Chic Condominium

The studio is roomier than most, and the window looks out toward both the mountains and the sea. The internet is the big problem. It uses DSL and is weak, at 50 mb/s or less. Sometimes it cuts out completely and stays down for a while. The power also goes off often. Water pressure is so low that the shower barely flows even turned all the way up, making it hard to wash.

The security guards are very friendly, and the rooms are nice. But after living here for over a year, I found the reception pretty useless. They couldn’t answer many of my questions, or at least didn’t want to. The electricity going out so often is one of the biggest problems. It’s especially bad when you’re working or studying online and the Wi-Fi disappears. Without power, there’s no air conditioning, and the room gets too hot to do anything, especially sleep.

The location is the best part, beside the temple and its night market, and within walking distance of the beach. The building doesn’t look like the photos. Though it seems fairly recent, it’s falling into disrepair inside and out, with poor quality materials and almost no maintenance. There’s just one small pool shared by both buildings, with very little space around it. If a family is using the pool, nobody else can enjoy it.

It’s about a 15-minute walk down to Karon beach, with shops and restaurants along the way. The Pinto restaurant, 50 meters down the hill, is excellent. The property sits on the hill above the Karon Temple, and many rooms have ocean views. There’s 24/7 security, a pool big enough for lap swimming, and a small workout room. You can book online through sites such as Airbnb.