Beyond Resort Karon

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.

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.

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. 

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 Kanda Spa 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.