Santhiya Resort: A Private Paradise in Thailand

First of all, I need to contain myself, so this post isn't ten years long, ha! This place is beyond exceptional, and my heart smiles because so many beautiful moments happened here. Santhiya Resort is located on an island called Koh Yao Yai in Thailand, (between Phuket and Krabi).This little paradise with sandy shores is the perfect place to stay If you are planning to visit the Phi Phi islands, Krabi, James Bond Island, etc. Koh Yao Yai is a very special place, not only because of it's enchanting views but also because of its people.

The main religion in Thailand is Buddhism, but the majority of the people who live in Koh Yao Yai are Muslims, and the traditional culture is solid. They lead a simple life making a living out of fishing, building boats, and farming. These people taught me so much about humbleness, love, and kindness. I hope you have the chance to experience this place one day.

How to get there 

The only way to get to the island is by boat, and you have two options: If you don't want to deal with booking everything on your own, you can make arrangements with the Hotel. If you are flying into Phuket, you can book their package that includes a shuttle van + speedboat for 1,250 baht/USD $37 (per person). It takes 30 minutes from the airport to Ao Po Grand Marina pier and 20 minutes from pier to the Hotel. The Hotel has it's own pier, so you arrive directly at the Hotel.

If you don't care to do everything on your own, it might be slightly longer but much cheaper; you can get a taxi from the airport to the Bang Rong Pier (around 500 baht/USD $15 ). From Bang Rong pier, you get on a speedboat to Koh Yao Yai (about 120 baht/USD $3 per person). Once in Koh Yao Yai island, you can get a taxi or tuk-tuk to Santhiya Resort (prices may vary). Since it was our first time on Koh Yao Yai and we were traveling for nearly 30 hours between long flights and connections, we chose to have the Hotel do it all for us and booked their package.

Once you get to the Hotel, they greet you with a delicious lemongrass iced tea and a complimentary 25min neck massage. When it's 100oF outside; Iced tea + neck massage + paradise= heaven. Once the massage is done, they bring you the check-in papers to you. We arrived super early in the morning, and our room wasn't ready yet. However, we were still able to take a shower and enjoy the hotel facilities.

WHERE TO EAT

The Hotel has six restaurants, and they serve authentic Thai food, Western cuisine, authentic European, etc. There is also in-room dining, and you can even book a romantic private dinner at the beach. We opted in for breakfast included rate, and I'm so happy we did it. Their breakfast buffet is extensive and insanely tasty, no photos could do it justice. Also, you are in for a treat with the view. Breakfast is served at Saaitara restaurant; they also serve lunch and dinner. The food is excellent; my favorite dish was the risotto. Peter loved the Thai food, and one day out of curiosity, I ordered a hot dog, and it was amazing!

 

WHAT TO DO

Private Beach
Paddleboards and kayak rental are complimentary. You can also relax on the lounge chairs, order food, and even get a full body massage.

Main pool and infinity pool
There are two fantastic pools for all guests to enjoy. The main pool is huge and has a beautiful waterfall, and the infinity pool has an amazing panoramic ocean view.

SPA | Massages
The spa is divine, smells like heaven, and it's pristine clean. The ladies are so sweet and respectful. Once you get there, they give you tea and a cold towel to freshen up. The spa offers many packages; massages, body scrubs, baths, mani & pedi, facial, etc. After your treatment, they offer you an amazing dessert. Massages can go from $50 to $200, depending on what you choose. For the packages, prices may vary.

 

They offer complimentary Yoga and Muay Thai classes every day. You can also book cooking and dancing classes for a fee. You also get to enjoy the fitness center, beauty salon, and souvenir shop. I highly encourage you to get out of the resort and go exploring around. The souvenirs outside the resort are much cheaper, and you get to contribute to the locals!When traveling to Thailand (or anywhere where the culture is different than yours), please be mindful, learn, and be respectful.

We experienced nothing but love from these people, and we indeed left with our hearts full of gratitude. Special thanks to Aminta and Fern, these two beauties below that made our stay even more amazing!  "Kob Kun ka" ladies, until next time!