The Library is a welcome oasis in the centre of Chaweng Beach with pavilion style buildings set along a tree lined avenue that opens up to the beach. The suites take a minimalist design approach, with a low-lying bed platforms and B&B Italian inspired furnishings, as well as an intermix of locally sourced art and artefacts that give the rooms an eclectic aesthetic.
The majority of rooms have spacious balconies that open up to the main avenue, and a great place to relax at the end of the day after exploring Samui. Studios and suites feature your own personal computer and quality broadband, which will satisfy the most avid technophile or anyone working remotely. Suites have the welcome addition of a large Jacuzzi spa, while standard rooms are not neglected featuring large tubs and rain showers.
One of the star attractions of the hotel is the expansive pool area which overlooks the main beach with its distinctive red pool which is great place to chill. The restaurant also offers an eclectic menu that fuses Thai and European cuisine seamlessly, with a focus on quality locally sourced seafood that is worth a visit even if you aren’t staying at the resort.
The facilities at the hotel include a modern zen style library and gym complex. The hotel library stocks a wide catalogue of great books and music which you can borrow while the gym is also well appointed. The hotel is also located close to Samui Fitness (one of the best gyms in the area) for those looking for a more intense workout, which is within close walking distance. .
Where the Library stands out is its attention to detail, where as many contemporary styled hotels take a paint by numbers approach to design the Library has taken a holistic approach, from the music piped through the lobby to the design of the bottled water served. Everything has a clean aesthetic quality that is seamless, functional yet retains a sense of fun, we are in Chaweng beach after all where you travel half a world to leave the constraints of normality behind.
I’d recommend the Library to anyone looking for relaxing retreat, which sets new benchmarks in what the hotels today should be, but seldom live up to. Rates at ‘The Library’ vary according to season, but you can find rates on Agoda in low season from $400 USD for a basic studio to around $500 USD for one of their suites, with rates during the peak Christmas season doubling. In this case, you are paying premium prices for a premium hotel, so it is value for money.