Horizon Patong Beach Resort & Spa

Horizon Patong Beach Resort & Spa is set on a busy street lined with shops, restaurants, tour operators, and massage parlors, yet the property itself feels removed from the action. Cream stucco buildings with clay-tile roofs wind through the lushly landscaped grounds, which are filled with palm trees, leafy plants, and a narrow, blue mosaic-tile pool at the entryway. The lobby is casual and open-air, with white-tiled floors, rich wood paneling, cozy blue armchairs and couches, and high ceilings with lazy-moving ceiling fans and exposed beams. The Baluchi restaurant is also wood-paneled and open-air, with bright-yellow accent walls, criss-cross-patterned tile floors, and traditional Thai artwork creating a cheery vibe. Guests tend to be families or couples on vacation, who can often be found around one of the two pools; the main pool has wooden lounge chairs with white cushions and matching umbrellas on the stone deck. There's also a common living area indoors, with elegant wood furnishings and built-in wood bookshelves, so guests can sit and read while gazing out through the open wall toward the gardens. 

The resort is set up on a somewhat steep incline on a street lined with local businesses, including places to eat. Guests have easy access to Patong Beach, with a walkway leading from the resort to the sand in just a few minutes -- this beach can get busy, so the hotel also provides a free shuttle to Karon Beach, about a 15-minute drive away. Nearby attractions include Jungceylon shopping center, which is within a five-minute drive or 15-minute walk, and the Bangla Night Plaza, a popular nightlife area about a half-mile away (about a 10-minute walk). The airport is about 50 minutes by car. 

Guest rooms across all categories are simply decorated with wood paneling and furniture, and shades of light brown, cream, and bright white on the floor tiles and walls. Family Rooms have soft gray couches and whimsical bird-shaped wall hangings, while Standard Rooms have touches of deep bronze on beds and walls. Superior Rooms have pool or garden views from private balconies or terraces, individually controlled air-conditioning, TVs with satellite channels, safes, minibars, coffeemakers, free bottled water, pool towels, and Wi-Fi for a fee. Bathrooms have walk-in showers with pretty beige tiling. Some decor and furniture is a bit dated, and some TVs are tube-style. 

The resort's best features are its two pools, which are surrounded by lush landscaping, and offer sun-loungers and umbrellas. There are also two restaurants: Baluchi for well-reviewed Indian food, and Borsalino for Italian food and wine. Jimmy's Corner is a sports bar, with light snacks and cocktails served in a room with a big-screen TV, darts, billiards, and board and video games. There's also a pool bar with daily happy hour. The free buffet breakfast includes a wide array of hot and cold dishes, including fruit, vegetables, pancakes and waffles, omelets, and savory dishes. The beautiful spa offers facials and massages in clay-colored treatment rooms. Room service is available 24 hours per day. The resort also offers a spacious and modern gym; a kids' club with planned activities; Thai cooking classes; and computers with Wi-Fi for guests' use.