Manathai Khao Lak — a Bang Sak beachfront resort that's now Outrigger Khao Lak
Before you book, let's be upfront: the name "Manathai Khao Lak" is no longer in use — this resort was rebranded as Outrigger Khao Lak Beach Resort back in 2022, but it's the same building, the same location, right on Bang Sak Beach in Bang Muang sub-district, Takua Pa district · search the old name and you'll still land here · it's a 5-star beachfront resort with around 158 rooms and suites, plus private pool villas, an Andaman sea-view pool, and a long, quiet beach with far fewer people than southern Khao Lak · scored 9.3 from 74 Trip.com reviews and 4.9/5 from 1,430 TripAdvisor reviews (ranked #1 of 13 hotels in Bang Muang) · from about ฿3,200/night
Overview and who it suits — let's start with what you need to know before booking · the resort many people still call Manathai Khao Lak has now been renamed Outrigger Khao Lak Beach Resort, after the Outrigger Hospitality group took over and finished the rebrand in 2022 · the buildings, the location, and the beach are all exactly the same — only the sign out front, the name on the OTA apps, and the service standards have been raised under the new brand · we mention this right away because if you search "Manathai" and can't find a booking, or see the name Outrigger instead, don't worry — it's the same place · with the name cleared up, this is a 5-star beachfront resort on Bang Sak Beach, the long northern stretch of Khao Lak that's quieter and less crowded than Nang Thong or Bang Niang beaches to the south · from real reviews, the people it suits best are families taking the kids for a long stay, couples wanting privacy by the sea, and anyone after calm over buzz · those who want to step out of the hotel and find bars, restaurants, and night markets right there may feel this spot is a little too quiet, since Bang Sak Beach doesn't have the lively walking-street scene of southern Khao Lak — this group can feel a bit isolated at times
Location and getting there — the resort sits on Bang Sak Beach in Bang Muang sub-district, Takua Pa district, Phang Nga province, about 15–20 min drive north of central Khao Lak (the Nang Thong–Bang Niang area) · the appeal of this location is that Bang Sak Beach is a long, wide, quiet stretch of sand with far fewer people than southern Khao Lak — many reviews say you can walk the whole beach and pass only a handful of groups, perfect for people who genuinely want peace · the distance to plan around is that it's about 80–90 min by car from Phuket Airport (HKT), and a similar distance from Krabi Airport · the resort offers airport transfers (for a fee), which many guests choose because of the distance and the limited public transport reaching Bang Sak Beach · for excursions, Thap Lamu Pier — the departure point for the Similan Islands — is close by, about a 15–20 min drive, making this a good base for anyone planning to dive the Similans or Surin Islands · the honest caveat is that with a quiet location far from the restaurant strip, eating out means a drive or a Grab ride, and cars aren't always available to hail here the way they are in town, so planning your transport ahead will save you stress
"The beach in front of the hotel is long and incredibly quiet — strolling at dusk you barely see anyone, and the sunset is so beautiful you won't want to head back to your room. If you genuinely want peace, this beats the crowded beaches of Khao Lak."
Room types and decor — the resort has around 158 rooms and suites spread across low-rise buildings in a tropical garden, not one tall block, which keeps the feel shaded and private · after the rebrand, most rooms are decorated in bright tones — white walls, wood floors — with Thai craft and textile patterns as a highlight, giving a contemporary but warm tropical feel · entry-level rooms in the Deluxe Garden Terrace / Deluxe Garden Suite range, around 40 sqm, come with a garden-view balcony or terrace · stepping up gets you pool-view rooms and rooms closer to the sea · the highlight is the 7 private pool villas (around 73 sqm) with a private jacuzzi or pool and a terrace in the tropical garden, ideal for couples wanting full privacy or a honeymoon · real reviews agree that rooms are bigger than the photos suggest, very clean, and thoughtfully detailed, with bathrobes, slippers, a fridge, coffee machine, minibar, and free Wi-Fi in all rooms · one thing noted in some reviews is that a few rooms have slight humidity or a musty smell due to the seaside climate, which is common at beachfront resorts — running the AC or opening the balcony to air the room helps, and if you're concerned you can ask to change rooms at check-in
Facilities, pool, and spa — the heart of the resort is a large outdoor pool that opens onto an unobstructed Andaman sea view, with a jacuzzi zone and a shallow zone for kids · many reviews call the pool and sea view the most memorable part, especially in the evening when you can sit poolside and watch the sunset · for families, there's a kids' club open daily around 8:30 AM–5:30 PM for children aged 4–12, with activities all day — something many parents praise for actually letting them relax · there's also a spa for relaxing massages, a fitness room, and the resort's own beach area with daybeds to lounge on · what's worth knowing is that Bang Sak is an open Andaman-coast beach, so swimming depends on the tide and seasonal wind and waves — during the monsoon (May–October) the surf can be strong, so most guests mainly use the resort pool and head out to stroll or take photos on the beach
Food and bars — the resort's main restaurant is Edgewater, set right by the sea, serving Thai and international dishes a la carte plus a daily breakfast buffet · what reviews mention often is the "toes-in-the-sand" beachfront dinner atmosphere, with acoustic music playing at sunset most evenings, making for a romantic dinner · the breakfast buffet earns praise for freshness and quality across Thai, Asian, and Western options — many say it's one of the better breakfasts in Khao Lak · the poolside Blue Coral Bar serves cocktails and light snacks by the pool, good for a late-afternoon drink · the trade-off mentioned most often in reviews is that food and drink prices at the resort are fairly high — some reviews say around 2–2.5 times the price of restaurants outside · because the location is quiet and far from the restaurant strip, choosing a package that includes meals or planning to drive out for some meals helps keep the budget in check · anyone planning to eat every meal at the resort should budget for this from the start
Service — service is the most consistently and heavily praised aspect in real reviews · several staff are named personally as warm, friendly, and good at remembering guests · many TripAdvisor reviews use the phrase "friendly and attentive" and describe staff going above and beyond — arranging activities for kids, recommending boat trips, and looking after small details · the service standards raised since joining the Outrigger group are one reason the overall score has climbed to a high level · in fairness, a few voices say that when the hotel is full or activities are busy, some things can take a bit longer to get to — but overall, the people and service are a clear strength here
What real reviews say (praise and gripes) — pulled together from Trip.com, Booking.com, and TripAdvisor, the picture is fairly consistent · On the praise side: the long, clean, quiet, uncrowded Bang Sak Beach location, the beautiful sea-view pool especially at sunset, rooms bigger and cleaner than expected, good breakfast and a nice beachfront Edgewater restaurant, a kids' club and children's activities families love, and — mentioned most of all — the warm, attentive staff · On the caveats side: food and spa prices at the resort run noticeably higher than outside; the quiet location far from the restaurant and night-market strip means you have to drive out; a few rooms have slight humidity or a musty smell from the seaside climate; and some say there are still few activities for older teens compared with younger kids · most of these gripes come down to setting expectations around a location built for calm, rather than being problems that keep people from returning
"The staff are so lovely — they looked after our kids at the kids' club like family. My only gripe is the high food prices at the resort; next time we'll probably rent a car and eat dinner out sometimes. But the calm of this beach is genuinely worth it."
