Phulay Bay: A Ritz Carlton Reserve

DISCOVER A HIDEAWAY SET ON THE SHORES OF THE ANDAMAN SEA

After a two and a half hour drive from Phuket to Krabi, I finally arrived at my very first Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Phulay Bay! From the moment the van pulled up to the tall purple walls, I knew I was in for an amazing stay! I have never felt more welcomed to a resort than when I checked in at Phulay Bay. The staff, including upper management was in line awaiting our arrival, retrieving our luggage and guiding us to their pavilion as soon as we stepped off our van.

As we walked the stone tiles leading to the pavilion, Phulay Bay’s version of a welcome desk, we were handed a chilled towel infused with an exotic aroma and a refreshing drink. At this point, we were completely in awe and then, Ruby, the Director of Operations, kindly informed us that our rooms had been UPGRADED! Seriously?! In my head I was totally singing lyrics to Beyonce’s “Let me upgrade ya”! We were so absolutely grateful and ecstatic to receive such a kind gesture. Following a brief overview of the resort, we were introduced to our private butlers, Tang and Tanya, who then drove us in a golf cart to our private villas.

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THE RESORT

Phulay Bay is located in Krabi, and overlooks the Andaman Sea with its picturesque limestone islands and spectacular sunsets. Its site is tucked in between a rocky beach coastline and sits in a low-laying area with mountains directly behind. Phulay Bay is a spectacular beach resort with an ultra-high-end style. You may be wondering “What makes a Ritz-Carlton Reserve different from your typical Ritz property?” Well, currently only three reserves exist in the world, however more upcoming locations are coming soon. These unique sanctuaries act as a place where all unexpressed wishes of the guest are fulfilled. As with any Ritz-Carlton, quality service and amenities are expected. At a Reserve surrounded by exotic beauty, that experience is elevated with a nature-based environment and extraordinary happenings that create a place where the guest feels that the hotel is completely his or hers.

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HOW TO GET TO PHULAY BAY

Phulay Bay is located 35 minutes from Krabi International Airport and 2 hours from Phuket International Airport. Depending on your preference, here are some options:

By Air

• Fly straight into Krabi airport and arrange for the resort’s private luxury van to transport you to the resort.
• Fly from Bangkok to Phuket and arrange for the resort’s private van to transport you to the resort.

By Land

• Hire your own private vehicle to transfer you to the hotel. I had previously stayed 3 nights in Phuket, so I arranged a van to drive me directly to the resort. The ride lasted about 2.5 hours and cost 90 USD.

By Sea

• Speedboat from Phuket (30 minutes) and then arrange for the resort’s private van to transport you to the resort.
• Ferry from Phuket (2.5 hours). The Phuket Ferry journey is more scenic, but available only during daylight. The ferry costs about 12 USD per person. Once your ferry arrives in Krabi, you can arrange for the resort’s private van to transport you to the resort.

For more information on transfers, contact the hotel at: (66) 07-562-8111

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THE VILLAS

The resort is very private, with only 54 one-bedroom pavilions and villas, including plenty of indoor and outdoor space.

All Phulay Bay villas are stunningly furnished in posh tropical style, with beautiful handmade furniture and Thai details noted all throughout the villa.

Phulay Bay’s villas all include:

• views of the Andaman Sea or glimpses of ocean through a landscaped tropical garden
• Oversized bed
• A/C and ceiling fans
• His-and-hers walk-in closets
• Chaise and plush seating
• Alluring personal pool and gardens
• Sundeck with lounge beds overlooking the gardens
• Silk Robes
• Beach Accessories (Hat and Beach Bag)
• Desk
• Complimentary wifi
• Room safe
• Plasma TV
• iPod player
• Complimentary minibar
• Spa-like bathrooms with vast counter space and deluxe everything
• Indoor rainfall shower, and outdoor or indoor bath, plus a private plunge pool
• 24-hour Butler service
• Complimentary bottled water
• Coffee maker and tea service

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OUR STAY – RESERVE POOL VILLA 10 AND 11

Since we were a group of four, we were provided with adjoining villas. Again, another lovely and thoughtful gesture provided by the staff at Phulay Bay. As Tang and Tanya guided us into our villas, I literally had tears in my eyes! I mean, it’s not everyday you are treated or feel like royalty, well, unless, in fact, you are royalty, which that I am not! Although, I like to think that I am at times! Anyways, let’s just start with the fact that we walked into our own private pool! Um, YEAH!

I totally would have been fine with just the pool and a lounge chair to sleep on, but we actually had an entire villa. The villa was undeniably bigger than any apartment I have ever lived in! 1,141 square feet to be exact! The beds in each of the villas at Phulay Bay are double the size of a typical luxury hotel: two California king mattresses sewn together! That’s ALOT of room for sleeping, jumping on the bed or other activities! Just sayin’.

