The Deck Condominium by Lofty

After just two distressing days, the mold smell in the room was so heavy and disgusting that we couldn't breathe. We left early to salvage the vacation and lost our money. For a one-week stay, I paid nearly 11,000 ILS, roughly $3,000, expecting something premium. Instead, communication and service were nonexistent, there was no one to talk to, and reception treated us with no respect. They also demanded our original passports and what felt like an unjustified deposit, which seemed incredibly shady. The place caused us unacceptable emotional distress. Stay away and do not book here. For me, this was a total scam and a disgrace to Phuket's hospitality, the biggest mistake you could make in Thailand.

The gym was small, and the air wasn't working. Some of the equipment wasn't working either. The rooftop pool and garden were peaceful, with cushioned loungers stored in a stairwell by the pool. The ground-floor pool and lounging area were lovely too. The apartment blocks were quiet. It took about 10 minutes to walk to the beach and 25 minutes to Bangla Road and jungceylon shopping centre.

The main concern was the bathroom water. It looked yellow and smelled odd, and the tap gave mostly hot water with very little cold, which was uncomfortable in the already hot weather. We stayed in room 81/130. The Airbnb listing matched the place in general, and everything it mentioned was there. It was a good stay overall, with a convenient location within walking distance of Patong Market and Patong Beach. The corridors had no ventilation and sometimes smelled like a closed box, which was unpleasant.

My bed was good and the linen was soft. The airco worked well, though sometimes it was a bit loud, and the large pool didn't feel cold. The rooms were spacious enough for two, public areas were clean, and there was a small gym, parking for cars and bikes, and security at the entrance, although they let everyone walking by through. Noise was the main drawback: single-glass windows and thin walls meant hearing neighbours and doors, and the apartment doors were hard to open or close, banging loudly each time. You'd need quiet neighbours to avoid hearing them. I sleep with ear plugs, so the noise didn't bother me, but without them I couldn't sleep there. Water pressure was average. Power outages for repairs are common in this area, and the mosque is 50m away, calling for prayer several times a day. Location is personal: the 20-minute walk to Bangla road was too much for me, while the beach was totally fine at 10 minutes. I might look for somewhere else next time.