Racha Hotel Check-in Guide (Nanny Level)
Speedboat to the Island:
It's best to call 1-2 days in advance to book the time for the next day's boarding. We chose the earliest one at 11:30. Take a taxi to the 7-Eleven Sunrise RD opposite Chalong Pier (search for 7-Eleven Sunrise RD on Google Maps), where you can buy seasickness medicine, snacks, food and drinks, etc. It's recommended to buy more because it's very hot on the island and you might not want to go out to find a restaurant, preferring to just lie in the hotel and rest.
After arriving at 7-Eleven, Racha staff will come to ask if you are staying at Racha, and then you don't have to worry about your luggage at all. They will help you take it to the speedboat and then to your room after arriving on the island. This service is really good! Then you can go to check in and wait for boarding. It's recommended to take the shuttle bus at the end so you can get off first and choose a seat on the speedboat (front seats are better for preventing seasickness and sunburn).
Dining:
If you want to book a table at the Sunset Restaurant, you can choose a spot at the front desk as soon as you arrive on the island. The first row has six seats, all of which are quite nice. Happy hour starts at 6 pm with buy one get one free drinks, and then you can just sit and wait for the sunset to order. The food is average, and the prices are normal, around 200 RMB per person.
Room Service:
The room service is very good, they help promptly with anything you need over the phone. The food delivery is also fast, and they cover it with cling film to prevent dust on the way, which is very thoughtful! The beef noodles and drinks are good and reasonably priced. If you don't want to go out and are very hungry, you can order room service, with the latest order time being 10:30 pm.
Ecological Environment:
The scenery is beyond words, absolutely beautiful. The beauty during the day and at night is different, and it's super photogenic. Purple sunset is a matter of luck; we didn't see it that day, but it was still beautiful! Especially dining while watching the sunset is so romantic! The sea during the day is very dreamy, truly deserving of the name 'jellyfish sea.' As for other wildlife, we saw lizards from a distance and peacocks on the road. They are very cute, and lizards generally don't move around on the road. We specifically asked the staff, and they said there are no snakes, and lizards don't bite. There are many butterflies during the day, very beautiful. The rooms are cleaned very well, with no mosquitoes, and there was a little gecko that later crawled outside the door. Overall, we weren't bothered much by wildlife (I am someone who is super scared of insects and animals, and I had to mentally prepare myself before going, worrying about being bitten by snakes or jumping at the sight of lizards, but it was all fine). If you encounter any insects in the room, you can contact room service to clean it up. If you are really scared, it's recommended to call in advance and tell the front desk that you want a room closer to the front. Our room was about the second row, very close to the sea, and not deep into the island, so there might be relatively fewer insects.
Leaving the Island:
The luggage and boarding process is the same as when arriving; you don't need to carry it yourself. At 10:30 am, the staff will come to take it from your room, and they provide full service until you leave the island to Chalong Pier. When checking out, they will arrange the departure time according to the number of people. If you want to leave the island earlier, it's suggested to check out early.
In summary, Racha Hotel is a very dreamy experience, really suitable for a vacation, and one night doesn't feel like enough!