The bathroom wasn’t any less attractive! The purple tones and carved Thai details continue throughout. A beautiful bathtub is the focal point and there are two separate His and Hers sections complete with walk-in closets, vanity and rain shower. Not interested in showering or bathing indoors? Well, not a problem, because the villa also has an outdoor bathtub and shower, so you can shower with the birds in the morning!

We took advantage of using every single bathing facility in the villa during our stay! I mean, why not? As expected, we also utilized our pools on a daily basis. The toughest decision of the day was whether or not we would stay in our pool villa or venture out to the resort pool! First world problems, right?!

Our pools were BEYOND amazing! It was difficult to leave our private adjoining villas, but we eventually made our way out and explored the grounds of this insanely gorgeous resort.

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THE POOL

Aside from our personal in villa pool, is the hotel’s infinity pool. The pool is enormous and one end cascades over the side providing a background drop of the Andaman Sea complete with the scenic limestone.

Don’t miss out on the swim up bar with stools under water awaiting your arrival. If eating in the water is too much for you, then simply wander over to one of the perfectly positioned tables poolside and order from a menu that features both International and Thai cuisine. The pool cabanas are also a wonderful place to relax and grab a bite to eat while enjoying this beautiful lagoon. Don’t leave the resort without trying one of their signature cocktails. All the cocktails are made with fresh ingredients from the resort’s personal garden!

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THE SPA

Amongst the impressive backdrop of a tropical jungle and the tranquility of the lime stone hills lies a peaceful haven in the spa at Phulay Bay. Relax next to the sauna while you await your traditionally inspired Thai treatment experience.

As if things couldn’t get anymore zen, we decided to schedule a spa treatment in the late afternoon. We arrived about 45 minutes prior to our scheduled spa appointment in order to enjoy the exclusive facilities at the spa. When we arrived to the spa, we were greeted and provided with traditional green tea and lemongrass infused hand towels. The spa staff acquainted us with the facilities and encouraged us to relax, unwind and take pleasure in the peaceful, secluded surroundings before our treatment. If you’re someone who enjoys being pampered, don’t miss out on the ESPA Spa at Phulay Bay!

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LOCAL ATTRACTIONS AND ACTIVITIES

If you’re the ultimate beach goer, you might be disappointed to know that the property doesn’t actually have a private beach, but don’t let this prevent you from staying at Phulay Bay. I was able to spend a sunny afternoon on Hong Island, a 20 minute long-tail boat ride from the property. When on Hong Island, you can wander the pristine beaches or unpack a picnic. Unlike some crowded touristy places, Hong Island offers a quiet beach area for those who wish to unwind and get away from the hustle and bustle of the city life.

I personally enjoyed the afternoon we spent at Hong Island, due to the fact that we didn’t spend too much time away from the resort. I feel when splurging on first class service, like at Phulay Bay, I prefer to take advantage of all the amenities on the property. During my trip to Thailand, I did spend 3 days in Phuket, so I chose to take day trips to other islands during this time. I spent a day exploring Koh Phi Phi during my time in Phuket. Read about my speedboat tour experience here.

If you are interested in exploring islands other than Hong Island, the resort can accommodate and arrange any preferences you may have, whether you prefer a speedboat tour to Koh Phi Phi, snorkeling in Bamboo Island, or a day trip to Phang Nga Bay.

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DINING

With some of the finest restaurants in Krabi, Phulay Bay presents a culinary journey inspired by the flavors of the world. The resort offers 6 different restaurants with variations on Thai food. In addition to the six restaurants on the property – private dinners can be held in select locations on the property upon request.

Breakfast is included with every stay and features mostly an International cuisine with an Asian influence. Fresh fruits, juices, pastries, salads and a cook to order station are available daily. My favorite part of the breakfast was the unlimited Mimosa Bar! Clearly, it’s obvious I’m all for anything that involves some bubbly. Not only did the daily breakfast include Prosecco, but everything else under the sun! If you have a gluten allergy, no worries because they even have gluten free options, which include pastries and desserts!

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THE SERVICE

What is life without 24 hour butler service? Private butlers are the pinnacle of the service here. During our stay, we found the staff to be highly trained and on top of their guests’ needs. Our butlers, Tang and Tanya, exceeded our expectations during our stay. We became spoiled and when we left the property all we did was compare every place to Phulay Bay! Thank you so much, not only to Tang and Tanya, but everyone, who provided us with their expertise, time and personalized service! Ruby, the Director of Operations, was incredible in every sense of the word! Each and every staff member made our stay beyond incredible and Phulay Bay will forever be #1 in our hearts! I know that we will be back in the near future!

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See more images from my stay at Phulay Bay, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve below:

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What is the most luxurious resort you have visited?

Would you splurge to stay at Phulay Bay?

This post was not sponsored in any way. As always, all opinions are my own.

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