Apsara Beachfront Resort & Villa

We just spent an amazing 3 weeks at Apsara on the resort side. From the moment we arrived, we felt welcomed and valued. We arrived at 9.30am and wasn't expecting the room to be ready, but after breakfast we were given our key and taken to our room with our luggage. We were on the 3rd floor overlooking the swim up rooms and had a sea view from our balcony. The room was spotlessly clean with plenty of towels, a large beach bag to use and 2 pair of flip flops and bathrobes. The bathroom has a small soap shampoo and hand wash, so you should bring conditioner, shower gel and body lotion. There is a window to the bathroom, but there is a closeable blind so you can't see in from the bedroom. The hotel is right on a gorgeous beach, some days great waves for surfing. The sea was warm. The pool is cooler but very refreshing and has little jacuzzi sections. There are lots of sunbeds, but the prime ones are reserved with towels by 8am, sometimes then not used all morning. There are stretching classes most mornings and a great yoga class at 7.30am 3 times a week. This yoga class is so good and should be advertised in reception as lots of people weren't aware of it. There is also an excellent informative bike ride a few times a week. You can rent body boards and surf boards also. All other all inclusives we have stayed at provide free non-motorised water sports. Ok to rent ocassionally but the cost could soon add up if you wanted a board each day. The food was very tasty, plenty of choice at each sitting. As well as the buffet, there is a station where they cook omelettes at breakfast and fresh noodles and pasta meals. We always found something nice to eat. We also ate at the Karkinos restaurant and the restaurant on the villa side. You get a voucher, 1 visit per week. These were both really good. Drinks - free drinks with breakfast till 10.30 then all inclusive is from 11am to 11pm. There is quite an extensive menu of cocktails and mocktails. Drinks are not free at Karkinos beach bar but they are in the Ila cafe behind it and you can bring your drinks in. Entertainment - there is a traditional Thai dance show on Wed and Sat, live music Fri and Sun and a great fire show on the beach every Sat. But really it seems to be a very chilled relaxing place to stay. Christmas Eve dinner - this was buffet style with a lot of choice. There were welcome drinks and a raffle with great prizes of boat trips, vouchers, meals and massages. New Years Eve - this was a huge party outside on the villa side with dance shows, Thai boxing dance, DJ and fairground style stalls, fire show, fireworks plus lots more raffles. We enjoyed it, though a lot of people had left before midnight. We did a couple of trips - bamboo rafting, longtail boat on Cheow Lan Lak and Similan Islands. We also hired a car from Budget for 1500 baht per day. They brought the car to the hotel - no issues with the hire. There are lots of nice quiet beaches and you can walk for miles each way without seeing many people. There is also an elephant home next to the hotel. There is a lovely surf cafe just outside the main gate and a few restaurants about 15 minutes walk away, plus Memories beach bar right beside the hotel. Khao Lak centre is about 5km away, can walk in about an hour or take the hotel shuttle to the market for 100 baht each or a taxi for 350 baht. There is a great Ripcurl shop on the main road, had a 50% sale when we were there. On boxing day the hotel held a memorial service for the 2004 tsunami as this area was really badly hit. It was such a touching service with all the staff there. We loved the hotel and all the Thai people we met. It really is the land of smiles.

In all honesty unless you are staying on the villa side you will be very disappointed. Lucky enough to have just stayed on the villa side with far nicer pool and restaurant. Villa side however can highly recommend, beautiful villas, pool area and food was fantastic. Staff cannot do enough to help you. 5-10 minute shuttle ride to nearest restaurants etc but lovely and quiet. Khao Lak incredibly nice to visit also

We have been guests at this hotels a lot of times. It is our favourite and we will always come back. This time we found the rooms updated to perfect, service is great and the restaurant Karkinos is better than ever. Thanks for this time.

It is our 3rd time here and we will come back in December. Cannot wait. For us it is the perfect place. We again stayed in the villa with our two boys. We love the lavish garden, the peaceful and quiet atmosphere, the great staff. The location is perfect on a very broad very clean beach where we can walk for hours or go swimming in the shallow water. Thank you to Emee, Mark, Ada and Tee from the restaurants; Lychee from the Spa (best massage in Thailand - we had many!) and so many more that make our stay unforgettable.

Our trip had been very nice and confortable. Very beautiful Hotel. Good cuisine. Service incomparable. High quality of personal service