Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort Hotel
Surrounded by water – no, not the Andaman Sea – the Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort Hotel has the largest pool in Thailand. This 5 Star property is surrounded by sprawling lawns and arching palm trees with hotel rooms placed to show-off the star attraction (yes, we mean the pool). Located 30-40 minutes drive from Krabi Town, this space is removed from the usual tourist routes.
With a soft colour palette, high ceilings, and dark wood features, this hotel has a colonial feel with Thai architecture mixed in. The pool salas and spa are a modern take on classic Thai structures.
We were welcomed in the expansive open-air lobby with drinks and towels. The reception staff sat with us on couches to complete the check-in process in comfort. Then a staff member walked with us to our room and gave us a quick tour of the room (no guessing about light switches here).
With 276 rooms, the hotel and pool area of the resort is very walkable. With a stroller, we had to walk back to the main building to use a lift / elevator as there were only stairs in our wing. The luxury rooms are in a dedicated part of the hotel with a portion of the pool reserved for their use (including some slick rooms with pool-access patios).
As the name shows, there is a golf course here, but we had come for the pool. Before arriving, be sure to explore Sofitel’s MyKids and MyGlass packages so you can make a decision at check-in.
Our travels have an environmental impact and, as part of the Accor group, Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort Hotel is part of the Planet 21 sustainability program.
Our tribe of 6 stayed in a Family Room. A room which can fit our family is a rare, and appreciated, find. Along with a big bed for us adults, our 3 oldest (ages 9, 7, and 2) loved the bunk bed with a trundle bed (a bed that slides under the bunk bed). It gave us floor space during the day and the novelty of it was a huge hit with our kids. Our youngest, a baby, slept in a crib provided by the hotel.
Continuing the colonial feel, the furnishings were all wood, the colour palette was warm, and the ceilings were high. The room was spacious and had all of the facilities we enjoy (fridge, kettle, water, safe). At first we were worried our kids would be too rough for such precious furniture, but it is all solid wood and honestly, we spent most of our time in the pool and not in the room!
Whenever we stay in a single room, we look for a balcony. This allows us to slip outside in the evenings and still live a little even after the kiddos have gone to bed. From our balcony we overlooked the pool and had glimpses of the sea beyond.
Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort Hotel boasts a wonderful time for children (and not just because of the pool). There is an excellent kids club with inviting rooms, outdoor play space, and a dynamic staff. We were able to nap our youngest two, drop-off our older two, and then actually read uninterrupted on the balcony (with 4 kids, this was a BIG deal). Our kids loved their time at the club and as we left, they talked more about this than they did the pool! There are daily children’s activities and our kids especially enjoyed the foam party in the big pool.
There are a number of activities at the resort besides golf and the pool. There is ping pong, a fitness centre, a teaching kitchen for classes, tennis, foosball, a pool table, and bicycles. Many of these come at an additional cost so be sure to talk to reception about what is available and prices.
Located across the road from Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort Hotel, Klong Muang Beach is a long and narrow strip of shoreline. Follow the path from the pool past the footwash station and a hotel guard will help you cross the street. Pop down a few stairs and you’re on the beach. There are beach loungers to enjoy or water sports to embrace (additional charge). At the north end of the beach, there are piers for larger commercial boats so be mindful of little ones in that area (you’ll see the conveyor belts).
Tubkaek Beach, just 3.5 kms up the coast, is our favourite beach in Krabi. With powdery white sand and amazing views of the Hong Islands, you should take a daytrip there.
Experience surreal beauty on Hong Island.
For more info on Tubkaek Beach and other adventures in Krabi, check Out and About in Krabi
There are several restaurants and bars within the resort. A buffet breakfast is served at Maya (which later offers Thai and western cuisine). The breakfast offering (pictured below) is large and picky eaters (yup, those kids) will be sure to find something they enjoy. There is a lovely Indian restaurant lead by a master chef, but our children preferred Italian (Ristorante Venezia). The service was casual, but the food was delicious. There is also an ice cream shop near the lobby and our kids often found excuses to walk this way. Near the adult only section of the pool and in front of the Thai style spa, Koh Poda Restaurant and Pool Bar serves up eats and drinks. Sitting outside and in the shade always makes food taste better. As the pool is so large (see below), you can also order to where you are seated using call buttons.
If the on-resort options are not enough, the main street also has a number of shops, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and massage places. It’s not a hub of nightlife, but there is enough that it’s worth exploring.
For more food ideas, read Caffeinating and Eating in Krabi
The pool – yes, THE pool is the main event at this resort for our water-loving lot. With a surface area of 7,000 square meters, there is a lot of splashing to be done. Though one continuous pool, it is organized into zones. The end closest to the beach access is an adult only (read “quiet”) area. Marked by a Thai sala on an island and conveniently close to the spa and pool bar, this is the calm end of the pool. Moving past that you cannot help but notice the Witbit (more on that below) floating in the middle of this unheated pol. Moving behind another island and beyond a white arch bridge, there is a shallow kids section delineated by railings. Complete with a playground in the water, this was where the foam party happened. Back in the main pool, there is a volleyball net and goals for water polo. Another arching footbridge denotes where the pool is reserved for those staying in the luxury level rooms. Wrapping around that end of the hotel, the pool is designated for those guests and it always seemed peaceful whenever we strolled the lawns in that direction. Stand up paddle boards are available to rent and use in the pool as well (300 Baht/hour).
The unmissable floating obstacle course, the Witbit, is hours of fun just waiting to be had. The kids can clamor all over it and the adults can race across it (or at least try to). No matter your age, this floating wonder is fun for all.
5 Star luxury does come with a 5 stare price tag so even if you cannot stay a week, set aside a few days to enjoy one of the most unique pools in Thailand.