Krabi, Thailand - travel review

If heaven is a place on earth, I do believe I've found it.

The coastal resort of Krabi in south-west Thailand truly offers a taste of paradise.

It sells itself on having some of the best beaches in the country and some equally impressive natural scenery. And rightly so. It's breathtakingly beautiful.

Silky soft wonderful white sands and crystal blue waters make this an idyllic exotic island getaway.

And then there's the dramatic tree-lined limestone cliffs that rise from the calm waters of the Andaman Sea. A spectacular sight.

Never has the term 'picture postcard' been more appropriate. I'd seen pretty photos of the area before jetting off on this whistle-stop mini-break but I didn't realise they would come to life so much as they did.

As long-haul destinations go, Thailand is a journey – and then some.

Thankfully Qatar Airways has recently launched a handy flight for us Midland folk from Birmingham via Doha in Qatar.

Two comfortable flights of around seven hours each – I enjoyed a mini stopover in Doha – and then you'll arrive in the lovely Land of Smiles.

Our base for our short but very sweet three nights was the luxurious Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort, offering the perfect Thai hideaway in a stunning location – with a prime spot facing Krabi's Klong Muang Beach.

Colonial in style and very spacious, it combines western luxury with a distinct Thai ambience. It has three stylish restaurants serving International, Italian, Indian and local dishes – and the breakfast is a feast for all the senses, with so many choices you could stay here for hours.

If you fancy a dip its lagoon-style swimming pool is the biggest in Thailand at 7,000 m².

The impressive hotel spa offers much-needed pampering after a long haul flight. Thai massage anyone? Well it would be rude not to and what a great way to feel refreshed after being up in the air for so long.

In fact there's plenty of swanky resorts in the Krabi area. We visited Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, which was jaw-dropping.This level of luxury doesn't come cheap of course, it's a treat-yourself destination (I'll return and stay for a week if I win the lottery).

Its reception desk is replaced with a traditional Thai pavilion, surrounded by water. How's that for a welcome? Thai for 'where the mountains meet the sea,' Phulay Bay is a luxurious hidden retreat.

It's a villa and pavilion boutique hotel – with some of the biggest beds I've seen and the most amazing sea views, not to mention a fantastic 'Sunset Bar' – where of course you get to watch the sun go down while sipping on a Thai-jito – an Asian twist on the Mojito.

Again this is another hotel with a fantastic spa. And we were lucky enough to try out a treatment. I opted for a Thai massage again (when in Rome). This time I had the traditional version and it's no run-of-the-mill rubdown. This was performed on a mat on the floor, using no oils – as the recipient is clothed.

I slipped into some comfy pyjamas and before I knew it I was being stretched like a rubber band across the floor.

The therapist was a deceivingly slight woman with hands, elbows and knees so strong it brought tears to my eyes. But no pain, no gain, right? The end result left me so relaxed I slept like an angel that evening – and the next day I felt incredibly energised.

So we made the most of our new-found energy with a day island-hopping – and in the process enjoyed another slice of paradise.

There's more than 100 islands along the coastline. Now I'm not suggesting you visit them all, but you must take in a few. Each one of the tropical islands is different – some are small rocky outcrops with no landing access and offer a laid-back atmosphere while others are larger and with a bit of tourist hustle and bustle. But either way, they are idyllic.

While many tourists venture out on the traditional Thai longtail boats, others opt for a speed boat adventure, which is what we did.

The scenic Hong Island, which is within 15 minutes by speedboat from the Sofitel Krabi, has several spectacular beaches as well as a hidden lagoon with calming waters which are home to stunning tropical fish.

Maya Bay is a stunning beach made famous by a certain movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The aptly named The Beach was filmed here back in the late 1990s. Now I didn't see too many backpackers here, but there were plenty of tourists – no doubt due to the fame of the film.

We enjoyed lunch at Phi Phi Island – tasty Thai dishes of chicken satay, curries, salads and egg-fried rice – washed down with cocktails served in coconuts.

The tastebuds were tantalised and if you're a fan of Thai food the good news is many hotels offer cookery lessons.

We took part in one at Phulay Bay – and I dished up a half-decent Som Tam Salad if I do say so myself.

Before we knew it was time to head back to Brum via the Middle East courtesy of Qatar Airways.

Krabi is a fantastic sun-drenched destination, helped by the warm welcome of the Thai people who are extremely gracious – and so happy.

It's no wonder the country is known as the Land of Smiles. The happiness is contagious – I certainly caught the bug.

It may be called Krabi but you'll certainly not feel 'crabby' during a trip to this destination. This was all about happiness, relaxation and recharging your batteries. I returned home refreshed and energised. And I can't wait to return to paradise.

By Maria Cusine