Babymoon at Four Seasons Koh Samui, Thailand: our last luxe hurrah

When I first suggested going on a “babymoon” to my lovely, pregnant wife, she immediately replied, “Sounds great. When are we going?” Promising a world of pampering before the arrival of our first child, I’d soon signed us up for Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, Thailand’s “Great Expectations.” Tropical idyll, here we come.

After a 30-minute car ride from Koh Samui’s charming airport, we made a sharp right turn into Four Seasons and a short jaunt up a torch-lined road. We were helped out of our car and into one of the world’s most amazing hotel lobbies—though that does it an injustice. It’s actually a small, open-air terrace with a solitary receptionist, and two sofas that overlook the resort below. Villas in the hills glow like fireflies in the darkness, while out to sea bobbing balls of lights mark out trawlers fishing for the night’s catch. The view is ethereal, though we came back to an earth with a bump when we realized my wife’s purse was in the now departed taxi (thankfully, the concierge was able to arrange its safe return the next morning).

Carted down to our Deluxe One-Bedroom Villa, we took in the 29-square-metre infinity pool, large outdoor daybed, and stocked wine fridge—and promptly went straight to sleep.

We awoke the next morning to the sun streaming through the windows, with startling views of the turquoise Gulf of Siam, and gently swaying palm trees (designed by noted architect Bill Bensley, the resort is built on a former coconut plantation).

We began the day with breakfast at the resort’s signature restaurant Lan Tania, located 100 metres up in the hills with amazing views. Make sure you save room for the excellent quiche, and say yes when the pastry chef comes round asking if you’d like to try his freshly made pain au chocolat. We washed it all down with the recommended fruit smoothie du jour (coconut-mango on our first day), and headed off to the spa for our “hot mama” and “father-to-be” babymoon treatments.

The spa occupies a small wooded valley at the heart of the resort. After a pre-treatment survey to assess your physical status (“On my God, I’m pregnant!” remarked my smart aleck wife), you’re led on boardwalks through the massed ranks of coconut trees to your secluded spa sala. Here, expert Thai masseuses with one-syllable names like Nim and Tik rub your legs with a fresh coconut scrub, cocoon you in a nourishing herbal wrap and gently massage your body with nourishing lotion.

It’s all so relaxing (and just a little spiritual) that when the treatment’s over, it’s almost a strain to climb back into the buggy for the short trip back down the hill to your villa. And that essentially sums up how we spent our babymoon—alternating between sleeping, swimming, soaking, spa-ing, sipping and supping. In sum, the complete and utter relaxation of the Great Expectations package is something we’re already looking back at in wistful fondness. For us, it’s so long babymoon, hello, baby.

See more of Simon’s photos and read about his work at his website.

Read more about Koh Samui in Four Seasons Magazine.