Pleasant Place”

My wife and I went to Railay beach for the first time. The Sand Sea Resort is perfectly located on Railay, its on the best part of the beach and right on the sand. The Thai landscaping and views are just awesome. The breakfast and breakfast location was simply breathtaking on the beach. Take your camera to breakfast. We stayed two nights and it was a wonderful stay with very nice people no matter where we went on the beach. Some other buttet points that may help someone else decide on their trip: * At Sand Sea they charged us an additional 700THB for my wifes sister who was on holiday with us. Included a bed and breakfast which was ok with us. * The bathroom at Sand Sea doesnt have A/C. But it does have mosquito screens. Big bathroom in the Deluxe. * Be prepared to shoulder your bags, walk in the sea to the boat that will take you to Railay Beach. Then same for getting off the boat. About a 10 minute ride. * The Sand Sea doesnt serve alcohol. But you can walk 30 seconds next door and get all you want. * Our A/C unit in our room Wasnt working too well but they added freon and had it cooling wonderful within an hour after our checkin. * This is not a party beach. Restaurants close at 11:00pm. There is no loud pumping music with disco's that we saw or heard. This beach is relatively quiet at night. * For a massage walk down walking street and on the left there is one place with A/C and it cost 350THB for one hour oil massage. To travel to Koh Phi Phi Island from Railay costs 400 THB and takes close to 2 hours on a ferry boat. Can book this at Railay. Enjoy! JT & Nadia

Enjoy sand and sea with great hospitality”

Though you can't reach the resort directly by road (No resorts on Railay beach can be accessed directly by road from Krabi mainland), you can enjoy a really good time here on the lovely beaches of Railay. The resort is just on the Railay West beach. Easily accessible from Railay East beach and Pier. You can also well spend your time on the Phra Nang beach. Rock climbing, canoeing, sun bathing, Island hopping are common activities you can find here. The staffs here are very caring and supportive. The resort has two pools, which are also great. neat and clean place to relax. They have very interesting and comfortable transport service from Krabi Airport to resort and vice versa. Their front desk is also very supportive. I mistakenly done booking for only two adults. They later accommodated my two kids with extra bed and necessary breakfast option with reasonable charges. I would recommend others to have their stay at Sand Sea resort while in Krabi.

Ultimate paradise beach resort”

I am hesitant to give this place the outstanding review it deserves because we don't want to encourage others to go. The last thing this paradise needs is thousands of tourists. The fact is, it is not a tourist resort. It is way off the beaten track, only accessible by long tail boat and it is not the sort of place you visit for your summer holidays. It is a travellers resort, populated by people who know Asia, and who have travelled extensively in Thailand. It is not Phuket, Krabi or Pattaya. It is way beyond those places in terms of stunning views, world-class beaches and a general feeling of total relaxation. It is not a party place(unless you make your own party), it is ideal for families with young children or couples who want to some peace and tranquillity. We picked the Sand Sea resort more or less at random from the half dozen places in Railay. We got lucky because from the outside at least this is the best place to stay. We jumped off the boat, waded up the beach straight into reception. It was amazing. We booked the super deluxe room, in the two storey (new) buildings and I recommend this unless you are a couple or a solo backpacker. The cottages look charming and romantic but they also look a bit old and tried. The rooms in the blocks were first class. Modern, clean, huge and with a very generous balcony. The furnishings all looked brand new. The hotel has good facilities, great pool and beach side restaurant. The food was excellent, particularly the Thai cuisine, which was as good as we have tasted anywhere in Thailand. The inclusive breakfast was more than adequate. The staff were so warm, welcoming and helpful. We have 2 small kids but not once did we feel we were a nuisance or unwelcome. So in summary please don’t go there. We want to go back time and again and enjoy the sparsely populated beach and pool and restaurants and bars.

Great family-friendly resort in beautiful location”

Our family with 2 young toddlers (3 & 18mth) had a great week at Sand Sea Resort in Krabi, mid September. We landed in Bangkok at 2pm on a Tuesday and thought we'd have to stay the night before going to Railay. Thanks to SSR's airport transfer, we were able to get a flight to Krabi airport at 7pm and were met by SSR staff and taken all the way to our hotel room! Yay, an extra day at the beach. The resort opens out right onto the beach with easy access to Walking Street and East Railay. Every day begins with a great buffet breakfast allowing you to enjoy the view and the breeze. After the beach the pool is also great for kids with lots of shade. The restaurant offers a wide variety of meals to cater for all tastes, the resort has a small mini mart, post service, kayak rental, towels for your use changed with the bedsheets every day! A few things for parents to note: - There is no gate around the pool (or any other parts of the resort) - There are many stray cats and dogs on the beach that are placid but still probably haven't had their rabies shots. Our 18 month old was obsessed with them. - It's very hard to find milk in Raialy - try Walking Street, but it's very expensive. Maybe pack some UHT from home? - As everything comes to Railay by boat, you have limited choices and prices are much higher. - The aircon seems to have one setting: cold. The staff were generally very friendly (to our girls at least) and were reasonably good at communicating. My Thai sucks so I think they do very well! But we had a great time and highly recommend this resort.

