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Greatest Lodge in Koh Lanta
Pimalai Resort and Spa on the island of Koh Lanta is every part you can need – not less than it’s every part I wished – in a Thai luxurious resort.
(To be honest, my husband most popular Layana, the opposite prime tier – however very completely different – luxurious resort on the Thai island of Koh Lanta.)
Why Pimalai?
This dreamy 5-star resort has a beachside location, with tasteful villas crawling up the luxurious mountainside and a jaw-dropping infinity pool with spectacular views of the Andaman Sea.
We stayed right here every week and hopefully this Pimalai Resort evaluate will allow you to determine if it’s the best seaside resort in Thailand for you.
Verify costs and availability for Pimalai Resort & Spa right here.
Getting There
Lots of people delay going to Koh Lanta as a result of there aren’t any direct flights to the island. I stored placing it off for years. This implies it’s not overly crowded.
If you happen to keep at Pimalai they’ll decide you up from the airport and organize transportation at no additional charge.
We arrived on the resort late at evening – it’s a two-hour journey from Krabi airport and we caught a late flight from Bangkok.
After our welcome drink of lemongrass, lemon and syrup, we checked in and stood on the balcony of our Deluxe Room within the balmy tropical air. It was darkish as a bat’s wing.
A Seaside Resort
Peering via the shadowy silhouettes of palm bushes and ferns, I requested my husband, “Are these waves I hear? Is that the ocean on the market?”
Clearly, while you guide a 5-star seaside resort in Koh Lanta you shouldn’t be shocked to be close to the ocean, however, since we’d booked a Deluxe Room, the most affordable sort of lodging (which actually couldn’t be categorized as ‘low-cost’ in any respect), I’d thought we’d be dealing with one thing much less interesting, just like the again of the kitchen or at finest a backyard.
Ocean View
However no. Within the morning, the view of pale blue water rolling as much as mushy sand on Kantiang Bay was the very first thing we noticed because it appeared via the foliage. (So I’m simply saying that Room 134 suited us effectively.)
The rationale we had a view is as a result of we booked an higher stage room. If you happen to’re staying in a Deluxe Villa I like to recommend you do the identical. Although I’m positive the decrease ones have advantages we don’t learn about.
The Deluxe Rooms are in two stage items in groupings of 4 so there’s numerous area round you. And I may barely see the crimson tile roofs of the rooms in entrance of me so we had numerous privateness.
Kantiang Bay Seaside
Pimalai Resort is about on Kantiang Bay. In line with a minivan driver we employed to take us across the island, Kantiang Bay is the perfect seaside on Koh Lanta.
This didn’t agree with TripAdvisor critiques I’d learn that say the way more developed Lengthy Seaside is healthier. In truth, they barely point out Kantiang Bay in any respect.
However it’s a sleepy serene place and the longer I stayed the extra content material I used to be.
Kantiang Bay is a stunning seaside – all melt-under-your-toes sand and clear water that’s ultimate for swimming.
Pimalai takes up a lot of the seaside with seaside cabanas, a seaside bar (very fashionable for 2-For-1 Pleased Hour drinks at sundown), some beachfront villas and the Rak Taley seafood restaurant, the place we ate practically each evening.
I did like their Tom Yum Goon soup.
What Can You Do in Kantiang Bay?
Go to the Why Not Bar
If you happen to stroll down the seaside about 10 minutes from Pimalai you’ll discover the Why Not Bar, which has a laid-back vibe and equally good sundown views.
It’s a unique universe than the understated however very luxe ambiance at Pimalai. Why Not has a extra meditative hippy vibe. And it’s less expensive.
There’s a little village right here the place you may get taxis, lease motorbikes, eat in among the eating places or go to the 7-11 for late evening balcony snacks.
About Pimalai Resort & Spa
Effectively, it’s attractive and one of many finest resorts in Thailand. Let me be extra particular. Suppose rainforest-meets-beautiful-beach attractive.
It’s loosely divided into three ranges: the seaside, the center stage with reception, pool, spa and restaurant, and the highest stage with the infinity pool and excessive finish eating with a view.
Nature is the star at Pimalai Resort, and it by no means feels crowded because it’s so unfold out and there are such a lot of ranges.
The Seaside
The seaside has loads of cabanas and deck chairs and towels, and employees refresh your ice water continually. Simply FYI, the again cabanas get fairly respectable shade within the afternoon. (Are you able to inform I like my shade?)
If you’d like a kayak or a paddleboard you ask for it, fill out a type they usually convey you a life jacket and paddle. It was my each day journey.
