The Briza Beach Resort, Samui - SHA Plus

The hotel is in a good location, although it is a good 15–20 minute walk into the main town. It’s situated at the quieter end, which suited us perfectly, but it is worth mentioning that the walk back is uphill, so this may be difficult for elderly guests or anyone with mobility issues. The hotel is right on the beach, although access is via old steel ladder-style steps down to the sand. This was absolutely fine for us, but again, it may not be suitable for everyone. Right next door is a fantastic Reggae Bar, which we loved. They served great drinks and lovely food, and it’s definitely worth a visit. The beach itself has various activities, and when the tide goes out you can actually walk across the sand to some really lively bars and clubs, which was great fun. We booked two double rooms with a private pool. Both rooms were clean and well presented, but we did feel they were looking a little tired and would benefit from a good update or refurbishment. Considering we had chosen private pool room, this was probably the most disappointing aspect of our stay. The hotel entertainment was okay and we did have a good laugh with the entertainment team, although personally we preferred heading out to the livelier bars nearby. Breakfast was lovely, with a really good selection and plenty of choice to suit everyone. Overall, we enjoyed our stay. The quieter location, private pools, beach access and nearby bars were all great, but with a little updating to the rooms, the hotel could be so much better.

Unfortunately, the en-suite bathroom in our second room was quite disappointing. It wasn’t particularly clean and we had a number of problems with cockroaches and flies, which made the bathroom feel quite unpleasant and certainly not what we expected. There also appeared to be an issue with the waste/drainage system, and we had to contend with blocked toilets during our stay. To the staff’s credit, this was sorted the following morning. However, there doesn’t appear to be anyone manning reception 24 hours a day, so it is worth being aware that after around 9pm there are very few staff available to assist if you have a problem. Considering the amount we paid for the private pool rooms, I do feel the hotel is in need of some investment and updating. It has so much potential, particularly because of its location, but certain areas are beginning to feel quite tired and could definitely benefit from refurbishment. I also feel the metal ladder-style steps leading down to the beach should be replaced. Proper, wide concrete steps would make the beach much safer and easier to access and would make a huge difference for older guests, families with young children and anyone with limited mobility. Despite these issues, there were still many things we enjoyed about our stay. With some updating, improved cleanliness and a little investment in the facilities, this could be a really lovely hotel.

The location was outstanding.

There were a lot of mosquitoes on the property.

I liked that the beach was so close, but I was expecting to have better access. Rather than climbing down a ladder to get to the ocean/beach, I thought this hotel would have chairs on the beach. The breakfast was also very nice.

I didn't love the bathroom situation. I was unaware it would be 'outside.' I didn't feel like I got much privacy when I was showering of even using the restroom. If anyone walked by they were able to hear me, and the room across/above us were able to see directly into our shower. With this, every time we stepped out into the bathroom we would be bitten my mosquitos constantly. I think this more strange for the hotel because they fumigated the hotel during our stay to help prevent mosquitos. While I do appreciate the effort, I got bit more times at this hotel than anywhere else.

Big room with own pool. The massage bure was lovely.

Its old and trying to stay relevant. The pool is not on the beach and no banana lounges on the beach as the tide comes right up. Nicer staff elsewhere.