On our trip to Thailand, we were fortunate enough to spend a few days in the beautiful region of Krabi. Krabi is a well-known natural and backpacking paradise, with all the lush beauty and beautiful islands that southern Thailand has become famous for—without the crowds. This especially goes for the island of Koh Lanta, the large and quiet island that is home to Layana Resort & Spa.
Layana is a 5-star adults-only boutique resort that has already won several awards, such as the Haute Grandeur Global Hotel and Spa Awards in 2020, as well as notable wins from World Travel Awards 2017 and the World Luxury Spa Awards 2017. I am an ardent lover of boutique hotels and was very excited to stay at Layana. It was a shame that we only had one night to spend at this resort that soon showed itself to be perfect for longer, slow getaways. However, we tried to see and do everything we could during our short stay.
Of course, while I fully disclose that we were treated to a covered PR experience at Layana, all thoughts are honest and my own.
Introduction to Layana
Layana made a wonderful first impression on us even before we arrived at the property. Upon our exit from the airport, a Layana staff member ushered us into a large air-conditioned van with glass bottles of water and wifi. The ride from Krabi airport to the resort property takes about 2 hours and includes a car ferry. The roads on Koh Lanta are not as developed or maintained as the more touristic areas of Krabi, and there is very little signage—hence why the pickup and dropoff service is crucial to a smooth arrival process.
We arrived at Layana’s lobby through a tunnel of leafy palms. There are immediately noticeable thoughtful touches, such as a necklace of local flowers on arrival, hand towels, and juice. The staff was kind and efficient, and after a brief check-in, loaded us and our bags onto a golf cart that drove us straight to our villa door.
The Property
The resort property isn’t particularly large, but the intimacy of it adds to the boutique feel. The centerpiece of the resort is the set of 2 pools divided by a lush green lawn, flanked on both sides by rooms and villas. At the end of the property lies the restaurant, and beyond that the private beach, dotted with sunbathing chairs and umbrellas. Getting around is easy—with your own two feet, free bicycles offered to hotel guests, and of course the golf cart should you prefer to not work up a sweat.
Despite the fact that the pool area seems to be full of patrons at all times, the beach is plenty spacious for everyone, the restaurant always has tables available, and the air is always very quiet and peaceful. In fact, I was struck by how little noise there was at the resort. Most of the time, the only sound was the waves on the beach and the tropical bugs humming in the trees.
My only wish was that the property was fumigated for pest control like many luxury resorts. I’m quite the mosquito magnet and there were a large number of them both outside and ones that managed to sneak into our villa. However, to their credit, the resort does provide a complimentary bottle of natural mosquito repellent spray that successfully kept us from getting overly bitten.
The Room
We stayed at the Ocean Deluxe Villa, a two-story suite more than equipped to handle two persons. The bottom floor has a living room with a couch and TV, minibar and half kitchen, half bathroom, and jacuzzi room connected to both an outdoor and indoor shower area. Additionally, there is a private deck. The upstairs has the bedroom with a king-size bed, as well as a full bathroom.
My favorite part of the villa was the wonderfully comfortable bed, followed closely by the shower design. The jacuzzi was also an excellent touch, but its position in the half-indoor, half-outdoor room also means it is prime mosquito territory. The staff set up a beautiful aromatic flower bath for me in the morning, and while I did get bitten once while bathing, it was worth soaking among the lemongrass-scented bubbles.
Linger Longer Spa
Layana’s Linger Longer Spa has won multiple awards on its own. The ambiance is intimate and soothing, from the dim lighting to the gentle voices of the staff. We enjoyed a 90-minute Layana Signature Massage for two and both agree that it was one of the most relaxing massages we have ever had.
The process starts with tea and hand towels, followed by washing of the feet. The massage tables are comfortable enough to qualify as beds. My favorite detail is the bowl of fresh flowers placed directly underneath the face hole, so the scent gently wafts to the nose throughout the massage. The long Swedish-style strokes of the masseurs are the perfect balance between a calming caress and muscle-loosening strength.
To sum up the experience, I fell asleep twice. If I had the chance, I would definitely come to visit the Linger Longer Spa again. They have multiple pages of spa options, from facials to baths to full-body massages—endless options for a much-needed pampering session.
Dining
We only had one night to stay at Layana, so we were able to experience dinner once and breakfast once. The restaurant and bar are located on the edge of the beach overlooking the water, lending a wonderful romantic vibe and view. On certain days, Layana invites musicians to play live music at dinner. We were lucky enough to be there on one of such days, and it made our evening extra lovely.
Dinner is a mixed Thai and Mediterranean affair ordered a la carte. We tried several of the Mediterranean options, having eaten Thai food for two weeks straight already. The sous vide octopus wasn’t our favorite, but the seared yellowfin tuna was excellent. The French duck breast was also quite good. While I wish we could have sampled the full range of Thai options as well, we unfortunately ran out of stomach space after two appetizers, three entrees, two desserts, and four drinks (certainly a tragedy).
Breakfast is buffet style and has equal variety. I am a huge fan of the fresh-squeezed orange juice in Thailand—the so-called “dirty oranges” are far sweeter than the ones we have in the west and I grew up with them during my summers in Indonesia as a child. Luckily, Layana has natural orange juice by the pitcherful at breakfast, for which I am truly grateful. I’m not much of a breakfast person, but Andrew enjoyed the fresh egg waffles and congee. The tea offered at every meal is also a nice touch.
Final Thoughts
I certainly feel that Layana’s best qualities start to shine given enough time to unwind, fully appreciate the property, and embrace the slow pace of the island. If we had more time to spend, I’m sure we would’vebeen able to enjoy the private beach and explore the grounds even more—those bicycles were calling my name. The staff at Layana also clearly tries to add those thoughtful touches that make the experience feel so personal. I felt very well taken care of upon arriving at the resort.
Koh Lanta is quite the trek, but if you have the time to make it out to Layana Resort & Spa and immerse yourself in this quiet, peaceful getaway, you’ll find yourself passing the days with long walks on the beach and reading books in the jacuzzi before you know it.
Thank you to Layana Resort & Spa for hosting our stay.
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