Pimalai Resort & Spa, Koh Lanta

For an up-to-date perspective I asked Lisa Rawlings, who handles the sales and marketing for the Pimalai in the UK, to give her personal view.

Lisa writes:

Koh Lanta is a really great alternative to Phuket or Koh Samui and I am sure we will be hearing more about it in the future! I first went to Koh Lanta 18 years ago and am pleased to see that although it has developed quite a bit, it is still largely unspoilt, has not been subjected to mass tourism like Phuket and still has a wonderful authentic charm about it which I am sure would be of appeal to the more discerning traveler. Koh Lanta is a very quiet and natural destination with its own charm. The island is still largely unspoiled, offers some beautiful beaches, superb low and green mountain backdrops where wildlife is very well present and is at very short distances of some of the highly rated diving spots in Thailand including Hin Duang, which is about 2 hrs by boat and if you are lucky, you can spot some giant manta rays!

Manta Ray

Pimalai Resort & Spa is built on 100 acres of hilly land of lush tropical forest with direct access to a 900 meters pristine white powder sandy beach (the best and safest beach on the island!). Even during peak season, there are not many people on the beach and no hawkers which in a lot of other parts of Thailand can be a nuisance! There are 5 restaurants at Pimalai ranging from Western, Thai, fine dining at Seven Seas and also a couple offering lighter snacks and poolside food. Also, further down the beach in Kantiang Bay there are a few local restaurants and bars if you fancy exploring a little further.

Pimalai Resort & Spa, Koh Lanta

In December 2005, the new Pool Villas opened. The elegantly appointed one, two and three bedrooms pool villas are located on a hillside with private infinity pools overlooking the bay. They really are fabulous, spacious and certainly one of the best that I have stayed in!

The resort’s facilities consist of: 121 Deluxe Rooms, Pavilion Suites, Beach Villas and Pool Villas, all with a contemporary Thai style design; two superb infinity-edge freshwater swimming pools; a PADI dive centre; a fitness room with high quality fitness equipment; two library lounges offering free high speed internet access; shops and full conference facilities sitting up to 160 persons.

In addition to the above, the resort also offers canoeing, sailing, scuba diving (Nov – Apr), bicycling, trekking, tennis courts, Thai cooking classes, wedding ceremonies – for those looking for a more active focused holiday but also offers the perfect setting for guests who are just looking for a romantic getaway. Pimalai also is a great place to get married – weddings can be arranged on the beach – either a Thai ceremony with Buddhist monks or a western wedding. Whatever, style of wedding Pimalai is a perfect place to get married!

The Spa, Pimalai Resort & Spa, Koh Lanta

The spa at Pimalai is amazing as it is set in the middle of the rain forest with streams running by, giant carp - a beautiful setting which relaxes you before you have even had your treatment. The treatments too are fabulous – again, as a bit of a spa junky, probably my favourite!

Words by Lisa Rawlings, LJR Consultancy (+44 1242 255483)

Images courtesy of the Pimalai Resort & Spa

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How To Get To Pimalai Resort, Koh Lanta

Koh Lanta is just off the Krabi mainland in Southern Thailand. The closest airport is Krabi (KBV) and the journey time (including boat trip) is around 1.5 to 2 hours. The island is also accessible via Phuket (HKT).

Best Time To Go: December to March.

From April to November there is a chance of rain but the sunshine is often not far behind. Off-season rates (May – October) usually represent excellent value.

Hotel website: http://www.pimalai.com/

Have You Stayed At The Pimalai?

If you have personal experience of the Pimalai Resort on Koh Lanta I would be keen to have your comments (below) or, even better, a hotel review.

Bangtao Bay, Phuket. Credit: Tourism Authority of Thailand

Laguna Phuket is now a very well-established integrated resort on Phuket’s west coast, and to the best of my knowledge there have been no new hotels on the complex for a number of years. Well that is about to change later this year with the opening of “Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort and Villas”.

It all started in the 1980s on Bang Tao Bay, on the northwestern coast of Phuket, Thailand, with an abandoned tin mine. As far as most people were concerned it was waste land, good for nothing. However, an entrepreneurial visionary from Singapore Mr. Ho Kwon Ping, turned it into the first ever integrated resort in Asia.

To quote from the Laguna Phuket corporate web site:

“The integrated Laguna Phuket destination resort, located on the west coast of Phuket Island, Thailand, spans 1000 acres of idyllic tropical parkland dotted by scenic lakes and adjacent to an 8km stretch of white sandy beach.

A collection of deluxe hotels, including Banyan Tree Phuket, Sheraton Grande Laguna, Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket, Laguna Beach Resort, Laguna Phuket Holiday Club Resort, Allamanda Laguna Phuket and a group of private luxury villas, Laguna Phuket Holiday Residences, offer a wide selection of options to accommodate families, groups, honeymooners and friends.”

Laguna Phuket. Credit: Laguna Phuket

Over the years, I have visited the resort many times and have stayed at the Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket and the Laguna Beach Resort: I have visited on business and with the family (disclosure: some stays were hosted others paid for). The hotels on the resort each have their own personality and focus, and they range from superior 4 star to 5 star plus.

As a Laguna Phuket guest you can use the facilities of most (but not all) of the other hotels and that makes it a more complete experience. As an integrated resort, aside from a few local beach-restaurants, this is a tourist enclave. However, there are local restaurants less than 5 minutes away by taxi; and, when we visited, one of the restaurant staff was good enough to bring us back to the hotel at the end of the meal. I suspect they would collect guests at the beginning of the evening too but we never put that to the test.

In addition to spending my own family holiday there (twice) I have sent many clients to the resort and I cannot recall one complaint. It is important of course that you choose the right hotel.

For example the Laguna Beach Resort is very much a family hotel while the Banyan Tree is more for couples. In my opinion The Banyan Tree is the best hotel there albeit a bit too formal for me: it is a great choice for honeymooners.

I do not know too much about the ‘new kid on the block’ at the moment, other than Outrigger Enterprises Group has been selected to manage the new luxury collection of residences, villas, town homes and apartments. When complete, Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort and Villas will consist of 309 two-, three- and four-bedroom units, many with their own private swimming pools. The first units will be ready for occupancy in the fourth quarter of 2009, just in time for the High Season. I feel some special promotional opening rates coming on!

Important Note: Every year during the rainy season (around April to October) heavy seas are responsible for dragging sand from the beaches. During this period there is sometimes bulldozer activity on the beach as sand is replenished; and there are sandbags along the front. It did not bother us but it might be a surprise if you were not forewarned.

Bangtao Beach, low season: Credit Tony Champion

Most importantly though there is a very strong under-current at that time and there has been loss of life. Unfortunately people have allegedly ignored the red flag.

Sheraton Grande Laguna

The best time to be on the island, weather-wise, is December through to March but you can enjoy the Phuket Laguna at anytime of the year. Although sea-bathing is not an option during the rainy season period, you can use one of the many swimming pools and there is a protected lagoon behind the hotels for certain watersports like kayaking and sailing.

If you have visited Laguna Phuket what was your impression?