New Star Beach Resort has one major amenity: A beach that is uniformly described as one of the best in Koh Samui. With soft white sand and turquoise waters, the beach is a haven of serenity surrounded by more crowded, party-central beaches. However, there are occasional reports of little stinging creatures in the water. On-the-beach dining is available.The hotel also contains beautiful tropical grounds -- lush gardens can be seen from virtually every room in the hotel. The hotel's Asian orange and black theme decor gives the hotel a cool, modern vibe. In the lobby, a circle of wicker bowl chairs surround a circular confidante sofa, underneath a wooden sculptural spiral design on the ceiling. Check-in takes place while seated. A giant faux bolder behind the front desk, indoor potted trees, big floor-to-ceiling windows that let in the views, and doors opening straight to a decorative pool help the indoor and outdoor experiences feel integrated. 

Just note that there are many steep steps in many parts of the hotel, so this is not an advisable option for the elderly or mobility impaired. The restaurants are a cut above many hotel restaurants but can be pricey. The hotel is child-friendly, with child meals offered in both restaurants, a large, kid-friendly pool, and a shallow kiddy pool for tots. The staff is not necessarily always well-versed in English. 

Those looking for more relaxation than can be found staying in the heart of the party scene at Chaweng center should find that here. However, that means getting into the center is a bit of a trek, about 10 minutes by either rental car or shuttle. You can also rent bikes near the hotel. The hotel overlooks large, clean, Chaweng Beach on the Gulf of Thailand, one of the most gorgeous in Koh Samui. It's just to the south of the main section, and is a little quieter. The resort is a 15-minute drive from Samui Airport. It's also a 10-minute drive to beautiful Lamai Beach. 

New Star Beach Resort has several different types of rooms available -- the smallest being Deluxe Balcony rooms or Cottages, and the largest being Beachfront or Oceanfront villas.All of the rooms are quite large with high ceilings. They come with air-conditioning, but the units can be noisy.

The rooms are somewhat worn, especially the shower areas, and the towels could use an upgrade. The beds extremely firm and may be too hard for some. While the Asian decor is attractive, incorporating dark woods and colorful artwork, the rooms can have inadequate lighting, especially the bathrooms. Rooms TVs have satellite channels but reception can be spotty at times. There are DVD players (no iPod docks) and safes. Rooms are either very close to the beach or pool. Villas have small backyard sitting areas. If you stay in a villa, you may not want to risk getting one next to strangers, as they are separated by a thin door that allows sound to travel easily from one villa to the next.

Three restaurants with excellent food should satisfy any palate. One restaurant has Thai and international cuisine; one has an international buffet; another has seafood. There's also the 9 Degrees North bar that is open until midnight. On-the-beach dining is available. The Akiira Spa is bright and airy and gives amazing views of the surrounding tropical gardens and white-sand beach, but the massages are far more expensive than what you can get 10 minutes down the road in Chaweng center. 

There is free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, but strength of signal varies. There is no gym. There are lots of stairs in certain sections of the hotel, including the entrance, and no nearby elevators. The game room contains a well-maintained pool table; the library has a small selection of magazines and books.

The peaceful white-sand beach never feels too crowded, unlike other beaches in the area, and the staff cleans it daily. (Some report little stinging creatures, possibly sea lice, in the water.) It contains two smallish goal nets and a soccer (football) ball for an impromptu game. During high season, the beach can run out of chairs, so get there early. There are also umbrella'd tables and chairs in a shady area under several palm trees, should you want to get out of the sun.

The large pool overlooks the beach, and there is a shallow kiddy pool for tots.