51 Karon Road, Karon, Thailand | (888) 551-4925
Only hotel
located right on Karon's white sand beach
Beautiful contemporary decor in common areas
Spacious, fresh,
and modern rooms with sea views
Two beachfront
swimming pools with swim-up bar
Walk-in showers
with tropical-rain showerheads
Buffet breakfast
included in rate
Adult-only
resort (a con for some)
One key per room
policy
Mosquitos can be
a problem
Wi-Fi only free in lobby
Beyond Resort Karon is an upscale,
adult-only hotel claiming the distinction of being the only resort set right
on Karon's beach. The location makes for some wonderful ocean views -- from the
rooms, both pools, and its restaurant -- as well a relatively peaceful
atmosphere. Guest units are spacious with furnished balconies, though there
have been reports of issues with mosquitoes. Rates are certainly on the
expensive end of the scale for this caliber of hotel, but you're paying for its
unique setting and superb sea vistas.
Scene
Adults-only hotel with tranquil, secluded atmosphere
Formerly the Karon Beach Resort and Spa and
one of the older hotels in the area, this beachfront resort was renovated and
relaunched in 2013 and still holds the distinction of
being the only hotel right on the beach. After passing under a modern take on a
traditional Thai portico, guests enter a spacious, high-ceilinged lobby lacking
the Old World Asian charm typical of most reception areas of surrounding
hotels. The vibe here, however, is smart and professional. Being an adult-only
hotel, the ambiance is more “grown-up” than most resorts, with a hushed and
relaxing atmosphere and little noise beyond the sounds of ocean waves crashing
outside.
Location
Only hotel set right on Karon Beach, on its relatively quiet south end
The hotel is located in a quiet corner of
the south end of Karon Bay's beautiful white sand beach. (Most local hotels
occupy the area behind the town's main beachfront road.) There are plenty of bars,
shops, and restaurants well within walking distance, with the neighboring
resorts of Patong to the north and Kata Beach to the south easily accessible as
well. The area's capital, Phuket City, is about 25 minutes northeast by car,
while the airport is a bit less than an hours' drive north. Flights to
Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport take an hour and 15 minutes, in addition to
boarding time.
Rooms
Fresh, modern, and spacious rooms with sea views -- though beware the mosquitos
The resort has 81 rooms, all of which are decorated
in fresh, unfussy, modern stylings with lovely natural wood flooring,
contemporary furnishings, and crisp white walls and bedding. Large sliding
doors open to furnished balconies with superb sea views or pool-side terraces with
partial views of the sea. However, there have been reports of mosquitoes being
an issue. In addition to being spacious, all rooms are air-conditioned and
include flat-screen TVs and minibars, while in-room Wi-Fi is available as well but
not free of charge. Pleasantly finished bathrooms have large windows (with a modesty
curtain) as well as wall-mounted hairdryers and walk-in showers with
tropical-rain showerheads.
Features
Two beachfront pools with loungers and swim-up bar
The hotel's grounds are relatively limited,
though they do include two swimming pools overlooking the beach -- one lined
with loungers and the other featuring a swim-up bar waterfall. A free buffet
breakfast is provided at the hotel's beachfront restaurant, which also
serves a menu of Thai and Asian favorites throughout the day. The on-site KandaSpa is open daily, offering a steam bath, a jetted tub, and massage treatments
(though there are cheaper options nearby). Free Wi-Fi is available, but only in
the lobby area, and there's a fee for accessing it elsewhere on the property.