on my balcony...

Each night we picked a different restaurant for dinner...

We went to Prego for Italian one night. I had risotto...

There are a few bars in the main street with live music. This bar generally has a decent live band...

This is the beach out the front of the Amari...

One night we went to a drag show in the main street...

One day Eliza and I went for a pedicure. It was a nice thing to do together. THB300...

Another day we went to a spa/sauna that we had been to last year. Steam, sauna and hot and cold pools...

This is the main road, Chaweng Beach Road, outside the Amari...

Went for a walk along the beach one day and watched the planes come in to land. The airport is close by...

Directly out the front of the hotel...

Had a very nice pad thai for lunch one day...

Checked out a beach club one night, but didn't stay...

This is the beach out the front of the hotel looking north. We have been very lucky with the weather this time...