First of all - if I could give this hotel 4.5 out of 5, I probably would. We stayed here for 10 nights over New Year. Our arrival went very smoothly and we were shown to our bungalow quickly. We booked a Deluxe Bungalow through Hayes and Jarvis but we were actually given the grade above - Deluxe Beachfront Bungalow (number 110), which had a gorgeous view of the beach and, even better, direct access to the swimming pool behind the bungalow, through the outdoor bathroom. This was an unexpected bonus! It was very peaceful and laid back, even though it was peak season. The pool was generally very quiet and the bigger pool close to the beach restaurant seemed even quieter a lot of the time. However, there was a lot of sun lounger reserving going on, with people putting towels down before 8:00 AM. The hotel does say on notices that this is not allowed but I guess it is difficult to stop it.

The bungalow was lovely - a little bit rustic but big, clean and light. The bed was very comfortable, if you like you like very hard beds - which we do. My only, very small, complaint would be that there was hardly any storage space for clothes. But this is a small matter in the grand scheme of things! Another small gripe - the air conditioning wouldn't get cold enough for my liking and a lot of the cold air maybe escaped through the patio doors which didn't close very well. But no major complaints at all. Overall we were really very happy with our room.

We went on a room and breakfast basis, which I would recommend highly. The breakfast was good, with plenty of choice and lovely made to order omelettes and waffles. We occasionally ate at the beach bar/restaurant at lunch times. The food and service were fine but it’s a lot more expensive than taking a walk into town or up the beach to a nearby bar (Peter’s – just past The Wanaburee). We only ate at the hotel on our first evening. Again, the food was fine but we prefer to try new places. We thoroughly enjoyed two meals at “Smile” – excellent food but, as the reviews for it say, expect quite slow service. I must also mention “Monkey Bar” where we enjoyed a fair few drinks many evenings. There is a huge amount of choice of restaurants within a 15 minute walk (or a quick taxi ride).

The location of the resort is excellent – you feel surrounded by jungle on one side, lovely beach on the other and not far from bars, restaurants and shops.

We went on a few trips; Similian Islands, James Bond Island and Koh Tachai. The trip to the Similians was a little disappointing as the snorkelling was, at best, below average and, at times, rubbish. This was perhaps our own fault as we went with a dive boat, which maybe took us to dive sites for the divers, rather than decent snorkelling sites. So, if you want to go snorkelling, make sure the trip is dedicated to snorkellers. Also the main island that we went to (number 8) was incredibly busy with speedboats etc and you only have a tiny space roped off for swimming. The trip to Koh Tachai was far better. It was run by a company called LoveAndaman. The guide was excellent, the beach was beautiful (far less crowded) and the snorkelling was far, far better. The trip to James Bond Island was ok. The scenery is stunning but be prepared for crowds. We were taken to the fishing village for lunch. The lunch was good but the villagers do not fish any more – there was a large market selling, in my opinion, mainly tat e.g. sarongs, t-shirts and hundreds of shells! However, even worse than the shells was the fact that many dried out and inflated porcupine fish were on sale - not impressed! But, on a more positive note, it was interesting to walk around and catch glimpses into how the villagers live and the local school.

I would definitely recommend the Khao Lak Resort. I think that it offered excellent value for money. The staff were wonderful and the service was always first class. They worked incredibly hard preparing for the New Year’s Eve celebrations, which apart from some cringeworthy games and enforced fun, were fantastic.

Perfect place for a relaxing and peaceful escape from the cold, grey winter!

Verry nice beach bungolows (expensive) whit great vew and lots of privacy.
Romantic open air shower and nice balcony.
Beach is so so, not white, no good snorkeling...

Breakfast was good.

Khao Lak Resort was my first taste of Thailand and definately a beautiful welcome.

The resort in itself is beautifully located on the beach with well appointed bungalows which are clean, comfortable with a hint of paradise luxury.

We visited in the wet season which meant water sports were not really on the agenda as ocean was considered unsafe during this time. However the resort spa and location made for a perfect relaxing break and the staff there ensured we had a lovely time.
The staff assisted us with booking activities , excursions and information of the destination.
We experienced lovely local restaurants in which food was authentic, tasty, in expensive and served with a warm smile.
Excellent service, great location and by far the nicest resort and hospitality we received in Phuket.
Well worth experiencing in any season.

My wife and I stayed here for a long Memorial Day weekend (5 days/4 nights), and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. It might have been the relaxing time we had, or the lack of tourists, or even the fact that we were blessed with a little swell on the morning of the 31st of May (so we were able to surf all morning), but this was one of the most relaxing vacations we have had.
The hotel itself is beautiful. It's right on the beach, but it's not a very "touristy" beach, so you won't get a lot of people just laying around. On the contrary (particularly during the "rainy" season), you will get a little wind, some rain, and some sun. But when the sun comes out, it's fantastic.
The food is great. It may take a little longer than Americans are used to, but then again, you're not in Thailand to hurry, so just relax and enjoy the scenery.
Our first room's air conditioner went on the fritz the second night, and the hotel management graciously moved us to a nicer room.
If you're looking for a Four Seasons, this isn't the place. But if you're looking for a charming, relaxing, exotic, romantic hotel, one with great, personal service from friendly staff, this is the place. The beds are comfortable, the rooms are relaxing, the food is very good (although the wine selection is a bit lacking), and the view is amazing.
As far as stuff to do around there, do go ride an elephant (but make sure you tell them you want a driver who doesn't smack his elephant with a stick...ours was a bit of an ------- to his elephant, and I felt quite bad), do take walks into town (but if you go during the summer, bring an umbrella and expect to get wet), and do visit some of the local small businesses.
If you have an afternoon free and want an amazing lunch with really, really sweet people, visit "Hill Tribes" restaurant in Phang Nga. It's a family-owned restaurant specializing in northern Thai food. It is outstanding. And if, like us, you wish to ride waves, go see the folks at Pakarang Surf Shop. They've recently moved (they're now on the beach right next to Apsaras Resort, and a little difficult to find)...but Ching and his crew will hook you up. They have boards to rent (cheaply) and will likely paddle out with you to show you the ropes, or just have fun in the water.
Also, hire a cab driver, get his number, and use him exclusively. Your loyalty will be rewarded when he (like ours did) points out the truly good places, and steers you away from the tourist traps.
Also be aware that there is wildlife here...we saw a large monitor lizard, as well as several snakes, and various other animals. Don't touch them, and they won't bother you.