5 stars · 82 rooms · Opened 2011 · Taling Ngam Beach, west
Conrad Koh Samui
Private pool villas, sunset views and top staff; a steep hill, small beach and pricey extras hold it back.
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The hilltop arrival court at dusk -
A villa pool with its own sea view -
Villa terrace and private pool -
Villa bedroom opening to its pool -
Sunset from the infinity pool edge -
The main pool beside the bay -
The small beach and floating decks, seen from above -
Breakfast with a sea view -
Spa treatment room for two
Our verdict
What Conrad does well, and what holds it back
- No.1 Peace and quiet
- No.1 Working trip
- No.2 Two of us
- No.2 Grown-ups only
Guests loved
West-facing sea and sunset views from every villa; a few lower villas are partly blocked.
Named staff praised in most reviews; rare slips like rushed check-in or forgotten orders.
Honeymoons and anniversaries dominate reviews; private pools and sunsets.
Know before you go
Small artificial beach, coarse sand, thin at high tide; blogs say it is not a beach resort.
Steep hill on stilted villas; movement depends on buggies, hard with reduced mobility.
Remote southwest hillside, 40 to 60 min from the airport; a taxi or car for any outing.
Best forPeace and quietWorking tripTwo of usGrown-ups onlyA great poolSpa days
Not forGoing outThe beach
Scored by Agent 69 from 178 guest reviews across 4 platforms. Researched 30 Sept 2026. How we score
Price guide
from ฿9,500 a night
entry room, low season
- High season from ฿16,000
- 5-star island median ฿6,000
We link to the hotel's own website. We earn nothing from it, and no hotel can pay for its score. Rates checked 30 September 2026.
Ten scores
Where the 8.0 comes from
Each score is out of 10, with the hotel's place among the 27 hotels we rated. The place on top, the stay below.
- Beach No.21 of 274.5
Small artificial beach, coarse sand, thin at high tide; blogs say it is not a beach resort.
- Views and calm No.2 of 278.7
West-facing sea and sunset views from every villa; a few lower villas are partly blocked.
- Getting around No.26 of 274.9
Remote southwest hillside, 40 to 60 min from the airport; a taxi or car for any outing.
- Pool and spa No.1 of 278.9
Private infinity pool in every villa plus a quiet main pool; complaints are minor.
- Food and drink No.5 of 278.2
Wide farm-sourced buffet, top-ranked by many; crowded at peak, repetitive by day 4.
- Rooms and beds No.1 of 279.3
Villas from about 130 sqm, rooms subscore 4.9 of 5; some original 2011 fittings remain.
- Clean and kept No.3 of 278.7
Cleanliness 4.8 of 5 and housekeeping praised; isolated hair and insect reports.
- Staff No.7 of 279.5
Named staff praised in most reviews; rare slips like rushed check-in or forgotten orders.
- Value No.9 of 276.8
Fair for a private pool villa at 9,500+ THB; food, spa and extras are pricey.
- Practical and green No.7 of 276.3
About 91 Mbps measured in 2022; few mentions since, so a cautious score.
