Resorts in Phuket

"Pros: 1. The pool is clean and a reasonable depth, suitable for both adults and children. 2. The environment is elegant and quite tidy. The decor is a bit old-fashioned but grand. Cons: 1. The balcony faces the street, so it's extremely noisy, with motorbikes roaring past. The balcony glass door doesn't block out the sound at all, and the curtains don't seal well. 2. The electrical appliances are old. The air conditioner is particularly loud and takes about 5 minutes to cool down. 3. The bathroom exhaust fan causes odors to come back from the drain, and the wooden window frame has mold. Major complaints: 1. We arrived at 1 AM, and there's a long flight of stairs at the hotel entrance! The front desk staff didn't offer help proactively and only assisted with luggage after we asked. 2. The hotel only provides a fixed number of bottled water (e.g., for three of us, only three bottles were given). When I called the front desk later that night to ask for three more bottles, I was refused. The staff said that if the room had been cleaned and water replenished that day, they wouldn't provide more. I've never encountered such a situation in my previous travels; it seems a bit excessively stingy."

"Pros: The hotel itself is quite lovely, and the service was generally good. The pool is beautiful. The location is excellent, with a shuttle bus to the beach and it's also walkable. There are plenty of supermarkets and restaurants nearby. Cons: The water pressure in the shower was quite low. The cleaning wasn't exceptionally thorough; there was dust on the desk."

"The location is amazing, walkable access to the beach. No basic amenities provided like dental kit, sleepers etc. Amazed to see Missing or stolen Items rate sheets, never seen anywhere in the world. Rooms located in the backyard garden need painting and plaster, smells of putty paint in rooms. It is better to book a private villa which has a swimming pool 24/7 access. If booking a basic room is not at all recommended..No Swimming pool access to backyard garden rooms, 4 other pools are occupied by Private villa people. Mosquitoes everywhere, they must have mosquito repellent options in the room, which is basic sense not provided at all. Recommended for old retired couples, not at all recommended for families with kids. On this charge better options are available. Please check Room photos properly before booking."

"The staff were excellent so helpful and friendly. Bird the shuttle driver was so kind and always willing to help you. I matter what.  Breakfast was good but a little heavy more like a brunch due to it being mainly curry, noodles and rice. Not used to this in the uk.  I was disappointed that the large windows in the room looked onto a high wall, about an arm length away no view at all and the swim up pool was outside the room door. This definitely was not what I see when I booked other wise i would probably have chosen another hotel."

"We stayed in a room with direct pool access for 4 nights and had a very warm, welcoming hospitality experience overall. The staff were excellent, but the hotel itself and its facilities were a bit hit-and-miss. The property feels dated and could use some renovation—the buildings show discoloration, and there was mold in the bathroom along with an unpleasant odor, possibly from the septic system. One highlight was the complimentary minibar, which was replenished daily with water, soft drinks, Chang beer, whisky, vodka, gin, snacks, and even a lovely small dessert in the evening. Getting around can be a bit challenging without your own car or motorbike, especially for elderly guests, as the hotel is located on a hill about 15–20 minutes from the town center. There is a shuttle service to and from Jungceylon Shopping Mall, but it only runs every couple of hours and stops at 9 PM. Breakfast offered a wide variety of options, and I’d definitely recommend booking a rate that includes it. The rooftop bar and restaurant are a standout feature, with stunning panoramic ocean views and a great selection of drinks and cocktails."

"This was my favorite hotel of the trip! The location is fantastic, right on Rawai Beach, and there are so many charming beachfront restaurants along the strip. My kids absolutely loved the pool and spent ages playing in it. It's also a great spot for taking photos!"

"The room was great, and the hotel even has a pool with a slide! The staff were really friendly and efficient too. I'll definitely be staying here again next time I visit!"

"It’s an amazing place to stay and spend a week. The hotel has a perfect location, with all the main attractions close by. The grounds, our room and the facilities are newly renovated, so it really feels like a brand-new hotel - very fresh and clean. The breakfasts are more than generous, with plenty of choice. The restaurant has a good menu, and there’s also Nora Beach Club if you fancy dinner by the sea. The hotel provides plenty of sunbeds in the mornings, which is a big plus. I would absolutely love to return to this hotel. Thank you!"

"Mandarin Oriental Phuket is truly a hidden gem near Karon Beach! Tucked away in a tropical hillside garden, it boasts lush greenery and a fantastic ambiance. There are five or six pools scattered throughout, and stepping out of a poolside room brings you right to the shimmering water. Enjoying a cocktail at the floating bar is incredibly relaxing. The rooms are spacious and clean with a scenic balcony, and some offer distant sea views. The bedding is comfortable, and the bathrooms are luxurious, with meticulous daily cleaning. The breakfast buffet is incredibly diverse, offering authentic Thai and Western flavors. The staff even kindly provides welcome drinks, and there's a surprise small cake for birthdays. Although it's about a 10-minute walk with some uphill sections to Karon Beach, the hotel offers a regular shuttle service, making getting around super convenient. Plus, you can catch stunning sunset sea views along the way. The hotel's spa and gym facilities are well-equipped; the Thai massage is incredibly stress-relieving. The staff are consistently warm and friendly, patiently assisting even with slight language barriers, creating an overall superb vacation experience! The only minor drawbacks are the numerous stairs on the hillside, which might not be ideal for older guests with mobility issues, and the air conditioning in some areas could be stronger. However, these don't detract from the overall experience at all. I highly recommend it for honeymooning couples or friends traveling together – once you check in, you won't want to leave!"

"My favorite place to stay in Phuket. Staying here for the second year, and this time I was excited to get back to see the amazing people who work here, and I was happy to see them again ❤️ —- Having a second-year experience with this hotel, I want to leave an in-depth review for management, as I believe it can help them have the right picture for their further benefits. As much as this is my favorite hotel, I want to note that this is the only hotel in Thailand where I’m always unsure if I’ll be lucky enough to have a nice stay. Experiences in the rooms are like day and night — fully contrasting. I booked for 5 days initially because I remembered there was a high possibility I wouldn’t enjoy the stay depending on the room assigned. My first three days were a real struggle — the guests next door changed twice, but they all woke up at 4 am for the airport. During the day it felt like we were in one room, and every time they came in or went out, the door slammed so loudly that a few times I checked if it was my door, thinking housekeeping came in while I was trying to rest. Thus, I couldn’t sleep at night, couldn’t rest during the day, and ended up with strong headaches very quick. To give you an idea — I even went to the beach to try to sleep for one day, but the next day it rained, so I had no choice but to return to the front desk in the evening and ask again for another room 🫤 It took about 10 minutes to explain how hard my three days were, and luckily, I was understood this time. It appears I lost 4 days of enjoyment — 3 non-sleep days and 1 recovery day, as I finally managed to sleep 16 hours straight in a quiet room 🫥. The point is - I could stay for 3 days and move to another resort with quite rooms for the same price, or I could make an effort communicating the issue with front desk staff and then stay for a few weeks. I really appreciate that front desk changed the room in the end, because I finally feel like I am resting, not fighting for the paid comfort. So, for management: rooms with connecting doors are like a hostel atmosphere, not a private room. Guests are not noisy, but the thin connecting door shares every sound — TV, conversations, shower, hairdryer, etc etc — and I had no choice but to hear it. The front desk guys were always polite and even said they would ask neighbors to be quiet, but the issue is not the guests. As long as I stay in a room without a connecting door, I can happily extend my stay for weeks without bothering the front desk. But with a connecting-door room - even a short stay can be 24 hours uncomfortable. I believe considering this point could benefit the hotel by ensuring more satisfied guests and longer stays."