Chill. Hip. Relaxing. The remarkable service and attitude at Punnpreeda ensures that my first trip to Koh Samui certainly won't be my last. This is a case of Amazing Thailand. I literally stumbled upon this place, as I wandered the beach negotiating with different bungalows for a low price. I wasn't sure what to expect as tangles and briars of dripping electrical wires block a decent street-side view. The facade of the building is reminiscent of old Santa Fe style, a painted white adobe with wooden accents. The interior rooms are Thai "country" style, with white painted walls, tile and concrete flooring. Minimalist Thai art adorns the walls, with hand-dyed fabrics, teak furnishing and woven wooden lampshades adding a feel of traditional craftsmanship in a modern setting. Their motto is being "Hip and Chill" and that's indeed what the design emits. Punpreeda has hotel rooms and villas to choose from, each with a private terrace. The villas are more like bungalows and of course are more expensive. The attentive staff worked with me to negotiate an ever lower-than-"low season" rate for one of the hotel rooms, set far back away from the beach and facing the busy main street that circles the island. The staff was also remarkably helpful in solving a couple of problems with the lighting & loose electrical wiring in the room; They didn't hesitate to offer a room change. It was all very relaxed - "chill"...Chill. Hip. Relaxing.

The remarkable service and attitude at Punnpreeda ensures that my first trip to Koh Samui certainly won't be my last. This is a case of Amazing Thailand.

I literally stumbled upon this place, as I wandered the beach negotiating with different bungalows for a low price. I wasn't sure what to expect as tangles and briars of dripping electrical wires block a decent street-side view. The facade of the building is reminiscent of old Santa Fe style, a painted white adobe with wooden accents.

The interior rooms are Thai "country" style, with white painted walls, tile and concrete flooring. Minimalist Thai art adorns the walls, with hand-dyed fabrics, teak furnishing and woven wooden lampshades adding a feel of traditional craftsmanship in a modern setting. Their motto is being "Hip and Chill" and that's indeed what the design emits.

Punpreeda has hotel rooms and villas to choose from, each with a private terrace. The villas are more like bungalows and of course are more expensive. The attentive staff worked with me to negotiate an ever lower-than-"low season" rate for one of the hotel rooms, set far back away from the beach and facing the busy main street that circles the island. The staff was also remarkably helpful in solving a couple of problems with the lighting & loose electrical wiring in the room; They didn't hesitate to offer a room change. It was all very relaxed - "chill" as they say at Punnpreeda.

The hotel is set on quiet and cosy beach, west facing with stunning sunset views. A small, beautiful and green-tiled infinity swimming pool looks like infinity itself, as if its green waters will stretch their way out to the Gulf of Siam. I was happy to see some "green" design along the hotel grounds, too, like CFL lighting outside along the walkways and in the fixtures of the rooms themselves. Even the tile in bathrooms are painted-green. A green sunbathing platform faces a green row boat pulled ashore. The traditional teak wood furnishings may raise some folks' eyebrows at any sustainability measures, though this is a hotel showcasing Thai traditional arts and craftsmanship in a hip, boutique style. Before deforestation, teak was a signature Thai agricultural product.

I didn't find any info about energy savings with regard to water, air-conditioning, towels and bedding…but did learn staff turns off the water each evening that flows from lush greenery into small bubbling pools lining the walkways behind reception. And Reception has a lot to offer, by the way, including a free library of DVDs to choose from, a business center and free wifi to use throughout the hotel. Punnpreeda also has a kayak on-site for guest use, no charge. In an Ode to this green mode of transportation, I kayaked all around the bay to Koh Samui's famous Big Buddha sculpture. It took about an hour round trip from the hotel beach front.

"Chill at Hip" restaurant faces the water, offering Thai, American and European options. I opted for the local, seasonal and regional Thai food. Fantastic! For the more adventurous traveler, I recommend visiting the fresh market 1/2 km from the hotel to sample traditional Thai snacks, fruits and street food.

Some other pluses:

-in-room safe
- robes & slippers
- tea and coffee service in room - hot water heater & sizable mugs
- twice daily free rides into the popular Chaweng beach area. This is a key service offered by the hotel, not only for the public transportation but also because it costs between 200-500 baht ($7-$17) to take public taxi.

One recommendation to Punnpreeda's management: Clearly display information about water and energy resources used by the hotel and guest's ability to "opt out" of daily laundering or other energy savings measures (I personally asked staff not to change any towels or linens).

It takes many modes of transport to get to Koh Samui and Punnpreeda (at least 5 in my case). The upside is once there, you get to stick around a while and relax. The outstanding and friendly staff will help you with whatever you require, within reason and manageability.

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