More countries are imposing travel restrictions on Indian arrivals as India continues to grapple with her worst Covid-19 wave of infections.
Some 349,691 new infections were recorded on April 24 alone, giving India the dubious honour of being a record breaker for the most number of Covid-19 infections in a day.
New Zealand, the UK, Italy, the US, the UAE, Indonesia, Singapore and Hong Kong are among countries that have imposed temporary restrictions on travellers who have resided in or visited India.
For instance, New Zealand is suspending the entry of all travellers from India, including her own citizens, for two weeks between April 11 and 28, while the UAE has barred the entry of travellers from India for 10 days from April 25 until May 4.
Humanitarian help is pouring into India as the crisis intensifies. The European Commission is coordinating with member countries to provide oxygen and medicine to India, while Singapore state investment firm Temasek is sending medical equipment, including oxygen-related supplies.
Over the weekend, the White House announced it would lift a ban on sending raw materials abroad, enabling Indian vaccine manufacturers to make more AstraZeneca vaccine.
Amid growing global concern for India’s predicament, Rajeev Kohli and Rohit Kohli, joint managing directors of Creative Travel, one of India’s largest travel and tourism companies, have published a statement urging the public to appreciate India’s past success in Covid-19 pandemic containment.
They noted that the number of cases had dropped across the country, allowing a relaxation of movement restrictions. However, that led India to drop her guard, they opined.
“Our governments, central and state, allowed for large political and religious gatherings (in the millions), and this was perhaps just (the) opening that the virus was looking for. Our governance lacked the foresight to see what was coming. The second wave came so fast that it took us all by surprise. We were not prepared,” they wrote.
The Kohli brothers also expressed: “As you see images of India this week, let’s not forget all the images we saw of body trucks in New York or stretchers on the street in Italy. The world is all the same. We have all suffered the same aspects of the pandemic. A small difference in India is that our last rites are very public, very poignant and very visual, and that makes for good news headlines and graphics. As much as we hate it, we need to accept that media markets tragedy.”
The statement emphasised India’s ongoing efforts, such as the national vaccination programme, as well as the country’s low caseloads and low mortality rates. “India still has one of the lowest per million caseloads and one of the lowest mortality rates at 1.13 per cent against the world average of 2.12 per cent. We have had an average of 147 deaths per million of population, and only 1.3 per cent of the population has been infected,” they wrote.
The statement concluded with a belief that India’s resilience, spirituality and supportive community will take the country out of the latest crisis. – Additional reporting by Rohit Kaul
Location
Meliá Koh Samui is located only 15 minutes from the airport on Choeng Mon Beach, a series of bays on the northeastern tip of the island, close to Chaweng. The property is more upscale than the neighbouring Big Buddha beach, and while its pristine white sands are a tranquil home for a few other three- to five-star resorts, the beach is very quiet for guests.
Rooms
Dotting the property are iconic 100-year-old teakwood barges, a throwback to Thailand’s maritime heritage when golden teakwood barges sailed the Chao Phraya River with their cargoes, mainly rice. In the 1990s, when Samui had reached its peak as a tourist destination, the antique barges were bought and towed to Choeng Mon Beach and transformed into the Imperial Boat House Samui resort, before it was renovated and reopened as Meliá Koh Samui in January 2020.
During the renovation, all the barges were meticulously restored and transformed into the unique Level Boat Suites, of which there are several sizes to woo honeymooners. Several layouts are on offer, but most boast two stories – a cozy bedroom on the upper floor, with a wooden staircase taking guests to the lower level where they will find an atmospheric living room space decorated with oars and boat paddles and ethnic fabrics. Some suites open to balconies, while others offer lagoon pool access.
Meliá Koh Samui also offers Deluxe Rooms, Premium Rooms, Family Suites and a Presidential Suite. There are also Premium Pool Access Rooms with a generous balcony and sunbed from which guests can conveniently dive into the resort’s pool loop for a swim. Altogether, there are 159 rooms and 41 suites (34 barge suites).
F&B
During Covid times, the resort has been courting the domestic crowd with its lavish F&B offerings, including a very extensive Sunday brunch menu which has created buzz among Samui residents.
