We were very impressed when we arrived at Phuket airport where we were picked up by a huge Mercedes and taken to a special Racha lounge, where we checked in prior to a 30 minute or so boat ride to The Hotel. I must be slow on the uptake, because it was really only then that I realized The Racha is in fact on an island called Koh Racha Yai!! It is very worthwhile checking the arrival of your flight, and the departure of the boat, because we knew other guests who had to wait a couple of hours in the lounge, whilst more by accident than design we were there for only a few minutes.
As to the resort itself, it is certainly beautifully presented, a beautiful place on a beautiful beach. It's worth getting a villa up the hill, because there isn't any passing traffic, and it feels very private even when you are sitting outside, and the views are pretty good too!! The inside of the villa is very minimalistic, but I did enjoy the outside shower. The standards of cleanliness were superb, there always seemed to be staff arriving to clean up behind us, and always with a smile on their faces.
The infinity pool is quite amazing especially at dusk, and unlike other places we have been the photographs didn't do the resort justice. I had read complaints about the service, but in our experience it was faultless, and everything with a smile, nothing being too much trouble. We particularly enjoyed the breakfasts, with just about everything you can think of, I just wish guests wouldn't slyly slip rolls and cold meats into their beach bags to eat later. In a hotel of this quality that is not on.
Meals were expensive, however within a brisk five minute walk if you choose you can find cheap and lovely inexpensive local restaurants. The beach wasn't always deserted, and we Westerners tend to forget that all beaches in Thailand have public access. If you don't like it, and it never lasts more than a few hours, there are beautiful and secluded beaches not far away. All in all we had a great time, did nothing, but then again, there wasn't much to do anyway, and generally just unwound. Having not yet experienced other resorts in Phuket, they will have to be pretty good to be better than the Racha on Koh Racha Yai, definitely one of the top luxury Phuket resorts in my book anyway.