Relaxing holiday for the whole family”

We (couple) stayed at Koh Yao Yai for one week with our 9 month old daughter. It was exactly what we wanted and more. The hotel grounds are beautiful and very well kept. We had a Sea View room and not only was the view stellar, it was the perfect size for us. I spent a lot of time researching hotels with two room options and I was really happy that we decided to go with the Sea View for the reason of our baby - we could put her to sleep in the main bedroom, while we stayed up later in the living room. Also, our area was very quiet, with bungalows being far enough apart so that we never had to worry about potentially keeping others awake if our baby cried at night. I was happy with the Sea View as even though it was farther from the beach and amenities, we had the best view and a good breeze. We spent a lot of time in both pools, which were quiet enough to not have to worry about the baby being splashed too much (we brought a little raft for her). The restaurants were fine, though yes expensive (this is a luxury resort), but we tried to go outside the area to eat in other restaurants to see the island a bit. I think what really made our stay was the wonderful staff and lovely people we met during our trip. The staff were always very friendly and were especially attentive to our daughter, which was greatly appreciated. We met a few other couples with children, and without, which made the experience seem more like a village as there was always someone to have a chat with and share recommendations. To be honest, most people do seem to stay for 1-3 days and avoid talking to strangers at all costs, so if you're into that, Koh Yao Yai village would probably be as enjoyable for you as it was to us! I think people mention there isn't much to do, but I wished we stayed for longer. There are school tours, lots of remote beaches to find, the hike up to the lookout point (underwhelming), pla ching chang, delicious street food, visits to other islands... We tried to do one

Gorgeous retreat on a secluded island paradise”

we were traveling in thailand for one month with our grown daughter. we spent 6 nights at koh yao yai village towards the end of our month and it was the highlight of our trip. we had sea view bungalow #711 which had a sweeping view of the sea and the karst formations. the sea view bungalows are more expensive but well worth the extra money. they are very new and well appointed, huge and luxurious. they face the sea (although some have better open views), where as the regular bungalows are set back and dont have views (although they are set in a lovely dense tropical landscape. we found our accommodations to be perfect in every way.. the staff are incredibly nice and friendly and helpful. the spa treatments are divine. the negatives that you should know about the resort are that it is not located on a swimmable beach. it is very picturesque, but it is really a tidal flat, never deep enough for swimming. when tide is out you can walk for ages on the flats and observe very interesting marine life (look for the wonderful hermit crabs). the infinity pool just about makes up for the lack of beach swimming. it is a stunning pool! the buffet breakfast (which is included) is great, bountiful with many delicious options including omelets made to order and traditional thai hot dishes. however the lunch and dinner menus are a bit expensive and the food is only fair. the table service is a bit disorganized. there are not other dining options off the resort unless you are adventurous. this is a very quiet island not geared for tourism except at the few resorts, so be prepared to for the dining experience to be only mediocre and to get boring.. however i would not let that deter you from staying in the amazing spot. rent a motor bike and tour this sleepy subsistence fishing culture of thai muslims before it turns into koh phi phi (highly developed touristic).

Serenity”

Koh Yao Yai Village is a beautiful resort set in a beautiful location. Unfortunately for us it poured with rain for our whole 4 day stay. This left us with nothing to do, as the resort is very isolated, which left us to play cards in our Bungalow or eat at the restaurant. We were unable to get out and explore the outer islands to snorkel and canoe, which was our main aim of going to Koh Yao Yai. If there had been no rain our stay here would have been entirely different. In saying all of this I would return to Koh Yao Yai again but not during the rainy season. If you are looking for a place that is away from the hustle and bustle of other areas I would highly recommend this Island or it's sister island Koh Yao Noi.

