Raya Buri Resort

Raya Buri Resort is situated on a calm man-made lake, on lush grounds filled with trees, flowers, lawns, gardens, and sculptures like Balinese winged lions. Guests enter to a richly decorated lobby with Balinese and Thai decorative elements that include chandeliers, dark wood, and a burgundy-and-gold wall behind the front desk. The restaurant is similarly decorated, and features open-air seating with sweeping views of the lake and surrounding mountains. Set right on the lake, a large deck is festooned at night with colorful lights. Guests can go swimming in the deep water (life jackets are provided), kayaking in colorful red and yellow kayaks, and paddle-boating in boats in the shape of ducks and swans. The resort appeals to travelers who want to escape the city noise in favor of a serene and picturesque hotel in nature. Wi-Fi reception is iffy, but this might be considered an added benefit for the modern traveler to unplug and get off the grid. The laid-back resort attracts a mix of guests, from couples to families and corporate groups on retreats, as well as a mix of domestic Thai and international tourists.

Located in Kanchanaburi province, Raya Buri Resort is in a scenic and secluded area on a man-made lake near Srinakarin Dam. It's off the beaten path, so there are no restaurants, bars, nightclubs, or shops in the immediate area. The last two miles of driving to the resort takes place on a dirt mountain road with elephants occasionally visible from the road -- guests will need their own cars to get around the area. Erawan National Park is a 30-minute drive from the hotel, and Huay Mae Khamin Falls -- a beautiful seven-tiered waterfall -- is about an hour away by car. It's a little over an hour to reach the area with Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua Tiger Temple and Prasat Mueang Sing Historical Park, while Kanchanburi city -- home to Kanchanaburi Station, the Death Railway, and the Bridge on the River Kwai -- is a 90-minute drive from the hotel. Guests coming from the Bangkok area with drive about three hours from the city center and three-and-a-half hours from Suvarnabhumi International Airport to reach Raya Buri Resort.

The 79 rooms at Raya Buri Resort have a mostly pleasant, modern Balinese look, with white cotton bedding, dark woods, rich maroons and yellows, and Balinese decorative motifs like red-and-gold dragon symbols on doors. Rooms are quite simple to the point of being basic, and small tube TVs in most don't make the best impression. Rooms range from 258 to 474 square feet (24 to 44 square meters), so all are fairly spacious -- they also come with air-conditioning, though the resort's lakefront location and cooling breezes means that won't always be necessary. Raya Island Rooms are built right on top of the lake, with sliding glass doors opening to a terrace with seating. While these rooms sound nice in theory, they are some of the more dated and beat up rooms on offer here. All rooms have mini-fridges and free Wi-Fi. The Wi-Fi signal is often weak in the rooms and throughout the resort. Some rooms also have kettles to heat water for tea and instant coffee. Most rooms have private balconies, many with superb views of the lake and surrounding forests and mountains. Some terraces also have soaking tubs. Bathrooms are generally cleaned well-maintained, but many don't get good light and many are small, with limited counter space around the sink. Bathrooms do not have bathtubs, and the showers have pump-style dispensers rather than bottled shampoo and bar soap. Rooms are all non-smoking, but the resort has designated outdoor areas for smoking. 

Raya Buri Resort doesn't have the facilities one might expect from a rural, lakeside resort -- there's no swimming pool, hot tub, sauna, or fitness center. The resort is situated on a big calm lake suitable for swimming, though the water may be a little deep for children and non-swimmers -- life jackets are available. Guests can also go kayaking and paddle-boating, though there are fees for both. The resort runs excursions to a nearby Grape Farm, Srinakarin Reservoir, Huay Mae-Khamin Waterfall, and the Pak Lam Kha-Khaeng stainless steel temple. Apart from occasional night parties on the deck overlooking the lake, entertainment on-site and in the area is non-existent, so guests may want to bring cards, a book, or movie player. Thai and aroma oil massages are available as well. The resort serves a breakfast buffet with numerous Thai items plus Western fare like fried eggs, small sausages, hash browns, pancakes, and toast. Unfortunately it's not included in room rates. For lunch and dinner the restaurant serves decent Thai food and less-good Western fare like burgers. The resort also has a cafe, convenience store, meeting rooms, 24-hour staff availability, and free parking. As already noted, there is free Wi-Fi, but it's often not reliable.