A Frenchwoman gave up the life of Saint Tropez to buy the hotel she was going on vacation on Koh Samui. Now he lives the tropical dream with the family.
The hotel bought by French Photo Booking
Pauline Cabesa, a former restaurant manager in Saint Tropez, fell in love with a hotel in Thailand during the holidays and, one day, decided she wants more than just being a tourist. He bought the hotel where the winter winter returned and transformed it into its own corner of paradise.
“On the return plane to France, all we were telling us was: we must find a solution to buy it”Pauline tells for Business Insider.
Today, dressed in vaporous, colorful clothes, Pauline runs Cielo Samui, a Boutique hotel on Bo Phut beach on the Thai Island Koh Samui.
Radical change: from France on an exotic island
A French tourist moved to the island of Koh Samui from Thailand Photo: Archive
In 2017, Pauline and her husband, François, had their luggage, said goodbye to friends and left for Thailand. Although they had no experience in managing a hotel, they were determined to follow their dream.
“I felt it was time to get out of the employee’s routine and do something crazy. If you don’t do this in time, it can be too late ”says Pauline, who was 43 years old.
With the money collected from the restaurants he led in France and with the help of a couple of friends in the US, they became investors, the two took over the hotel, which Cielo Samui renamed.
On the island of Koh Samui, the Cabesa family started a new life. “I wanted my daughter to learn English and meet people from all over the world. I wanted a second child.”Pauline tells. Their son was born on the island, and the children’s grandmother also moved to them.
Pandemic renovation, inspired by Pinterest
Initially, the two kept the hotel as they took it, but the pandemic changed their plans. “It was not planned to renovate, but we felt it was time to turn the place ”says Pauline.
Inspired by Pinterest, she thought a new design, with textured walls, stone floors and Mediterranean -inspired colors. The hotel was completely renovated in just nine months. A yoga studio, a spa and an extended restaurant was added, and during the pandemic they also opened another restaurant in Fisherman’s Village to keep the team united.
Real life behind the dream
Today, a standard room at Cielo Samui costs around $ 260 per night, and a three -bedroom villa reaches $ 700. But life in a corner of paradise is not without challenges. “I received reviews from people who complained that the waves were heard or that the sand is too harsh ”says Pauline.
It coordinates 45 employees and is constantly present at the hotel: he greets employees in Thai and talks to guests, who come from all over the world, Europe, Singapore, Hong Kong and, recently, more and more from the US.
“Thailand will always be home to me”
Children learn at an international school, and the family feels safe on the island. “It’s a safe country. You can leave the children in the mall or on the beach and don’t worry. I also like the culture of respect for the elderly“Says Pauline.
What she enjoys the most is the attitude of people: “It’s a relief. If you live in Paris and take the subway, nobody smiles.”
Despite the changes that have taken place on the island in recent years, she believes that life there is easier. “I will never return to France. Even if I will not always live in Samui, Thailand will always be home to me.”says Pauline, determined.