Major Pool
On the center stage of the resort there’s a pool. It’s very fashionable and we began our days there, till Mark fell in love with the higher pool and I grew to become wedded to the seaside.
If you happen to’re on the pool on the proper time the employees convey round little fruit skewers of watermelon and pineapple.
We by no means needed to combat for deck chairs, although it was often a little bit of a scramble for spots within the shade within the late afternoon.
Infinity Pool
The infinity pool on the prime of the resort is unfold out like some blue slash of paradise.
Up on the prime of the resort there’s a health club (which we truly used! I’m so impressed with ourselves). There are additionally some very fancy villas with swimming pools, which we couldn’t hope to afford.
Eating places
On the center stage of the resort, not removed from the reception foyer, is the Spice and Rice Restaurant the place we spent hours on the breakfast buffet within the morning.
It’s a powerful breakfast. Eggs Benedict from the egg station was my favorite, adopted by two big plates of fruit.
Papaya and dragon fruit days had been the perfect, in my view, however my husband most popular mango and passionfruit mornings. (He additionally favored the chocolate croissants.)
On the prime, close to the Infinity Pool, is the deluxe Seven Seas Restaurant. It’s Italian themed, apparently probably the greatest eating places on the island, and can also be extremely romantic with its sweeping view of the bay.
Is Pimalai Centrally Situated?
No. It’s not central like its foremost luxurious resort rival Layana on Lengthy Seaside (the place we additionally stayed, however not on the identical time, clearly).
Many individuals lease scooters, however we spent our time strolling alongside the seaside into the village and as soon as we employed a automotive and driver to take us round.
PImalai is positioned close to the southwest tip of Koh Lanta, on Kantiang Bay not removed from Mu Ko Nationwide Park.
Design
The resort structure is Southern Thai.
This is smart as a result of it’s in Southern Thailand, however what it means on this case is teak flooring, white partitions, crimson clay-tiled roofs, silk curtains and artwork – not less than in our room – that evokes nature within the type of batik-looking leaves.
Rooms
Our room was considered one of a cluster of 4 rooms with two above and two at floor stage.
It felt very non-public and our balcony was an alluring place to linger, besides that we had been so busy lingering by one of many swimming pools or the seaside that it had stiff competitors for our consideration.
One morning a tiny yellow fowl with an enormous crimson beak landed on our balcony. I swear, its beak was larger than its physique. No marvel it stopped for a relaxation. A reminiscence I’ll always remember.
The room has a big bathtub that was type of in the midst of the room however might be walled off with a sliding wooden and glass door.
The washroom space was practically as massive because the sleeping space with separate stalls for each bathroom and bathe.
The beds had been divinely snug and the air-con stored the room cool at evening.
Once we arrived there was a welcome fruit plate and coconut water to drink (and that is after the lemongrass and lemon drink they provide us at reception).
It wasn’t the most important room on the planet however the finishings are first price.
Service
Thai hospitality is excellent at this stage of a resort.
They’ll convey you life vests and paddles while you need to take out a kayak and don’t appear to thoughts in case your husband asks for a fifth cup of espresso.
Issues to Do
There are a selection of marine excursions provided via the resort, they usually’re prime price with transportation on Pimalai’s luxurious speedboats.
Notably common are the excursions to the islands of Mu Koh Lanta Nationwide Marine Parks for snorkelling and up-close views of the gorgeous surroundings full with clear turquoise water and sheer limestone cliffs.
Different actions embrace cooking lessons, health lessons, and a first-class spa in a leafy tropical setting.
(We did a pair’s therapeutic massage, besides that Mark solely wished a head therapeutic massage so actually it was half a pair plus a head. Pretty anyway.)
Pimalai Resort & Spa Evaluation Verdict
I believed Pimalai was a powerful, peaceable keep in a James-Bond-like setting. If you happen to’re in search of a spot to unwind, that is it.
If you’d like nightlife and a energetic vibe, you’re most likely finest to go elsewhere.
Lengthy Seaside has essentially the most resorts and resorts on Koh Lanta, and if that’s extra your vibe I’d recommend the adults-only Layana Resort and Spa. (Not, clearly, should you’re travelling with youngsters.)
Now, after I’m drained and feeling like a worn out dishrag, I consider Pimalai, of that movie-set infinity pool, of the sleepy kayaking journeys (besides as soon as I needed to rescue a French household who had tipped over and weren’t carrying life jackets – true story), and people lengthy drawn-out breakfasts with birdsong, sunshine and recent fruit. Ahh. My blissful place.
The draw back? 5-star luxurious in Thailand doesn’t come low-cost however for me, it was definitely worth the splurge.
