Sand Sea Resort

We’re returning guests. This hotel isn’t perfect (breakfast is poor and rooms a little rustic) but we returned as it’s a fab location with three lovely pools within walking distance of all railays best bits. However this year a coffee shop has opened on the front and it’s relentless. Hoards of people outside it / taking selfies / walking round pool to shower off before going inside. It needs roping off somehow as they keep coming into the pool area to nose around and literally have no shame posing for photos with their drinks right next to your sun lounger. It no longer feels like the hidden slice of peace in the midst of the day trippers as they all come traipsing round the pool! There’s a token sign but it’s ignored. Not sure yet if we’d come back again a 3rd time

The hotel has a prime position. The reception is on the East Coast so if you're coming from a ferry then hotel is next to the floating pier. The hotel then runs from east to west with 3 pools, the main one being on the west side where the stunning beach is. When we arrived late afternoon we were excited to see sunbeds overlooking the beach. This soon disappeared when we went to breakfast the next morning as every sunbed around the main pool and overlooking the beach had a towel on them though only a handful had a body sat on them. Management really should do something about this. All the staff we met were friendly and courteous though as it is such a huge hotel we didn't get to know any of them. Breakfast was good, only disappointment was that fresh fruit was limited.
We chose the cheapest level of room which was near the reception. It was fairly clean but needed some attention. Air-conditioning vent was dirty, fridge unsightly and water in the shower didn't drain away. It was also very dated.
We stayed in 3 places in Thailand, this hotel, despite booking the cheapest room, was the most expensive and the worst.
If they can sort out the sunbed hoggers and update/maintain the rooms I'd recommend the hotel for it's position plus the choice in Railay is limited.

The most incredible service and accommodations we’ve ever had. This is special island and you should stay here to make it the best experience. Make sure you go out of your way to find Pot, his smile and personality are infectious. The entire staff was amazing and the rooms and breakfast were equally beautiful. We thank you for having us and hope to be back.
Brian and Nicole from Califonia

We're just checking out now from the Sand Sea Resort, and we had an absolutely amazing time, both at the Resort, and at the whole area of Railay Beach. This is one of the most beautiful places on earth, no question. Highly recommended!

We loved our stay at Sand Sea. The key — believe it or not — was the wonderful bellhop Saman who advised us on good rooms and opportunities, all with a great smile and much kindness. He literally made our stay as lovely as it was.

The rooms are very nice — but overtime they will need some updating with better bathroom lighting and electrical plugs on both sides of the bed. The free breakfast is great but the dinner was so-so. We ended up eating at two fabulous restaurants in the “downtown.” So I would give those matters four stars.

The hotel does not serve alcohol but you’re five steps away from places that do. This actually is nice because there are fewer late night noisy neighbors.

The view by the main beach and pool is simply stunning — the best you’ll see. Other areas are over-developed but you do not feel like you’re in a tourist crush here at SandSea. And the sunset is simply spectacular.

The hotel was in an excellent location. Right on the beach
The staff were friendly and helpful. Our room was behind reception and staff would take us in a golf trolley to the beach. The rooms were clean and has a air-conditioning. The bed was comfortable.
The pool was nice for an early morning swim with great views over the beach, it was nice laying on the sunbeds looking at the amazing rocks and the longtail boats bringing in the day trippers.
Breakfast was a buffet style and delicious, the hotel did do evening meals at a good price however we did not eat there. The restaurant does not sell alcohol which was a shame as you could not have a cocktail while on your sunbed however you could buy alcohol to have with your evening meal.
There was a nice bar next door where we would go and have a drink throughout the day.
If I was staying in this area again, I would go back to the same hotel. Great place to watch the sunset.

This resort is fabulous! Service is quick and efficient and everything is very clean. The Green Curry dish at the dinner restaurant is the best I have ever had, simply delicious! It is right on the beach, with 3 lovely swimming pools. We loved our week there and will definitely go back there again. Five stars from me!

Sand Sea Resort is perched on Railay beach. You get to enjoy views of a quiet and beautiful beach before the crowds arrive around 10 / 11.

The resort is very large indeed, with several pools. It’s an amalgam of 2 / 3 resorts which have been combined. For this reason the quality of the accommodation varies significantly.

Initially we were put in a “deluxe villa”. It was spacious and perfectly ‘ok’ but dated and far from deluxe. The bedroom , shower room and toilet areas were all on different levels with slippery tiles between each. I am not an old man but I slipped and injured myself (and broke the toilet!).

The staff were lovely and we were placed in a brand new room which was absolutely lovely. WHAT a difference.

So, in short, good resort but be careful about the rooms. My photos show the modern room.

A very large complex/resort covering both sunset & sunrise beaches.
The sunrise side where our bungalow was based has a small pool adjacent to the reception. You can’t really call it a beach as it’s where the main pier is based and when the tide is out it’s more mud than sand.
The sunset side is a different story. Stunning view on a lovely beach. Get up early to really enjoy the sight. After 9am the day trippers start arriving and by midday it’s packed.
There is another beautiful beach just a short walk away along from the pier through a walk way which I would recommend visiting. It’s the best beach at of them all.
The bungalows are large with a big bed and good AC. The bathroom needs a little TLC but it’s ok.
The staff were great, friendly & helpful. They arranged both pick from Khoa Lak and departure to Krabi airport. Both longboats and taxis were all on time (we had a 6am departure by boat in the dark). At checkout we were given breakfast bags as breakfast started at 7am.
On the subject of breakfast, it was the standard buffet offering, maybe not best we had seen while in Thailand however it’s was fine. Lovely view as the breakfast area is directly in front of the beach.
The resort is alcohol free but don’t let that put you off as they are happy to let you bring it in from outside.
The main negative hence the 4/5 is there are not enough sun beds around the main pool and they do nothing to stop the classic ‘sun bed towel gang’ who seem to rise before most have gone to bed to save a spot with their towels. I so wish hotels would simply remove the towels if left unattended for more than 60 mins. Many say they will but never do.
The beaches are great but a little pool time is nice.
The town is busy with many bars and restaurants. Quite a few offer drugs so take that into account.
All in all a great visit.

