Novotel Phuket Kata Avista Resort and Spa Hotel

The family suite upgrade was lovely, and the staff were kind and accommodating, but there were still issues that keep me from giving this five stars. The toilet barely flushed, and turning on a hot shower made the shower head switch off. We had an Accor membership problem too, though the front desk sorted it out after a few hours. The pool is pleasant but small, with too few loungers. Many get reserved early, and sometimes nobody seems to use them. The spa was clean and nice. Bee and Pam gave our child junior massages and were both content with the experience. The adults’ Thai massages were okay, nothing special. The gym has one exercise bike, two treadmills, an elliptical, a bench, and some awful weights that are hard to hold. There are a few other gym options nearby. The hotel sits on a hill, and I actually enjoyed the walks up and down as unplanned exercise. If you want to stay by Kata Beach, this is a great spot.

The restaurant was the highlight of our four nights at Novotel Phuket Kata. The chef and team made excellent vegetarian meals to order, and the Indian food was some of the best we’ve had outside India. The front desk staff were exceptionally kind and accommodating, and there are plenty of facilities and activities for children. The beach is a short walk away, with a shuttle available too. Some rooms are dated, though we heard renovations are planned soon. Even so, the food, service, beach setting, and family-friendly amenities made our stay memorable. Highly recommended for families.

The beach and shops are close, and our large room had a lovely sea view with some nice sunsets. The bed was comfortable too. Still, my overall stay at Novotel felt average, and I won’t be coming back. Getting there meant taking two lifts and some stairs because of the hotel’s odd layout. It’s also up a very steep road in the Thai heat. There is a shuttle, but you have to catch it at the right time. After a long journey, check-in took a while, and the staff member gave us a lot of unnecessary detail that was hard to absorb. The room needs refurbishment. The furniture felt cheap, hollow, and dated, and some things were awkwardly placed. I hit my head on the ceiling lamp while undoing the curtain tie. The soundproofing was awful, with noise from both the lobby and pool. We got back only one towel, and one day the bath mat was taken away, so we had to ask for it. Breakfast was poor. There’s no air conditioning in the lobby or breakfast area, there were flies, and the food didn’t seem fresh. The eggs were overcooked, coffee wasn’t hot, and the pancake I ordered never arrived. The selection also seemed much the same each day. The pool is small and not very inviting. I tried ordering a drink to my seat using the QR code, waited 30 minutes, then went to the bar. They said the system didn’t work and promised to bring it over. After another half hour, we had to fetch it ourselves. They should remove the code if it doesn’t work. The pool table in the lobby was another letdown. The cues were broken, the table was awful, and the balls kept rolling to the sides, so we gave up after a few shots. The hotel needs care and a full refurbishment.

A big thank you to everyone at Novotel Phuket Kata Avista Resort and Spa. The reception team, restaurant and bar staff, waiters and waitresses, and room maids were friendly, courteous, genuinely attentive, and always ready to help. They’d check whether we’d had a good day, which meant a lot. Chef Adam Reez made us a delicious special meal on our last night and took time to make sure we were happy with the dining experience. Pla and Aon also went out of their way to keep us comfortable and make sure we were pleased with our dinner and drinks. They were so attentive and friendly. Head chef Nazeem always greeted us with a smile and a kind word at breakfast, and his omelettes were perfect. We had a wonderful stay. We’ll recommend the hotel to friends and family visiting Phuket Island. Best wishes, Selwyn and Millicent Brown.