Guesthouse Location:
Right there, there’s the beach. And AKWA is only 50m behind you.
To quote from the AKWA Guesthouse website, it’s located at the quiet end of Chaweng Beach. It’s true, it’s really nice actually. Chaweng Beach can be a pretty crazy place and all that craziness is about a 5-10 minute walk up Chaweng Beach Road (the main road in front). If you’re renting a motorbike on Koh Samui then the whole town is within a 10 minute bike ride (and I do highly recommend renting a motorbike, it’s totally worth the expense and you can get a pretty decent deal (150 baht/day) if you book for a week or more). Within only two minutes walking distance you can find some great restaurants (once you’ve eaten everything on the menu at the AKWA Restaurant) like Poppies and the Indian place up the street and on the left (I can’t remember the name of it).
As for beach action, AKWA is well setup. To get to the beach you walk out the front door, cross the street and stroll 39 seconds along through the gardens of the Seascape Resort. Tim, the owner of AKWA Guesthouse has arranged a deal with the Seascape so that you can borrow their beach towels (although AKWA provides one too), utilize their beach chairs and take a dip in their pool. It’s like having all the good aspects of a bungalow at the Seascape without dealing with thier rude front desk people, the appaling state of their under-acheiving bungalows and lack of security. Chaweng Beach itself is pretty good as beaches go. I’ve seen cleaner beaches, although some have said it’s just because it’s the rainy season that Chaweng’s water isn’t super clear. On a good choppy day you can get in some decent body surfing and of course Koh Samui has all kinds of great snorkeling and diving opportunities.
You might want to print this map out for your taxi driver for your arrival to Koh Samui… or just tell him to take you to the Seascape (across the street from AKWA.
Note that AKWA is relatively new and few, if any, taxi drivers know how to find it. Instead, direct them to the Seascape Resort on Chaweng Beach when you arrive at either the airport or ferry port on Koh Samui. They’ll drop you off at the Seascape, but you can just cross the street to AKWA. The taxi should cost between 150-200. Haggle for this price!
Guesthouse Rooms:
The penthouse suite at AKWA Guesthouse.
AKWA Guesthouse offers two room types, the Deluxe Room and the Penthouse. There’s only one penthouse room available and I had the opportunity to spend one night in it. The penthouse truly shines (maybe because it’s brand new? 
) with a huge deck hosting two beautiful wooden sun chairs and a full dining table for four for those lucky enough to be invited along for the views up and down Chaweng Beach Road (it’s one of if not the highest building around) and out to the Gulf of Thailand. The bed offers top quality cushioned comfort from where you can watch a DVD (from the even bigger DVD selection) on the LCD TV and sound system. It’s received the same level of attention to detail as the rest of the Deluxe Rooms at AKWA of course, if not more so. Actually it it’s much more so. Stay at the penthouse, it’s an awesome experience. Note that there are 3 flights of stairs to get there (but with all the lounging around on the deck you’ll do you’ll need the exercise).
The Deluxe rooms won’t disappoint you however. In fact for the price, they’re one of the best deals going in Chaweng. Get here before Tim bumps up the price to reflect the real value!
Check out the pillows! God I loved staying here. I hate to say it, but it made my trip (at least the Koh Samui part of it).
In general, the rooms are where AKWA Guesthouse shines above everything I’ve ever seen in all my travels. The level of care and attention to detail are unmatched by any whatever-star hotel I’ve ever seen. It’s even better than some of the five star places I’ve stayed at, but what separates AKWA from everything else is the personality. It’s described as a “funky popart guesthouse” and that it is; from the Disney-esque but still-funky artwork adorning each wall to the colour to the little helpful doo-dads you’ll find all over your room, AKWA Guesthouse may be the most well considered guesthouse in Thailand. You’ll adore the little kitch accessories. The lamp goes on and off by switching a little, well, dong (that’s North Korean for missile right?). The big red chairs are shaped like a hand (very Dalí-esque). From the first moment you walk into the room to the last morning you check out, AKWA Guesthouse makes you smile (and not in that pseudo-fake Thai way).
Books (travel and fiction varieties), DVDs, water bottles (with sleeves), business service cards, Koh Samui’s local English-language magazines, notes and reminders, a dirty laundry bag, cloths hangers… the list of little tidbits that exist solely to impress you are astounding. It’s a genuinely welcoming place.
The TV carries all the channels you’ll need, there’s a nice DVD selection (plus more downstairs, just ask Tim), an mp3 player, TWO alarm clocks, well placed lighting, great views over the Seascape to the sea, and the bed… did I mention the bed? The beds at AKWA Guesthouse are all wonderful king sized beds equipped with a total of 11 (yes, ELEVEN) pillows of which 6 are massive, down-filled sleepers, and 5 are of varying shapes for propping yourself up for reading or watching DVDs or playing online games on your laptop. The sheets are 400 count Egyptian cotton and the down-filled duvet would be a wedding gift worthy of your best friend. There’s a stuffed-dog for those of you who miss your special friend from home. If I have one minor quibble it would be that the beds seemed a little springy. A softer layer atop the mattress to cushion from the springs might help that.
