Pimalai Resort & Spa

The food at Rak Talay was a real surprise. We expected to eat in town often, but loved the All You Can Eat Surf & Turf and BBQ nights there. Breakfast was included and had a huge range, from eggs cooked to order and beans with toast to congee, Thai noodle bowls, waffles, breads, fresh fruit and squeezed juices. Even at 10:24AM, staff were restocking, including the bacon. It ran from 6:30-10:30AM. The gym was spotless and well equipped, with maintained equipment, a water cooler and a jug of ice water infused with lime, lemongrass, cucumber and mint. At the pools and beach, staff brought unlimited ice water to our loungers. Our room had a welcome plate of fruit and fresh coconuts, plus a mosquito repellent machine, though I never saw a mosquito. We also got spa vouchers for our weeklong stay. Every treatment was excellent, especially the Aromatic Oil massage. Everything was looked after from airport pickup to drop-off. Check-in came with fresh wet towels and tea, and staff from the entry security guard and gardeners to restaurant and spa workers greeted us with warm smiles. The rooms, pools, beach and gardens were well maintained, and the small thoughtful touches made us comfortable. The staff cared about our satisfaction and went above and beyond to sort out problems or miscommunications. It’s rare to see this level of service.

The resort is huge, so getting between the hillside and beach areas takes time, and we needed a buggy for that trip. Still, the beach was sandy, spacious and one of the best I’ve seen in Thailand, with two big pools and plenty of attended loungers. We also enjoyed walking along the beach to other local places to eat. Our Hills Villas was superb, very clean, and housekeeping was excellent. The excursions to Koh Rok and Koh Haa were great experiences. Breakfast had an extensive buffet and eggs cooked to order, while dinner was excellent, especially at Rice and Spice and the seafood on the beach. The setting is beautiful, and the staff were professional, friendly and exceptional. We loved everything and hope to return.

Planning felt easy because communication was prompt and clear, and the team was happy to adjust things to match what we wanted. Our wedding was organized from start to finish to a top-notch standard, with every staff member helpful and the service beyond exceptional. Khun Apple, our wedding coordinator, made it all feel seamless and did an outstanding job on the day, going above and beyond. We chose Pimalai for our ceremony and couldn’t be happier. The hotel and its breathtaking surroundings made the day feel magical. We’d highly recommend it, one of the best hotels we’ve stayed in.

The resort is spread out, and getting around could take effort, especially from a hillside room. You depend on buggies, which mostly arrived quickly, but the walk from our room to the beach was long, almost like living in a small town, and might not suit everyone. The place also felt very busy. Our pool villa was stunning and had everything we expected. Staff were all friendly and welcoming, dinner included some great food, and we enjoyed happy hour at both bars. Breakfast had a choice, but wasn’t especially good or extensive, and the à la carte servings were small. Some cocktails were poor and quite watery, with too much ice.