I can easily see why The Waterfront is rated #1 on Trip Advisor - while it's clearly no Four Seasons, you won't find anything offering the package and quality of the amenities available for anywhere close to the price.

The most obvious defining characteristic of this hotel is that the owners are extremely friendly and welcoming - I value this especially since most places are so faceless and dull. They will happily pick you up from the airport, extend late check-ins when available, and generally help out with any problems or questions you have. They treat guests as extended family visiting their home, which is extremely rare - and exceptionally pleasant - these days.

In terms of the rooms, these are spacious and have everything you need, including an extremely comfortable bed, mini-bar, DVD player, etc. Many extra services are included, including an impressive 500+ DVD collection, a small library of books, games, and free Wi-Fi. They also provide a free baby-sitting service (you just have to tip), which must be hard to find otherwise.

It's especially Brit-friendly, with classic fry-up breakfasts included in the room rate and copies of British papers - but not so much to exclude other nationalities (I miss those things, since I live in the US!). The Aussies, Germans, Americans and French all seemed to enjoy the food and drinks equally. The reception will happily book any cars and tours you need, and Robin (co-owner) provides scarily accurate opinions on the things you should do on Samui (listen to him).

My initial negative feelings about their beach front really apply to most of the island rather than this hotel specifically. The ants and bugs on the beach can be annoying too, but since there's a reasonable beach about 5 minutes' away, and they have a pool, it's not much of an issue. In terms of the location, the quality of restaurants in the immediate village seems to easily trump other towns (unless you want incredibly busy areas such as Chaweng).

Overall, if you enjoy quiet beach spots with high quality facilities without spending your entire vacation budget, you can't really go wrong with The Waterfront. It's a great place to make some friends, get a tan, and have a truly relaxing break - we'd happily go back!

Firstly a big thank you to Michael who completely put my mind at ease when I was panicking about my luggage not arriving at the same time as I did in Koh Samui. Michael told me that he would chase up the airport and although delayed luggage was rare he had every confidence it would arrive within hours - he was absolutely right of course - panic over.

Secondly the Waterfront is so much better in the flesh than the photos on tripadvisor show they really do not do the place justice. Pictures cant capture the friendly, rustic charm and attention to detail that the Waterfront offers.

Its a small friendly boutique hotel where the pool and beach bar are the social areas where we all meet up for a chat and you have a wonderful view of the sea from the pool which is a real bonus. The loungers and chairs around the pool are very comfortable as are the beach loungers and there are two hammocks also. There are no sun umbrellas at the Waterfront as the place is so well designed with the planting of palm trees that they are not necessary due to natural shaded areas.

WHAT YOU GET AT THE WATERFRONT

Free transfer from the hotel
Welcome drink on arrival
Immaculately clean room with crisp white sheets dressed with Thai silk cushions and runner.
Toileteries consisting of soap, shampoo, conditioner, cotton buds, mouth wash
Clean bath towels and beach towels every day
Fresh orchids everyday
Mini bar with soft drinks, beers water etc - reasonably priced
Snacks, crisp, peanuts - again reasonably priced
Hairdryer, Bathrobes and plenty of hangers PLUS AN ADAPTOR
should you forget yours
THEY DO HAVE A BOARD AND IRON YOU JUST NEED TO ASK FOR IT.
Chairs, table and a lovely touch of a candle in a glass bowl on your terrace, also plenty of outside lighting on your terrace should you wish to read.
They have hundreds of books which you can borrow
They have hundreds of DVDs to watch (which we did ever night) again all free
Games to play scrabble, sudoko etc
Toys in the reception and around the pool for the kids and adults to use
Breakfast is full english or anything you want on toast, freshly cooked to order, cappacino, coffee, lovely fresh juices and fruit or cereal.
Daily Telegraph every day
Great next day laundry service - very cheap
Great massages just a step away from your place around the pool and again very cheap.
FREE INTEREST ACCESS - BONUS
NO PHONES IN ROOMS - DOUBLE BONUS
Cold wet towels are brought to you while you lay in the sun - a 5 star perk

The dogs in thailand are as laid back as the people and are so sweet, SPOT up the road (two hotels along) when she saw us walking back to the Waterfront she would walk us back to our room although she is in love with Honey (as was I) wonderful dog. However, should you not be too keen on dogs please dont let them put you off as they only favour those who fuss them and leave you alone otherwise.

Met loads of lovely people this place seems to attract a really nice crowd (all big fans of TRIPADVISOR of course)
The gardens are lovely here and the sons owner gives you a free transfer from the airport and if at all possible back to the airport.

