We don’t splurge often on this blog. Most of our trips are built around value and honest mid range stays. But when we were planning our Kanchanaburi stop on our Thailand trip, we decided to treat ourselves. We booked the 2 bedroom waterfall villa at The Xcape River Kwai for two nights, and it turned out to be one of the most memorable stays of our whole trip.
This review is our honest take on staying in the villa as a family of four. What worked, what didn’t, and what we wish we had known before we arrived.
What To Expect At The Xcape River Kwai
The Xcape River Kwai sits right on the Kwai Noi River in Kanchanaburi. The property is known for its dramatic concrete architecture and its floating style pool villas that sit close to the water. In Grab and Bolt, the hotel shows up as X River Kwai, and on the road leading in you will spot signage saying X2. It’s all the same property, so don’t be thrown off by the different names as you get closer.
[IMAGE 2 HERE – the dark villa structure sitting on the river with green lawn in front]
Caption: The villa blocks sit right along the river, with a lawn running down to the water.
We booked directly with the hotel rather than through a booking site. A quick email back and forth got us a negotiated rate of about ฿12,000 a night for the 2 bedroom waterfall villa. That was for a Friday and Saturday night stay, so a weekday booking might get you an even better rate. That rate included a champagne breakfast, a tea set at the restaurant, and a free minibar. It is worth asking directly if you are booking a longer stay, as hotels here are often open to a deal.
If you want to check current rates and availability, you can look here.
When we arrived, staff met us with a buggy and drove us and our luggage straight to the villa. It’s not a long walk, but with bags and tired kids in tow, the buggy made a real difference. They also walked us through the villa once we got there, explaining how everything worked, from the pool controls to the in room tablet. We asked for the same help with luggage when we left, though for trips in between we were happy to just stroll down to the front reception ourselves.
The 2 Bedroom Waterfall Villa
This villa is the reason we chose Xcape. It is built over three floors, with the pool and seating area on the middle level. One bedroom sits on the top floor and the other is down below. You enter the villa on the middle floor, so both bedrooms feel private and separate from each other.
The pool itself is the star of the show. It has a waterfall feature and water jets that run down a textured concrete wall. Our kids were obsessed with it. They could swim in the pool whenever they liked, and the waterfall and jets can actually be controlled by you. Staff simply checked with us in the evening whether we were happy to have them switched off overnight, likely to keep the noise down while everyone sleeps.
There is also a glass floor panel over part of the pool that you can see from the level above. Our girls thought this was brilliant, watching each other through the glass while one was in the pool and the other was on the stairs.
Our favourite discovery was that the pool actually connects underneath a glass window, letting you swim right through to a small outdoor section. The kids loved swimming under and popping out the other side. The hotel provides a large rainbow ring float for the pool too, which the kids practically lived on. One small tip, it does deflate with heavy use, so you will find yourself blowing it back up more than once during your stay.
The bedrooms themselves are simple and comfortable rather than overly fussy. Concrete walls, soft lighting, and good quality linen. Nothing flashy, but everything felt considered.
The bathroom has a striking black stone sink that looks straight out onto the pool through floor to ceiling glass. It felt very private, since the villa is enclosed on all sides.
There is also a round concrete bathtub, set on a mezzanine landing partway up the stairs between the pool floor and the upstairs bedroom and shower. It looks small from a distance, but it comfortably fits an adult and two children, or works just as well for a couple. My wife and our daughters turned it into their own little spa evening, soaking in the tub with drinks and snacks within reach and face masks on. It was one of the unexpected highlights of the stay.
Kitchen And In Villa Extras
The villa also has a small kitchen with utensils you can use, which is handy if you want to put together snacks or drinks without calling room service every time.
Next to the kitchen, there’s a dining space, though it’s worth setting expectations here. It’s a workbench style table with only two seats, so it’s not somewhere the whole family can sit down together. It works well for a quick bite or a snack, but not for a proper family meal.
There’s also a tablet set up in the dining area with information about the hotel and its facilities. You can also use it to order room service directly, which saved us a phone call more than once.
Both bedrooms have their own en suite toilet and shower, including the one downstairs, so nobody needs to trek up or down floors for the bathroom.
If we’re being picky, the one thing that would have made our stay even easier was a washing machine and dryer. We were about a week into our trip by this point and desperate for clean clothes. There’s clearly enough space in the villa for one, so it feels like a missed opportunity, though we know not every family travelling shorter trips would need it.
Breakfast And Dining
Breakfast is served à la carte, but you can order twice if you like, and it comes with a drink and fruit served buffet style. We found this worked well for a family, since the kids could pick something simple while we tried a couple of different dishes each morning.
The tea set included in our rate was a lovely touch. It came with waffles, fresh fruit, and a chocolate fondue for dipping. Adults get a pot of herbal tea, and kids get orange juice. It felt like a proper afternoon treat rather than an add on.
You can also order breakfast to be delivered straight to your room, so you can eat in the pool if you fancy it. We didn’t try this ourselves this time, but it is something we would love to do on a return visit.
A word on the minibar. It is described as free, but only some of the soft drinks and a few snacks are actually included. Everything else has a price list next to it, so check before your kids start opening every packet in sight.
A Word On The Steps
One genuine drawback of the three floor layout is the amount of walking up and down you end up doing. It’s fine during the day, but it becomes more of a chore in the evening. If you’re tucking kids into bed on the top floor, you have to walk all the way down to the middle floor and back up again each time you need something.
