After the pandemic had calmed down a bit, I returned to Thailand and was very excited to explore around the country once again. My first beach getaway after spending about a month in Bangkok was Krabi. Whether you have visited Thailand or not, Krabi is quite famous worldwide for offering pristine beaches surrounded by massive rock formations jetting out of the earth and water. The most famous resort in Krabi is called Rayavadee. The reputation of this beautiful resort precedes it. I was really astonished how nearly everyone I spoke with inside of Thailand not only knew about Rayavadee but also spoke highly of it. Rayavadee Resort is made up of beautiful and quaint villas surrounded by these forementioned jagged cliffs. The resort sits in the middle of three beaches which includes the world famous Railay Beach. The beaches are all part of Marine National Park and are kept in immaculate condition. It’s easy to understand that my excitement was building for weeks before arriving!

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Bangkok to Krabi

As mentioned, I came from Bangkok to Krabi, and to do this I flew. From take-off in Bangkok to arriving at Rayavadee, it took only about 2.5 hours. This was comprised of about an hour long flight, and then an hour long transfer from Krabi Airport to the resort by both resort van and speedboat. The entire journey was very pleasant and easy. It was even faster for departure because the water was calmer.

Check-In

Upon arriving on the beach, the Rayavadee staff were all ready and waiting to check-in all of the new arriving guests. This readiness ensured a very smooth and efficient check-in process. I was led to a seat in the lobby, offered a welcome drink, explained about the resort, and then whisked away to my villa by buggy.

Resort Grounds

Everywhere you go on the beautiful grounds of Rayavadee there’s something gorgeous to look at. I never got tired of walking around and enjoying the massive trees, fish swimming in the ponds, monkey’s swinging from the trees, birds chirping, impressive jagged cliffs, pristine beaches, and loads of wild flowers. It’s quite a large property but only takes 10-20 minutes to walk from one end of the resort to the other. If this is too much, Rayavadee offers complimentary shuttle service whenever you call. However, I almost always opted for the walk to get my steps in for the day!

Terrace Pavilion

Rayavadee’s sprawling grounds are covered with a variety of villas. For my three night stay I enjoyed a Terrace Pavilion which had an area of 115 square meters. All of the villas at the resort are comprised of two floors. The Terrace Pavilion’s ground floor had a very comfortable living room, mini-bar, half-bathroom, and outdoor terrace. The design brought the jungle surroundings inside. It is exactly what I would imagine if someone told me to picture a luxury jungle villa. All of the buildings also possessed a classical Thai style that all of the older Thai resorts have. Usually it consists of a lot of hardwood features and a sense of quality. People that know Thailand will know what I mean!

There is a wooden staircase that wraps around the building. The second floor has the master bedroom and master bathroom. The master bedroom is very spacious, with lots of closet space. There is a king size bed, vanity, and working desk. It was all very comfortable and had a rustic but classy vibe.

Master Bathroom

The master bathroom was very spacious and had an elegant design. It featured a dual sink vanity, standalone bathtub, shower stall, toilet stall, and very fragrant and lovely toiletries. I especially loved the Ginger Top Shampoo. Good smelling things always put me in a good mood!

Family Villa

Rayavadee has several types of accommodations on offer. One of the afternoons, I asked to view one of the Family Villas so I could take photos of the private pool. The family villa is 345 square meters and just gorgeous. Having the privacy of a private pool is always a great perk.

Daily Service

Each day the villa was made up two times, one during the daytime and one during the evening for turndown service. During the daytime the staff would replenish the fresh fruit and snacks which I appreciated it very much. During the evening, I was really pleased that they delivered dried fruit bedside. I love to eat dried fruit in the morning with my tea/coffee so I saved it until the next day! The first two nights they delivered dried figs which are my absolute favorite. Overall, the housekeeping staff were incredibly thorough and friendly.

Fitness, Activities, and Relaxation

The fitness center was located just behind my villa which was very convenient for me as I love working out. Rayavadee has a lot to offer for those who like to stay active! I mainly focused on running on the beach, working out in the gym, and one day I also joined a HIIT Class. However, I really could have taken advantage of a lot more including kayaking, tennis, table tennis, yoga, and excursions. Their pool is located just next to Railay Beach and is gorgeous. When it’s all said and done, there is a good balance of complimentary and paid activities.

Breakfast

The Rayavadee breakfast takes place next to the lobby of the hotel and has both indoor and outdoor seating which are both very comfortable. The breakfast is filled with many options with it’s massive a la carte menu and sprawling buffet. The two page a la carte menu has both International and Asian favorites. I must say that the food every morning as well as the service was fantastic! The whole experience felt very luxurious and extravagant. One of my favorite items was the Dan Dan Noodles. Go ahead, treat yourself.

