Inter continental Koh Samui is located in the secluded area called the Baan Taling Ngam beach. It's 50 min ride from the airport and it seems there's no neighborhood near by.
Also since the hotel is built on a cliff, to reach the restaurant or the beach, you always need to call a buggy. You could walk down a flight of stairs to get to the beach from the lobby, and it's quite fun as you have to pass a suspension bridge, but it's difficult to do so several times a day as it is very hot. So buggy it is.
Staffs are all very sweet but they are not very skillful at their jobs. Nobody comes to me first, I always have to go ask for things even when checking in! Also I had experienced difficulties communicating with the staffs in English.
Furthermore, the HandiGo app they make you download as soon as you check in, it's not very helpful as they don't reply to your chat for 30 minutes and even then, you some times experience difficulties in communication.
Finally, the hotel is known for its great veiw of the sunset. However, I stayed three nights and didn't get to see the sunset, not even once!, due to the weather. So if you are choosing this hotel for the sunset, check with the weather before you come.