Good hotel in a remote location”

It was relatively easy for us to get to KYY Village. We took a taxi from the airport to Bang Rong Pier and from there you can either take the long tail boat for 120B (takes you there in 1hour) or the speedboat for (takes you there in 30min). Make sure to check the schedule though These stop at Koh Yao Yai before going to Koh Yao Noi. After getting there, we were picked up by the hotel (make sure to call ahead to get picked up). I believe they charge 100B per person. It takes about 20 minutes to get to the hotel from the pier. The hotel itself is great as well as the service they provide. All the rooms are bungalow style with a the bathroom and bedroom airconditioned and the daybed and sitting chairs outside. There is also a fridge with complimentary water and coffee/tea station outside replenished daily. If you want to save money on chips/drinks, buy it at on of the stores in Bang Rong pier. They do a turn down service were they also plug in mosquito repellant (doesn't really smell). Can't swim on the beach as it's rocky but infinity pool is amazing! They also have breakfast which is pretty much a made to order buffet with self serve fruits and breads. The activities they have are a bit pricey but can be discounted with larger parties. We took the Island Hopping tour and unfortunately it rained half the time. There was just me and my boyfriend on the boat along with the captain and two hotel staff. They were very attentive and served us lunch on the beach.

Exceptional Resort in paradise”

Koh Yao Yai Village is a spectacularly beautiful resort located on the edge of the ocean amidst rubber trees and tropical gardens. The facilities are exceptional - shaded pathways, two beautiful swimming pools, two lovely restaurants, pool bars, gym, library and incredibly helpful and accommodating staff. As per resorts anywhere, the prices charged are quite a bit higher than "outside" but I suppose this goes with the territory. Be aware though that the prices charged for excursions booked through the hotel can be halved easily by stepping just outside the resort and booking directly with the enterprising suppliers set up and waiting. For a romantic and relaxing few days away, this resort is perfect and we will be back!

Excellent”

Koh Yao Yai Village is a great gateway for a few days. If one is looking for a totally relaxed atmosphere this is the place. No loud music, no bars at the beach, no noises around. Great distance to the other bungalows. Extremely perfect. Travellers who are looking for a perfect beach would be at the wrong place. We didn't miss it. It is easy to take a scooter to any other place of the island. Be aware that if you don't want to ride scooter you must accept higher prices for transfer services or taxis. The only downside is the gym. We spent a week there and were hoping to get some time to work out in the morning but there are basically only weight machines and weights. The aircondition in the gym is not working properly so the circulation is not good. There is definitely a bicycle or a crosstrainer missing. That would be perfect. Otherwise everything is great. Staff is friendly, food good. Be aware that the breakfast buffet does not contain any Thai items if you are looking for this (we didn't really miss it although the 12 different sorts of bread are not really that necessary.... ) BUT there is glutenfree bread available. Our son has Celiac and it was no problem at all to eat at the restaurant. Also note that there are only a few ATM's on the island, not that easy to reach by walking. The hotel will not pay out any cash on presenting creditcard or by charging to the room.

Beautiful untouched place very relaxing”

We stayed for the second time at Koh Yao Yai Village. We love this place, the friendly staff and well maintained place. Pool is stunning and the view breathtaking. No need to swim in the ocean with such a great pool. Actually there are two pools to use. Love the surounding with rice paddies and actually being able to watch farmers planting them. Rooms are great. We like more the once near the beach the Seaview Villas. Lovely little souvenier store that carries all you need including Flip Flops and Swimmsuits. So if you loos your bags or forgot something they have everything. Food is great especially Thai food is still nice spicy like the locals eats them. Presentation is very nice too and food gets served fast. Our daughter Loved the kids menue and coloring sheet. Definitely a high relaxing factor at this place. Would not recommend with small children under 4 years. We definitely come back again.

Amazing Resort in a peaceful part of Thailand”

We had an amazing stay at the Koh Yao Yai Village. It's set in an unspoilt part of Thailand. If you're looking to explore traditional Thai life or get away from the hustle and bustle of some of the more touristy spots then Koh Yao Yai is a great choice. You will need to hire a scooter or bikes to get around this island. We ate at the hotel restaurant most nights - great food and fairly well priced. The outlook of the restaurant is gorgeous and they have three romantic tables near the water - you'll need to get in quick to book these spots.