Price comparison and value — the starting rate for a Deluxe garden-zone room is around ฿3,200/night in low season, climbing to roughly ฿5,000–8,000+ in high season (November–April) or long holidays · the private pool villas run from around ฿9,000 up into the mid-five figures depending on the dates · compared with other 5-star beachfront resorts in Khao Lak, the starting price here is accessible and good value among upper-tier beachfront resorts, especially if you book in low season or land a meal-inclusive deal · what makes it genuinely worth it is the quiet private-beach location, the room quality after the rebrand, and the consistently praised service · but you have to factor in the high in-resort food prices and the travel costs in and out, since the location is far from the restaurant strip · in short, if you plan to relax mainly within the resort — using the pool, the beach, and eating breakfast at the hotel — the value is very high, but if you intend to head out every day, budget for the distance and car costs
Good to know before booking — a few things make the stay smoother · one, keep in mind the current name is Outrigger Khao Lak Beach Resort — when booking or telling a driver, the new name is easier to find, even though many platforms still list Manathai alongside it · two, plan your airport transfer ahead, since it's about 80–90 min from Phuket and Krabi airports and the Bang Sak Beach area is harder to hail a car in than in town · three, if you're coming to dive the Similans or Surin, this is near Thap Lamu Pier — book boat trips ahead and check the park season (the Similans are usually closed during the monsoon, roughly mid-May to mid-October) · four, if you're worried about humidity in the room, ask for a recently renovated or upper-floor room and run the AC to ventilate · five, budget for in-resort food or pick a meal-inclusive package, and if you want to save, plan to drive out for some meals · six, book with free cancellation if your plans aren't firm, since high-season prices move up fast
Bottom line — from all the real reviews, the resort formerly called Manathai Khao Lak and now Outrigger Khao Lak Beach Resort suits one type of traveler best: people who want a quiet, private 5-star beachfront resort that works for families or couples · the long, uncrowded Bang Sak Beach location, the Andaman sea-view pool, the upgraded rooms after the rebrand, the kids' club, and the warm service are why it tops its Bang Muang area and scores high on both Trip.com and TripAdvisor · but if you're after a location where you step out and find bars, restaurants, and night markets right away, or want cheap meals out every night, the quiet and distance of Bang Sak Beach may not be the answer — consider the Nang Thong or Bang Niang beach resorts closer to the restaurant strip instead · but for a genuinely calm beach getaway with 5-star comfort and attentive service, this is a choice that delivers on exactly that
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Long, quiet Bang Sak beachfront location with few people and lots of privacy
- ✓ Beautiful Andaman sea-view pool with jacuzzi and kids' zone
- ✓ Warm, attentive staff, consistently praised
- ✓ Good breakfast and a nice beachfront Edgewater restaurant
- ! Food and drink prices at the resort run higher than outside
- ! Quiet location far from the restaurant strip — you have to drive out
- ! A few rooms have slight humidity or a musty smell from the seaside climate
- ✓ Genuinely beachfront, with a beautiful sunset view in front of the resort
- ✓ Rooms are spacious and clean, decorated in bright tones with Thai craft accents
- ✓ Family-friendly, with a kids' club and children's activities
- ✓ Private pool villas ideal for couples and honeymoons
- ! About 80–90 min from Phuket/Krabi airports — plan your transport
- ! Still few activities for older teens compared with younger kids
- ! The name is still confusing between the old Manathai and the new Outrigger
- 💡If you want to step out and find restaurants and night markets right away — Bang Sak Beach is quiet and far from the southern Khao Lak restaurant strip, so you'll need to drive out → consider the Nang Thong or Bang Niang beach resorts instead, or plan your transport ahead
- 💡If you'll mostly eat and drink at the resort — food and spa prices run around 2–2.5 times the price of restaurants outside → pick a meal-inclusive package or drive out for some meals
- 💡If you're worried about humidity in the room — a few rooms have a slight musty smell from the seaside climate → ask for a recently renovated or upper-floor room, run the AC to ventilate, and ask to change rooms at check-in