Leave Phuket behind you and explore the surrounding islands. Koh Yao Yai is one of my favorite islands out there and only 30 minutes away from Phuket. Still untouched and a place where island life is the number one feeling. When you decide to go island hopping in Thailand then put this on your list. In a hidden bay in Koh Yao Yai you can find Glow Elixir, a lovely 4* resort in a tranquil bay.
Most people visit Phuket when they travel to Thailand, but there is much more than just this mass tourism peninsula. When I advice people where to go, I tell them to include Koh Yao Yai in their island hopping itinerary. When I got the chance to review Glow Elixir Koh Yao Yai I didn't hesitate to make my way over there again and add this blog to my almost 50 Thailand travel blogs.
Location Glow Elixir Koh Yao Yai
The hotel is housed in a picture perfect bay on an island not well known yet. Koh Yao Yai is not yet discovered by mass tourism and Glow Elixir has secured one of the best spots on the island. Situated on may be the best beach in Koh Yao Yai Glow Elixir has a prime location. Traveling to Thailand is amazing but you gotta know where to avoid mass tourism. Check all my Thailand tips in the link.
How to get from Phuket to Koh Yao Yai
Have you heard about 12Go Asia already? This Thailand transportation search engine will find you the best way to get from A to B in one overview. They compare busses, boats, trains and plane tickets. So when you are searching ho to get from Phuket to Koh Yao Yai you can easily find your boat tickets through 12Go Asia.
Try it above yourself and book your e-ticket online in just a couple clicks and get a confirmation on email.
How to get to Glow Elixir Koh Yao Yai
The hotel organised our transfer from Phuket airport and a driver was waiting for us. He arranged our transportation on Phuket and helped us to get to our boat transfer. The smooth speedboat brought us to the island where a resort car was waiting for us. On the way back to Phuket the hotel arranged a private transfer from the beach in front of the resort.
Best beach Koh Yao Yai
Take pictures of the beautiful white sand beach and the emerald blue sea and you will make the people back home jealous for sure. Glow Elixir is the only hotel located on the best besch in Koh Yao Yai so it is kind of private and almost deserted. The hotel does not have that many rooms so finding a secluded spot on the beach is not a hard job. There are enough trees that provide shelter from the sun. Simply fantastic are the sunsets right in front of the hotel.
Unfortunately there is a huge difference between high tide and low tide. At low tide the beach looks totally different and not as appealing as on high tide!
Activities Glow Elixir Koh Yao Yai
The hotel pool is nice, looks well maintained and is worth checking out at low tide. There are monkey running around in the resort and playing in the huge palm trees throughout the resort. There is not much to do in the resort. Read a book, enjoy the great location and cool off in the beautiful emerald blue ocean. Snorkeling in front of the resort is nice, but there is nothing really special to sea. The hotel offers tours to see the surrounding islands. Interested in island hopping in Thailand? Read my ultimate guide for island hopping Thailand.
Rooms Glow Elixir
This resort is by no means a 5* resort. This is the place where you come to relaxed on a paradise location for an affordable price. The hotel offers private bungalows, some with private pools, some not. I stayed in a private pool bungalow in the back of the resort.
I loved the secluded location here with full privacy plus we could overlook the resort from up here.
There are also bungalows with private pools right on the beach, but they have zero privacy. From oour bungalow to the beach was less than a minute anyway.
The A/C worked perfectly, the bed was very comfy and our patio with private pool was amazing, but the best feature of our bungalow might have been the fantastic outdoor shower. The rain shower had the most powerful beam ever for a rain shower and I admit that I showered way too long under the stars!
Restaurant Glow Elixir
Unfortunately the restaurant does not get my thumbs up. Prices are not a good reflection of Thailand and alcohol is crazy expensive. It is a short walk to the main road where you will find local restaurants that serve quality food, but 5 times cheaper! There is also a little convenient store that sells drinks and alcohol.
The breakfast is kind of ok, simple but all you need and right on the beach. There is a simple gym and a table tennis, but somehow they are only open till 7pm. No clue why there is a closing time for this facility. After sunset it would be great to use the gym, but unfortunately then it was closed!
Review Glow Elixir Koh Yao Yai
Overall I really enjoyed my stay at Glow Elixir and its fabulous staff. If you are looking for a fairly untouched piece of paradise for an affordable price, then head over to this hotel. The island is very quiet and you will hardly meet any other tourists, simply fantastic if you are after that laid-back islandlife feeling in Thailand.
For more info check out their website: Glow Elixir Yao Yai.
Interested in more island hopping tours in Thailand? Click here for info about luxury homes in Phuket and Koh Samui. Or do you rather go hiking in Koh Tao or beach hopping in Krabi.
