RaiLay Phutawan Resort

During my recent visit to RaiLay I stayed at the fantastic RaiLay Phutawan Resort which I booked for the best rate via Agoda. 

I chose this hotel due to a few reasons. Firstly it is away from the busiest areas and quieter than staying at the beach or the bungalows near to the beach. Secondly it has a pool ( with an amazing view ). And, finally, I didn’t want to spend a lot of money but I also didn’t want a cheap hotel so this resort fit right into my budget.

Getting There

Flying into Krabi airport we took the shuttle to Ao Nang ( 150 Baht ) which took 30 minutes. From here you are dropped off at the boat terminal where you pay 100 Baht and your boat leaves when full ( normally every 30 minutes )

We arrived by longtail boat to East Beach which is around 10 minutes walk to the resort. If you arrive on West Beach it is about 10 minutes walk too. It’s one of the benefits of the resort, you are close to the cheap food and drink of East Beach and close to the spectacular views of West Beach.

The resort is situated in the middle of RaiLay which does mean the last 100 metres of the journey is uphill and might be a struggle if you have lots of luggage or have problems walking.

The Room

I had booked a Tawan Sea View room and I was delighted with the quality. At $50 a night including breakfast in the mid season I thought it was a very reasonable price. Other resorts with pools on the West beach were around $100 a night.

So the room is huge with a great balcony overlooking the pool, through the limestone cliffs down to the sea. The room has a  King size bed, very good WiFi fridge/minibar. The bathroom has a shower and bath which is a great bonus.

Another bonus was that breakfast was included in the rate. Although not a spectacular breakfast ( Thai resorts never seem to get Western breakfasts right ) it was a good start to the day and came with fresh fruit too.

Facilities

The main draw of the resort was the pool. I love the beach but its nice to chill by the pool, especially if it has an amazing view. The pool here is fantastic with awesome views. I found myself taking a swim before breakfast and in the evening when back from the beach – it was perfect.

The restaurant is reasonably priced although I only ate breakfast there. They do offer snacks and drinks throughout the day.

The hotel has a tour desk which is helpful if you want to book a tour ( you almost certainly will! ). I find booking through the hotel more convenient and less stressful than dealing with shouting touts.

In The Area

West Beach is around a 10 minute walk from the RaiLay Phutawan Resort. It is one of my favourite beaches in Thailand. It has stunning scenery, crystal clear water and is quiet compared to many others in the region.

The resort has a rock climbing school right next to it if you are looking to scale the beautiful limestone cliffs.  Although I didn’t try it myself it looked quite challenging and rates were around 1,500 for a full days course including equipment.

About 50 metres from the resort is a cave which can be explored and many bats live there.

Overview

The RaiLay Phutawan Resort is a fantastic option for your stay in RaiLay. I was so impressed with my stay that I’ll be going back there again in the new year.

To check availability and rates click here to visit Agoda.com where you can the best deal for the RaiLay Phutawan Resort.