Nice Stay in Railay”

We chose Sand Sea after reading reviews here on Trip Advisor, and seeing it was one of the cheapest hotels on Railay West. I have nothing but positive things to say about this hotel! The location on Railay West is perfect, with beautiful beach out front and an easy walk over to Railay East. The hotel grounds themselves are well-maintained, and the hotel pool is beautiful. We stayed in a deluxe bungalow, and our friend stayed in a superior bungalow. Both rooms were clean, with good AC and comfortable beds. The hotel restaurant was pretty good, serving both international and Thai cuisine. We found the staff to be quite helpful, answering our questions and providing shuttle service over to Railay East on the day we left. Yes, you do have to take a longtail boat and walk through some water with your bag when you arrive and depart - this is true of all the hotels in Railay. One of the beautiful things about Railay is the lack of development and huge commercial pier! We loved Railay and I would absolutely stay here again!

Great Stay in Railay”

We chose Sand Sea after reading reviews here on Trip Advisor, and seeing it was one of the cheapest hotels on Railay West. I have nothing but positive things to say about this hotel! The location on Railay West is perfect, with beautiful beach out front and an easy walk over to Railay East. The hotel grounds themselves are well-maintained, and the hotel pool is beautiful. We stayed in a deluxe bungalow, and our friend stayed in a superior bungalow. Both rooms were clean, with good AC and comfortable beds. The hotel restaurant was pretty good, serving both international and Thai cuisine. We found the staff to be quite helpful, answering our questions and providing shuttle service over to Railay East on the day we left. Yes, you do have to take a longtail boat and walk through some water with your bag when you arrive and depart - this is true of all the hotels in Railay. One of the beautiful things about Railay is the lack of development and huge commercial pier! We loved Railay and I would absolutely stay here again!

Comfortable chalets in well-priced budget resort”

From the Airport there are 2 travel routes you can take using the airport bus (apart from taking the Hotel bus). The shorter route is get off at Ao Nam Mao pier then the longtail boat directly to Railay East beach, just 10 minutes. From Railay East beach you walk across the islet and on the other side turn right and walk into Sand&Sea (about a 10 minute walk on a cement pathway). I recommend the longer route which the better method to get to the Sand&See because it is more enjoyable & scenic & and less effort when lugging suitcases. Disembark at Ao Nang, wait for the local longboat which leaves only when 8 people are available. While waiting you can eat at the local beach restaurant – not a punishment as the food is delicious. The boat drops you off at Railay West beach right in front of Sand&See. Lovely visuals on arriving. Note that when you get off the longboat you are getting into knee-high sea water so wear plastic sandal shoes and clothes that you can roll up. West Railay beach is a lovely sandy beach all day long. East Railway is basically a mangrove beach with mushy ground & daily tidal ebbes - not fit for beach activities.

Good location on West Railay”

We really enjoyed our stay at Sand and Sea resort. We were very happy with our choice to stay in West Railay. Although its a 5 minute walk from East to West Railay, it was really nice to have a beautiful beach right by the resort. There isnt really a beach in East Railay. The hotel itself was great. We booked a grand deluxe room. Our first room was at the other end of the resort on the first floor with a view of an air-conditionner. Luckily (I guess) the room at ants in it. After a few phone calls, they switched us to a room on the second floor with a much prettier view and closer to the beach (and no ants!). The staff is not super welcoming or warm, but they get the job done... The pool is nice, there is a small convenient stoor and a place to rent kayaks at the resort. The restaurant is also good. Breakfast is ok, big spread but food was often cold. There is no alcool on at the hotel, but you can purchase some next door. Very much recommend for a little getaway in Railay!

