Karona Resort & Spa

The spa was very good, with calm, quiet surroundings and very professional staff. The view from the room, out to sea, was nice, but there were no chairs in the room. The tiny balcony only had a small, uncomfortable bench and no table. Getting around the hotel meant dealing with stairs everywhere, with steps of different heights that made them harder to manage. The pool area was a disaster: the sunbeds were old and so uncomfortable I worried they’d break under me. Their thin mattresses were useless, and I could feel every metal bar. The sun umbrellas were old too. Pool towels were never changed. We got them on the first day and used the same ones for a week. Breakfast was incredibly boring. For many days, there was no alternative for people who don’t eat meat, just pork, no fish or chicken. The food was tasteless and far from Thai food. The juice was like water, and the coffee was brown water.

At Karona, the staff were amazing and the location was great, right by Karon beach. The convenience store and beach are only a one-minute walk away. Our room was very spacious, and they provided beach towels and daily housekeeping. Breakfast was included too. Everything was amazing, and I’m really looking forward to coming back.

The location was decent, the staff were very friendly, and the complimentary breakfast was alright. But I’m not sure how this qualifies as a 4-star hotel. We were upgraded to a “nicer” room, yet the shower had no pressure. The whole building looked outdated, the bathroom constantly smelled like pee and had no vent, the towels were old and ripped, and the safe wouldn’t lock. It was pretty disappointing and fell well short of a resort.

It took us two hours to get here from the airport by private taxi. Traffic is insane. There are plenty of shops and restaurants near the hotel, and you can walk or take a Tuc tuc (200 bth) 1,5 km toward Patong beach for more action, shops, food, and people. The beach is perfectly close, and crossing the road is no problem. You can go back to the hotel to use the bathroom. Room no 303, with a pool view, was perfect. It was spacious and clean, and the building has an elevator if you need one. Beds were ok+, and the balcony works for two, though mosquitos made it hard to sit outside. It’s too small to sit out there with friends. I couldn’t find a private outdoor spot at the hotel to enjoy a bottle of vine. Breakfast gets 8 out of 10. The restaurant singer and music were hopeless. Please stop that, we don’t need it.