Koh Samui

We spent 10 days at Poppies back in November 2000, not actually the best time of year being the rainy season but it was still a very relaxing holiday. Poppies is towards one end of Chaweng Beach, which is relatively quiet and unspoiled. The hotel only has two dozen rooms so you really have the run of the resort. An excellent restaurant and pool, and a spa. The shower attached to the room is actually open air with orchids placed inside each day.

This is a sister resort to the original Poppies in Kuta, Bali, and we decided to try it having eaten at the restaurant in Bali. It is definitely a better location as in Kuta a noisy surf and party resort has grown up around Poppies since it was opened.

Koh Samui itself is much quieter than Phuket; it reminds me of that resort about 15 years ago, so I guess it may not remain quiet and relaxed. There is not much to do around the island; we hired a bike and travelled round, nice scenery but not an awful lot in the way of sights.

But that’s not really the point. Bring a book and chill...