"This is the second Banyan Tree Hideaway I've stayed at; the first was in Bali. It's undoubtedly the most luxurious experience in all of Krabi, bar none. With only 54 villas in the entire hotel, even at full occupancy, there are only about a hundred guests, ensuring peace and privacy. I stayed for three days and never left the hotel premises.
The restaurant's Thai food is among the top 10% in all of Thailand, far surpassing many 'influencer' restaurants. Our butler, Sun, is Thai and has visited China. Many of the staff members have interned at hotels in China for several years. By the second day, whether it was the regular service staff or the restaurant staff, they all knew my name, addressing me as Mr. So-and-so or Ms. So-and-so. It truly felt like coming home. They were always ready to chat with you, though this might feel a bit uncomfortable for those who are socially anxious.
Hong Island is a complimentary hotel excursion, departing at 9 AM daily from the private beach at the hotel's Sunset Bar, returning at 12 PM. Water and towels are provided free of charge, and you only need to pay a 300 baht island entrance fee. If you wish, you can go every day. Upon your return, your butler and the Sunset Bar staff will be lined up with drinks, iced towels, and a car, ready to welcome you back.
Honestly, a room costing over ten thousand per night is truly incomparable to the Banyan Tree next door. It's not that Banyan Tree is bad; they just have completely different concepts. The Hideaway is also different from a traditional Ritz-Carlton, considering there are only 7 such properties worldwide (some say 9, I haven't confirmed). You need to show your check-in confirmation at the entrance; outsiders are not allowed into the hotel. Privacy, privacy, privacy is the main focus throughout your stay.
Finally, you have a good chance of seeing small lizards, but crocodiles are much harder to spot – it's purely luck. They don't bite, but of course, don't provoke them; after all, they are wild animals. I hope this helps anyone planning a trip."