Great location walkable to beach has pool gets crowded. Beautiful beach view. staff are friendly and helpful. Our room is small Noise level good and place is clean great valie for money

Beautiful place, staff so friendly and helpful, always smiling.
Great location. Lovely to see so much Natural beauty in and around this resort. Dusky Leaf Monkeys were my daily delight. Room was ovely, clean comfortable and just outside we were able to see the Monkeys as they came to the trees just outside our balcony.
This hotel feels authentic and exceeded our expectations for the price.thank you to all the staff for being so welcoming.

Wonderful place with kind and helpful personal! Want to go back! Great view with a pool next to the ocean. The city was cozy with everything you needed.

It was ok for 2 nights I wouldn’t stay for more . It is more like a 3 than 4* hotel. It was nice to have the pool right next to the beach which stretches right across Railay

Was amazing. Beautiful location beautiful people. Service impeccable worth every penny. Food on hotel could be better but it wasn’t bad honestly

I have travelled a lot through Thailand before, this was the first time together with my wife and 3 year old daughter.
We have stayed at the Sea Sand Resort for 4 days during high season and over new years eve. While Rai Leh Beach can be quite crowded throughout the day, Sand Sea Resort offers you a bit of tranquility, since you can escape the busy beach and just relax a bit at one of the resort's three pools located inland. We had junior suite cottage (sunset side) which came with generous space and tasteful interior. Our residence was located in between some trees and one of our daily highlights was to spot the rather reserved dusky langurs who seemed to live up in those trees.
Concerning NYE, I must say we were blown away by the gala night that was hosted: Big buffet, beautiful setup (tables and decorations), moderation, fun games and raffles, fireshow at the beach, and a proper stage (the staff did propably twice an all-nighter to build and then again dismantle) on which traditional thai dancers and the famous thai reggae band Job 2 Do performed.
What made our stay though really special and memorable, was the amazing staff as they all are attentive, forthcoming and really really kind hearted (shout-out to Saman, Husnee, Hasmin, and the rest of the team!).
For my family, I couldn't have wished for a better experience. We will definetly come back

I am in travel so honest review.

What a lovely hotel. Based on the beach and runs from west to east railey.

Staff on reception and concierge are so helpful and smiling all the time.

Room are good and clean.

Breakfast excellent.

There are 3 pools we tended to use pool 3 as at the back of the hotel so quieter.

Grounds are kept immaculate. We saw a baby and a larger water monitor. Apparently they have a family of them.

We walked to the view point and saw the monkeys. Well worth a walk.

Highly recommend and would definitely revisit.

The resort is well located for the local amenities and stretches across both sides.

We pre-booked our private airport transfer from Krabi airport with the hotel, and recommend this. It is well organised and seamless for around 2000 baht.

The hotel staff are welcoming and eager to help. There are plenty of them, and always helpful

The restaurant for food isn’t that great. Both times we ate here the service was very slow, and the order was incomplete or wrong. There are loads of choices in the area, so pick another.

We booked an all dayboat tour through the hotel to Phi Phi (5 islands) by private speedboat. This proved to be a poor decision and cost significantly more than local tour operators.
The two young lads operating the tour for the hotel arrived 30mins late, and unfortunately spoke very little English.
They hammered the speedboat at full power across the sea, so you couldn’t have a conversation and you had to hold on, as it bounced on the waves.
About a mile off Phi Phi, the engine overheated, and cut out. They frantically tried to call people on their phone to no avail. By luck the engine cooled and restarted, but was left thinking’ what if’. The boat had no lifejackets either which was a concern.
The full day trip finished and we were back at the hotel for 2pm, hardly a full day trip.

However, apart from the trip and the restaurant, I would recommend the hotel and staff.

This has been the worst service experience I have ever encountered, especially shocking for a country that thrives on tourism and for a resort that is otherwise well-rated.

One of our family members lost her father just before our planned stay. We reached out to Saddened Sea Resort at Railay Beach requesting either a rescheduled stay or even a credit valid for six months or a year, so we could visit at a later time. We were not asking for a refund—just basic flexibility and human understanding during an extremely difficult time.

Our requests were denied repeatedly, and worse, many of our emails were simply ignored. There was absolutely no empathy, no willingness to help, and no meaningful communication from the resort management.

Hospitality is not just about good views and rooms; it’s about how guests are treated when it truly matters. During testing times, when you expect compassion and professionalism, this resort failed completely.

I would not recommend anyone to book this resort. If you’re looking for a place that will treat you with understanding and care during unforeseen circumstances, this is not the place to be.

Sand Sea Resort has an unbeatable location right on Railay Beach. The views are absolutely amazing and make the stay feel truly special.

The staff are incredibly friendly and accommodating—always smiling, helpful, and genuinely caring about your experience.

The resort offers everything you would expect from a solid 4-star hotel, plus the bonus of breathtaking surroundings and excellent service. A perfect place to relax and enjoy Railay at its best.

Highly recommended.

A perfect place to stay. Ask for Samman who is a bellman who will carry your bags, buggy you around, walk you anywhere you may need directions to. He is so friendly, the staff is all super friendly.