Tubkaak or Rayavadee??

HI!

My boyfreind and I are going on our honeymoon in Thailand this November 2007. We will be doing a route in the North and then some live aboard diving in the similans and would like to end the trip in Krabi. I麓m torn between Tubkaak and Rayavadee hotels. Rayavadee is very expensive, but I麓ve heard it麓s the best (and it will be our honeymoon). Tubkaak looks nice to and a bit more economical. Any recomendations???

We alos may stay a few nights at Koh Yao Bay Pavilions, in Koh Yao, to get a deserted Island feel and away from toursits. If anyone has heard of the hotel (have only seen a few reviews) or have been to Ko Yao, let me know your feelings!

Thanks!

Nini

Tubkaak or Rayavadee??

I don%26#39;t know Tubkaak, but we got married in Phra Nang Beach last January and stayed at Rayavadee - and what can I say - it was absolutely marvellous. The best hotel I%26#39;ve ever visited.

Tubkaak or Rayavadee??

Thanks Nemi - I think we might just splurge for it! Unless someone else writes and says that Tubkaak is just as good.... (and a bit cheaper..)

Hiya Nini...we stayed at Paradise Koh Yao last september,and loved it...if you click on my name...you will find the review i wrote : )

If you read the reviews of people that hav stayed at both the Tubkaak comes out tops. We have stayed twice at the Tubkaak and booked again for Feb 2008. It is a small boutique hotel, with great service, food, beach and fantastic rooms. The hotel does tand on its own but there are plenty of restaurants five minutes away. If you want to to into Ao Nang there are lots of shops and restaurants and it takes around 30 minutes by taxi which is so easy to do. Mind you we got to Ao Nang and wondered why we had bothered. We were so happy at the Tubkaak. The Ravadee is far more expensive and I am not sure from reading other reviews it is really worth it.You definitely will find the beach more private there is never anyone on it. We could stay in either but we keep going back to the Tubkaak, such personal service. If I wasn%26#39;t already married we would have our wedding there without a doubt.

Hi,

Yes the Rayavadee is expensive but you get what you pay for.I was not on my honeymoon but did do extensive research as i wanted not just a hotel what i was looking for was paradise. After our stay here i can say that is what it was.We went in November last year and it was a perfect time to go.Do not waste your money upgrading ask for a pavillion by the pool the view will astound you see pictures on my review. Our pavillion was just the cheapest deluxe but i would not have wanted a pool villa or spa as those round the pool are the best . You have a choice of three beaches phranang beach being the best it is so beautifull.You can also get a boat from here to the off shore islands for the day if you like snorkelling that is a must the fish just come to you.I have never felt so moved about a place i wanted to cry when we left as we did this as our second hotel and i knew even though our next hotel was five star it would not measure up to the Rayavadee. Some people moan about all the daytrippers but i never once saw the beaches crowded and we had seven days here.Also the longtail boats were not a problem they are part of thailand and it was fun useing them they also took us to the hong islands we found desterted beaches for just the two of us how romantic is that.

I spent 2 weeks at Rayavadee in August 2005 and a week at the Tubkaak in August 2006. We had a further ten days at the Tubkaak in March this year. Both are fabulous hotels. Rayavadee is a lot bigger, more stylish, and the setting is spectacular, with huge limestone cliffs surrounding it. There%26#39;s a choice of four restaurants. You can only get there by boat. Their infinity swimming pool is probably the best I%26#39;ve ever seen, it%26#39;s huge! The beaches are lovely. However, they attract a lot of day trippers, visitors arrive early morning and leave late evening. There%26#39;s also a lot of hawkers on the beach. We hired a boat in March to get around the islands and stopped off at Rayavadee on the way home. The whole place was heaving. We didn%26#39;t stay as it was just too busy.

The Tubkaak is a small boutique hotel, traditional Thai with a lot of dark wood. It occupies the side of a hill, with reception at the top, a flight of stairs down to the shop, then more stairs to the rooms, restaurant , swimming pool and beach. It%26#39;s a simple hotel in comparison to Rayavadee. There%26#39;s only one restaurant but the food is good and there%26#39;s lots of choice. The beach is fabulous and, more importantly, quiet! The view is simply stunning. The Hong islands are opposite and there%26#39;s islands and crags as far as the eye can see. It%26#39;s about a 20 minute drive into Ao Nang for local restaurants and shopping.

If you%26#39;re looking for a haven of peace and tranquility the Tubkaak is for you. If you%26#39;re looking for somewhere more spectacular and don%26#39;t mind the crowds then go for Rayavadee. If you chose the Tubkaak I%26#39;d spend some of the money you save on one of the sea view rooms. That view should not be missed!

Tubkaak wins hands down with me, husband and two teenage daughter%26#39;s. There%26#39;s just something about this place. It%26#39;s nothing to do with cost either, as we have the Tubkaak suite which is far more expensive than the family pavillion with pool that we had at Rayavadee!

Hi Everyone!! (Tiffin, Noodles, Jenson, Kate, and more),

Thanks for all your help and travel advice!! I麓ll let you know once we make our decision. (I think I麓m going to leave it up to my boyfriend - I can麓t decide!!).

Rayavadee is lovely isn%26#39;t it...I splurge myself sometimes and then sometimes I wonder about the ethics of it when a Thai labourer might get 150 baht a day. I modified my avarice once in Vietnam and commited to send money to a local man...two years later he has started his own business. He e-mailed me last night and has just gotten married and had a new baby...his thanks was endless...not preaching just a true story....the dance continues hey...mikey