I Stayed at the Hyatt Regency Koh Samui on the World’s Best Island: Here’s My Review

Many of my previous Koh Samui adventures began in backpacker hostels nearly 2 decades ago; then I gradually graduated to affordable boutique hotels and humble yet idyllic beach huts as I got older.

But this trip, now with my 5-year-old in tow, called for all the hotel amenities: a big pool, a kids club, and a host of family-friendly activities to ensure my kid, my husband, and I all had a fantastic, relaxing vacation. Samui was recently voted the world’s best island in 2026 by Travel + Leisure (and I agree), so I knew there had to be a beautiful hotel that would be the right fit.

Luckily, I’d saved a stash of World of Hyatt points perfect for the occasion.

Here’s a review of my stay at the Hyatt Regency Koh Samui, and there are definitely some things you should know before you book.

1. A Steal on Points

I booked a 6-night stay at the Hyatt Regency Koh Samui, before Hyatt changed its award chart, for 23,000 points per night. Cash rates were going for about $500 to $600 on my peak summer dates, which I felt was high for the island, so using points was a great deal.

I put the booking on The World of Hyatt Credit Card, and because the card awards me Discoverist status, I was hoping for a room upgrade and other perks.

I had emailed the hotel to ensure my room would come with an extra bed for my son, and when I did, they mentioned a half-board package at the rate of ฿16,948.80 ($518, or $86 per night). This included both breakfast and either lunch or dinner for my 3-person family. Although I knew street markets and local restaurants would be cheaper, the hotel wasn’t in a walkable location, so I added the package to my reservation.

Upon arrival, I was told I had been upgraded from the lowest room category (a king garden-view room) to the next, a partial-ocean-view room, thanks to my Discoverist status. I also received 30% off at Yangna Cuisine and for spa treatments.

Post-visit, I earned 11,170 points for the $650 or so I spent on the property (the half-board package, other meals, drinks, snacks, and activities at the kids club), thanks to Hyatt’s summer bonus night offer, paying incidentals with my World of Hyatt card, and a 10% Discoverist bonus — not bad for a stay I paid for in points.

Hot Tip:

I used my World of Hyatt card to earn Hyatt points. However, I often transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards earned on the  Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card to the Hyatt program if I need to top off my balance.

2. Rooms Were Absolutely Stunning (And Practical)

It’s rare to get a hotel room that’s beautiful, practical, and has perfect ocean views. In fact, I’m not sure if I’d ever had this trifecta before until my stay at the Hyatt Regency Koh Samui.

The room’s sleek, stylish design appealed to me, and I loved the massive soaking tub overlooking the palm trees and sea. The views were gorgeous, and I enjoyed waking up every morning, throwing aside the shades, and seeing the glittering blue sea and jungle greenery sprawled out before me as the cloud formations rolled by.

The bed was massive and extremely comfortable, as were the pillows, and the AC was strong and easily adjustable from the modern touchpad. There was a separate wardrobe area with a small fridge and coffee area, with plenty of space for my suitcases and items.

I already mentioned the gorgeous tub, but I also appreciated the shower, which was an open rainfall shower operated with easy-to-press buttons and a clear, adjustable water temperature gauge. There was a huge vanity and mirror area, as well as a separate and private toilet area.

I got amazing sleep in the room, and I also appreciated the balcony, where I sipped coffee in the mornings and relaxed with my husband after my son fell asleep at night.

I really love this hotel room and, after staying in a few hotels after this, I found myself missing this room and its practical layout, comfortable bed, and expansive sea views.

3. Don’t Go if You Don’t Have Kids

This hotel was overflowing with families that had lots of children. During my stay, I only encountered a handful of people who were there without kids — both of whom complained to me about how children seemed to have full run of the resort.

As a parent, I’ve learned to sort of block out noise from children, so it really didn’t bother me, but I would be extremely disappointed if I came to this hotel for my honeymoon or on a romantic anniversary trip, even with a group of friends. While the images on the hotel website may look chic and trendy, don’t be fooled: This hotel is a family hotel.

There was an adults-only pool, but it was directly next to the family pool, and kids (and their parents) frequently ignored the adults-only sign. Daily, I noticed kids swimming in the adults-only pool. Occasionally, staff came and kicked them out, and I actually saw a few parents arguing with staff about why kids weren’t allowed in the pool.

