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Rebecca Sparrow reluctantly shares a secret – the amazing Sand Sea Resort in Thailand, where bungalows can cost below AUD$50 a night.
You know when you discover a place, a getaway, that is so perfect you’re torn between bragging about it to all your friends and… well, telling absolutely no-one so you don’t have to share it? Well the Sand Sea Resort at West Railay Beach in Thailand is one of those places. A few years back when my husband and I were planning a month long holiday in Thailand, my Publisher spilled the beans about this resort and then (immediately regretting it) begged me to keep it to myself. And I did. Until now. (Sorry, MD).
Sand Sea Resort is a fairly simple resort. It’s three stars. You stay in bungalows. There’s no room service. No “pillow menu”. No fancy-schmancy chocolates with the nightly turn down service. Actually, there’s no turn down service. So what’s so good about the place? The location. And the price.
Railay Beach is considered by many to be the most beautiful beach in Thailand. And with no roads, no cars and no buses – it offers the ultimate tranquil getaway. You see, Railay Beach is only accessible by sea. It’s actually a small peninsula in Southern Thailand located between the city of Krabi and Ao Nang. But despite being connected to the mainland, Railay is accessible only by boat due to the surrounding sheer limestone cliffs and steep jungle valleys. So if you’re looking for the ultimate peaceful beach escape – this is it. That said, it’s also an adventurers haven offering rock-climbing, sea kayaking, beach soccer, beach volleyball and plenty of caves and lagoons to explore.
But for me the appeal of Sand Sea was spending my days relaxing by the pool drinking cocktails, reading, drinking cocktails and having Thai massages.
What: Sand Sea Resort, West Railay
Where: Railay Beach is a 15-minute longboat ride from Ao Nang (approx 60 baht per person) or a 45-minute longboat trip from Krabi.
How much: You can get a deluxe bungalow with fan for $48 per night (air conditioned bungalows are available).
For more information: http://www.krabi-hotels.com/sandsea/
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Comments
27 Comments so far
Is it any good for families??
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Oh, seriously have tears of jealousy over those photos.
Here is the Mamamia Bar. My kids had a horse ride in front of this bar while hubby and I enjoyed beer and Pad Thai. Oh how I wish I was there!
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Oh, how I love Thailand. We’ve been there twice in the past 4 years and never paid more than $50 per night (Agoda.com). Mmmm….the buffet breakfasts, the massages, the pedicures, the beach, the cheap food. We’ve just looked into going to Darwin but unfortunately for them, it’s cheaper to go to Phuket.
Went to a groovy bar near Phuket airport when we were there last year….trying to remember the name….it’s something familiar…oh year it was call Mamamia Bar! Must post the picture when I get home.
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Hi Mamamia team – this is isn’t about Thailand, but it will be about travel! I am going to Tasmania over the new year…. well beginning of January… and I am looking around for things to do – on a budget (Poor uni students here) Does anyone know of anything we can do, backpackers accommodation to stay at, tours, etc. Thanks guys xx p.s A post would be lovely =D
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When we were backpacking around the world with our 12 month old we found a similar slice of paradise on an eastern Malaysian Island. Bliss
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That photo took me way back! I was there in Jan 1994… need to go back methinks… although a little more expensive than the $4 per bungalow we were paying! Thanks for the article.
Is the cliff bar still there? Or the little vodka shack?
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Agree with Gabrielle. I’ve been to Thailand many times for months at a time and spent about $10 per night for a beach front bungalow. Have also stayed at amazing resorts as well. Beautiful country, my home away from home.
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Yep, I stayed here about 5 years ago….Love Railay Beach!!!
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Ooh I knew exactly where that photo was as soon as I saw it. We have been going there for years and have photos documenting our kids as they have grown up each time playing in the gardens and in the pool.
West Railay is beautiful because it isn’t built up or anything like Krabi town or Phuket/Patong… let’s keep Railay beach as low key as possible!
