On a prime seaside location along a quiet stretch of Kata Noi Beach, this 479-room luxury resort looms large, with six pools, bars, and restaurants across the grounds. Spacious suites in the Thani Wing face the Andaman Sea, but other rooms in the Bhuri Wing are looking tired and need renovation. Catering to families and couples, Katathani is jam-packed with recreational activities, a beachfront spa, a fitness center, a Kids' Club, and other features. But it's somewhat isolated
from any other entertainment in the area. Those seeking a livelier atmosphere might
On a prime seaside location along a quiet stretch of Kata Noi Beach, this 479-room luxury resort looms large, with six pools, bars, and restaurants across the grounds. Spacious suites in the Thani Wing face the Andaman Sea, but other rooms in the Bhuri Wing are looking tired and need renovation. Catering to families and couples, Katathani is jam-packed with recreational activities, a beachfront spa, a fitness center, a Kids' Club, and other features. But it's somewhat isolated
from any other entertainment in the area. Those seeking a livelier atmosphere might
Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket is a luxury property geared towards families with kids. The highlights here are water-related: guests can borrow kayaks to explore the wide stretch of Karon Beach, or spend an entire day at the waterslides, lazy river, and enormous outdoor pool. The location isn't the most convenient, but there are several dining and bar options on-site, along with a kids' club and fitness center. Rooms and suites are on the cramped side, though they all have large, furnished balconies. Villas with private pools, Club level access, and ocean views are available for a hefty price. Couples will appreciate the adults-only pool and Cenvaree Spa, but may want to consider comparing rates at the tranquil Renaissance Phuket Resort and Spa -- though it's further from the nightlife of Patong.
Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket is a luxury property geared towards families with kids. The highlights here are water-related: guests can borrow kayaks to explore the wide stretch of Karon Beach, or spend an entire day at the waterslides, lazy river, and enormous outdoor pool. The location isn't the most convenient, but there are several dining and bar options on-site, along with a kids' club and fitness center. Rooms and suites are on the cramped side, though they all have large, furnished balconies. Villas with private pools, Club level access, and ocean views are available for a hefty price. Couples will appreciate the adults-only pool and Cenvaree Spa, but may want to consider comparing rates at the tranquil Renaissance Phuket Resort and Spa -- though it's further from the nightlife of Patong.
Set away from the beachside bustle, the upper-middle-range Chanalai Hillside Resort has a solid lineup of features drawing both couples and families with young kids. Its two pools, a larger main pool with a kiddy section and the calmer rooftop one, give plenty of room to take a dip, and the on-site restaurant and bar serve up all meals with alfresco options. Its 211 rooms are warmly decorated in contemporary, streamlined furnishings, and all offer balconies (though only some have bathtubs). On the downside, the Chanalai doesn’t have any wellness facilities, and those looking to be immersed in Phuket’s party scene will be disappointed, though the beach can be reached in a nine-minute walk. Families should also consider the Chanalai Flora Resort, which is particularly geared to vacationing parents and kids.
Set away from the beachside bustle, the upper-middle-range Chanalai Hillside Resort has a solid lineup of features drawing both couples and families with young kids. Its two pools, a larger main pool with a kiddy section and the calmer rooftop one, give plenty of room to take a dip, and the on-site restaurant and bar serve up all meals with alfresco options. Its 211 rooms are warmly decorated in contemporary, streamlined furnishings, and all offer balconies (though only some have bathtubs). On the downside, the Chanalai doesn’t have any wellness facilities, and those looking to be immersed in Phuket’s party scene will be disappointed, though the beach can be reached in a nine-minute walk. Families should also consider the Chanalai Flora Resort, which is particularly geared to vacationing parents and kids.
The 671-room Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa is a luxury resort overlooking the Andaman Sea, situated across the road from an idyllic beach. The busy road presents a minor obstacle, but it's one shared by every hotel on this stretch of coastline, save for the adult-only Beyond Resort Karon at the far southern end of the beach. The facilities are far more expansive here, with a large spa, five pools, three tennis courts, and half a dozen restaurants and bars. The resort fee covers access to all, but then there's a fee for Wi-Fi too. Modern rooms are large, and all have furnished private patios or balconies, though not all offer sea views.
The 671-room Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa is a luxury resort overlooking the Andaman Sea, situated across the road from an idyllic beach. The busy road presents a minor obstacle, but it's one shared by every hotel on this stretch of coastline, save for the adult-only Beyond Resort Karon at the far southern end of the beach. The facilities are far more expansive here, with a large spa, five pools, three tennis courts, and half a dozen restaurants and bars. The resort fee covers access to all, but then there's a fee for Wi-Fi too. Modern rooms are large, and all have furnished private patios or balconies, though not all offer sea views.
The Village Resort and Spa is a quiet, villas-only resort hotel located in Karom, a bit away from the beach. With only 34 units in total, it feels a bit quieter than many of the town's larger resorts. The villas have tasteful decor and especially striking bathrooms outfitted with separate walk-in showers and skylit soaking tubs. All have private terraces that face the garden or the hotel's gorgeous lagoon-style pool, complete with a swim-up bar, jetted benches, and a waterfall feature that give it a natural look. The small spa has lovely treatments, and there's a restaurant serving Thai food, though breakfast is reportedly mediocre and it comes at an additional fee. Wi-Fi is available, but it's expensive -- parking, however, is free.
