Holiday Inn Resort Phuket Karon Beach by IHG Hotel

I ended up extending my stay at Holiday Inn Resort Phuket Karon Beach because it felt so comfortable and homey. As a solo woman traveling, I care a lot about feeling safe, and I felt completely at ease here. I was treated respectfully, my preferences were accommodated, and even small requests were taken seriously. The manager and everyone on staff were kind and welcoming from the start. The team was attentive, smiling, and ready to help, which made everything feel easy and personal. A big thanks to the manager and the whole team for making the stay memorable. I’d absolutely recommend it to anyone wanting a comfortable place where people really care.

The beach is just across the road, with bars, restaurants, shops, and activities all walkable nearby. That was a big plus for our family trip with two kids and two senior citizens. The kids had a great time in the pools and at the children’s activities, and the food, including the breakfast buffet, was pretty decent. The hotel feels a bit dated, though our rooms were clean and comfortable. We went during peak season, when service felt stiff and the place came across as commercial. Some of the recent negative reviews seemed at least partly accurate, but we still had a pretty good holiday. Expect a high-end three-star or low-end four-star experience.

Our kids had a lovely time at the kids’ club, with its fun activities. The pools and our room were clean, and the hotel, though a bit old, was generally tidy. Breakfast tasted good, but the coffee was poor. Nobody mentioned that you could get a proper cappuccino from the machine in the back kitchen. Dinner and room service food were tasty too. Alexander at reception was very nice and tried to make our stay better. The service was disappointing in several ways. We booked a one-bedroom suite for two adults, two children, and a baby, but waited 2-3 hours for the cot and extra sheets. There were dirty dishes with leftover food in the room when we arrived. It took more than a day for staff to take them away, and birds came in and ate the food meanwhile. We also had maintenance problems. The bathroom sink stayed clogged for two days despite repeated requests, and the rain shower wasn’t fixed until a day after we reported it. We spoke to reception about the slow service, but nothing improved. We hadn’t seen reviews mentioning this kind of thing, so maybe we were just unlucky. Breakfast came with another hassle: a long line to get into the dining room, then about a 10-minute wait for a table. We’d never run into that at a hotel like this before.

This was our third visit, and sadly I think it’ll be the last. We booked two rooms two months ahead and arrived two hours before check-in, but had to wait until the regular 3 pm time. Even then, only one room was ready. Check-in felt messy and unwelcoming, with no welcome drink, probably because they’re short-staffed. It can work well for families: the rooms are spacious and the public beach is within walking distance. The beach route is short but dangerous, with cars and motorbikes. In the previous two years a guard helped people cross; this year you’re on your own. The public beach itself was messy and unclean. The only positives were the sun and water. Management didn’t seem proactive. The large pool is advertised as a no-kids pool, but it was full of screaming children and babies, with no control. Around 90% of the chaise lounges were taken, and people left towels on them before disappearing for hours, so there was nowhere to relax. The pool felt slimy, though I understand things grow quickly in the heat. We only had breakfast included because we prefer eating out. Since this year they’ve stopped having coffee machines, so the only option was weak, whitish coffee. As someone who needs strong coffee at breakfast, that was a huge letdown. The reception area looks nice, but the corridors and room walls are shabby, with dents, peeling paint, and mold.