All 26 counts, with our notesShow
| Count | Weight | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Beach | 4.5 | |
| BeachSmall artificial beach, coarse sand, thin at high tide; blogs say it is not a beach resort. | ×1.0 | 4.5 |
| Views and calm | 8.7 | |
| ViewsWest-facing sea and sunset views from every villa; a few lower villas are partly blocked. | ×0.8 | 9.6 |
| GroundsLush 25 acres but very steep; buggies solve it with occasional waits. | ×0.7 | 7.3 |
| Quiet and privacyVery quiet interiors; a few reports of neighbour villa and restaurant noise outdoors. | ×0.8 | 9.0 |
| Getting around | 4.9 | |
| Location and accessRemote southwest hillside, 40 to 60 min from the airport; a taxi or car for any outing. | ×1.0 | 5.0 |
| AccessibilitySteep hill on stilted villas; movement depends on buggies, hard with reduced mobility. | ×0.4 | 4.8 |
| Pool and spa | 8.9 | |
| PoolsPrivate infinity pool in every villa plus a quiet main pool; complaints are minor. | ×1.0 | 9.4 |
| Spa and massageTop-rated spa, but priced at hotel level, far above local massage. | ×0.6 | 8.6 |
| GymTechnogym equipment, modern and well equipped; praised in several reviews. | ×0.4 | 8.6 |
| Wellness and activitiesMany free activities and workshops; occasional booking mix-ups. | ×0.5 | 8.4 |
| Food and drink | 8.2 | |
| BreakfastWide farm-sourced buffet, top-ranked by many; crowded at peak, repetitive by day 4. | ×0.9 | 9.2 |
| RestaurantsThai food and farm produce praised; steakhouse and casual dining pricey and uneven. | ×0.7 | 7.3 |
| BarPleasant sunset bars with bartenders praised by name; hotel prices. | ×0.4 | 7.5 |
| Rooms and beds | 9.3 | |
| Rooms and designVillas from about 130 sqm, rooms subscore 4.9 of 5; some original 2011 fittings remain. | ×1.0 | 9.4 |
| Beds and sleepPillow menu, sleep subscore 4.8 of 5 and quiet interiors; very few sleep complaints. | ×1.0 | 9.4 |
| BathroomsHuge bathrooms with soaking tub; slow fill, fiddly taps and one 2026 odour complaint. | ×0.6 | 9.0 |
| Clean and kept | 8.7 | |
| CleanlinessCleanliness 4.8 of 5 and housekeeping praised; isolated hair and insect reports. | ×1.0 | 9.0 |
| Condition and ageOpened 2011 and well kept; some Residence villas looked neglected in 2022. | ×0.8 | 8.3 |
| Staff | 9.5 | |
| Staff and serviceNamed staff praised in most reviews; rare slips like rushed check-in or forgotten orders. | ×1.0 | 9.5 |
| Value | 6.8 | |
| Value for moneyFair for a private pool villa at 9,500+ THB; food, spa and extras are pricey. | ×1.2 | 6.8 |
| Practical and green | 6.3 | |
| Wi-Fi and remote workAbout 91 Mbps measured in 2022; few mentions since, so a cautious score. | ×0.4 | 8.5 |
| ParkingFree on site per listings; little review detail, so little data. | ×0.3 | 7.0 |
| PetsPets are not allowed according to aggregator listings; no guest detail. | ×0.2 | 0.0 |
| SustainabilityGuests confirm Iris Farm, composting and plastic-free villas; no third-party certificate found. | ×0.4 | 6.8 |
| Trip fit, used by the trip lenses | ||
| Kids and familiesTurtle Club and staff praised; steep hill and stepless villa pools limit small kids. | ×0.6 | 7.8 |
| Couples and honeymoonHoneymoons and anniversaries dominate reviews; private pools and sunsets. | ×0.6 | 9.5 |
Weights are the same for every hotel. A count with little guest detail stays close to the facts we could check.
Who it suits
Where it ranks for each kind of trip
The hotel's rank among the 27 hotels for each kind of trip, from our trip scores.
- Peace and quiet No.1 9.0
- Working trip No.1 7.7
- Two of us No.2 9.0
- Grown-ups only No.2 7.6
- A great pool No.2 9.0
- Spa days No.3 8.6
- Value for money No.4 8.2
- Eating well No.7 8.0
- Family with kids No.9 8.0
- The beach No.22 5.6
- Going out No.25 3.8
Prices
What a night costs, and when
Entry-level double room, approximate rates checked 30 September 2026. Rates change daily: the hotel's own website has today's.
From-price by monthThe same room costs about 41% less in low season.
- High season฿16,000
- Shoulderbetween the two
- Low season฿9,500
| Jan | High season ฿16,000 |
|---|---|
| Feb | High season ฿16,000 |
| Mar | Shoulder between the two |
| Apr | Shoulder between the two |
| May | Low season ฿9,500 |
| Jun | Low season ฿9,500 |
| Jul | Low season ฿9,500 |
| Aug | Shoulder between the two |
| Sept | Low season ฿9,500 |
| Oct (this month) | Low season ฿9,500 |
| Nov | Low season ฿9,500 |
| Dec | High season ฿16,000 |
Our review
The full file
Verdict: Conrad Koh Samui scores 8.0 out of 10
Conrad Koh Samui scores 8.0 out of 10 in the Samui69 file. It is an 82-villa, 5-star hillside resort on Taling Ngam, the island’s remote southwest tip, and it suits couples, honeymooners and privacy seekers who want a private infinity pool, a sunset view and staff who solve problems. It is a poor match for beach lovers, guests with reduced mobility and anyone who wants to walk to a restaurant: beach scores 4.5, accessibility 4.8 and location 5.0. Villas started around 9,500 THB (~271 USD) a night in the sources checked on 30 September 2026.
