Kalima Resort and Villas Khao Lak

When we first arrived, we booked a room with a private pool. Upon entering the room we were greeted by a snake on the side of our room which was quite a scary surprise. However upon speaking to the reception we were moved to another room. The rooms are good sized and food was great but there are no lifeguards anywhere near the pools nor near the beach. Also, the bar at the beach had no staff to order from so I believe there needs to be more staff in order to better assist the guests. The kids however loved the kids pool and slides, spent most of the time there. Would like to thank Pin at the reception who was very helpful in helping us move rooms and ensuring we were happy with the new room.

Disappointing Experience at a Supposed 5-Star Hotel We stayed at Kalima Resort, which is marketed as a 5-star property. While the hotel grounds and room design are aesthetically pleasing, our overall experience did not meet the expectations associated with a hotel of this caliber. The hotel is located outside of Khao Lak, which makes it rather isolated. Any outing requires a taxi or the hotel’s shuttle service, which operates only three times a day — at 13:00, 16:00, and 19:00 — limiting flexibility for guests. We had booked a room with a pool. While the room itself was indeed beautiful, it is important to note that the pools are either private or shared among several rooms. This should be clearly communicated at the time of booking. Breakfast was diverse and generally tasty. However, the dining area is open-air, not air-conditioned, and unfortunately full of flying insects, making the experience quite uncomfortable. Additionally, there is only one table suitable for more than four guests. The staff does not allow rearrangement of tables, meaning families or groups larger than four are forced to sit separately. The most troubling issue occurred on July 28, when we returned to our room to discover there was no hot water. We immediately contacted the front desk and also reported the problem via the hotel app. We were informed there was a malfunction and it would be resolved within two hours. However, this did not happen. The only solutions offered were to shower in a vacant room or at the lobby, which is far from an acceptable resolution for a hotel in this price range. We were not offered a room change or any form of compensation. Even after check-out, our proactive request for a follow-up and compensation was met only with an apology from hotel management, without any tangible remedy. A hotel that charges premium rates and claims to be 5-star must demonstrate a higher level of service and professionalism. In cases of utility failure, such as a lack of hot water, immediate room replacement or an upgrade at a nearby partner hotel should be standard procedure. This was not handled appropriately, and we left deeply disappointed. We do not recommend this hotel to travelers expecting a true 5-star experience.

The hotel room was made with cheap materials, and I could hear the shower from the next room. The cleanliness was also poor. I stayed in a pool-access room, but the bed was damp. The next day, they brought wet towels, and when I requested new ones, it took more than two hours to get them after I called again. The staff was also unfriendly. The breakfast was the worst I've had among all the hotels in Khao Lak, and the sofa on the second floor was disgustingly dirty. They claim to be a 5-star hotel, but since I've been traveling in Thailand for almost a year, I'd say this place is barely a 4-star. I have no intention of ever going back.