Railay Princess Resort and Spa

Modern hotel with a great rooftop pool. Everything was clean and the service was very friendly. I've stayed elsewhere on Railay before, but I would definitely stay at the Princess again next time.

If you’ve ever wanted to fully embrace the "cave life" of Railay Beach without actually leaving your bed, this is the place for you. For everyone else, you might want to bring a snorkel—not for the ocean, but for the humidity in the room. It was so intense that I half-expected to find stalactites forming on the ceiling, and the mold has clearly claimed its territory on the walls, adding a "natural" touch that will likely result in a souvenir cough for me. The air conditioner sounded like a jet engine preparing for takeoff, but I have to give a massive shout-out to the incredibly kind staff member who came to the rescue. With a piece of cardboard and a bit of "MacGyver-style" magic, he managed to hush the beast just enough for me to hear my own thoughts. The staff, in general, are wonderful; their genuine kindness is the only thing that kept me from fleeing into the jungle in the middle of the night. Regarding the value for money, let’s just say the price says "hotel" but the experience feels more like an extreme survival camp. It’s not the absolute worst place I’ve ever stayed, but it’s definitely a finalist. On the bright side, breakfast was surprisingly decent, although my desperation to escape the damp darkness of my room might have made the food taste even better than it was. This place has potential and the people are lovely, but it desperately needs a total renovation. Until then, bring a deumidifier and a lot of spirit of adaptation.

The location here is terrible. Resorts with such private settings usually offer many amenities for guests to enjoy without having to go outside, and they should also have a private beach. But this place doesn't have a private beach; it's just right next to the sea, and the surrounding beach isn't suitable for swimming. It takes about 30 minutes to walk to a beach where you can swim – and there are no other options. My room here had a sea view, but I could barely see the sea because the trees blocked it completely. I felt it wasn't worth the price. Not to mention, getting to my room required climbing a steep, mountain-like slope. Every room had a very steep climb, and it was extremely difficult. It would be almost impossible for elderly people or young children to stay here. Even at 30, I was out of breath every time I got to my room. So, if you don't regularly climb mountains or go to the gym, you shouldn't stay here. There are only one or two rooms in this area that don't require climbing, but even then, you'd have to walk a long distance to reach the beach. Therefore, if you're not in good health, you shouldn't stay here. To stay in Raylei, you should choose accommodation near a residential area that isn't too crowded but is very local, with many interesting things to experience. The resort here is right on the cliffside, with mountains behind and the sea in front, which is also very beautiful, and you don't need to do much climbing. It's also much closer to Raylei beach. In general, it's expensive but not worth it, so consider carefully.