Method: 178 guest reviews and blog reports read one by one, about 150 of them on Tripadvisor and 78% from the last 18 months, plus Trip.com entries and 13 blog and forum write-ups. Booking.com and Agoda gave aggregate scores only. The Tripadvisor pages skew to 5 stars, so negative evidence was topped up from blogs, older Tripadvisor reviews and forum snippets. Checked 30 September 2026. Every judgement below is what guests report or what the file shows.
What does the brochure say?
The resort opened in 2011 on a 25-acre hillside above a small bay, with 82 pool villas from about 130 sqm. On paper, each villa has a private infinity pool and a west-facing sea view toward the Five Islands. Facilities listed: the main pool, a small beach with free kayaks, paddleboards and snorkel gear, Zest for breakfast, Aow Thai, the Jahn steakhouse, the Azure bar, a spa with Ayurvedic and Thai treatments, a Technogym gym, the Turtle Club kids club, and Iris Farm, a 2.5-acre working farm. Buggies run 24 hours because of the slope.
Pets are not allowed, and parking is free on site, both per aggregator listings. The hotel says the farm supplies 60 to 70 percent of its produce and that more than 2 tons of food waste are composted each month. Guests confirm the farm and composting, but no Green Globe or EarthCheck certificate turned up in the file. The official site is hilton.com.
What do guests actually report?
Platform scores sit high. Tripadvisor shows 4.7 out of 5 from 2,368 reviews, with rooms at 4.9, cleanliness 4.8, sleep 4.8 and service 4.7. Its two lowest subscores are value (4.3) and location (4.4). Booking.com gives 9.3 out of 10 from 222 reviews, Trip.com 9.4 from 212 and Agoda 8.8 from 59.
The 178-review sample shows where the Samui69 figure of 8.0 comes from. Strengths stack up at the top, while the same guests mark down the places the hotel cannot fix:
| Category | Mentions (+ / -) | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Staff and service | 135 / 12 | 9.5 |
| Views | 75 / 2 | 9.6 |
| Rooms and design | 70 / 8 | 9.4 |
| Pool | 62 / 6 | 9.4 |
| Couples | 40 / 2 | 9.5 |
| Breakfast | 50 / 9 | 9.2 |
| Location | 14 / 22 | 5.0 |
| Beach | 10 / 26 | 4.5 |
| Accessibility | 10 / 12 | 4.8 |
| Value for money | 18 / 30 | 6.8 |
Staff praise is the loudest signal: more than 20 guests name the concierge or the general manager, and many say staff recognise them and anticipate needs. Honeymoon and anniversary stays fill the recent review pages, about 30 of the 150 Tripadvisor reviews read. The negatives cluster in four places: the isolated location, the small beach, the steep site and the price of everything beyond the villa.
What are the pool villas like?
Rooms score 9.4 with 70 positive and 8 negative mentions. Guests describe huge, well-designed villas, and the Tripadvisor rooms subscore is 4.9 of 5. The three-bedroom villas were renovated and a Pearl villa was added, although the file shows no date for either. Interiors are original 2011 but in good shape, and condition scores 8.3 (12 positive, 7 negative). The exception is the Residence villas: a 2022 report describes some as overgrown with empty pools.
Sleep is one of the quieter wins. Beds score 9.4: the hotel offers a pillow menu, the sleep subscore is 4.8 of 5 and only 3 of 31 bed mentions are negative. Bathrooms score 9.0, with a circular soaking tub and a separate rain shower. The complaints are small: a slow-filling tub, fiddly tap pressure and one June 2026 report of a bathroom smell lasting several days. Cleanliness scores 9.0, with housekeeping praised by name. About 8 reviews mention hair, insects, millipedes or ants.
Families are covered by a 7.8. Staff are great with children, and the Turtle Club offers pizza making and other kids’ sessions, but the villa pools have no steps and the grounds are steep. Family suites exist, yet the file shows a resort built around couples.
How good are the pools, views and the beach?
