Railay Bay Resort & Spa: Pictures, Reviews and Rates

Railay Bay, which occupies a prime spot on the stunning west beach, is the only resort that has been here since the very beginning of Railay's development more than 15 years ago. As can be expected, it has come a long way from its humble beginnings of 50 baht-a-night bamboo huts and its ongoing evolution reflects the general trend in Railay towards more upmarket accommodation.

The back end of the resort, near the east side beach and the generator, is taken up with Superior Cottages, concrete bungalows that used to be the height of luxury but which are now occupying the lowest rung on the Railay Bay ladder. The rest, going towards the west beach, has given way to brand new luxury accommodation in low-rise buildings, as well as a new crop of beautiful individual suites. All rooms are set within the well-maintained garden, which stretches from coast to coast of the peninsula, although no rooms are further than a minute's stroll from the main beach.

The sheer number of rooms at Railay Bay, as well as the fact that the garden path is used by the general public to cross from one side of Railay to the other, means that the resort can feel busy at peak times. There are ample numbers of staff, however, to take adequate care of all guests.

The recently opened Bayview Spa, Railay's first, is another sign of the times. Located next to the swimming pool, it offers excellent traditional massage and beauty treatments in two private suites with jacuzzi and steam room, one overlooking the beach. The restaurant is also set right on the sand and offers good outdoor dining as well as cocktails at the Sunset Bar.

Children are welcome at Railay Bay and the absence of cars and traffic mean they can happily be left alone to play. There are two swimming pools, one on the beachfront and the other in the centre of the complex, both with a shallow children's play area. The building offers connecting rooms for families or groups of friends; while the twin Garden Pool Villas offer the luxury of a private pool - please specify on the booking form if you require adjoining rooms.

Rooms
Railay Bay Resort has 140 rooms and following a major revamp in 2006-7, there is now a vast array of accommodation on offer, unfortunately none of it now falling into the budget category.

The most basic of the rooms available are the 36 cosy 'Superior Cottages', built in standard bungalow style and located furthest away from the beach (no more than a minute's walk) and also closest to the generator, which can be noisy. They are available with double (kingsize) bed only and are clean though a little careworn, with a sofa and outside terrace area.

The 32 Deluxe rooms, housed in a series of attractive one-storey blocks along the main footpath leading to the second swimming pool, are vast and quite decadent, considering all the electricity in Railay is powered by generators.

Everything in the deluxe rooms is cool, soothing, relaxing: the walls and furnishings in their shades of pale cream and white; the marble floors; the pale wood furniture. The temperature, mood lighting and TV can be orchestrated from the remote control panel next to your king-sized bed with its top-quality starched linen.

The aqua green bathroom is also huge and attractively designed and has separate shower and large bathtub. These rooms are available with one double bed, or with one double and one single (triple) and connecting rooms can be provided.

Move on to the next level and you are in yet another class. The new Railay Privacy Cottages, of which there are 59, all in privileged positions close to the West beach, or the second swimming pool, offer a large 90sqm living area, completely enclosed by high walls, so you can enjoy your aperitif without being seen by your neighbours (the only downside being that from the outside looking in, the buildings are rather austere).

Each comprises a spacious bedroom /living area with two single beds or one kingsize bed, as well as a sofa /daybed. The ensuite bathroom with walk in shower also opens onto the private courtyard and the open air jacuzzi (a plain stone tub), that can of course be enjoyed in complete seclusion behind your high walls. The decor is contemporary Thai style, with high quality linens, solid wood furniture, silk cushions in rich colours and gleaming wooden floors.

The two Garden Pool Villas are located at the end of two rows of Privacy Cottages. They are double units, consisting of two Privacy Cottages enclosed by the same high walls and with an identical interior design. However, most of their shared courtyard space is taken up by a private, L-shaped swimming pool (approx 6 m x 4m) between the two villas. This set up makes them ideal for families or small groups of up to 6 people (with extra beds).

Seven Railay Suite Cottages are located to the front of the resort closer to the beach. They are 70sqm individual houses, all with kingsize beds, and are secluded in a semi-private garden (not laid out in straight rows like the other rooms). They have a design scheme similar to that of the building rooms, but feature a large outdoor verandah and a Balinese-style open air shower that is accessed through the bathroom, which has an indoor jacuzzi tub. They also have a DVD player in addition to the basic facilities.

The final word in luxury, however, goes to the three Beachfront Suites located on the front row overlooking the main swimming pool and the sand. These are structurally and design-wise exactly the same as the Railay Suite Cottages, but command a premium price for their sea views. Guests will have to compromise their privacy somewhat in order to benefit from these views, however: the verandah of each is in full view of pool users.