Guesthouse Room Bathroom:
The bathrooms at AKWA Guesthouse are nearly perfect (nothing is perfect in this world). Tim’s meticulousness and obsession with clean and care shine through here. No cheap skin-peeling bar soap and dandruff-inducing bottles of cheap shampoo here. Instead you’ll appreciate the ex-foliating glycerin soap’s fruity aromas and refresh yourself with quality shampoo from the conveniently placed, tastefully AKWA branded dispenser. Water pressure is adequate and temperature control seems to be set at three levels on the water heater (in the Deluxe rooms). Two toilet paper rolls and holders mean you won’t have to change the TP roll yourself. The polished glass bathroom counter and sink make you wonder why you installed that horrid laminate back home and they support a reliable, quality faucet. A notable shaving mirror on swivels and extensions round out some of my favourite bathrooms in Thailand. Only two questions remain however: where’s the conditioner and where’s the hand-soap dispenser?
The penthouse suite bathtub looks out over the deck. I took an hour long bath.
Actually in the penthouse bathrooms at AKWA you won’t have that issue. Everything is there for you and set out perfectly including four bars of soap (different colours, different flavours?) and all the little accessories you get in a 5 star hotel (I found out later that Tim’s hotelier experience comes from the Four Seasons chain). Relax and take a bath while looking out over the deck, through the typically Thai Buddhist shrine, towards the sea. There are two shower heads, one soaker and one manual. Everything is pristine.
Guesthouse Cleanliness:
Most of all (certainly most important to me), the bathrooms at AKWA Guesthouse are clean and well taken care of. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been disappointed by the state of mildew culture in the bathrooms of much more expensive hotels in Thailand (I know, I know, the humidity makes the battle so much more difficult). The rooms are well cleaned each morning by the maid service. The halls and stairs are regularly washed down so you don’t have to worry about trekking sand around as you come home from the beach.
Guesthouse Staff:
There aren’t many staff at AKWA Guesthouse, but of particular note is that Tim and/or one of his farang employees are there all the time. Problems explaining yourself in pigin English? Sick of being misunderstood and afraid of making cultural faux-pauxs when you aren’t happy with something? No problem. Talk to Tim, or his wonderful staff of well-informed farangs (westerners). I know, this isn’t that authentic Thai experience you were looking for, but that’s what the rest of your trip in Thailand is for. Instead you get to relax and feel comfortable while shootin’ the shit with Tim and Co, not to mention any questions you might have about Thailand, Koh Samui or Chaweng are sure to be answered honestly, informatively and from a western perspective. They’re also willing and ready to help you organize any aspect of your trip. I was witness to Tim’s generosity of time and sympathy to his guests more than once during my stay at AKWA.
The Thai staff running the restaurant should be noted for their friendliness and charm. It was nice getting to know them, knowing that they aren’t the typical underpaid, unhappy, secretly-resentful-of-the-owner Thais. All their efforts were much appreciated as were the smiles.
Internet Access at the Guesthouse:
The websites state that AKWA Guesthouse offers a wireless (WIFI) Internet connection for its guests, but it should be noted that the signal from the restaurant doesn’t quite reach the the 3rd floor. Tim has informed me that he’s installed an Internet connection in the penthouse at the top of the guesthouse and that its signal should reach the rest of the building soon. I stayed on the second floor and had little trouble connecting. The Internet can be slow at times (perhaps due to the relay connection), but having had to work from my room and the restaurant for a week on my laptop I can’t complain too much. It worked out fine for me and I even downloaded a couple episodes of Brothers and Sisters at night.
I’m looking forward to seeing how the new Internet connection from the penthouse turns out.
Guesthouse Price:
At the moment you’ll find varying prices on the net. Direct from AKWA’s website you can book a deluxe room with up to the minute availability for 1300 plus tax and service charges including breakfast (breakfast is wonderful too by the way). R24/Sawadee offers the deluxe room at AKWA for 1350 baht/night, going up to 2850 baht/night during peak season. The penthouse starts at 3200 baht/night and goes up to 5500 baht/night during peak season. After seeing everything else out there (and I’ve looked!), AKWA’s price comes in just right, particularly for low season rates it’s just a great deal. I’m only traveling during the low season, so I’m not sure what high/peak season rates are like elsewhere, but I can only imagine these prices are very competitive.
Overall Review:
No, it’s not a resort, but it doesn’t try to be. AKWA Guesthouse is just a great guesthouse. After one and a half months of traveling through Thailand and Cambodia it’s easily my favourite guesthouse/hotel/resort that I’ve stayed at. If you’re looking for a beach bungalow at a shi-shi resort then look elsewhere (although you might want to ask yourself why that’s what you’re looking for). But with surprisingly easy beach and resort access across the street, an ideal location, a fantastic restaurant open till late (did I mention they serve Illy coffee? Do you know how difficult it is to find good coffee in Thailand?), wireless (WiFi) Internet access, great big impeccably clean and comfortably furnished rooms and personalised service by Tim and Company, you won’t find a more satisfying stay on Koh Samui, if not in all of Thailand. Show the Thai people what a real smile means.
9.5/10 overall review for AKWA Guesthouse.
Support this review by booking your reservation at AKWA Guesthouse on Chaweng Beach, Koh Samui through Sawadee, offering discounted rates for hotels in Thailand and Asia. I did. They’re the best and cheapest.
For last minute reservations, try booking through AKWA’s website.