We may not be able to secure a reservation via internet booking at Sala Samui Resort & Spa in late April.
At $325+/- 5% nett/day level for 5 nights we need other suggestions of a boutique-style (50-60 rooms), understated elegance resort, within 15-30 minute taxi ride of the airport that is not totally isolated but not the type with romms one top of each other with reasonable boat/fast ferry to Koh Tao for 2 or 3 snorkel trips.
We would like a resort with 50-75 units with 2 good places to eat on-site and/or 1--5mk away within 15 minutes by taxi to other good dining options in the range of $50-$75USD/couple.
Sala Samui level (looks booked) of understated quiet elegance. Sala Samui is not cheap bit quality wth a sence of class.
Need quickly (next 4-5 days).

Where did you try and book?
April is not really a peak month so quite surprising ( although April is Thai New Year Samui is not really a place Thai people head do so it's surprising it's full)
What level of room type did you get offered on $325?

While waiting on that just try this, you might get lucky as it would be a pity not to get the Sala if you had set yourself on it, it's just after 9 am local time in Thailand and you might get an asnwer within a couple of hours:

http://www.r24.org/huahin.20m.com/samui/salasamui/

Now as that goes thru a service based on Samui if it comes back as 'full' then we'll know for sure it is, it won't cost you to enquire and they don't ask for any c/card information to check availability for you at all. Then if that's the case can start looking at alternatives.

Whilst doing that the Pavilion Samui at lamai might be of interest:

http://www.r24.org/huahin.20m.com/sa...lion/pictures/

That's about USD 195 for a Spa Junior Suite

Regarding getting to Koh Tao Samui is not that big and I don't think you need to put nearness for the boats as a priority, most accommodations will arrange those trips and that would include transfer from and back to your hotel/resort.

Lamai is quieter than Chaweng, i.e Chaweng is very busy, so staying perhaps lamai or Bophut is a balance of easy access to Chaweng for lots of restaurants, also nearby restaurants, without being crowded,

I think Sala Samui does get very booked up in advance. From the UK, it is listed in quite a few package tour operator brochures and I think it is very popular with honeymooners.

Here are some others you can try:

Rocky Resort - www.rockyresort.com, on a private beach, 5 mins drive from Lamai, excellent restaurant

Buriraya - http://www.buriraya.com/main.html

Napasai
http://r24.org/thailandpromotions.co...nsea/pictures/

Muang Samui
http://www.r24.org/thailandpromotion...amui/pictures/

Stankase, did you get any luck?

JamesA; Thanks!! huahun worked.Pool Villa room 14200Baht for 4 nights and 12600 for last night. Just my luck high season ends 4/30/06 but I have it.
Now that I have it are there any special requests I can get to make the 51/2 days more pleasurable. I asked for non-smoking with king bed on and level but ground floor (I prefer not having stream of guests walking by my room).
It looked so much like sawadee format it is spooky. Are they one and the same?
Now to you and all can you recommend 6-7 resturants within a 10 minute taxi ride to eat (prefer A/C-New York guy)that are in the range of $35-$45/couple??