We're both teachers and had been teaching for a number of years and fancied a complete break from it all. We wanted a long holiday where we could relax and unwind. Last year we took some time off work and went to the Far East for a few months, staying in hotels, houses and hostels. For part of the holiday, we wanted to go to Thailand and just relax on a beautiful beach. When we found Rai Lei Beach Club on the Internet it seemed to fit the bill exactly. The teak bungalows are located on the western side of the Phra Nang Peninsula, surrounded by jungle and towering limestone cliffs. For those of you who have seen the film, this is the area where The Man with the Golden Gun was filmed, and in real life it's every bit as spectacular as in the cinema, albeit without the ray-guns and international espionage.

To get to the peninsula we had to travel by boat. Long-tails depart from Ao Nang and Krabi and it was stunning to travel over the ocean towards our destination. Rai Lei was lucky in that it missed the tsunami which hit the other side of the peninsula, so what we saw as we approached looked like paradise, all tall trees and sandy beaches. The beach bungalows were fantastic. I suppose it's middle of the range in terms of quality of accommodation – ours didn't have air conditioning or hot water but did include daily maid service. However, any lack of luxuries was more than made up for in terms of character. The bungalows sit on stilts and ours was about 50 metres from the sea. The bathroom and the kitchen had walls, but were open to the skies. This meant that we had trees just above our heads when we were in the shower.

It was a bit unnerving hearing macaques scampering around the branches when you were cooking; but an unforgettable experience. We were also slightly alarmed to find a 'whacking stick' for cobras in the bungalow, but fortunately we never had to use it. When we stayed at the Rai Lei Beach Club it was the end of September. This was supposed to be the rainy season, but to be honest it hardly ever rained for more than about 15 minutes a day. After that we had beautiful sunshine. There was plenty to see and do in the area. It is famous for its rock climbing and there are well -known sights. You can visit the Phra Nang Cave, also known as Diamond Cave, on the east side of the peninsula, as well as the Phra Nang Shrine dedicated to the spirit of the drowned princess (Phra Nang) who gave the beach her name. Local fishermen leave unusual offerings for the princess seeking her favour.

When we stayed at Rai Lei the place was fairly quiet because it was off season (peak season is Christmas time). In terms of price we felt it was good value. We paid under £30 a night which included the maid service but not food. You can order food from the mainland, though, and have it delivered by boat. I'd definitely recommend the Rai Lai as a place to stay. Lounging around in beach-front cafes, listening to music and drinking cocktails completely recharged our batteries. The people who worked there were friendly and were very willing to help and chat. We'd definitely like to go back. 

Seven reasons to invest in Thai property
Paula Plume of Harlequin Property explains why she thinks it makes perfect sense to invest in Thai property.
Thailand has universal appeal. It is an exotic, long-haul destination with mountains, forests and stunning beaches. The country has something for everyone.
Thailand is relatively undiscovered. This means that property prices remain far below European markets.
Thail property represents a good investment. The property market is appreciating rapidly, at about 10 to 15 per cent a year.
Thailand understands the value of tourism and is increasing spending to attract visitors. 
Thailand is well connected, and the completion of the Suvarnabhumi-Bangkok International Airport will boost accessibility.
Thailand is friendly to overseas buyers. There is no capital gains tax for private investors and the country has low taxes.
Thailand is growing economically and is one of the largest growth markets in Asia, with good infrastructure, close links to China and high levels of foreign investment. 

For further information:
Harlequin Property 

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Article published 17 May 2007