Previously I told you about the Best Paradises in Thailand, a book released by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, which gives recommendations for the best hotels and resorts in Thailand. Well, being the beach person I am I thought I would kick off the review of hotels with the section on the Best Beach Hotels and Resorts.

Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort & Spa – Koh Phi Phi, Krabi

The stunningly beautiful Phi Phi Islands are a tiny group of islands blessed with soft powdery sand beaches set against a back drop of soaring limestone cliffs and hills rolling down to pristine ivory beaches. Nestled amidst the towering coconut palms and rich vegetation of Phi Phi Don’s Loh-Ba-Gao bay is Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort & Spa. The resort is set in an area of spectacular natural beauty and overlooks 800 metres of private beach.

Of course the stunning scenery of Koh Phi Phi simply adds to the magical atmosphere of this resort, but all is not heaven. Yes, the staff and the rooms are superb. The grounds and the waiting Andaman Sea are like a paradise on Earth and the quiet and serenity are relaxing beyond belief. This is a wonderful resort for a honeymoon and in fact they do have accommodations for weddings at the resort.

Now for the downside. The restaurants are overpriced with food that is ho-hum compared to real Thai fare. Not to worry though. Just a short walk off the hotel grounds and you’ll find lots of small authentic Thai restaurants to satisfy your hunger.

Room rates run from about $200-400 a night depending on the season and room type. Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort & Spa also has a return visitor Privilege Club which offers discounts of 10-20% on rooms, food and services for guests after their third stay and onward.

Ramada Resort – Khao Lak, Phang-Nga

Fabulous west-coast, white-sand beaches on the doorstep of your five-star hotel, close to an international airport and kilometers oh natural rainforest. If you hadn’t guessed by now, it’s the northern neighbor of Phuket – Khao Lak. The Ramada Resort is a new property on Khao Lak and it shows. Everything is clean and well kept and the rooms are a funky minimalist design. Really quite nice in my opinion. Another big plus is the beach which is private and quiet.

Pros -
* Really well-laid out resort – obvious a lot of thinking has gone into its design
* Great swimming pool
* Very friendly and helpful staff
* Great location – Khao Lak is just a very relaxing place to be!

Cons -
* Not especially “Thai”, if that’s what you’re looking for.
* Quality of breakfast not quite up to standards shown at restaurant lunch and dinner.
* Spa a little overpriced – by Thai standards!

Source (TripAdvisor.com)

Rates at the Ramada Khao Lak run from $100-$400 depending on room type and season.

Thapwarin Resort – Koh Ngai, Krabi

I know this hotel is being recommended by the Tourism Authority of Thailand and for sure Koh Ngai is a paradise, but after doing research on Thapwarin Resort I really can’t recommend it to anyone. There seem to be quite a few issues surrounding the resort including wasps, jellyfish and even breaking and entering! If you’re set on Koh Ngai try CoCo Cottage instead.

Katathani Phuket Beach Resort – Phuket

Katathani Phuket Beach Resort is located on the Southwest coast of Phuket Island in secluded Kata Noi Bay, less than an hour from Phuket International Airport—and a world away from all care. That’s what their website says and by all accounts it’s true. The Katathani has won numerous awards as a top hotel and it is a great place to get away from it all.

This is not a 5 star hotel, but it is a very good 4 star hotel. The staff and the restaurants are wonderful. Where the resort slips is in upkeep. The location can be considered good or bad. If you want to get away from it all then Katathani is great for you. If you want to be closer to the nightlife and shops then the location of Katathani will be a negative for you.

The very best feature of the hotel is it’s beach. Katathani is situated on one of the best stretches of beach on Phuket. They also have 6 pools onsite so you’ll never be at a loss for a place to swim.

Off season rates aren’t bad at around $120, but expect to pay upwards of $340 a night during the high season. If you can afford it and you want to get away from it all, go ahead and indulge yourself for a few days.

Twin Lotus Resort and Spa – Koh Lanta, Krabi

Twin Lotus Resort & Spa is located on 12 acres of tropical gardens in the heart of Klong Dao Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches on Lanta Yai Island’s west coast, Krabi, Thailand.

Again the focus for this hotel is the beach. They do have one of the best beaches on Koh Lanta, however the reviews regarding the service, cleanliness and food at the hotel are mixed. If you’re going to Koh Lanta nd want the most beautiful beach possible try out the Twin Lotus Resort, otherwise stay somewhere else such as Chaw Ka Cher, Best Western Maya or the Relax Bay Resort. All three are half the price of Twin Lotus and offer similar service levels.

Khaolak Resort – Khao Lak, Phang-Nga

If you choose to stay at the Khaolak Resort you’re best bet is to choose one of the pool villas. They are mere feet from the beautiful pool and the beach and are a step above the standard rooms. Guests have complained about the musty smell in the standard bungalows which may be true, but is very common in the hot and humid conditions of southern Thailand. Expect to pay between $100-200 depending on the season which is inline with similar resorts on the island.

Khao Lak itself is a beautiful paradise. If you’re looking for natural beauty you won’t have to look any farther. The island is characterized by rainforest jungle and some of the best diving and snorkeling in the world. The beaches and sunsets are simply amazing and have to be experienced to be believed.

Khaolak Bayfront Resort – Khao Lak, Phang-Nga

Khaolak Bayfront Resort is located in a secluded area with a golden beach frontage around scenic mountain backdrop, the resort is just one hour away from Phuket International Airport . Other than the hotels website I was unable to find much in the way of guest reviews for Khaolak Bayfront Resort. If you’ve been there maybe you can leave us a review here in the comments. The hotel does seem to be fairly reasonably priced.

I must say after reading reviews and researching these hotels I am quite surprised that these are the hotels that the Tourism Authority of Thailand have chosen as the Best Beach Hotels and Resorts. I know of many beach hotels and resorts that are better, I guess TAT wanted to stay away from the most expensive high end hotels for some reason. Or maybe these are actually paid reviews? Well, for what ever reason I would say to stay away from at least one of the hotels here completely. Both the Ramada Resort (Khao Lak, Phang-Nga) and Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort & Spa (Koh Phi Phi, Krabi) sound very nice to me and Golf and I will be making an effort to try them both.

Who has suggestions for other Thailand Beach Hotels? Leave a comment and let us know which beach hotels and resorts in Thailand are your favorites.

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