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We just went to the most beautiful wedding at Railei … And we took our 3yo & 9mo! Stayed at the Railei Beach Club in traditional style house. No cars, warm weather, stunning setting, pure bliss with a twist of adventure!
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I love Railay Beach, actually I was married on the beach at sunset in April this year. We stayed at Railay Bay Resort and Spa. Love love love the place and will always be special to me and my gorgeous husband x
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Sounds glorious Bec. Famil or no famil. I love hearing about special travel spots. Thank you. I have already looked it up and checked where it is on the map. Lovely. Thanks.
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Excuse my ignorance but what is a “famil”? A free trip?
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Hi Jruth! A ‘famil’ is short for ‘familiarisation’ …. so in the travel industry, travel operators (a tourism board, a hotel group, even an airline) may organise for a group of travel writers to tour a destination in the hope they will write about it in their publications. And yes, everything is paid for. It’s a standard industry practice but good travel writers still write the truth about the destination — regardless of whether the trip was free. Once a travel section starts publishing ‘puff pieces’ — it loses all its crediblity. From my experience, readers really want to know the truth: what was great, what should they avoid, what to take and what was a bit of a rip-off. If any of our stories (like Kate Hunter’s recent trip to NZ) are part of a famil, we will always state at the bottom “Kate Hunter was the guest of Tourism New Zealand” … and I won’t be publishing anything that reads purely like a PR brochure!
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hmm. I find it a little disingenuous to say you are “reluctantly sharing a secret” about this place when you were obviously given a famil to advertise it!
If you didn’t get a freebie you are obviously being paid for the ad, otherwise why write about a place you went to “a few years back”? Things change very quickly in Thailand.
Reluctantly sharing a secret indeed! Pull the other one.
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Sorry to disappoint you but I actually paid for this trip with my husband out of our own money! It wasn’t a famil. If a story is part of a famil, it will ALWAYS state at the bottom “Rebecca Sparrow was the guest of New Zealand Tourism etc etc….”.
And yes, sometimes we will travel on famils. That’s standard industry practice. Some destinations (like New Zealand at the moment or Queensland) are suffering in the tourism stakes and therefore arrange famils for travel writers to encourage people to return to Christchurch or Port Doulgas or wherever. But anyone who writes for MM Travel (and Holiday Goddess) and is part of a famil is under strict instructions not to write PR guff. Otherwise a travel section loses all its credibility.
But this trip was paid for 100% by me.
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Ok Bec I will take your word for it and apologise. Please feel free to delete my comment.
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No need to apologise! It’s actually a really good question and I happen to know there are many dodgy travel writers out there! Have a great weekend!
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I’ve been on many famils, anon for this one, and this is how the travel industry works!
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So have I Clare M. That’s why I am cynical!
I also tend to avoid travel writing today for the same reason, it’s very hard to be impartial when you have accepted a free trip and a lot of travel writing is of course glorified PR.
Anyhoo, I accept what Bec has said in response to my comment and seems like MM is taking the right approach if they stick by their disclosure rules.
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If you ever want to write for us, Anon — drop me a line! We’re always looking for stories from Australia and overseas. Email me at rebecca@mamamia.com.au
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Gosh Anon For This…bitter much..?
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Nope not bitter Anastasia. Just a cynical former travel hack.
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I’m 20 and have been to thailand 6 times and have stayed in 5 star resorts and bungalows rented off locals, and I have to say I dont even think I would pay 48 a night for accomadation on the beaches of thailand. i have a number of secret beach bungalows i stay at every time I go for less than $9 a night and they are beautiful.. thailand is my home away from home
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Hi Gabrielle!
If you ever want to write some Thai travel stories for us — we would love to have them!!!! Feel free to email me at rebecca@mamamia.com.au because we’re always looking for fresh stories from people!
And it definitely sounds like you know Thailand — so we’d love you to share your knowledge!
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Have spent years in Thailand but only in chunks of months. Have spent many happy nights/weeks in places like this, sometimes for less. As long as you don’t need luxury, it’s fine.
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Oh Gabrielle, would you like to share the name of the place you stayed at for $9 a night?!!
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