Beautiful, deserted jungle paradise”

I have visited Thailand on 5 separate occasions. I visited Ko Samui and Koh Samet in the 80s and 90s when they were deserted island paradises. These days they have been transformed into noisy party islands. Yao Yai remains beautiful and tranquil. This makes for a relaxing time. However there is little to do on the island so if you are seeking fun and entertainment Yao Yai is not for you. My wife and I hired a motorbike and drove across the island exploring local villages. Most of the rest of our time was spent reading books and relaxing, though there is the option of renting a kayak. The beaches on Yao Yai are not that great, but the accommodation and the food were fabulous. Though the beach was not great, the hotel had a pool right by the sea with stunning views. The staff were highly professional

Remote / peaceful island getaway”

Overall, Koh Yao Yai Village was a great peaceful getaway. Not quite the beach holiday i had hoped for because of the heavy downpour during late August (Don't try your luck during the monsoon season). All tours take place on other islands/beaches and unfortunately we couldn't go on any because of the rain. So was confined to the resort's library (which shelves plenty of books) + one restaurant (recommend the massaman curry) the entire duration of the trip but it was relaxing nonetheless. A great getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city with very warm, welcoming staff. On the last day the sun came out and the infinity pool that overlooks the beach was stunning - definitely the highlight of the resort. The beach on the other hand is disappointing, not one for the postcards or for swimming purposes. The resort is massive and expanding - which also meant construction work (noisy). We booked a seaview villa and it was more murky lagoon view NOT seaview. So that was a bit of a disappointment but the inside was very spacious with a nice outdoor shower. However don't be expecting a 5 star resort - the partitions didn't shut properly and the floor was rather oily?? Powercuts during storms. But they do treat you well - with daily room cleaning + transportation to the restaurant/lobby via golf cart if you so desired. 2 things I wish I had known before going: (1) Travel from Phuket-Koh Yao Yai and NOT from Krabi-Koh Yao Yai. The travel from Krabi airport took us a good 4 hours+, consisting of car-speed boat-tuk tuk-longtail boat-tuk tuk. Exhausting. But journey to Phuket was MUCH shorter (tuk tuk-speedboat-car) (2) Beach is not breathtaking. Koh Yao Yai is unfortunately not known for its pristine beaches. (The infinity pool however IS breathtaking) Would i be returning? Probably not in the near future. Was a great holiday but think I'll try staying at Koh Phi Phi itself for the picturesque beaches next tim

Perfect for a quiet holiday”

We had a great stay at Koh Yao Yai Village. We were aiming for a quiet, relaxing holiday and this resort gives just that. The rooms were nice, and the outside shower is fun. The pool has has the best view ever. The food was ok, a little expensive and small portions (for Thai standards), but renting a bike and driving a bit solves that easily. The staff was super friendly and we did the Village Tour with two really nice guides. We really got a good close up view of the island. Just to note: there are ATM's on the island, but they do not accept mastercard (visa is ok).

Nice and quiet hotel with a splendid view”

If you want to escape from any noise Koh Yao Yai Village would be the best choise and it has a splendid view of the sea. We stayed in Seaview Bungalow which was excellent for us. The staff in the hotel are also very friendly and nice. We like its relaxed atmosphre very much. Only weak point which I could think of is food in the Restaurant. Food is fine but it could be improved as it should have more choise in the menu, more Thai food choise and variety, we would prefer. A part from that, it was excellent place to stay and we like Koh Yao Yai Village very much.

Relaxing and pleasant”

A very pleasant stay. Spacious bungalow (I believe this was the luxury variety) with massive bathroom and outdoor shower. In addition an outside area with fan, daybed etc - more like an outdoor living room. The hotel is a 20 minutes drive from the jetty where scheduled speedboats from Bang Rong pier stop. So provided you checked the ferry schedule you can reach the resort in 1.5 hours from Phuket airport. As previous reviewers pointed out the beach is not very exciting, the main draw here is the pool (lovely), the stunning views, the spacious accommodation and the relaxed and down to earth feeling of Koh Yao Yai.

Beautiful Resort in a huge garden”

We stayed 3 nights at Koh Yao Yai Village and we felt like in paradise. The huge bungalows with outdoor shower and a big terrace are set in the forest and between their own rice paddies. You only have to know that the bungalows are quite far from the beach. The pool area is the same huge with a stunning view of the Phang Na Bay. Next to the pool you find the restaurant with the same nice view and a great breakfast served. We only had lunch a view times, which was ok but quite overpriced so we went outside for dinner to the lovely Chill chill restaurant. You also find a library, a small gift shop, a spa center and a tour/activity center within the resort.