Views score 9.6, the best number in the file: 75 positive and only 2 negative mentions. The resort faces west, and guests single out sunset from the villa pool. A few lower villas have partial obstruction or less privacy. The Five Islands sit on the horizon, and the wider group is covered in the Ang Thong Marine Park guide.
Pools score 9.4. Every villa has a private infinity pool, described in blogs as saltwater and heated, and some guests rate it larger than pools at top Maldives resorts. The shared main pool is often empty. Tile colour and cool water are the only notes against them.
The beach is the weak point. It scores 4.5, with 10 positive and 26 negative mentions. The file describes a small, partly man-made beach at the foot of the hill, reached by buggy from the villas. Guests report coarse or hard sand, very little sand at high tide and flies in the late afternoon. Free kayaks and paddleboards are the upside. About 10 reviews and blogs call the beach small, coarse or tide dependent, and several blogs say outright that this is not a beach resort. For a proper sand stretch nearby, read the Taling Ngam beach guide.
Grounds score 7.3 with 14 positive and 14 negative mentions. The 25 acres are lush, with gardens and a farm, but very steep, and a buggy wait is a recurring complaint. Quiet scores 9.0: interiors are very quiet, resort guests say it never feels busy, and a wedding did not disturb them. Some noise from neighbouring villas and the restaurant carries outdoors.
What are the food, drink and spa like?
Breakfast is the strongest food story, scoring 9.2 (50 positive, 9 negative). The buffet at Zest runs 07:00 to 10:30 and leans on farm produce, with egg and noodle stations, and many guests call it the best breakfast they have had. The complaints: it gets crowded, so go early, and it feels repetitive after several days, with some dishes served cold.
Dinner scores 7.3, with 40 positive and 22 negative mentions. The Thai food at Aow Thai is praised. Jahn is the steakhouse guests call very expensive, about 14,000 THB (~400 USD) for two in one report, and casual dining at the Azure bar is called inconsistent. Hotel prices run far above the outside market, so the resort’s restaurants and its sunset bars are pleasant but priced for guests with no other option. Bars score 7.5, with named bartenders and a good sunset spot.
Spa scores 8.6 (25 positive, 8 negative). Several guests name it the best spa they have used, with Ayurvedic and Thai treatments. A 2022 price was about 1,400 THB (~40 USD) for 60 minutes, roughly ten times a local massage, and one guest felt rushed out. Wellness scores 8.4: yoga, Muay Thai, breath work, kombucha and coffee workshops, free kayaks, paddleboards and snorkel gear, and the Iris Farm tour, with one disorganised coffee workshop and some booking confusion. The gym scores 8.6, with modern Technogym equipment.
Where does Conrad Koh Samui fall short?
Location. It scores 5.0, with 14 positive and 22 negative mentions. The resort sits 40 to 60 minutes from the airport, and there are no restaurants or shops nearby. Any outing needs a car or taxi, so guests recommend a rental car. Some like the seclusion. See the Taling Ngam area guide for what is around, and the getting around guide for transport options.
Hillside access. Accessibility scores 4.8. The resort climbs a very steep hill on stilts, buggies run 24 hours, and a buggy is needed for anything on another level. Walking is hard for reduced mobility, and rain covers can block the view.
Beach. Covered above: 4.5, the lowest score in the file.
Prices. Value scores 6.8, with 18 positive and 30 negative mentions. Villas ran from about 9,500 to 16,000 THB (~271-457 USD) in the sources checked, and blog rates sat between 11,875 and 15,200 THB (~339-434 USD). Guests call the villa fair for a private pool and call food, spa and extras pricey. Many guests stay on Hilton Honors points, and several say the stay is a good deal only with points or discounts, yet worth it for privacy and service.
Service slips. Rare, but the file shows forgotten orders, rushed check-in or check-out and a missed Hilton Honors status. One January 2026 Trip.com review from a family reports illness and a refund dispute.
Who should book, and who should not?
