Railay Hilltop

The stairs are no joke, about 150 steps, but they lead to an incredible view. Bring a backpack if you can; a big rolling suitcase is a pain on these islands. And please walk on the LEFT side of the road in Railay. We stayed in a spacious, comfortable standalone bungalow. The property was peaceful, the bed was comfortable, and we even spotted monkeys from our balcony. The bathroom was typical for Thailand, so the toilet can get wet during a shower. Breakfast is available, and there’s a free water refill station, though we didn’t eat there. Railay has become full of tourists, but this place still has the charm I remember from 15 years ago. I’ve stayed in plenty of places here, and this one is the best value for the price. I’d recommend it for a more authentic stay. If you’re after resort amenities, look elsewhere. I think some negative reviews come from tourists rather than travelers, and there’s a big difference.

The view from Railay Hilltop, Railay Beach is lovely, but getting there with heavy bags was exhausting. It’s a 15-20 minute walk from Ao Nam Mao Pier, depending on your luggage, followed by very steep stairs. We had a lot of heavy bags and carried them up ourselves. Staff were available to help, but we only found that out after arriving, as nobody told us beforehand. I wouldn’t recommend it for elderly guests, people with heavy luggage, or anyone who needs convenience. We paid around 2,400 THB a night, with no breakfast. To get food, you have to go down those stairs and climb back up. There was also frequent wood burning while we were there, and the smoke was unpleasant. Before the trip, I tried the listed contact number, but it belonged to another hotel. Communication took several attempts through different channels. We were traveling from several places with lots of luggage, and the Google Maps route was inaccurate, which could confuse first-time visitors. The view is nice, but this was one of my worst travel experiences.

The staff were lovely, and there are plenty of places to eat nearby along with a beautiful beach. Getting to Hiltop means tackling some steep stairs, but the view makes the climb worthwhile. The rooms and showers were basic, honestly not great, though not awful either. Still, it was my favourite place I visited in Thailand.

The climb up the stairs was rough, especially with all our luggage, but manageable without it, and the view made it worthwhile. A few cockroaches kept turning up in the bathroom; with the jungle-like surroundings, we didn't mind too much. Renovations were happening and made some noise, though nothing major. The room was lovely and felt like a hotel. We had a big, comfortable bed and a sofa, and the wet-room bathroom worked fine. The view was beautiful and it was great value. We stayed in the off season, which may explain the low price.