Malaysian chef Azizskandar Awang, who joined Melia Koh Samui from the Anantara Lawana Koh Samui, previously won recognition from the Hotelier Awards Asia 2018 and Thailand Tatler.
Together with his team of chefs at the Breeza Beach Restaurant and Bar and Koko Kitchen, he has crafted all the delightful Mediterranean cuisine on offer, such as the Tapas buffet which boasts an entire leg of Iberian ham carved on the spot, paella and other Spanish delights, an eight-course Italian dinner, and an enticing breakfast menu. During breakfast, a delectable charcuterie cart also makes its rounds from table to table.
For those looking to create customised events, the hotel also has a special indoor private dining room suitable for corporate gatherings and meetings, and an outdoor barbeque space on the sand where meals can be served picnic-table style with a pop-up minibar for crafted beachside cocktails.
Facilities
The playful facilities at Meliá Koh Samui very much enhance the resort and add to its appeal.
In keeping with the marine theme, a lagoon pool weaves throughout the resort. It flows past the pool access rooms and barge suites, and through a river pool, ending in a vast two-level infinity pool overshadowed with sweeping palms that makes for a breathtaking panoramic sight against the ocean backdrop. Guests can lounge on the pool floats early on sunny mornings for that mind-blowing Instagrammable shot.
A small water park with a slide, umbrella fountain and pool bar sits in the middle of the resort, promising hours of fun for families and kids. It is located right below the kids’ club, which offers childcare for parents craving some couple time.
In the afternoons, guests can meander down to the cotton candy bar, open between 16.00 to 17.00, for free cotton candy spun right on the spot, which you can enjoy while dangling your feet from the beach-side hammocks as you admire the sunset over the bay beneath the palms.
At YHI Spa, we are placed into the capable hands of Kantima Chompoolad, the resort’s wellness manager. With over 15 years of hospitality and wellness experience, she and her therapists have created treatments coupled with Haarn products, a local Thai aroma and spa brand. Guests can also enjoy a Thai herbal steam pre- or post-treatment, and relax in the luxury of a private treatment room with fully adjustable lighting and sound volumes.
The resort also has 548.9m² of meeting and events space on offer, with the Dok Mui ballroom and six smaller meeting rooms; and a fitness centre.
Not to be forgotten are the brand’s signature Power Lounge, which houses a billiards table and healthy minibar, and the Levels executive lounge, which offers a private breakfast buffet and opens into a large outdoor rooftop event space, the perfect place to down early-evening cocktails while soaking in panoramic views of the glistening Gulf of Thailand.
The Gallery store in the lobby has local products from social businesses on offer, and the massive Boat Bar and dining area in the lobby area (closed during Covid times) adds to the resort’s already vast F&B offerings.
Service
As a guest, I experienced wonderful service from the enthusiastic team and kitchen staff at Meliá Koh Samui who are very passionate about what they do and always happy to share the resort’s story, such as the lore behind the old maritime photos in the lobby, or the meaning behind the names of the meeting rooms, some of which are named after the island’s official flower, a delicate white bloom called Dok Mui.
The resort is a sprawling property, and friendly staff manning golf carts were on call at all times to shorten the time it took me to get around.
The resort has, like other Meliá properties, implemented Stay Safe With Meliá – a safety and hygiene programme audited by Bureau Veritas, a global leader in inspection, certification and testing. Every room is stickered shut after cleaning to ensure non-contamination.
During our stay, we were also treated to a beautiful island-hopping outing in collaboration with Oceana Samui, that included a full-scale multiple course seafood BBQ-grill picnic paired with bubbly champagne and wines on the sands of the nearby Koh Tean island. The resort collaborates with the Oceana Samui tour company to create tailored private group outings.
Verdict
Meliá Koh Samui is a resort that readily draws us in to experience its charms. Be it solo travellers solo, group of friends, families, honeymooners, or small corporate groups, the resort’s cohesive offerings has something to please every demographic.
Number of rooms 159 rooms and 41 suites (30 barge suites)
Rate 6,665 baht nett (US$213; the current opening offer for a Premium Pool Access Room)
Contact details
Tel: +66 77 938 899
Email: reservation.kohsamui@melia.com
Website: www.melia.com/en/hotels/thailand/koh-samui/melia-koh-samui-beach-resort/services.htm