Lush green foliage, gurgling water features, and breezy Thai wooden pavilions greet visitors upon arrival at Silavadee Pool Spa Resort. The lobby is an open-air pavilion, setting the tone for the hotel's relaxed island luxury. Set on a hillside that runs all the way down to the water and the hotel's private beach, the verdant grounds are filled with bamboo and tropical flowers, and paved pathways allow for the golf carts that shuttle guests from room to spa to pool and back. Thanks to the property’s myriad amenities and communal spaces -- including two pools, a beach, restaurants and bars, a spa, and abundant outdoor sports -- the hotel never feels crowded with the romance-seeking couples and groups of friends who come here in search of relaxation. The hotel also welcomes families, but rowdy children would seem out of place in the relaxed setting.

The Silavadee is located in a quiet, scenic area of a peninsula just north of Lamai Beach that's filled mostly with other hotels and tourist-catering shops. The main attraction here is the beach, so guests could easily choose to spend all day lounging on the hotel's grounds, but the staff can also help arrange excursions in the surrounding area, including boat trips and elephant treks. The hotel also provides a shuttle into Lamai (less than 10 minutes away) four times a day, as well as one to Chaweng (less than 15 minutes away) twice a day. Cabs to and from both towns are also affordable should you have neither a car nor a scooter. The Silavadee also has a rental car desk on-site for those who want a car for a day trip. Samui International Airport is less than a 20-minute drive north, and the hotel can arrange transfers for a fee. Parking at the resort is free.

The expansive rooms at the Silavadee are modern and minimalist, with sleek, rustic-style furnishings made of local Thai hardwoods. Villas have a moodier aesthetic, with polished dark wood throughout and mosquito netting romantically framing beds. Bathrooms are equally stylish, with wood vanities, walk-in rainfall showers, soaking tubs of varying sizes, and signature toiletries. All rooms have flat-screen TVs, DVD players, platform beds, iPod docks, fresh fruit, coffeemakers, minibars with liquor, bathrobes, umbrellas, slippers and sandals, beach bags, and bug spray. Private decks, some with private gardens and water features like whirlpool hot tubs, are standard, while other units feature higher-floor views over the treetops to the water. Villas have private pools, loungers, and ocean views. It's worth noting that the villas in particular are starting to show some wear, but all spaces are still luxurious.

In addition to its prized private beach and two gorgeous infinity pools overlooking the ocean, Silavadee Pool Spa Resort has plenty of facilities to keep guests occupied. There are bicycles for guests to borrow, a small but scenic gym, and a game room with billiards and darts, as well as everything explorers need for kayaking, snorkeling, beach volleyball, and beach soccer, all free of charge. A computer terminal is housed in a small library while guests can borrow items from the free DVD library. The two on-site restaurants serve fresh Thai and international cuisine throughout the day. Breakfast and a Wednesday cocktail hour are included in all rates. One of the restaurants, Sun Moon Stars, includes the poolside and swim-up bar as well as the rooftop bar, where sunset views are especially lovely. The spa offers a full menu of both Asian and European treatments, and includes a serene wellness pavilion and salon. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.