Royal Phawadee Village

Royal Phawadee Resort feels like an oasis, tucked away from the buzz but only a few steps from Patong Beach. The gardens are lush and carefully kept, with winding paths and a pool that could be part of a private villa. Rooms are spacious and spotless, and the recent renovation makes everything feel fresh and cared for. You can walk to the beach, restaurants, and markets, yet it’s quiet when you come back. Staff were warm and attentive without hovering, so the stay felt both peaceful and welcoming. The value is amazing, it feels luxurious without costing too much. I can’t wait to return.

The only person who really helped me was a man I believe was the assistant manager, and that’s the one positive thing I’d say about the hotel. The receptionist didn’t seem accommodating, or perhaps didn’t understand English very well. She kept telling me an umbrella was missing from my room, even though I tried several times to explain that I’d taken one from the previous room out in the rain and left it in the lobby to dry. When I came back a few hours later, it was gone, probably taken by other guests. Before I’d even seen my room, the receptionist asked if I’d post a good review on Instagram and seemed insistent. After checking in, I found the room had no power. A repairman got it working temporarily, but at 2 a.m. I woke to a loud pop, the breaker had blown again, leaving us without power or air conditioning. I asked to move rooms right away. In the next room, the water pressure was low, and every 30 seconds I heard an irritating sound from the other side of the wall, like a ventilator flapping against it. I couldn’t get a good night’s sleep. The next day I asked to move again.

The toilets were grimy and stank, the air conditioning didn’t work, the pool was dirty, and the Wi-Fi was terrible. Staff pushed for good reviews before I’d even seen my room. There are hidden fees on almost everything, and you only get one key, which controls the power, so you can’t leave the air conditioning on while you’re out and the room turns into a sauna. I saw the room and made other plans immediately. I promise you won’t like this hotel. Not worth even one star.

Poor value for the price. Front desk service was bad, and the unfriendly staff had limited language skills. They seemed to be rushing us to check out even though it wasn’t 12 p.m. yet. Breakfast was stingy, and there were lots of mosquitoes in the room.