Book it if you are:
- a couple or honeymooner who wants a private pool and a west-facing sunset
- a privacy seeker who will spend most of the day in the villa
- a Hilton Honors member using points, where the file shows the value case is strongest
- a guest who rates named, attentive staff above a walkable setting
Skip it if you are:
- a beach lover who expects a long swimmable sand beach
- travelling with reduced mobility, or a small child who needs stepped pools
- a budget diner or a guest who wants walkable restaurants and nightlife
- a pet owner, since pets are not allowed
Pros and cons
Pros
- Private infinity pool and sunset sea view in every villa (views 9.6, pool 9.4)
- Staff praised by name in most reviews, 135 positive against 12 negative
- Large farm-sourced breakfast and the Iris Farm experience
Cons
- Very steep hillside, buggies needed, isolated from shops and dining
- Small, coarse, tide-dependent beach
- High prices for food, spa and extras, with the Jahn steakhouse the costliest
What are the alternatives?
- Banyan Tree Samui: 88 private pool villas above Maret, opened 2010, from about 18,600 THB (~531 USD), scoring 7.8 in the file. Also hillside with buggies, and guests mention a stony bay and a spa rated top tier.
- Anantara Bophut: 106 rooms on Bophut Bay, renovated in 2025, from about 7,400 THB (~211 USD), scoring 7.8. Walkable to Fisherman’s Village, but families make it noisier.
For more of the island’s top tier, see the best luxury resorts guide.
FAQ
Is Conrad Koh Samui good for couples?
Yes, per the file: couples score 9.5, with 40 positive and 2 negative mentions. Honeymoon and anniversary stays dominate recent reviews, and every villa has a private pool and sunset views.
How far is Conrad Koh Samui from the airport?
About 40 to 60 minutes by road, according to the evidence. Taling Ngam is the island’s southwest tip, so the transfer is one of the longest on Samui. The hotel arranges airport transport on request.
Does Conrad Koh Samui have a good beach?
Not by Samui standards. Guests describe a small, partly man-made beach with coarse sand that thins at high tide. Beach scores 4.5, and several blogs say it is not a beach resort.
How much does Conrad Koh Samui cost?
Villas ran from about 9,500 to 16,000 THB (~271-457 USD) a night in the sources checked on 30 September 2026. Food, spa and extras cost noticeably more than the same items outside the resort.
Does every villa have a private pool?
Yes. All villas carry a private infinity pool, and guests rarely fault them. A shared main pool is also available and is often empty.
Is it worth it for kids?
It depends on age. The Turtle Club and staff are praised and kids score 7.8, but villa pools have no steps, the hill is steep and the beach is small.
What do the review platforms say?
Tripadvisor shows 4.7 out of 5 from 2,368 reviews (Tripadvisor page). Booking.com shows 9.3 out of 10, Trip.com 9.4 and Agoda 8.8. A detailed blog view is in the Head for Points review.
About the author
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Agent 69Hotel investigations
Identity classified. Reads what thousands of guests reported, checks it against the facts and files the verdict on 26 counts. No free stays, no press trips, no booking links.
At the resort
15 services
What you get without leaving the hotel
From our file on the hotel: the services guests used, and what they said about them.
- Spa Ayurvedic and Thai treatments at hotel prices
- Massage About 1,400 THB (~40 USD) per 60 min in 2022
- Yoga Yoga sessions in the activity programme
- Muay Thai Muay Thai in blog activity lists
- Fitness classes Breath work and wellness workshops
- Cooking class Pizza making, kombucha and coffee workshops
- Kids club Turtle Club, with pizza making for kids
- Watersports Free kayaks, paddleboards, snorkel gear; jet ski extra
- Airport transfer Airport transport on request
- Beach service Beach dinners and floating breakfast
- Tours desk Concierge arranges tours and Iris Farm visits
- Weddings Weddings hosted; guests praise the planner
- Private dining In-villa and beach dinners
- 24-hour room service In-villa dining and room service; quality mixed
- Shuttle 24-hour buggies inside the resort
Pets. Pets are not allowed according to aggregator listings; no guest detail.
Location
Taling Ngam Beach
Where it is, and what is close
Straight-line distances from the hotel to the places we cover.
The beach outside: Taling Ngam Beach
Small artificial beach, coarse sand, thin at high tide; blogs say it is not a beach resort.