Yes its true Sue and Robin know everyones name and greet you warmly on your arrival. They are lovely people and have travel alot and with their experience they have tried to incorporate all the best features from 5 star hotels which they enjoyed themselves.

AND ALL FOR 40 POUNDS A NIGHT

Forgot to add - GREAT COCKTAILS AT THE WATERFRONT particular Margaritas and Mai Tai's

TIPS:

If travelling from the UK you can book your luggage straight through to Koh Samui even though you stop at Bangkok;
Change your money in Thailand to get a better rate - Robin will tell you the best place;
Buy the cheapest phone and a pay as you go in Thailand to make cheap calls home.
Fav restaurants were: The Shack, Happy Elephant, Starfish and Coffee, Red Snapper (Chaweng)
Always barter when shopping its expected usually prices double on first "how much"
Star Club for ladyboy show - very good in Chaweng

Fishermans Village is 2 minutes walk away which makes the Waterfront the perfect location
Again you can get massages of all kinds for very little
You can have a pedicure and manicure for 5.25p just across from the hotel
The best food in the world, an average meal costs 20 pounds a head with cocktails, wine and drinks (dont order wine by the bottle order by the glass - strange its cheaper that way)
Taxis are cheap, they have scooter taxis you can jump on the back of but I would recommend using the open back taxis next cheapest (about 2 pounds each person per journey) The further you go the better valve it seems to be.
Loads to see and visit you can go around the whole island in approximately an 1 hr.
Cheapest meal we have had was for 3 people with 4 glasses of wine and two thai dishes each was 13 pounds the lot in NATHON recommended by the taxi driver

BOOKING FOR A MONTH NEXT YEAR - JUST HOPE I CAN GET IN

We stayed at The Waterfront the last week of March for the 3rd stage of our honeymoon to the Far East. We picked this hotel after reading reviews on Trip Advisor. We were not dissappointed with our choice, it is small and intimate, right on the beach which although not the best is still perfect enough to gaze out to sea from. The rooms are spotlessly clean, spacious and have everthing you need in them. A lovely touch was the Happy Honeymoon message on our bed on arrival in flower petals.
The pool although small is perfectly adequate for cooling off in, and the bar is a central meeting area for guests allowing you to be as sociable as you want to be. Breakfast is luxurisly late until 11.00 and at the other end the bar stays open until there is no one there.
Bophut itself is delightful with so many lovely resturants you really will be spoilt for choice and after a delicious meal its only a short stroll back to The Waterfront for a nightcap or two!
Sue and Robin together with their son Michael have a little gem here, and work hard to ensure that guests are happy. The emphasis is very much on the personal touch, their staff too are a credit to them, there was lots of hugs and kisses alround when we were leaving.
If we were to return to Koh Samui we would not hesitate to stay at The Waterfront. It may not be five star but it is superb value for money and was just what we hoped it would be.

A wonderful place to have a well-earned Spring break, the Waterfront at Bophut is the perfect place to rest mind, body and soul. Sue is the most welcoming of hostesses, who clearly believes that the world is a small one, and that many of her guests have lots in common (apart from being intelligent enough to book at their hotel.) With this in mind, the communication between guests was as excellent as the greeting we got when we arrived at the hotel, and between her and Robin we felt that we were truly taken care of.

The rooms are very comfortable and clean, the decor is pretty and thoughtful, and the beds are big and soft. The view of the gardens, beach, sea and Koh Phangan are pure gold, as are the hammocks swinging lazily between swaying palms, the teaky bar in the middle of the grounds, and the small but perfectly formed pool, a good place to cool off after sunbathing on the edge of the beach. After Christmas in Sri Lanka, it was good to be on a quiet, hassle-free beach, with water like a clear blue bath. The tranquility of the hotel and those that smilingly run it is truly superb.

Bophut, like the hotel, is a laid-back, comfortable place, where good food and drink are in abundance, and everyone knows everyone else. We'd recommend Johnny at Armani tailors, the Shack for FABULOUS steak and crab-legs, and Aux Amis, where the Magret de Canard reminded me of being in Bordeaux.

After experiencing the grandeur at Lebua at State Towers in Bangkok (which I would thoroughly recommend any day also) before returning home to Dubai, I feel I can safely say that I happily recommend the Waterfront, although I'm sure Sue and Robin don't need me to confirm how fab it is and they are - I just hope they've got room for us when we want to come back! Thanks Sue and Robin, you're stars x

Mel and Pierre,
Dubai