In short: A modernist’s wet dream on a busy beach.
The Library is Samui’s modernist poster-child: White floors, cement structures, flat roof, open space and floor-to-ceiling windows. Aesthetically, it’s a huge success and has been featured in many glossy magazines. It also has some technological touches that should resonate with us urbanites, like Macs in every room and a multimedia library. For some unplugged entertainment, the hotel lives up to its name with a good collection of books—many of which, of course, are pretty coffee table tomes on design. In the evening, the location means you can escape The Library’s F&B offerings (tom yum soup alone at The Page will set you back more than a hundred bucks) and explore the bustling Chaweng neighborhood.
Hot: The long green lawn rolling down to the ocean; the tall, leafy trees; the dramatic red pool; the bare, elegant facades—all these elements come together successfully.
Not: Unfortunately, simple, open design comes at a price. There’s little privacy as rooms face each other: You’ll have to keep those blinds pulled most of the time. The location, on Chaweng Beach means jet skis, long tail boats announcing Muay Thai matches and a lot of foot traffic.
$ Rack rates from $585. Internet rates are around $440.
Book a room at The Library Koh Samui, Thailand on Mr & Mrs Smith
