Railay, Thailand... The anti Phuket

Over the years, Ive provided tips to hundreds of people going all over the world. Many people over the years have asked specifically about Thailand. I've been to Thailand 4 times and I've travelled throughout the country. One of the most common questions I get is, "Should I go to Phuket?" It's crazy how many people have desires to go to Phuket. Personally, Phuket is my least favorite destination in Thailand. It's SUPER touristy, super busy, loaded with bars and ping pong shows and the beaches aren't that great.  It's possible to access some beautiful beaches, but getting to them requires renting a motorbike and heading up some  it's not the calm that is Railay. If you're in your 20s or 30s and love to party with foreigners... Phuket may be for you.
     When I go to Thailand, I want a little bit of Bangkok and a whole lot of beach time on not so crowded beaches, with some bomb ass back drops. For me the perfect chill getaway in Thailand, is always Railay. Railay is a 45 minute flight from Bangkok. One way tickets can be purchased for under $100. You have to fly into Krabi (KBV). When you make reservations with one of the hotels on Railay, you should definitely set up transportation, as the only way to get to Railay is by long boat.
        To get to Railay from the airport you have to take a cab to the dock, a long boat from the dock to the peninsula, and when it's low tide you have to take a tractor too. Sounds like a lot, but it's all worth it when you see the stunning limestone cliffs all over Railay. The beaches are EVERYTHING too.

       Railay is perfect for families, couples, friends, and much more. There are bars and restaurants all over and the scenic views are INCREDIBLE. I've been to Railay twice and I really can't wait to go back. It's also the perfect location to catch tours to neighboring islands. We paid $28 to go on a 3 island tour that included snorkeling and lunch. 

       I always stay at the Railay Princess Resort and Spa. It's a chill spot with nice rooms, good service, and great FREE breakfast spread - where there's something for everyone. Would I recommend staying there? Absolutely. We didn't book the island tour at the hotel, because we found it cheaper steps from the hotel at a tour office.  Check out pics from the Resort and the island tour.

I'm not knocking Phuket at all, but I do want to encourage people to see other parts of Thailand. I myself have yet to visit, Chang Mai, but I will next time around.

Tips for Railay, Thailand:

Purchase a flight that gets you to Railay in the day time. There's nothing like taking a long tail boat through that beautiful water and being able to see and enjoy it all.

Book your transportation with which ever hotel you choose to stay at. Our hotel charged us per car and not per person and was only 1500 Baht.

When you're leaving Railay, aim to take a flight that isn't super early in the morning. I've done the early morning commute TWICE, it's doable, but it's PITCH BLACK out there and you have to leave at like 3am. Not fun. Just aim to get a flight that leaves Railay around 12 noon and not sooner.

Definitely do the 4 island tour and go snorkeling, both times I've gone some people don't get out the boat. You're in Thailand... experience the water!

Walk around and admire the monkeys and limestone!

And definitely shop around for your tours. The prices fluctuate a lot. If you want to spend more time on the islands and less time on the boat, I'd recommend the faster boat.

Live, Love, Travel,

LMJ