Superb location, awesome experience..must visit”

It was a superb experience, the location of this hotel is the best among all the hotels in railay...infact the dropp off and pick up point of all the long tail and speed boats is the sand sea hotel on the beach which makes it the most convenient location on railay west beach since sea is the only mode of transport to the west railsy...the hotel staff was very attentive and helpful...specially chollette the front desk manager and the bell boy saman were very impressive...all category rooms(i checked all categories) including the basic ones were very well maintained and very spacious...you have a free internet excess throughout the hotel...there is a minimart within the hotel premisis...an amazing spa facility....and one of the best restaurants for food in the railay(though the service at the restaurant was disappointing).... No room service and alcohol free hotel are the two biggest drawback if the hotel...

Fantastic holiday”

I extremely enjoyed my time at Sand Sea resort. It is the first time I have been to Thailand and I am very happy that I chose Sand Sea as my hotel choice. The room I selected, Grand deluxe suite, was absolutely fabulous. It was clean and very spacious, especially for me as a solo traveller. The hotel staff were very friendly and extremely attentive when I reported the broken curtain pole, which was fixed promptly within 20-30 minutes. The room was cleaned daily and any towels replaced as required. The hotel provided complimentary water, juice, pop and crisps, which I was very grateful for. The only negative thing I can say is the TV channels were not very clear, but this really is not too much of a negative. I am on my holidays and have access to a TV every other week of the year, so I really do not want to be sitting inside watching the TV. I definitely recommend this accommodation. It is very close to everything on resort and the transfers to the airport were very well organised and efficient. There are 2 pools one looking over the beach and another (which was the quieter pool) towards the back. Something for all preferences.

What a perfect place!”

Loved it. I can't believe it's only three stars. The food is terrible (literally the worst we had on our entire three week trip), but who cares when you can do a cartwheel on the beach and be in a different restaurant already?! We stayed in Koh Lanta first, which was okay, but if you're going to Krabi and want the perfect beach vacation, go to Railay and stay at Sand Sea Resort. Good value for money and in such a beautiful location. We got off the longtail boat and thought we had to trek for a while to get there but it was right in front of us. There are plenty of small excursions to adventure on and to occupy your stay for a week. I wish we had stayed longer.

Lovely hotel & Great location”

We enjoyed very much our 3 days at Sand Sea Resort. The location was great for married couple or couples with children. The staff is very polite and friendly. If you are looking for a fun nightlife you should look for different place. There are some restaurants and travel agencies 10 min walk from the Sand Sea Resort. Make sure you don't eat at the Diamond Cave restaurant … we got sick there/food poisoned and 1 day of our vacation was ruined. The owner of the restaurant refused to reimburse 500 Baht($17) when I proved him that we got sick after eating a meal in his restaurant. In rest we had great vacation on Railay beach, Krabi!

Great hotel on Railay West”

I usually stay on Railay East as it is far better value, but there are some unbelievable deals on at the moment. Very impressed with Sand Sea, 1 minute walk to the beach/pool from my room, which was nice and clean. Staff very nice who organised boats even though we left on different days. They don't serve alcohol at the resort which is a little odd, however they are completely fine with you bringing in beers from outside and drinking by the pool. The minimart on Walking Street is only a 2-3 minute walk, so rather than a disaster this ended up being a blessing as it saved us a lot of money from the usual hotel bar rip-off prices! I would definitely stay here again.

Family friendly, fabulous location, no alcohol”

Previous reviewers have done a pretty comprehensive job of outlining the details of this hotel, so I'll just offer my review as a list of Pros & Cons. PROS - The resort is literally RIGHT on West Railay Beach (much more beautiful than Railay East), meaning easy access when you get off the longtail boat and great views of the sunset! - Bungalows are nice and (mostly) very private. Nice drying rack outside to hang wet clothes and swimsuits - Staff were very nice and friendly upon check-in, even though we were probably tracking in sand from the beach, as we had just disembarked from a longtail boat. They serve you a nice, cool welcome drink at reception upon checking in. - Wireless signal is good, but only in the lobby, pool, and restaurant area. There is no wireless in the rooms. - Food at the beachfront restaurant was delicious (try the green veggie curry!) and reasonably priced. Service wasn't bad, but not terribly attentive either. CONS - Tons of mosquitoes. I don't know if that is a function of being in Railay, or just the hotel, but I got more mosquitoes bi at Sand Sea resort than I did in all of our 9 days in Thailand. - We stayed at one of the cheaper, no A/C, fan-only bungalows on the left side of the resort (facing away from West Railay beach). These are noticeably shabbier compared to the Deluxe bungalows across the path. A/C wasn't necessary in January, but would definitely be so in the summer months. - There was no shower curtain in the bathroom, which is silly because water gets all over the bathroom floor. How much would it cost to install a flimsy shower rod and curtain? Seriously. - What is up with the inventory list for *every* item in the resort? Wastebasket and wicker folder included. Do people regularly knick lamps from the resort? Way to make your guests feel welcome! - No alcohol but they do let you bring your own alcohol in at meals if you so choose

Cheapest hotel on West Railay beach”

Sand Sea resort is located on West Railay beach. West Railay is the best place for staying in that region of Krabi. It is less congested than Ao Nang, less populated and less noisy than East Railay. The best thing is, West Railay is best for swimming while East Railay is not fit for swimming. This hotel is the cheapest in West Railay.