Staff so nice in this restuarant”

Koh Yao Yai Village locted in the small island, kao yao yai. I recommend guests to use the hotel's land and sea combined transportation service. Use the public transportation (longtail boat and speed boat) is not a good experience. The hotel is in the forest, very quiet and comfortable, the room is eco-friendly and configures a outdoor shower. The hotel have a big unlimited swimming pool with ocean view of tide changing.

Nice Hotel, perfect hideaway location”

We stayed at the Koh Yao Yai Village in March 2012. It was great to get away from the hustle and bustle of Phuket and experience the laid back Island of Koh Yao Yai. The hotel staff and friendly and the rooms are very comfortable. Absolutely no complaints and would definitely visit again in the future.

Very nice hotel but a little secluded”

After a 40 minute boat ride we finally arrived at the pier where we were picked up by their staff in a truck and transported to the hotel to check in. First impression was that this place was very nice and had a natural feel to it. Built near the edge of a forest and overlooking the beach. The service was EXCELLENT. That is definitely one thing we could not complain about during our 5 day duration. There is only one main restaurant there, the Thai food there is excellent, but understandably, only expect average Western food. I found the food to be also expensive. The rooms very spacious and clean. It had an excellent outdoor shower as well as an indoor shower (I dont know if all suites have this). Cleaning happens twice a day and they generally do a good job. If you want to be on a secluded island with very few people, this place is definitely for you. Personally for me, I think the beach is slightly nicer on the other side of the island. Exlir Hotel for example is on the other side and they have rooms that are literally at the doorstep of beaches. You will not have this at Koh Yao Yai Village. Having said that, we have been to both hotels. The food menu and view seems slightly better at Elixir, but the service and quality of the rooms and overall experience was better at The Village (the infinity pool was also amazing!). I would definitely recommend this place, especially to couples that want a secluded getaway.

Relaxing stay”

The village is set on the quiet and peaceful island of Koh Yao Yai. The hotel itself has friendly and accommodating staff and our chalet was really spacious and well-decorated with a rustic charm. Matt took us out on a great Explorer island trip and he was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the local area. The only down side was the food, it was quite expensive and not as tasty as some of the food we had tasted elsewhere. However we discovered places nearby to eat that served delicious food and it was a good way to meet some of the friendly locals. On the plus side the breakfast buffet was great. Would recommend if you want a quiet and peaceful relaxing holiday by the sea.

Wonderful secluded hotel with wonderful views”

spent some lovely nights at koh yao yai village - staff extremely friendly and assisted us with transport to and from the island/hotel. wonderful bungalows located in the forest just back from the beach. fantastic pool overlooking the ocean and limestone islands with great activities on offer to explore the island (mtn bike riding, trips to other island beaches). would highly recommend for time away from hustle and bustle or romantic get away.

MITIGE”

Koh Yao Yai Village bénéficie d'une belle situation. Beaux bungalows bien équipés. Belle plage. Deux belles piscine. La cuisine est plutôt réussie. L'hôtel est calme. Peut-être trop. On regrette fortement l'absence d'activités ( par exemple yoga ), absolument aucune animations n'est proposée. Cela manque donc de surprises et d'originalité (comparé à Santyha). On regrette également un cout de transfert Aeroport krabi ou pukhet vers l'hotel, hors de prix. Un conseil débrouillez vous seul, vous ferez des économies. Koh Yao Yai Village enjoys a beautiful location. Beautiful well equipped bungalows. Beautiful beach. Two beautiful pools. The cooking is rather successful. The hotel is quiet. May be too much. We strongly regret the lack of activities (ex yoga), absolutely no entertainment is proposed. It lacks of surprises and originality (compared to Santhya ). We also regret t transfer cost Airport krabi or Pukheexemple : hotel to YYH pier to Krabi, 300 b taxi , 900 via l'hotel !