208 / 2, Karon Beach Road, Karon Beach, Karon, Thailand | (251) 219-4428
Just off
Karon's main seafront road, close to beach
Long swimming
pool lined with loungers
Welcome drink and
refreshing towel
Restaurant with
excellent Indian cooking
Rooms all extend
to balconies, some with sea views
Fitness room and
spa on-site
Free Wi-Fi in public areas
Fee for Wi-Fi in the rooms
Pool feels sandwiched
Bit dated in
parts
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.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Average holiday hotel with typical Thai-style elements, leaning towards dated
The Karon Sea Sands is generally popular with vacationing couples and families. Opened
in 2003 on a site which was previously marshland, the resort then survived the
2004 earthquake and tsunami with minimal damage. Guests check in at a spacious reception area complete with traditional Thai carvings, wicker
furnishings, and teak wood paneling before being proffered a welcome drink and
refreshing cold towel. While paths and hallways are well-maintained and tidy,
spaces are starting to feel slightly dated and give little in the way of “wow” aesthetics.
A murky fish pond and less-than-immaculate lawns detract a bit more from the
experience, though an abundance of palm trees and exotic plants give the resort
a pleasantly tropical ambiance.
Location
Just back from the main beachfront road, in the center of Karon Beach resort
The hotel is set a little back from the
main beachfront road that runs the length of the Phuket's popular Karon Beach
resort. Beautiful white sands and turquoise sea are just a minute from the
hotel by foot and there are abundant bars, shops, and restaurants within short
walking distance. The neighboring resorts of Patong to the north and Kata Beach
to the south are both quick drives away while the area's capital, Phuket City, is
about 25 minutes northeast by car. Phuket International Airport is about 50
minutes north while flights to Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport take an hour and 15
minutes, in addition to boarding time.
Rooms
Standard units with suites that are particularly spacious
The Karon Sea Sands has 89 rooms, all of
which follow the standard styling of the area with terracotta tile floors, teak
furnishings, and Thai touches like carved wood art and traditional patterned
fabrics. In-room amenities include flat-screen TVs, Wi-Fi (for a fee), and minibars
(though only stocked with water). All rooms have sliding doors that open onto
furnished balconies overlooking the pool or gardens, while some top floor and
street-facing rooms have sea views. Bathrooms are spacious with walk-in showers
and granite countertops, while some also include tubs. Suites are particularly
roomy and include kitchenettes and separate lounge areas, though the cookware
looks a little dated.
Features
Long swimming pool and excellent Indian food
The hotel has a particularly long pool that
stretches the length of the property and is lined with plenty of loungers and
parasols, though the space is sandwiched between two buildings. There’s
also a small separate pool for kids. Although the hotel claims to have two
restaurants, it's more like the property has two kitchens that offer two
different types of cuisine -- pizza and particularly delicious Indian dishes.
Health facilities include a fitness room and spa offering a range of massage treatments
and what might be the world’s smallest sauna. Free Wi-Fi is only available in
the lobby and requires an additional fee when used elsewhere on the property.
