Phulay Bay, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve

UNREAL!! COMPLETELY UNREAL!! My husband and I just returned from a 10 night stay at the Ritz Carlton Phulay Bay and it was ABSOLUTELY MAGICAL!! The resort is immaculate, and the service from the staff is unlike any experience we've ever had. Truly, we were blown away by the kindness and the attention to detail throughout our entire stay. The staff notices every little detail & preference and then acts on them to make your stay feel like an escape to another world where you are pampered until your cup is not only full but overflowing!! I could go on and on with the incredible acts of thoughtfulness--there are genuinely too many to list. But I have to at least mention Habib who is truly an outstanding butler and was attentive to our every need. What a kind man he is. He was always going the extra mile with daily notes and special treats. When we left he gave us a beautiful painted art piece of my wife and me in Phulay Bay, painted by his friend in Phuket. Habib was there at every turn and made every single one of our 10 days there completely magical! I never realized how much one person could impact your experience!! I've never experienced this level of thoughtful service and we have stayed at luxury resorts from Bora Bora to Hong Kong to Paris to Hawaii and somehow Ritz Carlton Phulay Bay surpassed them all!! Guide from the Jampoon restaurant (and all the staff there) were so thoughtful and kind. Guide gave us a gift after noticing how much my I admired the after dinner tea cups . She gave us our own personal set to take back with us to the US. Beam was a wonderful tour guide and driver. We spent three days with him and loved every moment of it. He was knowledgeable and attentive but also gave us space when we needed it and was also a great photographer! He always had cold towels and treats waiting for us around every corner! We were very adventurous and tried to see as much of this beautiful part of the world as we could. It was easy to soak up the beauty and the culture with such amazing guides! Even the 4am sunrise hike to Naku Mountain with our hotel guide was so worth the early rise on vacation! The spa was luxurious and the Thai massages were next level! The spa staff once again spoiled us with treats and teas and a special gift on our last day. Unreal!! The hotel managers (both day and night managers) went out of their way to introduce themselves and add little touches to our stay that were again so kind, gracious and unreal!! The private speed boat to Phi Phi Islands was completely worth it as well! Unreal beauty and service!! I could go on and on. I wish I had the time to comment sincerely about every single person we've interacted with. I don't want to leave anybody out, and we had far more than this short list who contributed to our wonderful stay. We will definitely be returning with our family!! Truly amazing!!

When the hustle and bustle of the city becomes a shackle, the gentle tides of the Andaman Sea in southern Thailand become a balm for the soul. Across the water from Phuket, Krabi—though no longer a hidden gem—retains its rare tranquility thanks to the natural barrier of over 30 offshore islands. Its powdery white sand, emerald waves lapping the shore, and palm trees swaying in the breeze have earned it the title "Guilin of the Sea." Unlike the crowds of Phuket, Krabi offers only the lazy, romantic whisper of sea breezes. Amidst such beauty, it’s easy to understand why Ritz-Carlton chose this place for its first Reserve property. The legendary Phulay Bay, born in 2009, pioneered the Reserve collection. Though many have tried to emulate its style—even borrowing its naming convention, like MGM Reserve and Minor Reserve Collection—none have matched its allure. True to its "reserve" ethos, Phulay Bay hides in plain sight, with no flashy branding, only Thai tradition and modern aesthetics subtly woven into its tropical gardens, exuding understated luxury. Phulay Bay’s beauty is a dream carved by time. As the inaugural Ritz-Carlton Reserve, it redefined luxury with an astonishing 1:5 staff-to-guest ratio, blending Japanese restraint, British etiquette, Thai warmth, and Middle Eastern opulence. Its 54 villas sprawl across 24 hectares of secluded paradise, but its true luxury lies in its foresight: materials age, but design remains timeless; sea winds erode, but meticulous maintenance reverses time; trends fade, but its "people over space" service philosophy endures. A true reserve demands an obsession with location. While Phuket and Bali became tourist landmarks, Phulay Bay stubbornly chose Krabi—a "vanishing virgin land" with no direct flights, no travel guides, and even drivers relying on GPS to find it. This near-fanatical selectivity is what sets Reserve apart: better an undisturbed sea than a viral hotspot with millions of visitors. Here, perfection is a 5,000-night-and-counting performance, and every guest’s arrival is its most cherished finale. The biggest surprise? This pinnacle of luxury comes at an accessible price. At $550+ per night, Phulay Bay is the most affordable of Ritz-Carlton’s eight global Reserve properties. Yet its 16 years of flawless upkeep prove true luxury isn’t about price tags—it’s about turning every dollar into a memory. From its cliffside pools to rope-tying blessings, while others chase trends, Phulay Bay focuses on one eternal, flawless show—and your arrival is its most breathtaking act.

From the moment we arrived, the service at this resort exceeded all expectations. Every staff member we encountered was warm, attentive, and genuinely committed to making our stay as comfortable and memorable as possible. A very special thanks to our butler Khun Habib, whose personal advice was thoughtful, helpful, and greatly appreciated. Khun Thanya was incredibly welcoming and informative, and made us feel at ease from the start. Khun Aoy brightened our mornings with wonderful coffee, always presented with a smile. I also want to thank the team for the lovely welcome surprises and birthday additions, which made the day feel so special and personal. Khun Sagar, the General Manager, definitely does an excellent job leading the team. You can sense the genuine care and level of detail that goes into making each guest’s experience special. The resort itself is stunning, well-kept, and designed with relaxation in mind. Combined with the exceptional service, it made for a genuinely wonderful experience. We are looking forward to our return and would strongly suggest this resort to anyone seeking comfort, attention, and something a little more.

Returning to Phulay Bay after my visit last year, I was somewhat cautious, perhaps a little skeptical. Surely my great memories were just rose-tinted glasses, surely they couldn't live up to the unbelievably high expectations I had this time around. But Phulay Bay nailed it yet again, with a level of service and attention to detail I have yet to encounter in any other ultra-lux property. In fact, I will go so far as to say that in my longer stay this time around, the hotel impressed me even more than before - the Beach Villas are huge and luxurious enough for anyone, the service is as perfect as I imagine is possible, and the property, and surrounding city, is as breathtakingly gorgeous as ever. A huge thank you goes to our butler Khun Sabai and the chef Khun Rahul. Between them, my family and I were taken care of in every way possible, and felt right at home with people to help with every possible request or desire. They are both the best ambassadors the property could have dreamed of, and their service justifies the eye-watering price and then some.

Excellent resort and it's management. First time we witnessed what a true butler can do. She was there for everything. Just need to send a message and she appears within a minute either personally or through her messages. The food was exceptional and Chef Rahul made whatever we asked him to prepare. It shows the freedom the staff enjoys to do whatever to please the customers. Excellent.