Bangkok-based Centara Hotels & Resorts has dozens of hotels around Thailand. But Centara Reserve Samui, set on a secluded stretch of Koh Samui’s idyllic Chaweng Beach, represents the brand’s first foray into the ultra-luxury sphere. It’s more exclusive than its sister hotels on the island, with a stunning pair of waterfront swimming pools — a vast, turquoise-tiled infinity pool with a swim-up bar and chaise longues partly submerged in cool water, and a quieter pool for adults only — a light-filled spa, a slew of upscale indoor-outdoor restaurants, and a sophisticated gin bar. Rooms are outfitted in modern Thai decor with sliding glass doors opening onto spacious furnished terraces and glamorous details like decorative wooden screens and elegant marble-topped bars equipped with cocktail shakers and martini glasses. The pièce de résistance is a collection of lavishly appointed suites with private pools and round-the-clock butler service.