Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

We rarely go back to the same place, but this hotel might be an exception. It feels so private that at times we felt alone on a secluded island, and there’s no traditional reception. Everything is handled in your room, and each family has a private butler. Ours was Angela, whose warmth, professionalism, and lovely smile made a real difference to our stay. The whole staff were kind as well as highly professional. Our rooms were huge, beautifully kept, and luxurious without giving up privacy. Breakfast had a wide range of excellent ingredients, prepared with real care. Dining at the hotel restaurants was just as impressive, with amazing flavors, lovely presentation, and flawless service. Truly an incredible hotel.

I’ve stayed at several Ritz Carlton properties, and this is the best. The hotel was very clean and lovely, and I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a better pool. Thai hospitality really is unmatched here. Maya took wonderful care of us and made sure we got what we wanted from the trip. After scuba diving, she even had a bubble bath ready for our return. By the pool, Lif, Nok, and Nut looked after us so well: they brought towels to keep us comfortable, fetched my hat so I wouldn’t have to leave the pool or get sunburnt, and mixed cocktails to suit our preferences. I thought about booking another resort, but I’ll choose this one next time. As far as I’m concerned, it’s the place to stay in Krabi, and it should be high on everyone’s list of places to visit.

My first stay at Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, went well beyond what I expected from the best beach hotel I’ve ever stayed in. From airport pickup to the onward transfer to my next hotel, the staff handled every detail beautifully. The ride from the airport was in a luxury vehicle with Wi-Fi and a television, plus chilled orange juice and cold towels. At the property, the main lobby pavilion stood among shallow reflecting pools, with thousands of candles lit in the evening. Walking up over the water to the center of the wooden pavilion felt ceremonial. There were more cold towels, a welcome drink, and a floral bracelet waiting for us. My butler, Sandy, was the highlight. She was always available, kept in touch proactively, and arranged activities, dining reservations, spa appointments, check-in and check-out, and the transfer to my next hotel. She handled everything flawlessly and embodied the care this property offers. The service from the rest of the team was just as warm and genuine, from the breakfast staff and food attendants to the pool team replenishing drinks, the sunset bar bartender making excellent espresso martinis, and the upper-level bar team serving great cocktails. I was upgraded to a beautiful beachfront pool villa, with a spacious private pool and direct access to the beach area. It was close to the main pool and restaurant, so we didn’t need the golf cart much, though one was always available promptly. The room was comfortable, cooled down quickly in the evenings, and was kept in immaculate condition. The infinity pool looks out over the Andaman Sea and nearby islands, including Hong Island. There are plenty of daybeds and space to relax, and the hotel offers a complimentary round-trip boat transfer to Hong Island each day. We stayed two nights and wished we’d booked at least one more. I’d strongly recommend three nights minimum to have time to appreciate the place. It’s a special destination, and I’m already looking forward to coming back in 2027.

A little late writing this, but I wish I could give the resort 10/10. We’ve returned every year for the last three years, and it’s become our benchmark for every other hotel and resort. The people are why we keep coming back. GM Sagar is friendly, present, and engaging. From what we can see, he treats and empowers the staff well, and that comes through in how they look after guests. Khun Kwan, khun Bua, the Sritrang hostesses, the restaurant team, and khun Tanya at guest reception are all exceptional. They make you feel at home, not like you’re on a transactional holiday. They’ll prepare special breakfast dishes, take time to chat, and even remember little details from your last visit. Nothing seems overlooked. The food is excellent, and we wait all year to eat at SriTrang. The villas are huge and well maintained, perhaps a bit too large, though that’s part of the design. The beach is almost nonexistent, but the villa pools are excellent, and the big infinity pool has plenty of staff. The butlers can be hit or miss, but they respond well to everyday requests if you don’t need someone shadowing you or arranging lots of activities. Other resorts could learn from Sagar and his team about hospitality. Looking forward to visiting this year.