"I stayed at 5 different hotels and resorts in my first solo travel to Thailand.. 2 in Bangkok, 1 in Chiang Mai, and 2 in Ko Samui. I would only give one of these stays 5 stars and it is the Carlton. Not because it was anything extravagant or spectacular.. but because it consistently excelled in all areas I would consider worthy to give it 5 stars. Consistency is most important to me in awarding 5 stars while other properties may be more spectacle in 1-2 (Dusit Thani) areas but fall short in others.
Location - good to everything but tucked away enough to feel like you got away from the overwhelming chaos
Staff - very friendly
Gym - smallish but one of the best out of the trip
Pool - solid with attentive staff
Rooftop - nice with a cozy feeling and good view
Room - comfortable and quiet. The quietest out of all the hotels I stayed at but I had a room that was tucked away at the end of hallway."