Most families had at least 2 or 3 children with them, maybe more, so if you’re looking for a quiet and peaceful vacation, this isn’t the hotel for you. However, my son made new friends daily at the kids club and loved the lively family vibe of the resort, so for those with small children, it’s great.

Warm and friendly women ran the kids club, Camp Hyatt. My son loved the arts activities, including hat painting and making piggy banks and key chains, and he had a blast playing in the large play submarine, which felt like a cool fort.

There was a fire show on the beach 3 evenings a week, and the resort also offered marshmallow toasting on certain days.

For adults, there was the spa and the gym, but both times I used the gym, there were children inside (supervised 1 day, unsupervised another).

When it comes to hotel stays, you can’t pick the clientele or the guests, but I will say that many of the guests felt the rules didn’t really apply to them, which made the general vibe feel a little wild and overrun with kids. I brushed it off and had a blast, but definitely don’t come here for your honeymoon.

4. Close to Attractions but Not Walkable

The Hyatt Regency Koh Samui is about a 10-minute drive from Samui Airport (USM), and I booked transport for about $10 ahead of time using Airport Taxi. However, using Grab, Thailand’s most popular ride-share app, or getting a taxi upon arrival would likely have been even cheaper.

As the hotel was on a busy road, walking anywhere from it was precarious. There weren’t any sidewalks, and the road was curved. One evening, we walked to a nearby Thai restaurant, Chart Kitchen, but it was kind of scary with the cars and motorcycles swerving. After that, we used Grab’s ride-shares to head to the Chaweng night market and Fisherman’s Village for food and activities.

Grab transfers are affordable. Plan on spending about ฿300 to ฿400 ($9 to $12) each way to reach the nearby areas with lots of restaurants and activities. However, if you love staying right in the middle of the action and want to walk to restaurants, bars, and shops, this isn’t a good hotel for you.

While the hotel has a near-private beach that’s calm and beautiful, it’s very rocky and not great for swimming. I enjoyed relaxing on the beach and reading my Kindle to the sound of the waves, but I didn’t swim there (I swam in the hotel’s 5 pools instead). There was a small platform you could walk down and jump off to swim, but for beaches, I’d recommend taking a taxi to Silver Beach or Choeng Mon Beach if you’re looking for soft sands and a more picturesque, swimmable beach experience.

5. Delicious Food (Thai and Western)

I was really glad I got the half-board package, as the food was tasty and convenient.

Breakfast was available at 2 locations: Yangna, overlooking the pool, and Sesun Grill & Beach Bar. The first 2 days, we ate, along with what seemed like everyone else staying at the resort, at the Yangna breakfast buffet. It was an amazing spread, with fresh fruit and juices, Western offerings like an egg station, a kids corner with doughnuts and other child-friendly food, and plenty of Asian fare, including Indian food.

Staff made lattes and other coffees to order, and you could grab a fresh coconut stamped with the Hyatt Regency Koh Samui logo.

The food was delicious, but I wanted to try breakfast at the beach restaurant and was so glad I did. Yes, the spread was limited, but the food was just as delicious, and it was incredibly tranquil to dine to crashing waves sans crowds each morning.

The nice thing about the half-board program was the flexibility to pick dinner or lunch, depending on how our day was going. On the days we went to other beaches and had lunch out, we had dinner on the resort. And on the days we spent lounging at the resort, we ate lunch there and headed out to night markets for dinner.

Lunch and dinner offered the same menu, which had Western, Indian, Thai, and other Asian dishes. The menu was huge, and everything I ate was honestly delicious, which surprised me. Half board included an appetizer, main course, and dessert per adult, and a kids menu item and dessert for children (drinks weren’t included).

I usually ate fresh seafood (the salmon and sea bass were both excellent), refreshing salads, and sorbet or mango sticky rice for dessert.

If I stay here again, I will definitely do the half-board package. The price was decent for the quality and quantity of food offered, and I loved the flexibility of choosing whatever worked for me that day, lunch or dinner.

Final Thoughts

The Hyatt Regency Koh Samui is a gorgeous resort with family-friendly amenities and perfect guest rooms, and I would definitely return again for a family trip. Just know that the resort is extremely family-oriented, and not apt for adults-only trips. You may also have to block out noise from unsupervised children or ill-mannered, entitled guests. If you can manage that, you’ll have a beautiful stay at this resort.