Fantastic Location/No Beer ”

I was very impressed with Sand Sea Resort. If you come from Ao Nang pier it is a short water trek to the front desk right on the beach. The resort is on the West Beach (The better side for beaches) and a short walk to the east side where you will find most of the restaurants and bars. The check in process was easy and I love those little welcome drinks. The bellmen drive golf carts to get you to your room with you luggage. Something not really needed if you book a room close to the pool near the front desk. I highly recommend this. While you are close to the front desk and there is a little more foot traffic, you are also right next to the beach. Some of the other units deeper on the property would not have felt as connected to the beach. We stayed in a Junior Suite Cottage and it was spacious and clean. The jacuzzi tub was a nice touch and consistent with Thailand the shower and toilet are open in the bathroom. The resort does not sell alcohol. Arriving late in a storm, I was looking to have a beer so the lack of alcohol was a little bit of a disappointment. That being said there are many markets in the area that sell beer and your room has a refrigerator so its an easy fix. While I did not eat at the restaurant in the hotel I did notice people with wine and beer so I am assuming that it is a BYOB or corkage fee situation. We had a fantastic time and I would highly recommend it to friends and family. It should be noted that I shopped around for this hotel and Agoda was half the price of other travel sites (32USD/Night) and this was for the larger room . Traveled Late October 2016

Mid range resort with good sunset view”

There's the east coast of Railay with the backpacking crowd (and some new-ish resorts now trying to gentrify the place), and there's the west coast with 4 resorts, the most expensive one being right at the end of the row. But Sand Sea is a decent resort sharing the same view as the super exxy one (sunset view is amazing, and it's free!), the hotel has 2 pools and we preferred the one at the back which is more secluded and less used, the rooms are clean and spacious, toiletries and amenities are well provided, and the staff are helpful. The breakfast was reasonable, nothing fancy, chicken bacon/sausage, fried rice/veg, potatoes and pancakes for the hot section, 3 kinds of cereals and yoghurt on the other side, fresh fruit and salad, and an egg station. Enough to get you going for the day. Would stay again for value and location.

Would stay again in a heartbeat”

Sand sea was probably the nicest hotel we stayed at in Thailand. We mostly look for cheaper places but with our luggage and 2 babies we decided to take this place because of the location. Turns out we weren't the only ones, there were at least 4 or 5 families with babies or toddlers every night at this resort. The hotel was set up well for small kids and of course everyone else. As mentioned by other reviewers there are budget friendly eats within 5 minutes walk. The resort provided bottled water every day there are also several shops on railway east selling water and beer for half price of railway west if you are on a budget Internet speed is good and there are two movie channels on tv. Are only complaint was the smell of sewage/gas if your room is at the back of the property. The smell was really strong outside and occasionally crept in the room.

Great Value on Railay West!”

We loved Sand Sea! The new deluxe bungalows are very nice and updated, though you cannot get one by the pool. We had some trouble with hot water but with hot weather it's not a huge deal. There was some construction near the beachfront pool which was unfortunate, but there is a beautiful and serene pool with great views in the back left of the resort. The Internet by the lobby beach was very reliable. The tour office can arrange reservations, but their prices for transfers are terrible. Go to Railay East for that.

Fantastic Service”

Forget the amazing shower (rare for Railay!), super efficient service, the HUGE beds, the two beautiful swimming pools and the general aesthetic, what really set Sand Sea apart for us was the phenomenal service and care of the staff. We both got sick during our stay (standard risk for Thailand) and our housekeeper NamWaan took amazing care of us. She kept us stocked with extra towels and emergency toiletries, topped up our complimentary snacks when we couldn't leave to get food, offered helpful local advice for faster recovery once we started getting better, checked in to make sure we were ok, and even came to work early on our last day to say goodbye and see us off. When does that ever happen! Most resorts are pretty, and many are professional, but Sand Sea *cared* for us in a way that is truly rare, and guarantees that we'll be coming back again!