To save ourselves the extra trips, we left our luggage in the living room on the middle floor rather than carrying it up to the bedroom. Staff did offer to carry it up for us, but honestly, moving it back and forth felt like more hassle than it was worth. It’s a small thing to plan around, but worth knowing before you arrive, especially if you’re travelling with young kids. Despite this, it didn’t take away from how much we enjoyed our stay.
The Turn Down Touch
One thing that stood out to us was the turn down service. Around 8pm, staff bring hot flasks of tea meant to help with sleep, along with an eye mask and ear plugs. It’s a small gesture, but it felt genuinely thoughtful rather than a standard hotel routine.
The Upstairs Shower
The shower upstairs, next to the top floor bedroom, has an open air feel to it. You’re surrounded by glass, looking out at open sky and a raw concrete wall, but nobody outside the villa can see in. It’s a nice touch if you enjoy that outdoor bathroom feel without giving up any privacy.
Getting Around From The Xcape River Kwai
Transport here needs a bit of planning. You cannot get a Grab pickup from the hotel itself, since it is fairly remote along the river. Bolt tends to be easier for booking a ride from the villa. Grab does work if you are heading back to the hotel from town, so it’s worth having both apps ready.
Because taxis are not based nearby, expect a wait of around 20 to 30 minutes after you book one. Our tip is to book your ride, then head down to the lobby once you can see the driver getting close on the map, rather than waiting outside in the heat.
Things To Do At The Property
The hotel has its own swimming pool right beside the river for guests who don’t have a villa with a private pool. We didn’t use this ourselves since our villa pool kept the kids more than happy.
There is also kayaking available on the river, but this is restricted to guests over 18. Our children couldn’t join in, which was a bit of a shame, but families travelling with teenagers over 18 can book rooms specifically located by the river that have easier access to the kayaks.
Tips For Families Staying At The Xcape River Kwai
- Book directly with the hotel and ask about a negotiated rate, especially for longer stays
- Check what’s actually included on the minibar before your kids help themselves
- The waterfall and jets can be switched off in the evening if you prefer a quieter pool overnight, just let staff know your preference
- Book your taxi in good time and head to the lobby once it’s close, since pickups take 20 to 30 minutes
- If you have teens over 18 who want to kayak, ask about the river facing rooms with easier access
- Consider leaving luggage on the middle living room floor rather than carrying it up or down, to save yourself repeat trips on the stairs
Pros And Cons
Pros
- A genuinely unique villa layout across three floors
- Private pool with a waterfall feature and a swim through glass window the kids will love
- Handy extras like the in villa kitchen and the tablet for room service
- Thoughtful touches like the turn down service
- Good value when booked directly and negotiated
- Champagne breakfast and tea set included, with the option of poolside breakfast delivery
Cons
- Minibar is only partly free, so check the price list
- Transport is limited and requires planning ahead
- Kayaking is restricted to over 18s only
- No washing machine or dryer, which would help on longer trips
- Lots of steps across the three floors, which gets tiring at bedtime
- Dining space is a two seat workbench, not a table for the whole family
FAQs
Is The Xcape River Kwai the same as X2 River Kwai?
Yes. Grab and Bolt list it as X River Kwai, and you’ll see X2 signage on the way in, but it’s all the same property.
How much does the 2 bedroom waterfall villa cost?
We paid a negotiated rate of ฿12,000 a night, but that was for a Friday and Saturday stay. Weekday rates may work out cheaper, so it’s worth asking when you book.
Can you get a Grab taxi from the hotel?
Not for pickup. Bolt is the easier option for leaving the hotel, though Grab does work for getting back to the hotel from town.
Is the minibar free?
Only partly. Some soft drinks and snacks are included, but there is a price list for everything else.
Can children use the kayaks?
No, kayaking is for guests over 18 only. Families with teens over that age can ask about river facing rooms with kayak access.
What is included in the tea set?
Waffles, fresh fruit, and a chocolate fondue, with herbal tea for adults and orange juice for kids.
Is breakfast included in the rate?
Yes, our rate included a champagne breakfast, served à la carte with fruit and drinks on a buffet style side.
Is there a kitchen in the villa?
Yes, there’s a small kitchen with utensils you can use, plus a tablet in the dining area for hotel information and room service.
Is there a washing machine in the villa?
No, there isn’t one, which we missed a week into our trip. It would be a great addition given the space available, though it may not matter for shorter stays.
Do both bedrooms have their own bathroom?
Yes, both the upstairs and downstairs bedroom have their own en suite toilet and shower.
Is the villa easy to get around with young kids?
Mostly, though the three floor layout does mean a fair amount of walking up and down, especially at bedtime. Leaving luggage on the middle floor helps cut down on the extra trips.
Our Takeaway
The 2 bedroom waterfall villa at The Xcape River Kwai gave our trip the splurge moment we were looking for. It’s not a hotel that does everything for you, and between the transport planning and the sheer number of steps across three floors, it does take a bit of getting used to. But the villa itself is genuinely unique and our kids still talk about swimming under that glass window. If you want somewhere in Kanchanaburi that feels a bit different from the usual family hotel, this is worth the extra baht.
If you want to check the latest prices and availability you can look here.
Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links. If you book through them, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
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