Railay Cabana

A good place when the beach is booked out. - 13th April, 2006
In high season it can be quite difficult to find a place walk-in at Railay. However if you head uphill on the concrete footpath from East Railay past the Diamond Cave (follow the signs), you find after a total of 10 minutes Railay Cabana, which is the renamed Park View. For 300 baht, bargained down from 350, I got myself a traditional timber and bamboo beach hut style bungalow with big verandah, attached bathroom, clean, and just enough room inside for two and their gear. This had a comfortable queen size (double+) bed with slightly hard pillows, mosquito net in good condition and fan. Unusual in cheaper bungalows was the provision of towels and soap. There was no mirror in the small bathroom. Staff were friendly. Cabana is set in a pleasant garden like setting with nice views of the surrounding cliffs. It’s pretty quiet up here - on awakening it was possible to hear the gibbons in the nearby rainforest hooting. The restaurant which was great when I visited previously in 2002 seems to have given up competing with the excellent selection down on East and West Railay. There was a small cofee shop/bar which could do coffee, tea, toast, jam and eggs for breakfast and could always sell you a beer and similar. About 5 minutes down the track is a small restaurant belonging to the adjacent Highland Bungalows and 2 minutes past that is the popular Climbers’ Bar which had good eats. I also had a look at Cabana’s more expensive bungalows (about a dozen - there are about the same number of the cheaper bungalows). The 450 baht ones were much bigger and newer, while the 650 versions of similar size and age could sleep 4. I actually thought these bungalows were worth their asking price, whereas my cheapie was definitely not a 350 bungalow, Railay or not. Note the adjacent Highland Bungalows were very similar to Cabana’s pricier bungalows, and there seemed to be at least 30 bungalows, so you should find something up here on spec. If you walk the track another 5 minutes uphill you enter the rainforest and cross the saddle to Ton Sai, hitting the highest bungalows after about 10-15 minutes. It takes another 15 minutes to walk down to Ton Sai beach. Note that attractive West Railay is reached in less than 10 minutes from Cabana on a signposted branch off the main East Railay-Diamond Cave concrete footpath. This footpath has easy gradients except for one 20 m pinch which is moderately steep. On my value for money ratings sytem I’m rating my bungalow at 300 baht 7/10, location 7, food 2 (selection not quality), staff 7.5, grounds/landscaping 7.5.

Railay Cabana reviewed by tezza on 13th April, 2006, rated 4 out of 5.
Stayed here 3/2006
This is a Travelfish recommended reviewer
Total reviews submitted: 32.
tezza also reviewed: Ao Toh Ko Bungalows, Bailan Hut, Beam Bungalow, Bulon Lae Resort, Coconut Corner, Khao Lak Nature Resort, Kho Yao Lam Sai Resort & Seafood, Koh Chang Grand Lagoona, Koh Ngai Villa, Koh Wai Paradise, Koh Wai Paradise, Lanta Paradise, Le Dugong Resort, Libong Beach Resort, Mai Pen Rai Bungalows, National Park Accommodation, National Park Accommodation, Paradise Resort, Phi Phi Hill, Pudsa Bungalows, Samed Villa, Siam Beach, Silver Cliff, Sukorn Beach Bungalow, Thong Ta Kian Villa, Tiewson Bungalow, Viewpoint Resort, Vong Duern Villa, White Wind.

great spot up in the hills - 10th January, 2007
I stayed here in Dec 2004, and returned Dec 2006. Don't let the 8min walk up the hill put you off. This is a great chilled out friendly place. It's a little tropical jungle hide away, and is often a bit cooler here than down on the beaches. The restaurant is back in action again with a big menu at cheaper prices than down on the beach, and good food. There is also a bar starting up there which pumps out the tunes, but the bungalows are far enough away that they won't disturb you if you want to sleep. Would definitely recommend.

Railay Cabana reviewed by nickb on 10th January, 2007, rated 4 out of 5.
Stayed here 12/2006
Total reviews submitted: 2.
nickb also reviewed: Lanta Long Beach Resort.