Moracea By Khao Lak Resort

The Moracea by Khao Lak Resort is designed in a contemporary Thai style and offers relative privacy thanks to its hillside location amid a jungle setting. The two restaurants make the most of open-air sea views, such as the Malila's imposing grand-stand-style pavilion, with a fountain centerpiece. And the wet-edge, infinity pool is fringed by grassy areas and traversed by a wooden bridge. The lobby uses the resort’s characteristic high-beamed ceilings to good effect. Its black-and-white checked floor tiling and black and dark-wood furnishings are spruced up with bright upholstery and cushions in shades of yellow that match the exterior of the villas; the lobby’s large pillar structures add more grandeur to the space. As expected, the Moracea seems to draw a lot of couples on a romantic getaway. It's worth mentioning again that the low-season sandbagging does detract from the otherwise pleasant views here, and the beach also gets somewhat dirty in the rainy months, making swimming impossible. 

The Moracea is a 10-minute walk to Khao Lak town’s restaurants and shops, and a short taxi ride away from nearby markets, though the setting is somewhat isolated. The resort offers a beachfront location, though swimming is not possible during the off-peak wet season. Phuket Airport is about a 70-minute taxi ride away.

Allamanda Pool Villa Rooms are elegant and spacious, and make the most of plentiful natural light, with white walls, crisp white linens, and navy-blue upholstered furnishings. Rooms come with flat-screen TVs, and elevated daybed seating reached via steps. Hanging lanterns, decorative tile, and headboards with Asian latticework add attractive regional touches. In the bathrooms, dual vessel sinks are topped with Venetian-style mirrors, and massive freestanding tubs and roomy walk-in showers complete the look. On the balconies, another navy-blue sofa sits in the shade with a low table, and there are sunbeds too; steps from the balcony provide access to private infinity pools.

Hibiscus Deluxe Rooms are much like the Allamanda Pool Villas, but offer more space, and the bathroom doors open fully to create one attractive large space. There is corner day seating by the window, while the balconies have small tables and chairs, but no pool.

Terra-cotta tile flooring adds to the muted tones of the Jasmine Superior Rooms, where triptych artworks and bamboo furnishings bring in warm regional touches. Bathrooms are less attractive and less modern than in other rooms, with built-in bathtubs and overhead showers, and single sinks and the toilets are in the same space. Balconies are the same as those in the Hibiscus Deluxe Rooms, with a mix of garden, sea, and pool views.

The Zeavola Deluxe Bungalows blend neutral walls with plenty of dark wood on the ceilings. The built-in concrete wardrobes are also more design-conscious than the closets in the resort’s other rooms. Terra-cotta floor tiling complements the white linens and the cream sofa that fits snugly into an alcove by the window. The overall feel is something akin to that of a country cottage. Bathrooms have built-in corner bathtubs with handheld showerheads, plus chic, modern walk-in rainfall showers -- though toilets aren't separated from the rest of the space. But large vintage-style mirrors, vessel sinks, attractive tiling, and windows with garden views give the space a sense of elegance. The bungalows are set in lush gardens along a path to the sea, with balconies similar to those in the Hibiscus and Jasmine Rooms, though from the exterior the dark-wood doors and tinted glass admittedly look dated. That said, these rooms offer great sunset views.

All rooms come with safes, mini-fridges, tea kettles, but on our inspection, only the Allamanda Pool Villas had a coffee machine. Note that loud wildlife noises can be heard from some of the hillside rooms -- meaning a beachfront location might be preferable for light sleepers. Guests also complain about a lack of storage space in rooms and towel rails in the bathrooms.

The hotel's best feature is its beautiful, open beach, although swimming isn't possible in the rainy season. As an alternative, the long and pleasant wet-edged infinity pool has plenty of chic, modern sunbeds and parasols, and also has step access into the water. The pool includes an area with whirlpool-style jets. The Baimai spa is wonderfully designed -- the lounge area alone features beautiful tile flooring, high-vaulted ceilings, and orange-upholstered seating, and it's open-air on all sides. But it gets poor reviews for its herbal treatments, whirlpool, sauna, and wet and dry rooms. The well-maintained gym is open 24 hours, and has pleasant sea views. The hotel has two restaurants -- the Malila for Thai cuisine and the Kumpun for international fare with a focus on seafood --  which get mixed reviews. The resort has meeting facilities for up to 220 people. Free, reliable Wi-Fi is available throughout the property.