Beyond Kata Phuket Resort

The location is perfect, with lots of shops and restaurants nearby, and we had a great stay with no major problems. San at reception checked us in and was so welcoming. Whenever she saw us later, she asked how things were going and offered outing ideas. We also got a complimentary room upgrade. Our deluxe pool access room was right by the pool and was great, though the beds felt pretty firm. The breakfast buffet was nice, but I wasn't keen on the dinner buffet. The other guests seemed mostly older, maybe +50, so it didn't feel like a younger crowd. I'd very likely come back to Phuket and stay here again.

Everything apart from the room was fine, and we had a pleasant stay at a very nice hotel. We had booked a Seaview room, but what we got was partial at best. From inside, all we could see was the pool, and you almost had to lean out to spot the ocean. Our room was on the second floor at the far end, and it was the only one without an extra window on the outside wall. The rooms above us had one, which made the sea easier to see from the balcony. It left me feeling cheated. Maybe the hotel was full for high season, though we booked about 2 months ahead, so I'm still confused about why we got that room. I wish they'd told us beforehand. I'm happy with everything else, but not with the partial seaview room.

We are staying for four nights, and the experience has been very poor for what this resort costs. The room is beautiful, and we booked a Superior/Deluxe sea view room. That was the only positive at first. The overall atmosphere is chaotic, with guests pushing and rushing at the buffet. It feels like a cheap all-inclusive setup, not a luxury resort. The beach isn't private or included. Someone charges around €10 per day as soon as you sit on a sunbed, and that wasn't clearly explained when we booked a “beach holiday.” The hotel pool area is included, but the arrangement feels misleading. There are also many jellyfish in the water, making swimming uncomfortable and sometimes unsafe. Service was poor too. The front desk staff were unfriendly and spoke very poor English, a shocking contrast after almost two weeks in Bangkok and Koh Samui, where hospitality and communication were excellent. Housekeeping left used towels on the floor, and the “new” ones looked dirty and were carelessly draped over the shower. Our sleep shirts were tossed around the room and left wrinkled on furniture. We complained by phone and in person, but there was no real effort to make it right. They only said the towels would be changed later, which is the bare minimum at this price. Dinner at the steakhouse was another disappointment. After eating there, we had severe stomach pain. The steak was flambéed with absinthe, and far too much alcohol remained on the plate, ruining the taste and possibly causing the problem. We told the manager, but got no real response, empathy, or compensation. You pay a luxury price and get low-standard service, poor communication, and little hospitality. A nice room doesn't make up for it. We wouldn't return or recommend the resort.

The hotel is right on the beach, and for the last few days we rented loungers there. It was worth it because they were ours for the whole day and took away the stress of finding a spot. The pool is lovely too, but sunbed reservations were a real problem. The policy says no reserving before 9am unless the beds are being used straight away, and unattended beds should be cleared after an hour. Still, towels were put out very early with no guests around. I raised it with Glenn, the General Manager, and he said he'd look into it. Things carried on for a couple of days, then improved a lot when staff, especially Tanu, started enforcing the rules. Tanu removed towels from empty reserved beds despite backlash from some guests, and stayed calm, professional, and firm. After that, people seemed to understand the rules and the system became fairer. The staff really made our 9 nights at Beyond Kata. Everyone was friendly and professional. San at reception was exceptional when we reported noise from our first room, which had a connecting door with poor soundproofing. We could hear everything from the neighbors. She arranged a quick move to a room without a connecting door, where it was completely quiet for the rest of our stay. She kept in touch and checked in every day. Glenn also sat down with us, listened to our concerns, and made sure they were resolved. Tanu at the pool bar always smiled and made us laugh. Noel and Lena there also brightened our days with their humor. Our rooms were clean, spacious, and well maintained, with a lovely big balcony. We were on an all-inclusive package. The buffet was consistently tasty and nicely presented, though there was a lot of fish, which may not suit everyone. Drinks were good quality and enjoyable. It's a great hotel in a perfect location, and the staff's care and hard work, especially San and Tanu's, turned the stay around. Without them, we might not have given it five stars. They earned it.