Tonsai Bay Resort

Tonsai was the quiet escape I wanted from Railay's crowds. Mostly rock climbers come here, and it was lovely to watch the sunset on a nearly empty beach. The trek to Railay takes an adventurous 10-15 minutes through the jungle each day. Bring plenty of mosquito spray and avoid doing it in the dark. I stayed in the 'Superior cottage'. The bungalow had been recently renovated, felt modern, and was clean and well equipped. It was insulated well enough that I didn't see bugs or lizards inside. Breakfast at the nearby restaurant was pretty good. I can't say much about the other food there, since I avoided Tonsai restaurants due to the fairly frequent food poisoning cases and ate lunch and dinner at Railay as a precaution. Arriving takes some effort, and your feet or bags may get wet. The resort is also hard to find, with little signage. Head toward the right end of the beach, where the rock climbers are, then go to the restaurant to spot it. In retrospect, I'd have asked them to meet me on the beach and help with the bags.

Whenever we come back to Railay, we love hiking over to Tonsai for the masaman curry at Tinidee. It was great seeing Mama Cris and her lovely staff again. Mama Cris is a gem, and we always look forward to her smile and amazing food. Thanks, Mama Cris!

The room itself was very good, and most of the hotel staff were kind. My partner and I both got food poisoning during our stay, though, and the response from the café's cook was upsetting. Breakfast is included and served at the café across the street. Many recent and older reviews describe food poisoning there, so this seems like an ongoing food safety issue that should be taken seriously. When I reported what happened, the cook came out laughing at me and suggested that tourists complain about everything, even coffee. He switched to Thai partway through the conversation and kept laughing, so we couldn't have a proper discussion. I'm South American and very used to street food. I know my own privilege, and wasn't trying to interfere with anyone's work or make trouble. But offering a service while guests are knowingly exposed to a health risk feels misleading at best. I understand that some people in hospitality have to deal with guests who complain about everything. Still, repeated reports of food poisoning, day after day, need to be addressed. My partner had a fever, vomiting, and diarrhea, and couldn't move. The hotel offered us a ride to the airport as support, but the dismissive, mocking kitchen staff and the overall handling of the situation were extremely disappointing.

The walk between Tonsai and Railay is precarious, but fun to try. We had a relaxing stay, with very nice rooms and great food. The staff were respectful and very helpful, just as you'd expect in Thailand.