The Grotto Restaurant

The first night of my stay I enjoyed dinner at The Grotto Restaurant which sits on Phra Nang Beach. Seriously a jaw-dropping location for a restaurant! Everything about it feels very exclusive, especially the fact that it is for hotel guests only. For the evening, I went for a surf-and-turf barbeque meal. There were also a few other tasty courses as well. After sampling everything, I was truly impressed with the level of food quality offered at The Grotto. The combination with the view at sunset is incredibly difficult to beat. A meal here is a must during your stay!

Conclusion

After spending some time at Rayavadee, I could easily see why this resort has grown such a strong reputation. The resort has so much going for it, including its fantastic location, pristine design, plethora of activities, lovely service, delicious food, and proximity to Bangkok. The whole stay went so well that the time just flew by. There was never a dull moment. Rayavadee is truly the cream of the crop and would happily return at almost any time. If you need to get away to the beach for whatever reason, here is where to go. In conclusion, if you’re looking for an absolutely perfect resort in Thailand, specifically in Krabi, look no further than Rayavadee!

Rayavadee

Resort

214 Ao Nang, Krabi 81000, Thailand

Phone: +66 2 301 1861

My journey to Krabi, Thailand began with a flight from Bangkok. The flight only takes about an hour and 15 minutes. Once at the Krabi airport, I was picked up by the friendly Pimalai resort staff in their private car. After an hour drive we switched to a boat which takes about 30 minutes before again switching back to car to arrive at the resort.

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As soon as you step into the lobby and start to see the property, I’m sure you’ll be blown away much like I was. The resort is made up of villas along the hillside as well as closer to the beach, all looking over the ocean. The main lobby is located in the middle of the property and is also where you can find a large pool. After checking in and drinking a welcome drink, I was instructed to hop in the buggy and then we climbed the hill. A few minutes drive up the steep hill and we arrived at villa 808, which would be my home for the next four nights.

When I opened the front gate to the villa, I immediately noticed the infinity pool. There were two parts of the villa, on the left you have the living room and on the right the bedroom. I first walked into the bedroom to see a gorgeous bed with a canopy above. My view from the bed looked out over the water which was simply splendid!

About the same size of the bedroom would be the large bathroom and closet. There was a bathtub also with the same gorgeous view, a shower stall and a large walk-in closet. It had all the amenities I needed.

After checking out the room, I stepped back outside and walked over to the living room. The layout is similar but inside you’ll find a full-sized kitchen, a living room to relax, an additional bathroom with shower and another TV. The whole villa has lots of indoor and outdoor seating with a daybed in the middle, between the sections. This was a great place to enjoy a meal of room service!

The villa ultimately blew me away and I enjoyed every moment spent there. The pool was quite refreshing and the comfortable lounge chairs were great place to sunbathe. Be sure to not underestimate the very strong sun like I did!

The property features several food and beverage outlets for your convenience. First let’s talk about the extensive room service menu! All of the food I ate was quite good but I would highly recommend you to focus on the Thai and Western dishes. The speedy delivery time made me very happy.

The good food didn’t stop at the room service! The first building I mentioned that contains the lobby also offers breakfast at their Seven Seas restaurant which offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. The breakfast buffet consists of a variety of dishes, including both Western and Asian dishes. Everyone will be able to find something they like and all that I ate was lovely. Don’t forget to enjoy the amazing fresh fruit. I still don’t know how Thailand produces such amazingly sweet fruit.

Luckily I was also lucky enough to eat at Seven Seas for dinner. I would definitely recommend the beef! The ambiance turns much more intimate at night.

The hotel features other facilities such as gym, tennis courts, beach access, spa, and more. The gym during my visit was temporary because it’s being renovated, but still offered a large amount of equipment, including what I needed which was cardio machines and free weights. During my workout I also noticed a boxing ring which would be good for those interested in Muay Thai.

Just before leaving, I headed to the spa for a foot massage. I would definitely recommend you to enjoy a treatment at their lovely spa in the jungle.

This island getaway at Pimalai resort was extraordinary. It was rainy season when I visited, but I was lucky enough to get lots of sunshine to enjoy. The staff at the property treated me with kindness and respect and I greatly appreciated it. The property was managed wonderfully and had lots to offer to get the relaxation time we all need. Although it takes some time to get to the property, it seemed to fly by and wasn’t much of a hassle at all. Therefore, for the next getaway, when you’re seeking a little relaxation time in nature, I would highly recommend you to visit the Pimalai resort in Krabi, Thailand.

Pimalai Resort & Spa

Hotel

99 Moo 5 Ba Kan Tiang Beach, Ko Lanta, Krabi 81150

Phone: +66 075 607 999