The hotel is absolutely lovely. The...
The hotel is absolutely lovely. The rooms are very generous in size, clean and good value for money and the setting is amazing.
The beach is not private but shared with the neighbouring bungalows but is very nice. nice view with a coral reef just off shore! Great for snorkling.
Beach bar is not the best. Few sun beds. Doesn't get much sun and needs some floor covering. Best to sit on beach or pay for sun beds on the beach.
Pool is gorgeous and not often very busy.
We stayed in a Beach View pavillion room but we didn't have a beach view, we were one row back unfortunately and could just make out the sea from our terrace. But lovely jungle setting and jungle view.
Hotel was very expensive. Food is good but over priced with extras that are charged to price - service/tax etc.
There is a much cheaper restaurant next door at the Ao Sane bungalows. Food is also better here but setting/venue is more catered to back packers.
Service at hotel is very good with most staff speaking very good english.
Also be prepared for lots of stairs to everything - beach, restaurant, reception, rooms, etc. Not steep but many.
Location is the only down side.
Setting cannot be faulted with exotic jungle/fruits/birds/gekkos etc, but walk from nearest local resort (Nai Harn) is 10 minutes of hills which can be difficult in the heat of the day. Hotel do little to help. Free bus every 2 hours until 4pm. They also charge a lot to organise taxis/tours/car hire (usually extra 100-300 bht seems to be hidden in price). Always book these at other resorts (i.e. street tour traders) as MUCH cheaper.
Nearest Nai Harn beach is nice but a bit quiet and dominated by Royal Yacht club. Good local bus links from Nai Harn (40 Bht) to Phuket Town where you can get local buses to Karon and Kata beaches (30 bht) and elsewhere but takes ages as they travel at 5 mph.
Only access direct to Karon et al (which are recommended for good beaches/dining and a litle more life) from Nai Harn beach is taxi/Tuk Tuk which can be expensive (350/400 bht).
Did feel a bit isolated as a result of this difficulty. Spent a lot of money on travel. Recommend hiring a car to have a bit of independence.
Hotel great if you literally want to do nothing and stay at the hotel. But if you want to go to other beaches, explore the island, or go to lots of good restaurants elsewhere on island, can be difficult from Baan Krating - taxi drivers laugh and are reluctant to take you all the way to the hotel. Will normally only drop you at Nai Harn beach.
James Bond Island tour with Diamond Princess tours is much cheaper than others (1300 bht each and well worth it)
Phi Phi is also worth a trip too. Difficult to do (esp from hotel) without joining a tour though.
We also stayed at Baan Krating for christmas day which we thought was a bit of a let down. They had a BIG organised celebration on Christmas Eve but took most of the decorations down by the morning of Christmas Day??
Overall we had a fabulous holiday and the hotel was a little slice of luxury/paradise. We probably would stay there again and recommend it to others. Just know what you are going to get and be prepared to pay lots for the priviledge. Not necessarily for the room but for the travel.
