Phuket Hotel Tips by johnaalex

Update 2007 - This year they have started serving breakfast in the Baan Kamnan Restaurant which is the beach restaurant.

During 2004 they increased the number of rooms by adding a third floor. All the rooms have been refurbished. Sadly the tsunami destroyed some of the ground floor rooms, but they got that damage repaired during early 2005.

This is a relatively small hotel, 71 rooms ranging from "city view" rooms to some much nicer suites overlooking either the pool or Patong Beach. They do have some Andaman Suites that are right on the beach which are the most expensive rooms. However I do not like these as much as the pool side junior suites. The Andaman roms are on a split level which which makes no point to me as it wastes space and these rooms are not that big to start with.

One new improvement is that there is now wi-fi access in the lobby and some rooms. There is also an Internet room, but the local Internet cafes are cheaper (either 1 or 2 Baht per minute is the usual price in the cafes)

There are two restaurants now, the main one at the front of the hotel, Le Casa, serves very good Italian fare in the evenings. Lunch is served in Baan Kamnan on the beach and you can also get seafood and Thai dishes here in the evening.

I have stayed here 8 times since 1999 I hope to return again in 2007. Being a regular customer means I get my junior suite (poolside) at a very good rate, but due to its location this hotel is expensive by Thai standards. However that can be said for most places in Patong on Phuket.

Unique Qualities: The main reason why I like this hotel so much is its location. It is right on the beach, whereas most other places are on the wrong side of the beach road. It is also right in the centre of Patong less than 100 metres from Soi Bangla. So it is a few paces from my bed to the pool or beach and only a few more to the bars and restaurants.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$80-120  » Currency Converter
Address: 33/1 Thaweewongse Road, Patong Beach Kathu Phuket 83150, Thailand
Directions: Central Patong
Website: http://www.patongbaygarden.com/index.html

The first thing to note about this place is its size, There are nearly 700 rooms in three main blocks, each one bigger than most hotels set in acres of land with three swimming pools and a lagoon. You can enter the hotel from either Karon Road (the beach road) or Patak Road. If you don’t want to walk too far inside the grounds there is a tram or some golf carts to take to your block. This service is available through the night, or at least it was still running at 2.30am for me.
If you have a wi-fi PC or PDA you can take advantage of the free wireless internet service that is available in the lobby and bar area.
One other nice touch is that there are a number of peacocks that roam freely around the hotel’s vast grounds.
Of the three pools my favourite is the one called “Lost Horizon” which overlooks the beach and Karon Bay.
The rooms are modern in their design and very comfortable with all the fittings you would expect from a 5 star resort including DVD players in each one. Most, if not all, rooms have a balcony with chairs.
As it is located in the centre of Karon bay you can turn either left or right when leaving the hotel and walk for about 10 minutes in either direction to find local bars and restaurants. If you want to venture “over the hill” into the busier resort of Patong the going rate for a tuk-tuk is 200 baht each way. The drive takes about 10 minutes.
The level of service was very high, every member of staff I met certainly did what ever they could to make my stay very pleasant and stress free. On one occasion I had just had lunch by the swimming pool and was having a dip in it when the waiter came over with some coffee which he was explained was free to make up for the long time it took to serve my lunch. I am usually the first the to complain if I am kept waiting, but I had not noticed any excessive delay and therefore had not made any comments to suggest I was not pleased with the service.


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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$80-120  » Currency Converter
Address: 333 Patak Road, Karon, Phuket
Directions: Right in the middle of Karon Bay overlooking the beach.
Website: http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/index.jhtml;jsessionid=ZVETEUOEMAFTECSGBIX222QKIYFCXUUC?ctyhocn=HKTHIHI

The Busakorn Wing is a hotel within a hotel. There is a separate check in area for Busakorn guests which is on reached via the entrance on 200 Pee Road as opposed to the main Holiday Inn entrance in Ruamchai Road (also known as Soi Holiday Inn) which links 200 Pee Road to the Beach Road.

The Villa rooms are a separate part of the Busakorn Wing in a two story block with their own private pool area. The rooms are very well appointed and large. The rooms on the ground floor have direct access to the pool from the back door.

There is a small bar at one end of the pool serving refreshing drinks and snacks so during the day you really do not have to leave the villa area. This is a very relaxing place, but still very close to all the action that Patong is known for. Of course if you do want to use the large pool area in the Busakorn Wing, or the main hotel pool you can do so. One point worth noting is the swim up bar in the main Busakorn pool!

I have no reservations about recommending the Busakorn Wing, especially the Villa Rooms

Unique Qualities: Some of the best rooms in Patong and the Villa area is very relaxing.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$180 and up  » Currency Converter
Phone: + 66 76 340 608
Address: 52 Thaweewong Road, Patong Beach, Phuket 83150, Thailand
Directions: At the southern end of Patong Beach
Website: http://www.phuket.holiday-inn.com/