Anantara Lawana Koh Samui — A Chaweng Beachfront Resort, Renovated Top to Bottom
Chaweng is Koh Samui's liveliest beach — bars, restaurants, neon at night. But Anantara Lawana sits at its quiet northern tip, where the crowds thin out, the sand stays white, and the music from the centre fades to a hum. In late 2024 the resort closed for a full renovation and reopened with all-new rooms, pools and restaurants — making it one of the most talked-about luxury stays on the island right now. Its 121 Pool Suites and Pool Access Villas start from approximately ฿7,500/night.
Anantara Lawana belongs to Anantara, the luxury arm of Thailand's Minor Hotels. What sets it apart from the other luxury resorts on Chaweng is its location at the very northern tip of the beach. A short stroll south along the sand brings you to Chaweng's restaurants and bars, but the resort itself sits in a calmer pocket — and guests repeatedly note that they get both resort quiet and Chaweng convenience in one spot.
In late 2024 the resort underwent a major renovation and reopened in November. The rooms, pools and restaurants were almost entirely rebuilt, which is why recent reviews keep mentioning how fresh the rooms and common areas feel. There are 121 rooms in total — from rooms in the main buildings up to Pool Suites with a private plunge pool and wooden sundeck, and 16 Pool Access Villas where you step straight into a shared pool from your room. Entry rooms start at around 55 sqm, larger than the standard rooms at many resorts on the island.
"A few steps from the room down to the beachfront pool, empty in the early morning — sitting with a coffee looking at the quiet sea was the best part of the whole trip."
The highlight guests mention most is the beachfront pool and the direct-on-the-sea setting. The main pool stretches toward the beach, looks out over the Gulf of Thailand, and the resort has its own access onto the sand. There's also an Anantara Spa tucked into tropical greenery, a fitness centre, a kids' club for families, and — unusually — a rooftop muay Thai ring where guests can try a lesson. It's the kind of Anantara detail you won't find at most resorts.
On dining, the renovated resort runs four venues. Cay serves refined Thai cuisine; Ocean Kiss is a seaside spot with indoor and outdoor seating; Crab Shack is a relaxed beachfront eatery; and Tree Tops is the intimate signature-dining experience. The breakfast buffet draws plenty of praise in reviews — varied, freshly made, with sea-view seating. The trade-off is that food and drink prices inside the resort run high, so many guests head out for dinner in Chaweng, which is within walking distance.
The location is convenient by Koh Samui standards — about 11 minutes by car from Samui Airport (USM), with a beach walk into central Chaweng. The overall score sits at 9.1 on Booking.com and 4.5/5 on TripAdvisor from over 3,500 reviews, plus a Travelers' Choice 2025 award — numbers that confirm most guests leave happy. One thing to know: the resort is built on a sloping site with several flights of stairs to the pools and restaurants, so anyone who struggles with stairs should request a ground-floor room or one near a lift when booking.
To be honest, Anantara Lawana is not a budget option. Rooms run roughly ฿7,500–฿11,000/night in normal season, with Pool Suites and Villas climbing past ฿15,000 in high season. If you want a beachfront Chaweng resort with brand-new rooms, Anantara service, and the option to walk into the nightlife — this hits the mark. But if you're coming to Koh Samui mainly to spend your days exploring the island rather than the resort, that premium might be better spent on a simpler stay.
A tip drawn from real reviews: if the budget allows, upgrade to a Pool Suite with a private plunge pool — it's the room guests feel gives the best value, with full privacy and no fighting for a poolside lounger in the morning. In high season (December–February), book at least 1–2 months ahead and compare Pool Suite prices across platforms, as the gap between sites for the same room type can be large.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Quiet northern-Chaweng setting, yet a walk to the restaurant strip
- ✓ Rooms and common areas new after the late-2024 renovation
- ✓ Beautiful beachfront pool with the resort's own beach access
- ✓ Varied, freshly made breakfast buffet with sea-view seating
- ! Food and drink prices inside the resort run high
- ! Sloping site with several flights of stairs to pools and restaurants
- ! Some mosquitoes in the garden areas in the evening — bring repellent
- ✓ Attentive Anantara service; staff speak good English
- ✓ Spacious Pool Suites with a worthwhile private plunge pool
- ✓ Just ~11 minutes from Samui Airport — very convenient
- ✓ Rooftop muay Thai ring and Anantara-style activities feel different
- ! Some entry rooms have garden, not sea, views
- ! Value depends on the season; high-season rates climb fast
- ! A fair amount of stair-climbing around the resort grounds
- 💡If you struggle with stairs or are travelling with elderly guests — the resort is on a slope with several flights to the pools and restaurants → request a ground-floor room or one near a lift at the time of booking
- 💡If you plan to eat and drink in the resort every meal — food and drink prices are on the high side → the Chaweng restaurant strip is a beach walk away, and eating dinner out saves a lot
- 💡If you want full privacy and your own pool — some entry rooms have garden rather than sea views → upgrade to a Pool Suite with a private plunge pool, the room guests feel is best value