Anyavee Railay Resort — wooden bungalows that are some of the best value on Railay, a 5–10 minute walk to Railay West Beach
Railay is a gorgeous peninsula with a reputation for pricey accommodation — Anyavee Railay Resort is one of the few options here that's still affordable. It's a 3-star beachfront bungalow resort on Railay East, with 62 rooms including wooden bungalows with balconies set in a garden ringed by limestone cliffs. It's about a 5–10 minute walk across the peninsula to Railay West Beach, the sandy swimming beach, and it's reachable only by longtail boat from Ao Nang. From approx. ฿672/night — a rare price for a spot on Railay, though you'll have to accept rooms that are starting to show their age.
What makes Anyavee Railay interesting isn't luxury — it's a spot on Railay at a price that's still within reach. Railay is a peninsula cut off from the mainland by limestone cliffs, reachable only by longtail boat, which is why most places here charge a premium. The fact that this one starts around ฿672/night makes it one of the most affordable bases on the whole peninsula — and that's the main reason people choose it, rather than the facilities.
You need to understand Railay's geography first. The resort sits on Railay East, which is the pier-and-mangrove side, not a sandy swimming beach. The beautiful white-sand beach is Railay West, on the other side of the peninsula, about a 5–10 minute walk across. From the resort you can also walk to Phra Nang Cave and Phra Nang Beach nearby. The walkability of this location scores a full 90/100 — everything on Railay is on foot, there are no cars.
"I was worried Railay would be really expensive on my first trip, but the price here was fine, it's only a few minutes' walk to Railay West Beach, and I woke up surrounded by limestone cliffs — worth what I paid."
There are 62 rooms in total, ranging from rooms in the main building to wooden bungalows. Standard Twin and Superior are the basic budget rooms, while the Bungalow and Wooden Bungalow are the draw a lot of people come for — the wooden bungalows have private balconies and are scattered through a green garden with the limestone cliffs as a backdrop, calm and with a genuine Railay feel. All rooms are air-conditioned and have free Wi-Fi.
But let's be straight about the room condition, because it's the thing reviews mention most. The buildings and many of the rooms are getting old and due for a refresh — there are complaints about stains, musty smells and worn fittings in some rooms. Room quality and cleaning can be inconsistent too, with some guests saying rooms were only cleaned on request. If you expect a spotless, brand-new room, this place may disappoint — it's an older property that trades on location and price, not a luxury stay.
The shared areas have an outdoor swimming pool and a separate kids' pool, plus an on-site restaurant and beach bar. The pool is a good place to unwind after a day of rock climbing or beach-hopping, and the kids' pool makes things easier for families with small children. The overall vibe is relaxed and garden-set — not grand, but it fits the character of Railay.
The thing people praise most is the friendly, helpful staff. Many reviews agree that the team is warm and happy to help with boats, tours and tips for getting around Railay — which goes a fair way to make up for the aging rooms. Breakfast is fairly simple and ordinary, not a highlight, so if you want more variety, walk over to the restaurants near Railay West Beach for more choice.
"The rooms really are a bit old, but the staff were lovely and sorted out all our boats and tours, which made the trip smooth — for doing Railay on a budget, this place is fine."
A few other things to know before booking. The Wi-Fi is weak and not very stable, so anyone needing to work or take online meetings may struggle. Because it's next to the mangroves and garden, there are mosquitoes and occasional issues with monkeys and rubbish — bring repellent and keep food sealed away from the monkeys. And remember that getting to Railay means a longtail-boat ride, so plan around boat times and allow for choppy seas in the rainy season.
On the scores and prices. It rates around 6.2 on Trip.com and about 3.0 out of 5 on Tripadvisor (from 484 reviews), which fairly reflects the picture: this is a place that's great on location but imperfect. Prices start around ฿672/night for a basic room and climb to roughly ฿1,300–฿1,600 for the wooden bungalows. In an area where many resorts charge in the high thousands to five figures, getting a room on Railay at this price is the reason people are willing to accept the limitations on room condition.
In short, Anyavee Railay Resort suits anyone who wants to stay overnight on Railay on a budget and values location and price over how new the rooms are. Rock climbers, backpackers and budget-minded families who want to wake up to limestone cliffs and walk to Railay West Beach will get good value. But if you want a spotless new room, strong Wi-Fi, or a resort right on a sandy swimming beach, look instead at the pricier resorts on the Railay West or Phra Nang Beach side.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ A spot on Railay at a good-value price, from approx. ฿672/night
- ✓ 5–10 min walk across the peninsula to Railay West Beach and Phra Nang Cave
- ✓ Wooden bungalows with balconies in a garden among the limestone cliffs, genuine Railay feel
- ✓ Pool + kids' pool and an on-site restaurant/beach bar
- ! The buildings and many rooms are getting old and due for a refresh
- ! Weak, unstable Wi-Fi
- ! Mosquitoes, plus occasional monkey and rubbish issues
- ✓ One of the best-value places to stay on Railay
- ✓ Friendly, helpful staff who assist with boats and tours
- ✓ Easy walk to the beach, Phra Nang Cave and the pier, no car needed
- ✓ Wooden bungalows among the limestone cliffs, calm and atmospheric
- ! Room quality and cleaning are inconsistent, some rooms have stains/musty smells
- ! Breakfast is simple, not a highlight
- ! Railay East is the pier side, not a swimming beach, so you have to walk across
- 💡If you expect a spotless new room and full facilities — the buildings here are getting old, many rooms look tired, and some have stains/musty smells → if newness matters, spend up for a resort on the Railay West/Phra Nang Beach side instead.
- 💡If you need to rely on Wi-Fi for work or online meetings — the signal here is weak and unstable → bring a backup mobile data SIM, or pick a place that guarantees strong internet.
- 💡If you think Railay East is a swimming beach — this side is the pier and mangroves, so you have to walk 5–10 minutes across the peninsula to Railay West Beach → if you want to open your door onto the sand, look at places directly on the Railay West side.