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Not so very long ago Phuket was an undiscovered paradise, an Eden on the Andaman Sea. Today it’s one of the world’s most popular destinations, and while there are some remarkable resorts, that sense of Phuket as a remote escape is a thing of the past.
You don’t have to go far to get that feeling back, though. Half an hour south from Phuket by speedboat is Racha Yai island, home to The Racha, a complex of seventy gleaming white modernist villas on a hillside above a soft sandy beach on a secluded cove.
There’s little in the way of jungle island kitsch here — the interiors are as urbane as any city hotel, polished white surfaces positively sparkling, with crisp contemporary furnishings and dark wood accents. Each comes with a private terrace to enjoy the view of the bay (best seen at sunset) and an indoor-outdoor bathroom complete with open-air shower. The low-lying villas are a stone’s throw from the pristine white sand beach, while those higher up the hill boast superior views and private plunge pools.
A palatial spa complex offers a bewildering array of treatments, and the dive center outfits and instructs guests in preparation for exploring the island’s coral-reef fringe. Out here on Racha Yai there’s no town center to explore — surely a selling point rather than a limitation — but the hotel’s bar and two restaurants are more than up to the task, serving Thai and Italian cuisine in a stylish setting against the backdrop of the waters of Batok Bay.
Please note: To access the island where The Racha is located, clients must comply with a strict speedboat schedule. When booking, please contact Tablet Hotels Customer Service for information.
- Complimentary upgrade upon hotel check-in, based upon availability
- Spa voucher worth $50 US
- Bottle of wine in room
- Complimentary fruit plate, refreshed during the course of stay
- 70 Rooms
- Style: Modern Design
- Atmosphere: Quiet
- 20 Guest Reviews
- The Racha
- 42/12-13 Moo 5
- Rawai Muang, Phuket, Thailand
Hotel amenities and services
- 24 hour concierge
- 24 hour gym
- Babysitting (on request)
- Bar
- Beauty salon
- Bicycle rentals nearby
- Boardroom
- Central air conditioning
- Free parking
- Free wi-fi
- Jacuzzi
- Lounge
- Multi-lingual staff
- No pets allowed
- Outdoor swimming pool
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Sauna
- Spa
- Yoga
Other Phuket Area hotels
20 Guest Reviews
All reviews are from Tablet guests with verified stays.
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- Michael
- Stayed March 2012
- Rating: Excellent
What I liked:
The Racha has it all - the perfect mix of beautiful beachfront, great pool, amazing spa, and all the relaxation or activity you want. We loved being able to walk down to the beach, grab some fins and snorkels (or borrow a sea kayak), and explore the cove on our own schedule.
From 9am to 3pm there's a crush of tourists (coming from Phuket?) that make the stretch of beach in front of the resort really crowded and kind of unappealing, but we took that time to lay by the pool and relax. After tourists have cleared out for the day, the beach is virtually abandoned and is a great place to watch the sunset.
The staff was super-friendly and helpful without being obtrusive. I had an absolutely amazing facial and massage at the spa - they even somehow came and found us to tell us there had been a cancellation that would allow them to provide my services at a time that I preferred.
Although we went on our honeymoon, we imagine it would be a great place to take a family trip as well as there are so many options for activities.
What the hotel could do better:
They had this roving mariachi band in the evenings that seemed to move between the two restaurants at the resort. They were loud and seemed to be playing for tips - we left one of the restaurants one night rather than have to hear them play for our whole dinner. They were just getting started playing at our restaurant as we were leaving the second night...and thank goodness. It just added a level of cheesiness that didn't need to be there...it took away from the experience.
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- jackie
- Stayed January 2012
- Rating: Good
What I liked:
The Racha is located on a nice beach with blue waters. However, on some days, the beach/water was very dirty was a lot of floating garbage. But was perfectly clear/clean on other days. Rooms are very white and minimalistic which is very nice to look at but some of the furniture such as couch was not very comfortable.
What the hotel could do better:
The rooms / villas are not very private. We stayed in a spa villa and it was right next to the main walkway so we had to keep the curtains and shutters closed at all times. There was also a verandah but we did not use it because it was in an open area for all to see. The hotel can plant more trees around the villas to give it more privacy.
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- Stayed November 2011
- Rating: Excellent
What I liked:
We have nothing but great things to say about the Racha. The price point is a bit higher, but with that you get privacy, wonderful service, and great facilities. We stayed in a Villa that had it's own private shower (a plus) and also had a semi view of the bay. The pool was not crowded and we received great service (you had your own button to push if you needed anything). My husband and I were sad we had not planned to stay longer.
What the hotel could do better:
Nothing, had a wonderful stay!
