AT A GLANCE
- Romantic scenery and beautiful surroundings make this an ideal honeymoon getaway.
- Whilst being luxurious, the Tubkaak concept is actually more nature orientated.
- Wonderful place to watch the sunset over Yao Noi and the Hong Islands.
- Thanks to its distance from Krabi, there are just a handful of small lodges and few tourists.
WHAT IS TUBKAAK?
In Thailand there is something for everybody – beautiful nature, picturesque views, bustling cities, amazing temples and crowded backpacker beaches. But if you are looking for that little piece of heaven, you should visit The Tubkaak resort in Krabi.
The Tubkaak is a beautiful boutique resort – small, quiet and luxurious. It’s a secluded gem on the Krabi coast of Thailand – it is a true oasis of peace. Tubkaak has a very natural concept, they have tried to retain the original natural elements as much as possible which gives it a nice vibe. Built in typical Southern Thai style, the design and architecture has protected the beautiful natural environment in which the resort sits. The resort offers a serene garden setting with a beautiful private beach and a magnificent view of Hong Islands. To the rear of the hotel rises the dramatic Hang Nak Mountain. Tubkaak is therefore a quiet retreat away from the noise of the busier beaches in the Krabi area and is ideal for those who want experience a beach break with stunning views. Also the sun sets directly out to sea, so in the evening you can relax and have a drink as the sun slowly descends.
This boutique resort goes over the top to make your stay unforgettable – from offering cold towels, complimentary drinks (I loved their rosella ice tea!) upon your arrival, a full service spa, free yoga sessions each morning, cooking classes, a fresh breakfast buffet, complimentary kayaks, and as the bonus the first minibar is for free.
The Tubkaak is the most perfect place for couples or honeymooners, who wish be at complete ease, relaxed and feel the connection with nature. We did not want to leave from this hidden tranquil place, but felt incredibly refreshed and renewed when we did.
If you’re in the market for big trip, or you simply want to daydream, please continue with reading. 🙂
LOCATION
The Tubkaak is situated on the picturesque Tubkaak Beach, overlooking the ethereal limestone formations that are synonymous with Krabi. It is approximately 40 minute drive from Krabi airport and 20 mins from the lively resort town of Ao Nang. We paid 900 Baht ($25) for a taxi to get there from the Krabi bus station. Thanks to its distance from Krabi, there are just 3-4 other hotels, so it is quite untouristy. You won’t find little beach bars or local restaurants, except one located on the beach where they cook basic Thai food for good price.
ACCOMMODATION
Tubkaak has 42 rooms and suites and another 19 private pool villas. Rooms are tastefully designed, keeping in tradition with its Thai feel. All rooms come with an outdoor sunken bathtub with separate shower, satellite TV, DVD player, mini-bar (first minibar is for free) and Nespresso Coffee Machine.
We stayed in Premiere Pool Villa surrounded by flourishing gardens and mature shady trees, which offered us ultimate privacy for our romantic getaway. The local design elements including the large graphic headboard, high vaulted ceiling, sloping roof, natural materials create the feeling of vernacular architecture of Southern Thailand.
My favourite thing was to relax in our private pool or in our outdoor sunken stone bathtub, which was filled with rose petals when we first got there. I loved it so much I took my bikini and went to enjoy it.
What we love are the little touches – in all the rooms they provide a beach bag with towels, flip flops and cold drinks to take to the beach.
THE FOOD
The Tubkaak offers two restaurants located on the beachfront, The Arundina and Di Mare. Every morning we went to The Arundina for a fresh breakfast buffet. To our surprise they offered everyday different dishes. For dinner we chose to go to Di Mare – a gorgeous Italian restaurant along the beachfront with ambient music and attentive staff, excellent service and selection.
THE GROUNDS
Great care was taken not to fell trees and other flora during the construction. The small size makes it great use of space with curved walkways, where we got lost a few times, and a range of facilities including a spa, library, gym and above mentioned beachfront restaurants. The hotel has a large stretch of beach front and comfortable bean-bags, hammocks and hanging chairs for lazing and watching the days pass by.
The spa is located within the gardens and it looks stunning. Each building looks like a big wooden bee hive. It blends traditional Oriental with Thai therapies and has three treatment rooms and a Jacuzzi plunge pool. There is also a small gym with dumbbells and various cardio machines, elliptical trainers, treadmill, yoga mats, fit ball, etc. If this is not enough I recommend you to enjoy a morning run on the beach.
Another facility I liked is their lovely library with a selection of books, two computers and few sofas. Great for board games, cocktails, or casual reading. There is also complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the resort.
Pool – one of the highlights of Tubkaak for sure. A fabulous free-form resort pool with an island garden center with lots of sunbeds for sun worshipers!
THINGS TO DO
The hotel offers a variety of excursions in the region, from day boat trips and scuba diving to mountain bike riding. Or you can just get a complimentary kayak and enjoy the paddle among the islands. For those wanting to learn a little Thai cookery, they offer lessons on site. As I mentioned at the beginning, Tubkaak also provides complimentary yoga classes.
WHEN TO GO
Tropical climate and the driest months to visit are December to March. November and April are also good months to visit and you may get some rain, although it is outside of the monsoon season. May to October is the monsoon with downpours occurring once or twice a day, rather than constant rain. But most of the times it rains during the night anyway. We went there in July and it shortly rained during the afternoon or in the night. We still enjoyed it a lot!
BEST FOR
The Tubkaak experience is very dignified and relaxing, which ultimately a beach resort aims to be. It is a romantic hideaway that caters mostly to couples, both young and old. This isn’t a place for families or kids since there are no interconnecting rooms, and only one two-Bedroom Suite (Tubkaak Suite). There is a small kids’ pool, but no kids club, so ideally Tubkaak is better suited for older children who can create their own sense of fun.
If you’re interested in travelling to the Krabi area, leave any questions you may have in the comments. I’ll do my best to answer them.
