Banyan Tree Krabi — a private pool in every room, island views at sunset on the quietest beach in Krabi
If you want a luxury beach stay in Krabi that is quiet, private, and gives every room its own pool, Banyan Tree Krabi is often one of the first names on the list · The resort opened in 2020 on Tubkaek Beach — the far end of the same coast as Klong Muang — facing the Andaman Sea straight out towards the limestone islands · It has a total of 72 suites and villas, every one with a private pool and terrace, and no standard rooms at all · Rates start from approx. ฿13,000/night in low season · Rated 9.3 from 213 reviews on Trip.com, and ranked #2 among hotels in the area on Tripadvisor
Banyan Tree Krabi opened in 2020 on Tubkaek Beach, the far end of the same coast as Klong Muang — one of the quietest, most private corners of Krabi, facing the Andaman Sea straight out towards the limestone islands in the bay · What sets it apart from the province's other luxury resorts is that all 72 rooms are suites and villas with a private pool — there are no standard rooms at all · The architecture is contemporary Thai-roofed and steps down the hillside, with a signature curved woven-metal staircase and a funicular that climbs to Saffron, the restaurant with the full sunset view
Rooms start with the Deluxe Garden Pool Suite (~72 sqm), which even as the entry room already comes with a private pool and terrace · Above it sit the Partial Ocean and Premium Ocean Pool Suites, higher up the hillside with more of the sea in view · Families and larger groups have the Two-Bedroom Ocean Pool Suite and the beachfront villas, which are bigger with larger pools · The high pitched timber-slat ceilings, white-against-wood palette and soft beds draw consistent praise in reviews · But there's one thing to know first — the pool in the suites is a plunge pool, big enough to soak in rather than a proper swimming pool; a lot of reviews agree it's smaller than expected, so if you want a real pool to swim laps in you'll need to step up to a villa or use the resort's main pool
"We opened the curtains in the morning to the sea and distant islands, slipped into the pool right outside the room in total peace with no one around, and watched the sunset from the bar in the evening — three days when we genuinely rested."
The strongest point in almost every review is the service · Staff learn guests' names, ask about preferences before arrival, and look after small details in a way many guests describe as feeling more like family than customers · Being a smaller resort (72 rooms) means a high staff-to-guest ratio, so the service reaches everyone and feels personal — the main reason Banyan Tree Krabi ranks #2 among hotels in the area on Tripadvisor and scores higher on service than on any other category
For dining, the highlight is Saffron, the Thai restaurant you reach by riding the funicular up the hill — the sunset view over the bay makes it the dinner people remember · There's Naga Kitchen for breakfast and everyday Thai-international meals, and special experiences like the Bird's Nest, dinner served in a nest-shaped pod up in the trees · The honest note is that some guests who love Saffron feel the other outlets don't quite match it, and food and drink inside the resort run noticeably higher than outside — normal for a location this far from town restaurants
The other pillar of Banyan Tree is the spa · Banyan Tree Spa offers Thai-style treatments and long signature courses like the Royal Banyan, plus a Rainforest hydrothermal circuit — steam room, sauna, warm stone beds and a rain walk that many guests name a can't-miss · There are also yoga classes, sailing, kayaking and bicycles free to use, which reviews see as adding value against the room rate
Get the location right before you book · Tubkaek Beach is genuinely quiet and beautiful, but it's about 20–25 minutes by car from Ao Nang, the hub of restaurants, bars and island-hopping piers · The resort runs a free shuttle to Ao Nang, but only a few times a day, so if you plan to head out often, rent a car or budget for taxis · The other thing is that Tubkaek is a tidal beach — at low tide the water pulls a long way out, and it swims best at high tide, so the beach here is more about the view and the sunset than swimming all day · What you get in exchange is the Dragon Crest (Khao Ngon Nak) trail rising right behind the resort to a famous viewpoint, and Krabi Airport only about 40 minutes away
Whether it's worth it depends on what you value · High-season rates climb high, and the distance from town makes some guests hesitate · But the majority view is that what you get is privacy, personal service, island views at sunset and a private pool in every room — best suited to honeymooners, couples marking a special occasion, spa-and-wellness travellers and families booking a villa · Anyone who wants to walk out to a choice of restaurants, have nightlife nearby, or a large pool to swim in their room may be better off in Ao Nang or a different style of resort · The tip is to book low season (May–October), when rates drop clearly in exchange for some rain, and to mention special occasions when you book — the resort is known for small surprises
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Outstanding service — staff remember guests by name and mind the details
- ✓ Every room has a private pool and terrace, with lovely garden/sea views
- ✓ The island and sunset views from Tubkaek Beach are beautiful
- ✓ Banyan Tree Spa and the Rainforest circuit earn high praise
- ! Far from Ao Nang and town restaurants — you rely on a car/shuttle
- ! The suite pools are small plunge pools, not made for real swimming
- ! Food and drink inside the resort are pricey
- ✓ Quiet and private — ideal for resting and honeymoons
- ✓ Architecture and sunset views are photogenic from every angle
- ✓ Free activities — yoga, kayaking, sailing — add value
- ✓ Saffron, the Thai restaurant reached by funicular, has a wonderful dinner setting
- ! It's a tidal beach — swimming is awkward at low tide
- ! Some outlets don't quite match Saffron
- ! High-season rates are steep — book ahead
- 💡If you want to walk out to lots of restaurants or easy nightlife — Tubkaek is 20–25 minutes from Ao Nang and the shuttle runs only a few times a day → choose a hotel in the Ao Nang area, or plan on renting a car
- 💡If you expect a large pool you can swim in inside your room — the suite pools are plunge pools big enough to soak in → step up to a beachfront villa with a larger pool, or use the resort's main pool
- 💡If you plan to swim in the sea all day — Tubkaek is a tidal beach and the water pulls far out at low tide → check the tide table, or use the resort pool as your base and hit the sea at high tide