The Village Resort and Spa is a quiet, villas-only resort hotel located in Karom, a bit away from the beach. With only 34 units in total, it feels a bit quieter than many of the town's larger resorts. The villas have tasteful decor and especially striking bathrooms outfitted with separate walk-in showers and skylit soaking tubs. All have private terraces that face the garden or the hotel's gorgeous lagoon-style pool, complete with a swim-up bar, jetted benches, and a waterfall feature that give it a natural look. The small spa has lovely treatments, and there's a restaurant serving Thai food, though breakfast is reportedly mediocre and it comes at an additional fee. Wi-Fi is available, but it's expensive -- parking, however, is free.
Alpina Phuket Nalina Resort & Spa is an upscale, family-friendly complex set on a relatively quiet road about a mile from Kata Beach's white sandy seafront. Area bars and restaurants are within walking distance and an hourly shuttle to the beach is a bonus. The huge swimming pool is the hotel highlight and is especially suitable for families with kids. Rooms are spacious and have ample amenities, though some units could use a makeover. All in all the Alpina Phuket is a solid (if a little characterless) option with reasonable rates and one of the area's largest pools.
Alpina Phuket Nalina Resort & Spa is an upscale, family-friendly complex set on a relatively quiet road about a mile from Kata Beach's white sandy seafront. Area bars and restaurants are within walking distance and an hourly shuttle to the beach is a bonus. The huge swimming pool is the hotel highlight and is especially suitable for families with kids. Rooms are spacious and have ample amenities, though some units could use a makeover. All in all the Alpina Phuket is a solid (if a little characterless) option with reasonable rates and one of the area's largest pools.
Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort is a huge, self-contained complex surrounded by lush jungle that looks out over its own sandy beach. The hotel's large size can make it feel a little impersonal, but its scale does mean a vast array of facilities, including an enormous pool and a range of sport facilities. Spacious rooms have been sleekly renovated and many include lovely sea views. All this doesn't come cheap though, and you might also find yourself paying for plenty of extras -- including Wi-Fi -- if you book the room-only rate.
Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort is a huge, self-contained complex surrounded by lush jungle that looks out over its own sandy beach. The hotel's large size can make it feel a little impersonal, but its scale does mean a vast array of facilities, including an enormous pool and a range of sport facilities. Spacious rooms have been sleekly renovated and many include lovely sea views. All this doesn't come cheap though, and you might also find yourself paying for plenty of extras -- including Wi-Fi -- if you book the room-only rate.
BEST WESTERN Phuket Ocean Resort is a mid-range, 240-room holiday complex set on a hillside overlooking the north end of Phuket's Karon town. Although set on a busy road, the hotel's terraced tropical gardens are relatively serene and perfect for experiencing sunsets. While the site’s three swimming pools are impressive, some facilities feel dreary and dated, and climbing the property's numerous stairs can become a chore. Ultimately, there's not a lot to get excited about, though the hotel is perfectly adequate with reasonable rates.
BEST WESTERN Phuket Ocean Resort is a mid-range, 240-room holiday complex set on a hillside overlooking the north end of Phuket's Karon town. Although set on a busy road, the hotel's terraced tropical gardens are relatively serene and perfect for experiencing sunsets. While the site’s three swimming pools are impressive, some facilities feel dreary and dated, and climbing the property's numerous stairs can become a chore. Ultimately, there's not a lot to get excited about, though the hotel is perfectly adequate with reasonable rates.
Marina Phuket Resort is a luxury complex set in a lush garden of dense tropical greenery overlooking the south end of Phuket's Karon Beach. Rooms are beautifully finished with outstanding technology that even includes Apple Mac computers, while bathrooms are impressively spacious with excellent amenities. The large lagoon pool is an on-site highlight and there's also direct access to the sea from the property. There isn't a spa, though there is an extensive dinosaur themed mini-golf course. Rates aren't cheap, but the Marina Phuket is a quality resort with little quite like it in the area.
Marina Phuket Resort is a luxury complex set in a lush garden of dense tropical greenery overlooking the south end of Phuket's Karon Beach. Rooms are beautifully finished with outstanding technology that even includes Apple Mac computers, while bathrooms are impressively spacious with excellent amenities. The large lagoon pool is an on-site highlight and there's also direct access to the sea from the property. There isn't a spa, though there is an extensive dinosaur themed mini-golf course. Rates aren't cheap, but the Marina Phuket is a quality resort with little quite like it in the area.
Karon Sea Sands Resort & Spa is a mid-range, 89-room property with everything you might expect but not a great deal more. The location is bustling with easy access to a beautiful beach that's just a minute away by foot. Rooms are typically styled and pleasant enough, with an extra fee for Wi-Fi that’s also typical for the area. The hotel pool is long enough for plenty of loungers but still feels sandwiched between buildings. For a decidedly average hotel, it's hard to justify the Karon Sea Sands’ higher-than-average rates, although spacious suites might suit families and longer-term guests.
Karon Sea Sands Resort & Spa is a mid-range, 89-room property with everything you might expect but not a great deal more. The location is bustling with easy access to a beautiful beach that's just a minute away by foot. Rooms are typically styled and pleasant enough, with an extra fee for Wi-Fi that’s also typical for the area. The hotel pool is long enough for plenty of loungers but still feels sandwiched between buildings. For a decidedly average hotel, it's hard to justify the Karon Sea Sands’ higher-than-average rates, although spacious suites might suit families and longer-term guests.