Rayavadee Resort

Rayavadee is one of those very special places - where everywhere you look your breath is taken away. We arrived on a boat transfer to this stunning resort. The lush tropical jungle surrounding us and the beautiful tropical gardens were a treat. We stayed in a Terrace Pavillion, a big - spacious double story suite with outdoor terrace where we enjoyed our breakfasts each day. The accomodation was beautiful and luxurious. Rayavadee has 3 beaches - of which our favorite was Phranang Beach - with emerald waters and limestone cliffs framing the beach - it was breathtaking. The beaches are public in Thailand so there were a lot of tourists and locals on the beaches at certain times of the day - but we got up early to enjoy the beaches to ourselves which was a treat. Rayavadee has its own beach chairs overlooking the beach which was relaxing. We were brought iced water, fruit and ice lollys through the day which kept us cool. Railay Beach was very busy - with longtail boats and many tourists, we did love our walks on the beach but didn’t find this beach too relaxing - however the huge pool area overlooks this beach and found a quieter space to escape the crowds and still enjoy the views. We enjoyed meals at The Grotto (in a cave overlooking the beautiful beach and limestone cliffs), a real unique and different experience, and their Thai restaurant Khrua Pranang was our firm favorite with excellent service (with a smile), delicious Thai cuisine and the most beautiful views over the ocean. Afternoon tea at Raya restaurant was also a highlight- with delicious crepes, sandwiches, mini quiches and homemade ice cream to enjoy. We loved the option of having our breakfast at our Terrace Pavillion which we ordered the night before and had it beautifully set out for us each day. The grounds are full of nature - monkeys, lizards and birds. You definitely get your steps in at this resort as it’s a large area to get around. A buggy service is available if you don’t feel like walking but for us walking around from place to place was amazing, just to take in all the beauty that surrounds Rayavadee. I am already dreaming of returning back to this special and beautiful place.

The service here was spectacular. Such an amazing trip. Already thinking of when we should return. And I usually love to go to different places but Rayavadee made me want to come back. The Grotto restaurant was breathtaking. We had our wedding here and it was just perfect.

Absolutely gorgeous hotel. It is tasteful and subtle. Every little detail is taken care of, eg. While at the pool the staff continually bring you chilled lemon / orange water. Great care is taken not to disturb the wildlife & to protect their habitat. The staff are exceptional, so helpful, but they are also really happy & joyful in their jobs. They said they are treated well by the company & that is important to us. Sustainability is also a priority here.

The best of best there is. Don’t miss it for anything, even if it means cutting short on your trip. The location is beautiful, connects all there beaches at railey. The staff is over accommodating and would go the extra mile to make sure your experience is exactly the way you want. I’ll suggest booking the grotto for a meal at least once during your stay

We have just returned from our second stay at the Rayavadee. The hotel's location and environment are unique and we sat in the pool one afternoon watching mother and baby monkeys feeding in the blossom trees around the pool. Wildlife (monkeys, monitor lizards, turtles, hornbills) is never far away. The service is exemplarary and the rooms are cool, welcoming and private, surrounded by jungle. The pool is simply superb - the best we have experienced and it never seemed busy, even a this time of year. The food outlets are a little pricey but the quality is excellent and we found The Terrace, with its friendly staff and amazing sunsets, to be our favourite dining place. Having said that, a special mention to the Thai restaurant, Krua Phranang, with its lovely views and exceptional Thai cuisine. The boat service to and from the hotel is smooth and efficient. If we have to find a negative then it would be the Wi-Fi service, which can be patchy and (in our case) with regular drop outs both in our room and around the hotel. Would we return? Absolutely, although the prices for the same time next year are currently beyond our budget.