At high tide Sunset 45 min to the airport by car
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On the map
Beaches
- 1
Thong Tanote BeachBeaches 0.7 km - 2
Phang Ka Beach Koh SamuiBeaches 1.3 km - 3
Thong Krut Beach, Koh SamuiBeaches 2.8 km
Temples
- 4
Wat Khiri MatTemples 1.4 km - 5
Wat Khao ChediTemples 4.1 km - 6
Wat Kiri WongkaramTemples 4.1 km
Waterfalls
- 7
Namuang Waterfall Koh SamuiWaterfalls 7.9 km - 8
Tartan Waterfall Koh Samui (Tartain)Waterfalls 8.7 km - 9
Lat Wanon WaterfallWaterfalls 9.6 km
Hikes
- 10
Monkey Trail Koh SamuiHikes 7.9 km - 11
Na Muang Waterfalls TrailHikes 7.9 km - 12
Lardwanorn Waterfall LoopHikes 8.2 km
Getting there and away
- Samui Airport (USM) 20.3 km
- Lipa Noi 8.3 km
- Nathon 12.9 km
- Lamai 14.2 km
- Maenam 18.4 km
What guests say
178 reviews read
Platforms say 9.2. We say 8.0.
Review sites mostly ask about the room and the service. We also count the beach, the location and the bill.
- 4.7/5Tripadvisor2,368 reviews
- 9.3/10Booking.com222 reviews
- 9.4/10Trip.com212 reviews
- 8.8/10Agoda59 reviews
- 8.0/10Samui69178 read, 26 counts
Beach 4.5 and Getting around 4.9 pull our score down: guests rarely mark a hotel down for them, but they shape the stay.
Highest counts
Lowest counts
What we found in the reviews
- Pillow menu, sleep subscore 4.8 of 5 and quiet interiors; very few sleep complaints.
- Opened 2011 and well kept; some Residence villas looked neglected in 2022.
- Very quiet interiors; a few reports of neighbour villa and restaurant noise outdoors.
- Lush 25 acres but very steep; buggies solve it with occasional waits.
- Thai food and farm produce praised; steakhouse and casual dining pricey and uneven.
- Huge bathrooms with soaking tub; slow fill, fiddly taps and one 2026 odour complaint.
FAQ
Questions guests ask before booking
Is the beach at Conrad good for swimming?
At high tide. Small artificial beach, coarse sand, thin at high tide; blogs say it is not a beach resort.
How far is Conrad from the airport?
About 45 minutes by car, from our file on Taling Ngam Beach.
Is Conrad good for families?
It ranks No.9 of 27 for families on our trip scores. Turtle Club and staff praised; steep hill and stepless villa pools limit small kids.
Is Conrad good value?
Value scores 6.8 out of 10, No.9 of 27 on Samui. Fair for a private pool villa at 9,500+ THB; food, spa and extras are pricey.
Is Conrad suitable for guests with reduced mobility?
Steep hill on stilted villas; movement depends on buggies, hard with reduced mobility.
Can I bring a pet to Conrad?
Pets are not allowed according to aggregator listings; no guest detail.
Do you earn money if I book?
No. We link to the hotel's own website and take no commission, free stays or press trips. No hotel can pay for a score or a place in a list.
Close call: both 8.0, both 5 stars
Conrad or SALA Samui Chaweng Beach Resort?
Where each winsConradSALA Samui Chaweng Beach Resort
- Views and calm 8.7 7.5
- Pool and spa 8.9 8.0
- Rooms and beds 9.3 8.7
- Getting around 4.9 8.3
- Beach 4.5 7.0
- Value 6.8 7.4
Also consider
Three hotels to weigh against Conrad
-
8.0 5 stars · Chaweng Beach
SALA Samui Chaweng Beach Resort
Best at: Getting around, Rooms and beds
from ฿6,500 a night Same score
-
8.1 5 stars · Chaweng Noi Beach
Vana Belle, a Luxury Collection Resort
Best at: Beach, Staff
from ฿16,000 a night +0.1 on ours
-
7.8 5 stars · Maenam Beach
W Koh Samui
Best at: Food and drink, Rooms and beds
from ฿13,600 a night -0.2 on ours
Not sure? Put them side by side: ten scores, prices and the beach, row by row.
Compare Conrad, SALA Samui Chaweng Beach Resort and Vana BelleHow we score. 26 counts per hotel, from facts we can check and what guests report, weighted the same way for every hotel. The ten scores above group those counts. Our method
How we earn. We don't. No commissions, no free stays, no press trips, no ads.