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We visited Khao Lak for the first time at Christmas, just a few short years after the Boxing Day Tsunami tragedy. Back then, the wounds to the peoples psyches and to the landscape were still raw - recovering, but raw. We recently (and foolishly) watched the Netflix drama 'The Impossible' about one family's experience of the day and the aftermath. And then we tootled off to Khao Lak to enjoy 16 days on a Luxury Escape deal purchased during Covid (aka The End of the World - Australians were still forbidden from leaving the country at that point). A mere couple of years down the track we finally cashed in the deal along with seemingly half the population of Australia - the predominantly German resort was flooded with Australians and Kiwis using their End of the World vouchers before they expired in October.
The flight to Bangkok with Japan Airlines was dreadful - they managed the first leg from Sydney acceptably though certainly didn't cover themselves with glory, but the overnight run from Tokyo to Bangkok was diabolically bad - would never fly them anywhere again - to the point I'd walk rather than fly Japan Airlines. We arrived into Bangkok slightly early at 5.30 am and the fabulous folks at Bangkok Airways happily changed us onto the 8.30 am flight (vs. the 12.30 pm… what can I say - left a lot of wiggle room in case of storms/typhoons/volcanic eruptions - all the usual palaver that can delay international flights). We spent a couple of hours at the Coral Lounge in Bangkok and then puttered off to jump on the flight to Phuket - really love this particular airline - even on short flights they manage a meal service and happy faces.
Flying into Phuket on a brilliantly sunny day was amazing, the resort picked us up early which was incredible - that 24 hour service really shone and we hadn't expected to be able to contact anyone at 6 am to let them know about our flight change and much earlier arrival into Phuket. And that set the tone for our whole stay at Club Robinson Khao Lak. Nothing was too much trouble, from the big and fluffy mattress topper to take the Asian hard edge of the bed, the astonishing variety of Thai and international cuisine and the lovely, lovely staff. We never left the resort beyond long, twice daily walks along the beach - 20,000 steps a day most days rain, torrential rain or even fine days (and 30,000 steps on nights when we danced the night away).
We didn't know what to expect beyond the inclusions in our package - so enjoyed the fabulous food, the drinks, the 4 included massages in their wonderful hotel spa, along with the seamless airport transfers. We were stunned therefore to find multiple gala dinners, White Nights, complimentary cocktails and whisky, party nights and standout shows like the fire juggling and fireworks. So. There you have it. Hard NO for Japan Airlines (anywhere, ever. Spend the bucks and fly Qatar or Turkish or pretty much anyone else - even Air India had a better experience. Even!). Hard YES for Bangkok Airways - love those guys. Hard and emphatic multiple 'YES'! for Robinson Khao Lak - though suspect we'll need a lotto win to ever stay there again.
Sixteen days was enough but not enough. Our waistlines, even with moderation and 20,000 steps a day and dancing every few nights probably couldn't take much more, but being so well looked after could have gone on forever. At least another couple of weeks. It was so good there was no need to eat or drink or do anything, anywhere else - the extent of our expenditure was a drink on the beach one night at sunset - a disappointing drink but a stunning sunset. We collected shells and quartz crystals on the beach during our stay, enjoyed dressing for White Night and gala dinners and if anything it felt like a land-based cruise. Brilliant. Sad to go. Very very sad. Had our last of 16 oceanfront breakfasts with bubbles on our final Saturday morning and then hit the road - driven from Khao Lak to Phuket, then Vietjet to Saigon. Old haunts and new adventures await us in Vietnam.
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