Areca Resort & Spa

It’s a quality property with well maintained rooms and a calm vibe, away from the hustle and bustle. You can get to the major places by Grab. The private swimming pool in front of the room needs better maintenance to make the experience much better.

The property has plenty of parking, with room for 20-30 cars and lots of space for motorbikes. There are cafes and restaurants nearby, including one with Russian cuisine, though the nearest grocery store is about a 20-minute walk. There are no currency exchange offices close by. The nearest is at Central Mall, around 15 minutes by motorbike. Patong beach is about 25 minutes away by motorbike. During the day, getting to the airport takes around 70 minutes by car, with taxis from 600 THB and up. In the evening, traffic makes the trip considerably longer. The hotel seems to suggest it has a five-star rating on Booking com, but based on its service and facilities, I’d say it’s three stars at best. Check-in involves signing several papers listing fines, and guests are required to leave a 1,500 THB cash deposit. Staff couldn’t clearly explain it, and card-only travellers are sent to an ATM. I recommend filming the room at check-in and check-out in case there are disputed claims later. Sound carries badly through the thin doors. You can hear the elevator from across the floor and people moving in the corridors. With lots of young, intoxicated guests coming back late, it can be hard to sleep. There’s also a busy bar directly beneath the rooms on the ground floor, not near reception, and it gets very noisy in the evenings. The pool shown so heavily in the marketing is actually tiny and barely used. Guests openly eat durian at reception and smoke cannabis around the property despite official bans. The smell can be unpleasant, and I didn’t see management do anything. There were lots of small ants in the bathroom, an easy fix with a cheap trap from 7-Eleven, but the hotel seemed indifferent. The in-house spa is expensive, from 900 THB per massage, while nearby massage salons charge significantly less. The hotel doesn’t feel customer-oriented. If these conditions would disappoint you, consider them before booking.

Our room had two large beds, which were perfect for us, and the staff were always helpful with all our luggage. The hotel is good and only five minutes from the central shopping center and the water park. Thank you!

I’ve stayed at this hotel three times now, and it’s been a great experience again. The fitness center was well equipped, and the room was clean, comfortable, and nicely designed. I’d definitely come back.