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Finest Resort in Koh Lanta
Pimalai Resort and Spa on the island of Koh Lanta is every part you possibly can need – not less than it’s every part I needed – in a Thai luxurious resort.
(To be honest, my husband most well-liked Layana, the opposite high tier – however very totally 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 plush mountainside and a jaw-dropping infinity pool with spectacular views of the Andaman Sea.
We stayed right here per week and hopefully this Pimalai Resort overview will enable you to resolve if it’s the appropriate seaside resort in Thailand for you.
Test costs and availability for Pimalai Resort & Spa right here.
Getting There
Lots of people postpone going to Koh Lanta as a result of there are not any direct flights to the island. I saved placing it off for years. This implies it’s not overly crowded.
In the event you keep at Pimalai they’ll choose you up from the airport and organize transportation at no additional payment.
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 by 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, whenever you e book a 5-star seaside resort in Koh Lanta you shouldn’t be stunned 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 by 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 degree room. In the event you’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 degree items in groupings of 4 so there may be a variety of area round you. And I might barely see the crimson tile roofs of the rooms in entrance of me so we had a variety of privateness.
Kantiang Bay Seaside
Pimalai Resort is about on Kantiang Bay. In accordance 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 opinions I’d learn that say the way more developed Lengthy Seaside is healthier. In actual fact, 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 perfect for swimming.
Pimalai takes up a lot of the seaside with seaside cabanas, a seaside bar (very talked-about for 2-For-1 Completely happy Hour drinks at sundown), some beachfront villas and the Rak Taley seafood restaurant, the place we ate almost each evening.
I did like their Tom Yum Goon soup.
What Can You Do in Kantiang Bay?
Go to the Why Not Bar
In the event you 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 special 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 a number of the eating places or go to the 7-11 for late evening balcony snacks.
About Pimalai Resort & Spa
Nicely, it’s beautiful and one of many finest resorts in Thailand. Let me be extra particular. Suppose rainforest-meets-beautiful-beach beautiful.
It’s loosely divided into three ranges: the seaside, the center degree with reception, pool, spa and restaurant, and the highest degree 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 workers refresh your ice water always. Simply FYI, the again cabanas get fairly first rate shade within the afternoon. (Are you able to inform I like my shade?)
If you need a kayak or a paddleboard you ask for it, fill out a type they usually carry you a life jacket and paddle. It was my each day journey.
Principal Pool
On the center degree of the resort there’s a pool. It’s very talked-about and we began our days there, till Mark fell in love with the higher pool and I turned wedded to the seaside.
In the event you’re on the pool on the proper time the workers carry round little fruit skewers of watermelon and pineapple.
We by no means needed to battle 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 high of the resort is unfold out like some blue slash of paradise.
Up on the high of the resort there’s a gymnasium (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 degree 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 an impressive 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 well-liked mango and passionfruit mornings. (He additionally preferred the chocolate croissants.)
On the high, close to the Infinity Pool, is the deluxe Seven Seas Restaurant. It’s Italian themed, apparently among the best eating places on the island, and can be extremely romantic with its sweeping view of the bay.
Is Pimalai Centrally Situated?
No. It’s not central like its fundamental 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 automobile and driver to take us round.
PImalai is situated 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 model of batik-looking leaves.
Rooms
Our room was one in all a cluster of 4 rooms with two above and two at floor degree.
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 form of in the course of the room however might be walled off with a sliding wooden and glass door.
The washroom space was almost as giant because the sleeping space with separate stalls for each bathroom and bathe.
The beds had been divinely snug and the air-con saved the room cool at evening.
After 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 largest room on the earth however the finishings are first charge.
Service
Thai hospitality is excellent at this degree of a resort.
They’ll carry you life vests and paddles whenever you wish 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 by the resort, they usually’re high charge with transportation on Pimalai’s luxurious speedboats.
Notably well-liked are the excursions to the islands of Mu Koh Lanta Nationwide Marine Parks for snorkelling and up-close views of the beautiful surroundings full with clear turquoise water and sheer limestone cliffs.
Different actions embrace cooking courses, health courses, and a first-class spa in a leafy tropical setting.
(We did a pair’s therapeutic massage, besides that Mark solely needed a head therapeutic massage so actually it was half a pair plus a head. Beautiful anyway.)
Pimalai Resort & Spa Overview Verdict
I assumed Pimalai was an impressive, peaceable keep in a James-Bond-like setting. In the event you’re on the lookout for a spot to unwind, that is it.
If you need nightlife and a vigorous vibe, you’re most likely finest to go elsewhere.
Lengthy Seaside has essentially the most inns and resorts on Koh Lanta, and if that’s extra your vibe I’d counsel the adults-only Layana Resort and Spa. (Not, clearly, in case 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 contemporary fruit. Ahh. My completely satisfied place.
The draw back? 5-star luxurious in Thailand doesn’t come low cost however for me, it was well worth the splurge.
