What a beautiful place!  Railay Bay Resort and Spa was our first stop during the second leg of our trip or the “islands” section of our travels to Thailand.  The only way to reach the resort is by boat.  I would highly recommend booking a transfer from the pier through the hotel.  We chose to do that and it made things easy and stress free.  You arrive by long tail boat and then they transfer you and your luggage to a water truck of some sort.  If you don’t go through the hotel you may be stuck struggling with carrying your luggage over your head through the water.  The location for this resort couldn’t be any better.  It’s located on one of the most spectacular beaches I’ve ever seen.

The resort has two pools – the pool overlooking the beach was one of my favorite spots during our stay.  There is nothing better than wading around in a nice cool pool in the blistering heat while having delicious beverages brought to you.  We also spent as many hours as possible on the beach.  If it works with your itinerary, I would highly recommend sticking around out there long enough to catch a breathtaking sunset. It’s so gorgeous.

The service at the resort varied for us – some of the staff were very helpful and went out of their way to take care of us, while others just couldn’t be bothered. Most staff spoke English very well.  The only meal we had on the resort was breakfast and the food was just fine (not special, but not bad).  They have limited options.  The view is absolutely to die for.  It’s not a bad way to start your day at all.  

We were happy with our room.  Although not out of this world luxurious and slightly dated, it was nice, clean and comfortable.  It was also quite spacious.  The bathroom had a rain shower with strong water pressure and a comfortable bathtub.  They supply you with a beach bag and mat, toiletries, bathrobe, slippers and a complimentary fruit plate upon arrival.  They also offer free wifi, although spotty.  

This resort is very close to the nearby popular Railay Walking Street. Besides the beach, this was my favorite part of Railay.  We spent every night out there eating unique and delicious foods, savoring the best street desserts, drinking at funky bars, shopping for souvenirs and getting thai massages.  Pretty awesome.