JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort and Spa

Viorica Vasile

I was really looking forward to a lovely stay at this resort, and while there were some enjoyable moments, a few aspects didn’t quite meet expectations. The weather wasn’t great for a few days, which limited some of the outdoor activities—but of course, that’s no one’s fault. When I finally had the chance to visit the beach bar, I was looking forward to relaxing, though I did end up waiting about 25 minutes for a drink, which was a bit disappointing. The pool could have been better maintained, as it didn’t feel as clean as you’d expect from a resort of this standard. One thing I noticed was that when private events were happening, like parties, some areas such as the restaurant were closed off, and it felt like more attention was given to those events than to regular guests. It took away a bit from the overall experience. Also, the prices here are on the higher side, especially compared to two other places we stayed during the same trip, which offered more consistent service and amenities. That said, the setting is beautiful and there’s definitely potential here. With a few improvements in service and guest prioritization, this could easily become the top-tier experience it aims to be.

Kaithlyn

Had an amazing stay at the JW in Khao Lak - our room was a swim up right to the lagoon, which made it perfect for early morning and evening swims, our favorite part of the day. We even got to see Charlie, the resident monitor lizard roaming around a couple times (he’s harmless and very cute)! The property itself is breathtaking. Being able to swim from our lagoon to the infinity pool, or swim-up bar, or even out towards the beach, was incredible. The trees are all lovely, making for picturesque views. Staff takes great care in keeping the property pristine 24/7. Staff were all wonderful and polite, always smiling and willing to lend a helping hand. They became familiar, friendly faces after staying for 4 days. Resort activities were great. Morning yoga on the beach was relaxing, and the waterfall hike was well-planned. We got to use the resort bikes (complimentary for the first hour) to explore the path to Memories Beach Bar - highly recommend as the path through the jungle is absolutely beautiful. They also offer garden and shark nursery tours, buffalo bathing, floating yoga, Pilates and Muay Thai, but ask for the resort activity sheet and book ahead as the activities can book out in advance. They have complimentary surfboards and stand up paddle boards too for the beach! The Thai/Japanese dinner buffet had good meal selections. Food can be a little pricey compared to normal Thailand prices on the resort, so we ate most of our meals at the adjacent restaurants (Friendship and Phen), or you could take the complimentary shuttle into town to try other local restaurants. Next to both restaurants are massage and laundry spots as well! My husband and I had an amazing time and cannot wait to come back again with more family and some friends!

Mel Russell

*Ensure you ask whether a wedding will be happening during your stay!* We had a nice few days at this resort. The rooms are well appointed and the service is great. Our daughter enjoyed the kids club. The pools are great. The hotel had a big wedding that took over much of the resort for several days with a few restaurants and facilities closed for the wedding. There was a huge ugly dome that was erected on the main portion of the beach which ruined the view from the main pool and lobby. The entire entrance of the hotel was decorated for the wedding with a ton of signage and personalization. It felt like we were intruding on their event and was quite awkward. It would have been a fantastic stay had we avoided the wedding altogether. My suggestion to the hotel would be to over communicate to guests at booking that they will lose access to several amenities during their stay for a private wedding so they can decide whether they still wish to book.

Y K

A grand and large complex, on a nice beach. Pleasantly furnished spacious rooms. The hotel is quite old, but well maintained and the interior style is also very successful with a timeless design. Very good beach. With plenty of sun loungers both on the beach and around the pools. A separate beach area for adults, which is very pleasant for a calm stay. Lots of pools, which are interconnected and together there are supposedly three kilometres of pools. The complex is so large that we did not find enough time to walk through the entire complex in a couple of days. Very good selection and delicious breakfast, in two restaurants, one of which is for adults only and it was very peaceful there. Breakfast time is also long enough 6.30 - 11.00. The hotel's restaurants are quite expensive and average according to the reviews, there should also be problems with seats and you need to book in advance. We did not try the hotel restaurants. There are local, simple eateries on both sides of the hotel at reasonable prices, and there are several good restaurants within a 15-minute drive. There is a reasonably priced open-air massage parlour on the beach next to the territory. There is a mini market and a few other shops in front of the hotel entrance. The society is very international, no one nationality dominated. There were many families with children, but since there was a separate breakfast restaurant and beach only for adults, the children did not disturb. There was some confusion with the light switches, because when introducing the room they did not show where the light switch was in the room (inside the bed backrest in the middle of the bed behind the pillows) and we only found it in the morning. Without this switch, we could only use the general switch in the corridor - all the lights on and off at once. There are very few sockets and there are none at the bedside (one is inside the bed in the middle of the bed). Check-in should be from 15:00, we only got into the room at 17:15.

Sameer Rattonsey

Review of Marriott Khao Lak We recently stayed at the Marriott in Khao Lak, and overall, the property was stunning. The resort boasts a private beach, which was absolutely lovely—perfect for relaxing and taking in the serene surroundings. The food options were fantastic, with a variety of delicious choices, and the cocktails were just as impressive. Service was also excellent, making for an enjoyable stay—at least at first. Now, onto the most shocking part of our experience. We were staying in one of the pool-level rooms when we noticed a huge monitor lizard sitting right outside on our porch. To our disbelief, it then jumped into the pool, swam across to the other end, and calmly exited into the bushes. While we understand that nature is part of the experience in Thailand, having a large reptile swimming in the same pool as guests, including young children, was alarming. We immediately informed the hotel staff and management, showing them pictures and videos of what had happened. Instead of taking our concerns seriously, they casually dismissed the situation, insisting that these lizards were harmless. Really? So it’s acceptable for them to be swimming with guests and families in the main pool? We were absolutely shocked by how indifferent the staff was and took it upon ourselves to warn other guests to be extra cautious, especially those with kids playing in the pool. While the resort itself is undeniably beautiful, this experience left us feeling extremely disappointed. The lack of urgency and concern from management regarding guest safety was unacceptable. Marriott Khao Lak is a great place to stay—but be prepared to share the pool with unexpected wildlife.