IN A CLASS OF ITS OWN From entering the beautiful and imposing gates up the steep hill to Villa Riva we knew we were about to see something very special, and this was to be our 'Home' for the month of August. It was also to be the venue for our wedding at which family from across the world would be arriving to join us for for the special day and to enjoy a holiday ,which for most , would be their first visit to Samui From our initial and efficient correspondence with the lovely Property manager Miss Tatiana ( definitely a Bond Girl) who popped in from time to time to make sure our needs were cared for.......and to show us her " amazing shoe collection ", we were personally welcomed by the Villa Manager, Khun Air, who introduced us to the Riva staff team . (We later called Khun Air 'Angel Air' and will describe her later, she deserves a paragraph to herself!) and were led to the Sala for refreshments, cold towels and fresh fruit. To condense our first impressions of villa Riva for this review is difficult, you want to use every superlative available as it is simply breathtaking. The massive infinity pool brings the first 'wow'......followed by many more as we toured the property. ACCOMODATION The Main house, ( called the club house ) is very large, open, and luxurious. The decor, interior design, and carefully selected Asian art make it a designer house yet instantly we felt at home, it wasn't just for show, this house had a real, warm character and we were instantly comfortable. It became a real social hub for all of us to relax, read, chat, listen to music, and not to forget the fantastic view, from every angle. We had large flat screen TV's in every room and lounges, but we never used them once as we were so entertained with Rivas facilities and interacting between the families, which made us feel a lot closer during our stay! We played Pool or table tennis on lots of occasions and had lots of fun playing family against family. The sundowners in the pool/ jacuzzi were a nightly ritual and with the corks popping, we felt like movie stars! The integrated music system provided good music both inside and out. The Villas and Suites were each beautifully appointed, luxurious, and with attention to detail visible everywhere.......they oooozed quality! The master suite in the Master Pavillion is extremely spacious....with stunning views from the balcony that wraps around 3/4 of the suite with a selection of outdoor chairs and sofas to take advantage of any view point. (We all agreed that the beds were the most comfortable we had ever slept in). We also enjoyed the Master bathroom and the raised jacuzzi bath in the centre of the room....And as with all of Riva the careful and beautiful use of wood and stone gives the feeling of ultimate luxury. The outdoor shower also became a firm favourite of ours!! At this point reference has to be made to the absolute cleanliness .....everywhere. The domestic staff did a superb job, could not fault it. FOOD We are great foodies and every meal produced by 'Chef' was exceptional. Served at the large, round 16 seat dining table, with a lazy Susan to make it easy for people to help themselves, ......it was intimate , social and became a fun experience at each mealtime , as on most occasions we let Chef 'surprise' us. On the odd occasions we ventured out from the Villa to dine out , we couldn't help compare it to what we were eating at Riva.....it was an exceptional standard and with just a small charge on top of the basic ingredient costs we were more than happy. HEALTH SUITE The cinema room.....awesome. Leather reclining chairs were great. Gym.........used most days, compact with sufficient quality equipment, good sound system and great views. Note. Ask staff to put the aircon on early morning, otherwise it's 30 + deg first thing. Spacious Sauna.......(at the time the Steam Room control was awaiting repair Kayak....On our beautiful small private beach there is a kayak and it was lovely to paddle around the bays for coffee etc! KHUN AIR ( a.k.a Angel Air) There is no doubt that the greatest asset to Riva is Khun Air , she made our stay. Calm, charismatic, a beautiful smile each day, ( makes great cofffeeee) she made each and every one of us feel so pampered. There appeared to be nothing that she couldn't handle, sort out, arrange, advise on, and as business people ourselves we know that to exhibit this 'seamless efficiency' is hard work, and there was no doubt that Khun Air and her team worked extremely hard, long hours to accommodate the needs of 15 guests.......we wondered how on earth we were going to manage without her on returning home! WEDDING DAY We had originally chosen to hold the ceremony on the beautiful , but enormous wedding deck, next to the lovely small private beach. However, for us personally we felt that with such a small party of only 20 guests , it would be hard to create the intimacy and therefore chose to hold it in the small Salas by the pool and it was THE best decision. Our wedding planner Jade from Go Samui Weddings took away all our stresses, with her calm control. Together with a fantastic florist Jew from OK Flowers, they transformed the venue into a magical scene with exquisite floral decorations to the Salas, dining tables, Lotus petals in the pools and candles everywhere. Unbelievably beautiful! Throughout the day The Chef came up with exceptional snacks and food , and with Khun Air and the team they supported us from early morning to late at night. We honestly cannot extend our praise enough. In Summary 1) Riva exceeded expectations 2) The flow of the property in our view was perfect. Space in the individual Pavilions when you need it , with the main house bringing people together, very social and yet still plenty of areas within there to spread out. 3) stunning wedding venue 4) THE best family holiday we have ever experienced......confirmed by each and everyone of us! From all of us we would like to say to to Khun Tatiana, Khun Air and ALL the Villa Riva team, A HUGE, HUGE THANK YOU for making our Holiday unforgettable with memories which will last forever.
Private Chef Incl
Personal Safe
Fitness Room
Laundry Room
24 Hour Security
Satellite TV
WiFi Internet Access
Private Parking
Tennis Courts
Power Generator
Daily Maid Service
Sauna / Steam
Private Swimming Pool
Wedding Venue
Beach Towels Incl
