We have just returned home from 10 days at The Waters in Khao Lak.
The Pros:
1. The location is very good, from the entrance turn left and a 5 minute walk gets you to a beach that is pristine, clean and with clear water. Turn right and within 10 minutes you get to the main road.
To the left there are a couple of good restaurants / gift shops / massage shops.
To the right is where the majority of the options are, within 100 meters there are 5 massage shops / 3 restaurants / gift shops / money changers and a bar. By the time you reach the main road you will have passed more than 10 restaurants / 15 massage shops , bars, travel and tour activity planners, and almost anything else you can imagine.
2. The staff are very good. House keeping excellent , reception always helpful, restaurant - polite and helpful, ground and maintenance polite.
3. The room. Pool level direct access at pool level. Split level veranda with the room level dry, day lounger and deck chairs, stepping down into the wet area where the deck chairs also sit nicely in about 20cm of water a few steps and you are in a 50 x 8 meter pool. Don't expect cold water at this time of year, cooler in the mornings but noticeable warm in the later afternoon. The air-conditioning is first rate creating a retreat from the high heat and humidity at this time of year.
4. Not many children while we were there, and by 30 minutes after sunset the entire pool area goes quite and peaceful. If you looking to party there is plenty of that, just out of the hotel at one of the many bars.
5. The breakfast. Is quite varied and has many options, only a small portion of it is Thai inspired. What food is offered is plentiful and tasty , you will find something to suit.
Con's
1. The hotel itself, as much as it has ongoing maintenance - as was evident by the room 3 doors down getting a repaint when its occupants left and before the next occupants arrived. There was nothing about the hotels appearance , feel or vibe that said or felt like you were in Thailand. Even the hotel restaurant is based on an Italian theme and menu. This hotel could be relocated northern Queensland as it is and you would not notice the difference.
2. The room comfort. Beds are quite hard and a chair at the small desk rather than a stool would be better.
Conclusion.
You will have a good holiday here, the staff are the big plus for this location, they all go above and beyond to look after their guests. If you can, the direct pool entry rooms are good just pay attention to their orientation to the sun, try to ask for a room that suits your SUN requirements, we struck it lucky and had a good mixture of morning shade midday sun and afternoon shade. Some of the rooms had no morning sun then full afternoon sun.
